Nothing working, close to despair

135

Replies

  • SusanMFindlay
    SusanMFindlay Posts: 1,804 Member
    edited September 2016
    I am a repeat mfp person. Never been really heavy but since the onset of perimenopause and now menopause, there is 10-15 pounds I simply can't lose. I am petite - 5' 2.5 and very small frame.

    I work with a very good personal trainer 2x week doing strength training ( been working with a trainer for 13 years). I also swim 2x week, 30-40 minutes. I run 5k on Saturdays with stairs (2 sets). And Sunday's I do yin yoga ( sometimes vinyasa on Weednesdays). So I am active for a sedentary person.

    I never ever eat junk ( every once in a while I give in and have a biscotti). I eat at home mostly. Clean. Protein every meal, lots of fresh veg. I drink sparingly.

    For a month I have been tracking on mfp ( I weigh and measure most foods so am sure I am not underestimating). I eat 1000-1100 calories a day , which is low but I am tiny and I wasn't losing on 1200.

    I went to see my naturopath who will test my hormones. I know my DHea and cortisol are low they have been for years.

    I sleep well, I love my job, in a commited long distance relationship. My stress is ok, see a shrink have been seeing him for 8 years.

    HELP. I could get rid of 1 tsp maple syrup at breakfast, eliminate alcohol completely. I already eat almost no sugar, virtually no wheat.

    Sedentary means you do a lot of sitting and little exercise. Even you are sitting a good bit you are not in active in that you get A LOT of exercise. I think this could be part of the problem. You are what I consider to be active (if not very active). Is this what you selected in your set up for your profile? The calories are determined by the info you enter. Height, weight, activity level. If you entered your activity level as sedentary MFP will calculate your needs based on a sedentary lifestyle. You are not eating enough even for a sedentary person I am sure of that. Perhaps try increasing your intake and see if that helps.

    I don't think it's so much that she's undereating for her activity level, but I do think that you're onto something.

    I've noticed that if you log yourself as sedentary and add every single little thing you do, MFP (and similar sites) will "award" you with far more calories than you'd get it you just entered the appropriate activity level. Likely because it overestimates calorie burn from exercise? (Though maybe also because your body gets more efficient at your regular routine.) So, if you eat all the calories that MFP gives you for "sedentary + exercise", you may very well eating over your burn if you should really just be "lightly active" or "active".

    Edited to say that I just noticed that the OP reports only eating 1000-1100 cals/day. If that's total (rather than net), then I agree with the above poster that the issue is not weighing all foods and that the OP is actually eating more than she thinks.
  • Wheelhouse15
    Wheelhouse15 Posts: 5,575 Member
    I am a repeat mfp person. Never been really heavy but since the onset of perimenopause and now menopause, there is 10-15 pounds I simply can't lose. I am petite - 5' 2.5 and very small frame.

    I work with a very good personal trainer 2x week doing strength training ( been working with a trainer for 13 years). I also swim 2x week, 30-40 minutes. I run 5k on Saturdays with stairs (2 sets). And Sunday's I do yin yoga ( sometimes vinyasa on Weednesdays). So I am active for a sedentary person.

    I never ever eat junk ( every once in a while I give in and have a biscotti). I eat at home mostly. Clean. Protein every meal, lots of fresh veg. I drink sparingly.

    For a month I have been tracking on mfp ( I weigh and measure most foods so am sure I am not underestimating). I eat 1000-1100 calories a day , which is low but I am tiny and I wasn't losing on 1200.

    I went to see my naturopath who will test my hormones. I know my DHea and cortisol are low they have been for years.

    I sleep well, I love my job, in a commited long distance relationship. My stress is ok, see a shrink have been seeing him for 8 years.

    HELP. I could get rid of 1 tsp maple syrup at breakfast, eliminate alcohol completely. I already eat almost no sugar, virtually no wheat.

    Sedentary means you do a lot of sitting and little exercise. Even you are sitting a good bit you are not in active in that you get A LOT of exercise. I think this could be part of the problem. You are what I consider to be active (if not very active). Is this what you selected in your set up for your profile? The calories are determined by the info you enter. Height, weight, activity level. If you entered your activity level as sedentary MFP will calculate your needs based on a sedentary lifestyle. You are not eating enough even for a sedentary person I am sure of that. Perhaps try increasing your intake and see if that helps.

    I don't think it's so much that she's undereating for her activity level, but I do think that you're onto something.

    I've noticed that if you log yourself as sedentary and add every single little thing you do, MFP (and similar sites) will "award" you with far more calories than you'd get it you just entered the appropriate activity level. Likely because it overestimates calorie burn from exercise? (Though maybe also because your body gets more efficient at your regular routine.) So, if you eat all the calories that MFP gives you for "sedentary + exercise", you may very well eating over your burn if you should really just be "lightly active" or "active".

    Edited to say that I just noticed that the OP reports only eating 1000-1100 cals/day. If that's total (rather than net), then I agree with the above poster that the issue is not weighing all foods and that the OP is actually eating more than she thinks.

    Logging every activity is actually a big mistake because sedentary does include more activity than most people might realize. The way I would look at it is to try to determine if this activity would be normal activity and if so then don't record it. A bit of house cleaning seems to be one that comes up a lot and shouldn't be logged IMO because it wouldn't be enough activity to actually make you more active unless you really do a lot of heavy cleaning.

    The multipliers are also rather inaccurate so it's pretty hard to really understand how much you are burning but if you aren't losing then you are either miss logging your intake or your output and need to adjust accordingly.
  • Maxematics
    Maxematics Posts: 2,287 Member
    I don't know how to say this in the best way without possibly offending anyone, so I'm prefacing my post by stating that I'm not trying to. Honestly, at 5'2.5" and 131 you're not too far off from the healthy/overweight threshold so you shouldn't be having this much difficulty losing weight on so few calories unless it has to do with medical conditions. I'm not saying you should be losing weight, but what I am saying is that you could lose around five to ten more pounds before it's that true vanity weight struggle.

    That being said, I agree with the posters telling you to check your logging/exercise calories. Weigh everything on a food scale. There's no need to cut out foods and refrain from eating "junk" either. I'm 5'3.5" and weigh 110; I would have never reached that weight without a food scale. I was still losing weight on 1800 to 1900 calories thanks to the use of a food scale/accuracy. If you actually verify you're only eating 1000 to 1100 calories via a food scale, I'd honestly just recomp and forget about weight loss.
  • Lindsay375
    Lindsay375 Posts: 49 Member
    I didn't notice an answer about how you are logging the exercise calories...so excuse me if you already did. If you have been with the same trainer for years and follow similar routines you will be burning less per session then when you started. So if you have never adjusted for your fitness level you may be over estimating burn.

    I am 5'3" and am working from 140 down to a goal weight of 128. I want to get to 19% BF. For me 128 at 19%BF will be more the look I am going for then say 122 with BF of 22%.

    My approach will change dramatically when I get down to 130-ish and want to focus of muscle and look rather then weight.
  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    See a regular doctor for a full thyroid panel.
  • gothchiq wrote: »
    See a regular doctor for a full thyroid panel.

    An endocrinologist would be the doctor to see. Also just gonna speak from experience, make sure you get the ACTUAL scoop. Often people who fall into a grey area are told they are "normal". I was told my thyroid was "normal" when in fact it was not actually normal. I had sub clinical hyperthyroidism. Losing weight felt impossible. I know people say hyperthyroidism keeps you losing, but that is not always true. I would really push the endocrinologist to be very thorough.
  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    I think you mean "ramping" but the only thing that I know of that actually does that are things like DNP and I highly recommend you don't even try to find it. DNP absolutely will increase your metabolism, which is really just the net of the chemical transformations in your body, and the proof of that is that it raises your temperature. Oh, and it's so effective at that, in fact, that an overdose will actually "cook" you alive from the inside. Not a pleasant way to die, which explains why it was banned for human consumption years ago.

    I bet everyone in a "plateau" is googling DNP now. It works if you successfully walk the knife edge between losing tonnes of fat and dying.

    Glargh! No! Too scary, do not want. As for me I'll just keep on truckin' and things will be cool in a couple-three months. I'm short and oldish, I expect things to be slow.
  • gothchiq wrote: »
    See a regular doctor for a full thyroid panel.

    An endocrinologist would be the doctor to see. Also just gonna speak from experience, make sure you get the ACTUAL scoop. Often people who fall into a grey area are told they are "normal". I was told my thyroid was "normal" when in fact it was not actually normal. I had sub clinical hyperthyroidism. Losing weight felt impossible. I know people say hyperthyroidism keeps you losing, but that is not always true. I would really push the endocrinologist to be very thorough.

    I agree my daughters regular dr said she had something wrong with her thyroid, she went to the endocrinologist who checked her levels every 3 months,including her hormone levels,A1c,etc, they found no thyroid or other issues.
  • Colorscheme
    Colorscheme Posts: 1,179 Member
    AliceDark wrote: »
    Mareli761 wrote: »
    Has anyone tried GAPS diet? http://www.gapsdiet.com/

    It doesn't look like a specific weight loss diet and I don't see anything to back up it's claims of curing or treating mental illnesses through diet manipulation.

    Yep, there's a special place in hell for anyone trying to sell the idea that you can cure autism or schizophrenia with an elimination diet and random supplements.

    As part of a neuroatypical child, thank you. My son is on the spectrum. He's the light of my life and I will never give him supplements or anything that claims to "cure" autism. Like, that is a neurological thing and you can modify behaviors with operant conditioning, but in the end, autism is something you will have for life.
  • Wheelhouse15
    Wheelhouse15 Posts: 5,575 Member
    AliceDark wrote: »
    Mareli761 wrote: »
    Has anyone tried GAPS diet? http://www.gapsdiet.com/

    It doesn't look like a specific weight loss diet and I don't see anything to back up it's claims of curing or treating mental illnesses through diet manipulation.

    Yep, there's a special place in hell for anyone trying to sell the idea that you can cure autism or schizophrenia with an elimination diet and random supplements.

    I'm surprised her board and FDA aren't investigating these claims. An MD has a statement of ethics to uphold and the FDA can't do much for most claims but does actually have some teeth when claims of curing, preventing or treating an ailment are bandied about.

  • red99ryder
    red99ryder Posts: 399 Member
    If your running half marathon your in good shape .. regardless of what you weigh .. just my thoughts
  • Sumiblue
    Sumiblue Posts: 1,597 Member
    For vanity lbs, your deficit should not be set to more than .5lb/week. I may have missed it if you said but do you know your bf%?
    Read the recomp thread on the maintainance board. Don't cut more. You are under eating for your activity. Maybe reverse diet up to your maintenance calories. Keep working out but make sure progressive lifting is part of that plan along with adequate protein in your diet.
    I'm 5'2" & maintaining at 120. Down from 137 with a small deficit. I got down to 114 but it was too thin for me. I'm recomping now. Eat around 1800-1900 calories a day.
  • jolive7
    jolive7 Posts: 283 Member
    I repeat, I bet it's the OP not being accurate. First she said she uses a food scale for some things, then she says she uses a food scale and measuring cups. OP, just weigh and measuring EVERYTHING for a week or two and see how it goes.
    I repeat, I bet it's the OP not being accurate. First she said she uses a food scale for some things, then she says she uses a food scale and measuring cups. OP, just weigh and measuring EVERYTHING for a week or two and see how it goes.

    I love how you had no reply to me when I brought science into it. Confirms you actually don't know what you are talking about. So let me ask you again, are you seeing results on your 1200 calorie diet???
  • cerise_noir
    cerise_noir Posts: 5,468 Member
    edited September 2016
    Da_Junk wrote: »
    You should definitely add a cheat day once a week and monitor that. My hunch is your body has adapted to your extreme diet and approach. Afraid to let weight go. Just my two cents for what its worth

    No... this is not how it works. The body won't hold on to fat in a deficit.
    Mareli761 wrote: »
    Has anyone tried GAPS diet? http://www.gapsdiet.com/

    Wow, sounds ridiculous!
  • jolive7
    jolive7 Posts: 283 Member
    jdro015sggpm.jpeg
    1200 > 2000 thank you bye.
  • jolive7
    jolive7 Posts: 283 Member
    jolive7 wrote: »
    I repeat, I bet it's the OP not being accurate. First she said she uses a food scale for some things, then she says she uses a food scale and measuring cups. OP, just weigh and measuring EVERYTHING for a week or two and see how it goes.
    I repeat, I bet it's the OP not being accurate. First she said she uses a food scale for some things, then she says she uses a food scale and measuring cups. OP, just weigh and measuring EVERYTHING for a week or two and see how it goes.

    I love how you had no reply to me when I brought science into it. Confirms you actually don't know what you are talking about. So let me ask you again, are you seeing results on your 1200 calorie diet???

    Um, actually I did want to reply to you. I chose not to because the thread is not about me and I don't want to de-rail it. Also, a previous poster pretty much summed up my thoughts about adaptive thermogenesis. I'm not the OP but yes, I am. Because calories in < calories out = success. You don't have to be so rude.

    I legit have not been rude to you I think that's a bit sensitive ? If you're going to argue with people's posts be prepared to back it up, simple
  • Colorscheme
    Colorscheme Posts: 1,179 Member
    jolive7 wrote: »
    jolive7 wrote: »
    I repeat, I bet it's the OP not being accurate. First she said she uses a food scale for some things, then she says she uses a food scale and measuring cups. OP, just weigh and measuring EVERYTHING for a week or two and see how it goes.
    I repeat, I bet it's the OP not being accurate. First she said she uses a food scale for some things, then she says she uses a food scale and measuring cups. OP, just weigh and measuring EVERYTHING for a week or two and see how it goes.

    I love how you had no reply to me when I brought science into it. Confirms you actually don't know what you are talking about. So let me ask you again, are you seeing results on your 1200 calorie diet???

    Um, actually I did want to reply to you. I chose not to because the thread is not about me and I don't want to de-rail it. Also, a previous poster pretty much summed up my thoughts about adaptive thermogenesis. I'm not the OP but yes, I am. Because calories in < calories out = success. You don't have to be so rude.

    I legit have not been rude to you I think that's a bit sensitive ? If you're going to argue with people's posts be prepared to back it up, simple

    No, your tone is indeed a little rude. You asking why I didn't respond to you and I told you why, and yet you continue to go on about previous posts that have little to do with the original OP's issue. This thread isn't about me, or you or whatever. OP asked for help, and she got some responses. So hopefully she will be a little more accurate with her weighing and sees results.
  • jolive7
    jolive7 Posts: 283 Member
    jolive7 wrote: »
    jolive7 wrote: »
    I repeat, I bet it's the OP not being accurate. First she said she uses a food scale for some things, then she says she uses a food scale and measuring cups. OP, just weigh and measuring EVERYTHING for a week or two and see how it goes.
    I repeat, I bet it's the OP not being accurate. First she said she uses a food scale for some things, then she says she uses a food scale and measuring cups. OP, just weigh and measuring EVERYTHING for a week or two and see how it goes.

    I love how you had no reply to me when I brought science into it. Confirms you actually don't know what you are talking about. So let me ask you again, are you seeing results on your 1200 calorie diet???

    Um, actually I did want to reply to you. I chose not to because the thread is not about me and I don't want to de-rail it. Also, a previous poster pretty much summed up my thoughts about adaptive thermogenesis. I'm not the OP but yes, I am. Because calories in < calories out = success. You don't have to be so rude.

    I legit have not been rude to you I think that's a bit sensitive ? If you're going to argue with people's posts be prepared to back it up, simple

    No, your tone is indeed a little rude. You asking why I didn't respond to you and I told you why, and yet you continue to go on about previous posts that have little to do with the original OP's issue. This thread isn't about me, or you or whatever. OP asked for help, and she got some responses. So hopefully she will be a little more accurate with her weighing and sees results.

    I'm sorry if you feel that way. You indeed cannot convey tone over the internet... Bye
  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    jolive7 wrote: »
    Everyone is telling you that you aren't logging correctly well I have a different perspective.. have you ever heard of metabolic adaption? most of the time if someone is on such a restricted number of calories and exercising with no loss that is the case.. The only way to fix it is to gradually increase (I am talking 30 - 50 calories a week) until your metabolism gets used to the increase of food.

    I am sure your body requires more than 1100 calories a day to function, especially with the exercise. Think about it, if you are stuck on 1100 where will you go? 800? then what when your body gets used to that?! I prefer to keep myself at around 2000 so when I want to shred I can go to 1700, not 1200

    I'm sure you'll be able to find the convo about metabolic adaption you seek if you start a thread in the Debate forum.
  • Red13
    Red13 Posts: 287 Member
    Cico is not for everyone. PCOS sufferer myself and in the same boat. I'm going in to get my thyroid tested next month and also thinking of doing a Leptin reset. Look into Leptin resistance. We all have factors that can lead to hormonal reasons our body isn't connecting to make our weight loss changes. Also a good read is forever fat loss. I'm done counting calories to get no where. Why is western culture so much worse than other countries. Hormones, processed foods, sleeping patterns, desk jobs. Sounds like you have the clean eating down, just gotta find the other piece. Good luck
  • Red13
    Red13 Posts: 287 Member
    Red13 wrote: »
    Cico is not for everyone. PCOS sufferer myself and in the same boat. I'm going in to get my thyroid tested next month and also thinking of doing a Leptin reset. Look into Leptin resistance. We all have factors that can lead to hormonal reasons our body isn't connecting to make our weight loss changes. Also a good read is forever fat loss. I'm done counting calories to get no where. Why is western culture so much worse than other countries. Hormones, processed foods, sleeping patterns, desk jobs. Sounds like you have the clean eating down, just gotta find the other piece. Good luck

    PCOS can work with CICO. It's just a matter of adjustment to the CO side. Because of abnormal hormones and whatnot, you burn fewer calories than a female without PCOS, but that can be adjusted for in the CICO equation. Many users on here with PCOS do that very thing. I would never try to tell you it was easy, but it can be done, healthily, and to your benefit with some adjustments. At the end of the day, weight loss will occur if you eat fewer calories than you burn, no matter your condition. It's getting those numbers right and working to your benefit that is individual and subject to issues like PCOS and Diabetes and metabolic disorders.

    "Why is western culture so much worse than other countries. Hormones, processed foods, sleeping patterns, desk jobs."

    I dunno if this is entirely accurate. Only 36% of the american population is overweight, only 6.3% are obese. That's not even close to a majority, so I don't think you can say the entire culture is the devil here.

    "Clean eating" There is no evidence that eating certain foods over other foods makes people in general more healthy. It's all individual and subjective. What may be bad in one person's diet may be beneficial to another persons. A donut may be a good choice if you're low on carbs and kale may be a bad choice if you're lacking protein. What makes a food good or bad is entirely based on the context of the diet of the person who's eating it. And at this point, there doesn't seem to be one answer from any "clean eating" group or defender for what clean eating is. A vegan will tell you it's plant-based foods only, where a paleo-eater will balk at that and tell you you must eat plenty of meat too. What matters at the end of the day is a diet that makes you healthy, the individual, and for some people that's red meat and beer, and for others it's kale and quinoa. There's no one right way to do this, excepting perhaps the rule that you must eat fewer calories than you burn to lose weight.

    Sorry, a donut is never a good choice. And yeah, if people want to try and lose weight and keep it off by eating the bare minimum and exercise double the amount. Go for it, it's just not sustainable. You agree with the abnormal hormones, so why not tackle the real issue instead of tirelessly working to mask that problem.
  • Wheelhouse15
    Wheelhouse15 Posts: 5,575 Member
    edited September 2016
    Red13 wrote: »
    Red13 wrote: »
    Cico is not for everyone. PCOS sufferer myself and in the same boat. I'm going in to get my thyroid tested next month and also thinking of doing a Leptin reset. Look into Leptin resistance. We all have factors that can lead to hormonal reasons our body isn't connecting to make our weight loss changes. Also a good read is forever fat loss. I'm done counting calories to get no where. Why is western culture so much worse than other countries. Hormones, processed foods, sleeping patterns, desk jobs. Sounds like you have the clean eating down, just gotta find the other piece. Good luck

    PCOS can work with CICO. It's just a matter of adjustment to the CO side. Because of abnormal hormones and whatnot, you burn fewer calories than a female without PCOS, but that can be adjusted for in the CICO equation. Many users on here with PCOS do that very thing. I would never try to tell you it was easy, but it can be done, healthily, and to your benefit with some adjustments. At the end of the day, weight loss will occur if you eat fewer calories than you burn, no matter your condition. It's getting those numbers right and working to your benefit that is individual and subject to issues like PCOS and Diabetes and metabolic disorders.

    "Why is western culture so much worse than other countries. Hormones, processed foods, sleeping patterns, desk jobs."

    I dunno if this is entirely accurate. Only 36% of the american population is overweight, only 6.3% are obese. That's not even close to a majority, so I don't think you can say the entire culture is the devil here.

    "Clean eating" There is no evidence that eating certain foods over other foods makes people in general more healthy. It's all individual and subjective. What may be bad in one person's diet may be beneficial to another persons. A donut may be a good choice if you're low on carbs and kale may be a bad choice if you're lacking protein. What makes a food good or bad is entirely based on the context of the diet of the person who's eating it. And at this point, there doesn't seem to be one answer from any "clean eating" group or defender for what clean eating is. A vegan will tell you it's plant-based foods only, where a paleo-eater will balk at that and tell you you must eat plenty of meat too. What matters at the end of the day is a diet that makes you healthy, the individual, and for some people that's red meat and beer, and for others it's kale and quinoa. There's no one right way to do this, excepting perhaps the rule that you must eat fewer calories than you burn to lose weight.

    Sorry, a donut is never a good choice. And yeah, if people want to try and lose weight and keep it off by eating the bare minimum and exercise double the amount. Go for it, it's just not sustainable. You agree with the abnormal hormones, so why not tackle the real issue instead of tirelessly working to mask that problem.

    I don't see anywhere that she said to avoid dealing with the underlying medical issues but simply addressing hormones will NOT cause a weight loss you still need to put in the time and effort. Also, there are many people with PCOS that are not overweight and not taking medication for it and aren't necessarily starving and in the gym excessive periods of time.
  • MissConsistency
    MissConsistency Posts: 38 Member
    Your calories seem very low. I am also 5'3" on the petite end. I lift 5-6 days a week and add in cardio 5 days. Know you are not alone. The struggle is always real. Do not give up. Feel free to add me.
  • Red13
    Red13 Posts: 287 Member
    Red13 wrote: »
    Red13 wrote: »
    Cico is not for everyone. PCOS sufferer myself and in the same boat. I'm going in to get my thyroid tested next month and also thinking of doing a Leptin reset. Look into Leptin resistance. We all have factors that can lead to hormonal reasons our body isn't connecting to make our weight loss changes. Also a good read is forever fat loss. I'm done counting calories to get no where. Why is western culture so much worse than other countries. Hormones, processed foods, sleeping patterns, desk jobs. Sounds like you have the clean eating down, just gotta find the other piece. Good luck

    PCOS can work with CICO. It's just a matter of adjustment to the CO side. Because of abnormal hormones and whatnot, you burn fewer calories than a female without PCOS, but that can be adjusted for in the CICO equation. Many users on here with PCOS do that very thing. I would never try to tell you it was easy, but it can be done, healthily, and to your benefit with some adjustments. At the end of the day, weight loss will occur if you eat fewer calories than you burn, no matter your condition. It's getting those numbers right and working to your benefit that is individual and subject to issues like PCOS and Diabetes and metabolic disorders.

    "Why is western culture so much worse than other countries. Hormones, processed foods, sleeping patterns, desk jobs."

    I dunno if this is entirely accurate. Only 36% of the american population is overweight, only 6.3% are obese. That's not even close to a majority, so I don't think you can say the entire culture is the devil here.

    "Clean eating" There is no evidence that eating certain foods over other foods makes people in general more healthy. It's all individual and subjective. What may be bad in one person's diet may be beneficial to another persons. A donut may be a good choice if you're low on carbs and kale may be a bad choice if you're lacking protein. What makes a food good or bad is entirely based on the context of the diet of the person who's eating it. And at this point, there doesn't seem to be one answer from any "clean eating" group or defender for what clean eating is. A vegan will tell you it's plant-based foods only, where a paleo-eater will balk at that and tell you you must eat plenty of meat too. What matters at the end of the day is a diet that makes you healthy, the individual, and for some people that's red meat and beer, and for others it's kale and quinoa. There's no one right way to do this, excepting perhaps the rule that you must eat fewer calories than you burn to lose weight.

    Sorry, a donut is never a good choice. And yeah, if people want to try and lose weight and keep it off by eating the bare minimum and exercise double the amount. Go for it, it's just not sustainable. You agree with the abnormal hormones, so why not tackle the real issue instead of tirelessly working to mask that problem.

    I don't see anywhere that she said to avoid dealing with the underlying medical issues but simply addressing hormones will NOT cause a weight loss you still need to put in the time and effort. Also, there are many people with PCOS that are not overweight and not taking medication for it and aren't necessarily starving and in the gym excessive periods of time.

    Right, everyone's situation is different, I didn't say to get hormones checked and then throw everything else out the window. Just saying that might be the missing piece if she thinks everything else is in check. I am the same way. I watch what I eat, exercise everyday, and still have issues. It sounds like she's taking the steps to get everything checked soon so hopefully that'll help. Oh wait, never mind, she should eat 1000 calories of donuts and add an hour of cardio, that'll do it,