PCOS and weight loss

meganbayramoff12
meganbayramoff12 Posts: 5 Member
edited November 15 in Motivation and Support
Hello All!!

I am 24 and I've been diagnosed with PCOS when I was 19. Unfortunately weight tends to be more stubborn with this and in my case all my weight is carried in my stomach.

Wanted to find some other friends on here with the same diagnosis and maybe keep each other motivated and see success stories even with PCOS.

We can do this!! :)

Feel free to add me. :D

Replies

  • MyOptimalLife
    MyOptimalLife Posts: 51 Member
    Hi @meganbayramoff12 I've probably had PCOS since I was a pre-teen/teen, but wasn't diagnosed, unfortunately, until this summer at the age of 26. I'm currently on my journey to losing weight. I'm on a medically-supervised weight loss program and within one week have lost 9.3 lbs. CRAZY - definitely difficult, but clearly not impossible! I threw you a friend request. Would love to stay in touch! You've got this!!
  • Geocitiesuser
    Geocitiesuser Posts: 1,429 Member
    No disease, food, exercise, or situation can out do "Calories in vs calories out". If you are dedicated you will lose the weight no matter what. Even if it's stubborn. Even if you find you have to put in a little extra "umph", you will succeed with patience, dedication, and effort!
  • larissagarza24
    larissagarza24 Posts: 1 Member
    I got diagnosed with pics when I was 14, I'm 20 now and I just started my journey on the 10th of this month, I've lost 8lbs so far & even tho it isn't much I'm VERY proud of myself! I'm here if you need that motivation. but keep in mind its gonna be hard but never give up! you have to really want it. And this time around I so want it. so like I said I'm here if you need a motivator, I wouldn't mind having a motivator myself! but go at it! like you never have before! (:
  • Geocitiesuser
    Geocitiesuser Posts: 1,429 Member
    No hormonal shift can change calories in vs calories out. The most extreme cases of metabolish shift I've seen published are around 400 calories per day. So in this case, a person's TDEE is 400 calories a day lower. Calories in vs Calories out is still absolute. Yes, it is a one size fits all blanket statement that is true for all living creatures.
  • ClareRae
    ClareRae Posts: 153 Member
    Hello everyone!
    I was diagnosed PCOS last week, was put on metformin and I have another blood test in 7 weeks because my cortisol levels were also high. Seeing the endocrinologist was a huge wake up call and I've been on a strict diet since I left her office. Last Wednesday I was 254 and today I was 244.
    Anyone please feel free to add me.
  • Geocitiesuser
    Geocitiesuser Posts: 1,429 Member
    I've been reading (and posting with) lyle since before you were a member here. PCOS is absolutely CICO. No amount of excuses beats CICO. If you have a metabolic disease you eat a few hundred calories less. /thread
  • audraV1989
    audraV1989 Posts: 12 Member
    YogagirT - I am pretty sure I have had PCOS and/or Metabolic Syndrome for years none of my doctors has done anything to help me with hormones or medications ...all I hear is eat less/excercise more.
    What kind of help have you received?
  • __TMac__
    __TMac__ Posts: 1,669 Member
    I have it too. Search for other PCOS threads. There are many with good advice.

    Short version of what works for me:
    1. Set to 1.5 lbs/week.
    2. 150g carbs or fewer.
    3. 45m of sweaty exercise, 6 days a week. Yoga and leisurely walks aren't enough.

    Insulin is an issue, so lowish carb and heavy exercise is key. They also help with satiety, blood glucose levels, and earning enough extra calories to stay sane. It can also drive down testosterone levels, which helps reduce some of the less pleasant symptoms.

    I'm 36 lbs down, 41 to go.
  • bgh707
    bgh707 Posts: 164 Member
    TmacMMM wrote: »
    I have it too. Search for other PCOS threads. There are many with good advice.

    Short version of what works for me:
    1. Set to 1.5 lbs/week.
    2. 150g carbs or fewer.
    3. 45m of sweaty exercise, 6 days a week. Yoga and leisurely walks aren't enough.

    Insulin is an issue, so lowish carb and heavy exercise is key. They also help with satiety, blood glucose levels, and earning enough extra calories to stay sane. It can also drive down testosterone levels, which helps reduce some of the less pleasant symptoms.

    I'm 36 lbs down, 41 to go.

    Yes. All of this. Low-ish carb, no matter how you do it, and exercise are key. At 1,500 a day with exercise 5-6 days a week and low-ish carb, I still only lose about 3 pounds a month in a good month. I'm now down 25 and 20 more to go.
  • Dead_Darling
    Dead_Darling Posts: 478 Member
    Fellow PCOS-er here :smile: I was finally diagnosed with it last April just after my birthday, after suffering with irregular periods for 19 years. My doctor hasn't prescribed Metformin, but I've been given anti depressants. Strangely enough, the anti depressants are helping with the weight loss when combined with healthy eating and sweaty exercising.
    I do Insanity combined with Fitness Blender lifting videos on Youtube.
    I've also cut out dairy because I am intolerant to it, though I have heard that dairy can affect women with PCOS. I don't eat meat or eggs either, but I have discovered a range of nuts, seeds and plant based foods that are helping me.
    I also drink a lot (5litres) of water everyday. Yes, a lot of trips to the toilet :smiley:
    The way I eat and exercise may work for me, but won't work for everyone. It's taken me a while to figure out which combination is best.
    My doctor doesn't care about my struggles to lose weight, neither does my partner, so I'm getting all the support that I can from MFP :smile:
    Feel free to add me if you like!
  • Kschmidt64
    Kschmidt64 Posts: 18 Member
    edited January 2017
    First of all, who's your doctor? Does he/she specialize in weight loss. If not, might be part of the problem. My PA wasn't supportive. She was to say the least upset I chose weight loss surgery. She left the practice and I switched to the Nurse Practitioner. Much more supportive. Both she and the doctor agreed to refer me to a barbaric surgeon. Things are going much better now. Scheduled for 7Mar17 for gastric sleeve. Not sure what PCOS is, but my husband takes Metformin for Type II diabetes. Anti Depressants can help with weight loss if used with diet and exercise.
    Whats your partner afraid of anyhow? Does he now understand what you are going through? My husband isn't really supportive with me having surgery. He sees dollar signs. I see more dollar signs when he wants a new truck, a portable sawmill. That costs more than my surgery combined.
    They way I see it, for mytself and you. Put yourself first. I think my husband is a bit upset I am doing that as I have always put him/kids and other family members first.
    Take control, if he doesn't like it, trust me he will get over it. We all do. Keep a positive attitude and keep trying.
    As for your doctor, maybe you might need to find a new one that will meet you medical needs as well as supporting your emotional and mental needs to. I got lucky with the medical practice I go to.
    Good luck. Feel free to friend me.
  • Jsallen87
    Jsallen87 Posts: 2 Member
    Fellow PCOS suffer here my doc said it was getting worse cuz I wanted off birth control. I'm on my 2ND month back on after being of for 4 months and my weight instantly jumped +5lbs, dispite my clean diet and 2 a day workouts. My other symptoms have lessened a bit bit are still very present. I am miserable.
  • __TMac__
    __TMac__ Posts: 1,669 Member
    Jsallen87 wrote: »
    Fellow PCOS suffer here my doc said it was getting worse cuz I wanted off birth control. I'm on my 2ND month back on after being of for 4 months and my weight instantly jumped +5lbs, dispite my clean diet and 2 a day workouts. My other symptoms have lessened a bit bit are still very present. I am miserable.

    I feel ya. I've had it for 20 years and only started figuring it out last year. It gets better, but it's slow going, so take the long view and celebrate small improvements.
  • Lupesantacruz
    Lupesantacruz Posts: 1 Member
    Hello im new to all this plus i also have PCOS and was diagnosed when i was 25. Like many of you i also was put on metformin and joined weight watchers back in Jan 2015 slowly but surely my highest weight was 220 and by April of 2015 i was down those 20. Come to find out i got pregnant with all the healthy eating and losing weight but after birth i gained 10lbs went back to weight watchers Jan 2017 SW:210 my CW:200 i feel alot more better and more energized. im joining a boot camp i bought off groupon and see how my journey goes from there. My goal is to be 160-150! We all have the strength to do it if we set our mind to it! I know i want to look better in a bathing suit this summer!
  • Dead_Darling
    Dead_Darling Posts: 478 Member
    Kschmidt64 wrote: »
    First of all, who's your doctor? Does he/she specialize in weight loss. If not, might be part of the problem. My PA wasn't supportive. She was to say the least upset I chose weight loss surgery. She left the practice and I switched to the Nurse Practitioner. Much more supportive. Both she and the doctor agreed to refer me to a barbaric surgeon. Things are going much better now. Scheduled for 7Mar17 for gastric sleeve. Not sure what PCOS is, but my husband takes Metformin for Type II diabetes. Anti Depressants can help with weight loss if used with diet and exercise.
    Whats your partner afraid of anyhow? Does he now understand what you are going through? My husband isn't really supportive with me having surgery. He sees dollar signs. I see more dollar signs when he wants a new truck, a portable sawmill. That costs more than my surgery combined.
    They way I see it, for mytself and you. Put yourself first. I think my husband is a bit upset I am doing that as I have always put him/kids and other family members first.
    Take control, if he doesn't like it, trust me he will get over it. We all do. Keep a positive attitude and keep trying.
    As for your doctor, maybe you might need to find a new one that will meet you medical needs as well as supporting your emotional and mental needs to. I got lucky with the medical practice I go to.
    Good luck. Feel free to friend me.

    Thank you! I wish you so much luck with your surgery and I hope your husband will see the benefits it will bring to you and your family. Does he take care of his diet too? My mum had type 2 diabetes, but she was very active.
    My doctor has been the family doctor for over 40 years, but when it came to serious illnesses (lost my parents to volvulus and pancreatic cancer), they were not supportive. I have learned to go through this journey alone without their help.
    In hindsight it has been good, because I enjoy healthy foods and don't like the taste of junk food. I have seen therapists and councillors for the depression, but I'm learning to cope with it now. When I am working, exercising, eating right and getting a good night's sleep, the depression doesn't hit me as hard. But when it does, I'm in bed all day and won't eat anything apart from a bowl of cereal. Depression is a symptom of PCOS and mine was getting worse over the years. I had one mental breakdown back in 2013, but that was it.
    I think my fiancé is afraid of change. I was going to work out last night, but he said that it's a waste of time and that was it. Thankfully I did some HIIT during the day, so I wasn't feeling extremely guilty. I work from home, and I am one of those that find home workouts more motivating than going to the gym, especially with Insanity where you know the results are changing. He's the same as your husband. Though tonight I have realised that I have to be a little selfish and not put his needs in front of mine. I don't have a specific goal in mind, but I wouldn't mind being 130lbs again - which would be around 50lbs to lose.
    We are going to Mauritius in April, and 50lbs is a big ask, so for now, as long as I look good in a bikini on the beach, with a cocktail in my hand, then that's ok!
    I will add you. Thank you again :smile:
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