PCOS challenges

Back2Foxy

After having told me I have PCOS several years ago, my doctor said it would be 3X as hard to lose weight than a person who didn't have it. And that if I didn't watch every little calorie, I'd gain everything back, plus some. She was right. I'm now 294 pounds, which is the highest I've ever been. I'm embarrassed, disgusted, and depressed. But I also decided not to let it get any worse. I joined Planet Fitness on Friday. I stopped drinking pop again, and adding extra salt to my food. I'll get there, but it's going to take a while, especially since I'm 39 years old now. I just can't give up anymore. I have to keep trying. How do you all stay on track against such odds?

running_in_tiaras

I have PCOS too and 6 years ago I lost the weight. I was two pounds from my goal weight when I found out that I was pregnant. Needless to say I gained all the weight back and I haven't found the motivation to lose it until now (hopefully). Unfortunately this time around I have 40 more pounds to lose making my goal to lose 95-100 pounds. I think the big thing is it has to be a lifestyle change and not just a diet. When I reach my goal weight. I am going to need to continue to log calories, exercise regularly, and weigh myself. If I don't want to log my food, I think my only other option is to go paleo. Ideally, I think it would be very beneficial since I have PCOS but realistically I'm not sure I can do that. So far I have been making small changes that I can continue so who knows in 12 months what all these small changes will amount to. It would be huge for me to change my diet to paleo now but may be not so difficult in the future. Feel free to add me and if nothing else we can be each other's cheerleader.

azulvioleta6

I'm older than you, I have PCOS and I also have four other metabolic diseases as well. I've lost weight.

You've got to face reality and do what needs to be done, no matter how hard it is. Start tracking, starting moving and keep increasing your goals over time.

Eating low-to-moderate carb and getting LOTS of exercise are the keys. You CAN do this.

__TMac__

azulvioleta6 wrote: »

Eating low-to-moderate carb and getting LOTS of exercise are the keys. You CAN do this.

This. THIS! I want to shout it because it took forever for me to figure it out. I'm 46 and hit my highest weight of 248 in early 2016. I'm losing slowly, but steadily -- currently at 220. What's worked for me is to try to redefine my self-identity. I'm not fat, or lazy, or a victim of my messed-up hormones. I'm an athlete in progress, who happens to have some insulin resistance to work around. Every three months or so I register for fitness events (running, triathlons, open-water swimming, and for the first time next month, an indoor rowing race) and I train 6 days a week at sports I enjoy. The key is that it should be vigorous. An upside of my PCOS for fitness is that my higher levels of testosterone mean that I gain muscle faster. I might not lose pounds fast, but I can see positive changes in my strength (and body shape) pretty quickly. And more muscle means more calorie-burning while I sleep.

In addition to a moderate calorie deficit, I aim for 150 g of carbohydrates per day, except in the days leading up to races, when I loosen up a little. Losing weight slowly is OK, because that's not the point. Performance and long-term health is what I'm after. The fact that I'm about to fit into my non-stretchy jeans again is a happy side effect.

Finally, it can be hard to feel feminine or sexy with this disorder, but there's something about a hard workout with a great music playlist that makes me feel like a million bucks.

And I totally agree with azulvioleta6. You can TOTALLY do this!

Back2Foxy

Thanks guys! It's going to literally be a lifestyle change, because if I give up, it all comes back plus a little extra. I'll never be able to not watch each calorie, or have "cheat days". A cheat *meal* maybe, but not an entire day! I just have to get it in my mind that this is really important too, and that it has to be worked at every minute, of every day. I definitely do not want to be diabetic or develop heart disease! And I would love to have more energy, and look and feel better in my clothes.