PCOS and losing weight

Mari_2009

Hi, I just recently found out I may have PCOS. I have to go back in two weeks to confirm but I have a lot of the symptoms. I also found out I’m prediabetic. I understand with PCOS, my chances of developing diabetes are increased, and it’s so easy for me to gain weight. For any PCOS people out there, what are the medications you’re taking and has it been hard losing weight?

harper16

I have PCOS. I don't have to take any medications, and I'm steadily losing about a lb a week, by being mindful of my calories.
Since you are predebetic a referral to a registered dietian might help.

ALZ14

I have PCOS and it has not affected my weight loss. Birth control helped regulate my cycles when I was not trying to get pregnant but I did require fertility meds to get pregnant. I had gestational diabetes with of my pregnancies, PCOS is a risk factor for that, along with age, and weight so it wasn’t a shock.

I’ve tested my blood sugar at home a few times and it was in the pre-diabetic range but as I’ve lost weight it has come down. I’m not on any medication right now, but Metformin (diabetic drug) is often prescribed if testing shows insulin resistance or pre-diabetic.

BUT losing weight often helps the blood sugar levels and PCOS symptoms. I’ve lost almost 25 pounds this summer and my cycle has been regular without birth control for the first time ever. I think it was a combo of my age (almost 40 so hormone levels are changing), walking a lot for exercise and losing weight.

Between my PCOS, gestational diabetes and family history I’m at really high (almost inevitable) risk for diabetes so I’m trying to get my weight to a healthy point so it lowers my risk.

bmeadows380

I was diagnosed 15 years ago and put on metformin. I've lost 150 lbs since 2017. PCOS may make it more difficult to lose weight because it affects your hormones which can affect your hunger signalling but it will not prevent you from losing weight.

If you do some searches for that topic, I think you'll find lots of threads on the subject with good information, and might find a few groups dedicated to it as well.

Raegold

I don't take any medication for PCOS specifically, although I take Lipitor for high cholesterol (runs in the family). I do take Myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol supplements for my PCOS. In terms of weight loss, if I follow a somewhat low-ish carb diet and count my calories, I do lose weight. I just have to be ON POINT with counting because my appetite is way off in terms of my calories, and also my cravings for carbs. I do NOT do actual low carb or keto, I've found that having some complex carbs throughout the day makes me feel better than none. Also moderate exercise has been helpful.

Honestly, I do think it's possible to be healthy with PCOS and lose weight, it just takes a conscious effort and specific choices, and it can be easy to fall off of the "wagon" (like during the pandemic!). The thing that I try to remember is that (like they said above), my hunger signals are affected by my hormones- which are out of whack in PCOS. It just is what is it... so I find tracking my calories to be helpful because then I have the piece of mind of knowing that I ate enough for the day and that I'm just hungry but I'm not actually starving.

Also, just to keep in mind, losing weight will 100% help the PCOS and prediabetes, but it won't "cure" it. I've been a normal weight to slightly overweight my entire life, and still have PCOS, even when I was a size 4 as a teenager. BUT the healthier you are, the lower your risks and the better you will feel. Good luck!!

Mari_2009

Thank you I’m currently on medication for my blood pressure and cholesterol. I have a family history of that and diabetes. The doctor said she will give me something to help with my cycle in two weeks. I have been looking into a low carb diet.

Mari_2009

Thank you everyone!! Your replies were so helpful!

sarahspr91

Hey Mari! I have PCOS as well. From all the research/reading I've done it appears that were a couple different types of PCOS depending on underlying issue. Because of that some people are more insulin resistant than others which can lead to having a harder time with weight loss. I personally have never had an issue with losing fat and on the rare plus side of PCOS our testosterone is generally a bit higher than it should be but it does assist in building muscle!

I don't take any medication for PCOS. I'm not insulin resistant and I don't have high blood sugar.

Mari_2009

Hi Sarah! Thanks! I go back to the doctor next week and I’m so nervous. I have lost 10 pounds or so. I’ve been feeling like it’s pretty difficult losing in my opinion but I’m not sure if it’s because of the PCOS or how I’m eating. I just started to pay more attention to my serving sizes and what I’m eating.

This is all makes me nervous especially with having a family history of diabetes.

sarahspr91 wrote: »

Hey Mari! I have PCOS as well. From all the research/reading I've done it appears that were a couple different types of PCOS depending on underlying issue. Because of that some people are more insulin resistant than others which can lead to having a harder time with weight loss. I personally have never had an issue with losing fat and on the rare plus side of PCOS our testosterone is generally a bit higher than it should be but it does assist in building muscle!

I don't take any medication for PCOS. I'm not insulin resistant and I don't have high blood sugar.

bmeadows380

sarahspr91 wrote: »

Hey Mari! I have PCOS as well. From all the research/reading I've done it appears that were a couple different types of PCOS depending on underlying issue. Because of that some people are more insulin resistant than others which can lead to having a harder time with weight loss. I personally have never had an issue with losing fat and on the rare plus side of PCOS our testosterone is generally a bit higher than it should be but it does assist in building muscle!

I don't take any medication for PCOS. I'm not insulin resistant and I don't have high blood sugar.

ITs been a while since I read up on PCOS, but there being different types makes sense to me. I know that not everyone with POCS has obesity and weight issues, though most do, and that diabetes and insulin resistance aren't always present either. I did know that it was different for a lot of people which is what made it hard to pinpoint as a diagnosis.

For me personally, when I was diagnosed, I was insulin resistant, but I was also 350 lbs, too, and obesity is often also a trigger for insulin resistance. Now that I'm down to 223 lbs, I'm not sure if I'd still be considered so; my blood sugar never got out of the normal range, even back then. I suspect I'm no longer resistant just because I don't have some of the major signs I used to have, especially the darkening of the skin on my neck and other places.

I do get the hair on my chin and neck, which is irritating - if I don't keep on top of it, I swear I look like a 15 year old boy trying to grow his first beard!

I know that for some women, PCOS causes fertility problems, but not for others. I don't know if I'd have problems or not as I've never tried to get pregnant and don't engage in activity that could make it happen accidentally either, but since my cycle is normal, I might not have trouble there. My sister, however, who also has PCOS, would likely have a lot of trouble with it if she were to ever try to get pregnant.

So in other words, this is a very common diagnosis but tends to be pretty unique so what one person deals with can be very different from what another does, but getting advice from a variety of people can help because it gives you ideas on things you can try depending on how PCOS expresses itself in your own situation.

I don't have to eat low carb, which is a godsend since carbs are what satiates me the best; I'd be miserable on low carb!

Raegold

Mari_2009 wrote: »

Hi Sarah! Thanks! I go back to the doctor next week and I’m so nervous. I have lost 10 pounds or so. I’ve been feeling like it’s pretty difficult losing in my opinion but I’m not sure if it’s because of the PCOS or how I’m eating. I just started to pay more attention to my serving sizes and what I’m eating.

This is all makes me nervous especially with having a family history of diabetes.

Congrats on losing 10 lbs!!!!! That's amazing and not easy to do!!!

Good luck at the doctor. I know it's hard when you have a family history of something and you can't change your genetics. BUT you are aware and making good choices, so you are doing everything in your control to do.

chess_on_a_journey

I got diagnosed with PCOS about a year ago at 27. Never knew that was even something I had. No doctor ever mentioned it to me when I said anything about the occasional irregular cycles. But, by that time I was already a diabetic and didn't know. I only found out because I wasn't getting pregnant so I went to the gyno and she decided to test me. She was amazing ans actually listened to me. I currently take metformin but I am losing weight now at a little over over 1 pound a week. About 6 pounds lost so far in a span of 4 weeks. Not to difficult I just have to constantly be mindful of what I'm eating or it throws my week off from any weight loss that week.

dwarner1310

Hi Mari, I was diagnosed around 2008/2009 when I was in Middle School. I have found that it is difficult to loose weight but not impossible. I think of it as my goal might be 2 pounds a week but I'll only loose about .5 or 1 pound with watching my calories and lots of activity. I have been at a plateau for a few weeks so I am currently adjusting my physical activity and trying new types of activity. A lot of research will try and tell you that carbs are terrible and that is not completely true. Processed foods and those filled with little nutritional benefits are not great for you, but foods such as whole grains and fruit are wonderful. With any blood sugar concerns comparing your food to the glycemic index will help, as it will show you foods that take longer to break down and will not spike your blood sugar. The same is true with balancing carbs instead of having one meal that is carb heavy and another with little to no carbs. You'll find that by doing those things you'll probably be eating pretty healthy foods that when combined with exercise will help with weight loss.

I have found that those methods work the best, and as someone with a lot of food allergies I try not to cut additional food out of my diet whenever possible. So you can loose weight and keep your blood sugar down with stuff like that, at least based on my experiences.

Hopefully everything works out and you find the method that works best for you!

cremorna1

Hi! I also have PCOS and prediabetes..I have fertility issues and an autoimmune disease to top it off. I am also losing weight and popped in to say hi and learn from you all.

In case anyone has more experience to share it would be very nice to read.

I am currently taking myoinositol too. I've only been on it for 44 days, so I can't really tell if it has any effect... I hope it will eventually help with ovulating....

I also read that doing low and moderate intensity exercise is better for us, as opposed to high intensity (something to do with how high intensity exercise stresses the body by stimulating cortisol production).