PCOS and trying to lose weight

audacity08

Hello Everyone! My name is Char and I have PCOS. My biggest battles have been with facial hair, cysts in my ovaries, and thinning hair.

rebeccaS85

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sarahanneD21

HEY EVERYONE I AM NEW TO MFP I TOO HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH PCOS THE SYMPTOMS I HAVE SUFFERED ARE EXTREME WEIGHT GAIN MAINLY AND IT IS SO DIFFICULT TO LOSE THE WEIGHT I HAVE GAINED ALMOST 5STONE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, I HAVE RECENTLY GOT ENGAGED AND WANT TO START A FAMILY I HAVE BEEN TTC FOR OVER A YEAR BUT AS YOU ALL NO IT IS V DIFFICULT I HAVE NOW BEEN PRESCRIBED METFORMIN FROM MY DOC WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY HELP CONTROL SOME OF THE SYMPTONS SO HERES HOPING WITH PROER DIET ILL GET THERE

mosaiclife

Hi, new user here. I have PCOS, too. I was diagnosed at 16 and have been on metformin and birth control ever since (until a few months ago). I took spironolactone for a while, but I really didn't notice much of a difference with the hair. I lost weight before even joining, but even after losing 25 lbs, my symptoms (which are all the classic ones) didn't change at all. Oh well. Anyway, I'm trying to lose more weight in order to make it easier to conceive with my husband. I'm actually on my third dose of clomid (150 mg) and taking a steroid as well that is supposed to help.

ponchita08

I was diagnosed with PCOS at 14 years old. I have been trying desperately to lose weight, but it is really difficult. I have starved myself, taken my adderall far too often to try and curb my hunger, burned as many calories as I consumed and still I only lost 20 pounds. I am frustrated and tired of dealing with this and I need some inspiration, some motivation and most importantly some friends. I was told I couldn't easily get pregnant, but I have a 5 year old. I want to get in shape for my wedding. I am currently 224 pounds and I want to lose at least 100lbs. Does anybody have any suggestions??

jmbarclay15

My doctor told me you cannot be on any birth control pills or anything like that at the time of your blood test or the test results are not accurate. He suggested off pills for 3-4 months before the test.

Also, even if you do have PCOS the only real cure is healthy living, some supplements can help but nothing works without a low carb diet and exercise. So I would start there until you know more!

astovey

I was diagnosed with PCOS at 14 years old. I have been trying desperately to lose weight, but it is really difficult. I have starved myself, taken my adderall far too often to try and curb my hunger, burned as many calories as I consumed and still I only lost 20 pounds. I am frustrated and tired of dealing with this and I need some inspiration, some motivation and most importantly some friends. I was told I couldn't easily get pregnant, but I have a 5 year old. I want to get in shape for my wedding. I am currently 224 pounds and I want to lose at least 100lbs. Does anybody have any suggestions??

I was diagnosed when I was 16, and 225 pounds. you can do it!!

Mmmie

I am 34 with PCOS and type 2 Diabetic and I have been trying to get pregnant for 3 yrs now Doc. Keeps telling me that losing weight is the best way for me to get then both under control but id has been a hard road I started at 260lbs now I am 227 and still struggling so I joined Today hoping that the community here would help keep me motivated

I need all the Help I can get and will help whenever and where ever I can

alugaro

I've had PCOS since I was 19, I'm now 30. Metformin worked for a while, i had suttle weight loss (10 lbs) but the side effects on your stomach were hard to deal with. I've been off and on birth control but I have to tell you the best thing I've done for myself is lost 25 lbs. My FSH, LH and other hormone levels are normal and spironolactone helps with the hair growth (how embarrassing as a woman). I was so worried and I still am but I am more positive about it. Watching what you eat and making life style changes are gonna be the best thing for all of us in the long run. Don't be discouraged, you lose the weight, you will see the difference. Its so much harder for us PCOS'ers to lose weight, people think I'm bs'ing when I tell them but its true. I used to have insulin resistance but no more. Its an everyday battle but you have to try and take whht control you can. Good luck ladies! You are not alone.

TankiBabi

There are a few other things you may have other the pcos but to find out for sure you have to do a bunch of different blood work tests and an ultra sound to find the cysts and depending on your age it is also harder to diagnose. Go to a fertility specialist they know more about pcos then a gyn.

toothfairy19802001

I too have PCOS and I other health issues and battle my weight daily. I just recently started this to get a new healthier me. My doctor told me it would be harder to lose weight with the PCOS problems but could be done and I would feels tons better. Good luck girl!!

ValerieOestry

Hi All,
I have been diagnosed with PCOS since 1999. Same thing as you all, weight gain, trouble losing weight, having to work SO HARD to lose it and keep it off, etc. etc. The best thing that has worked for me is an extremely low carb, high protein diet, and a workout schedule that has weight training and kick butt cardio in it. I have gone through it all - being down to 125 lb. and going back up to 160 lb (I'm only 5'2") and then back down again. The mood swings don't help. And binging on carbs cuz I want to, then spotting the next day and cramping so bad I want to scream. And the infertility treatments which cause worse mood swings when they don't work, and the tests, and shots, and....and....and.....

But I will say that when I'm in shape, my PCOS symptoms are MUCH BETTER. I'm off the metformin for now but the older I get the more I think I will need something to keep it completely under control. Right now since my husband is overseas and I have no chance of getting pregnant anyway, I'm on a BCP that controls the bleeding so I only have a period once every 3 months anyway. That's pretty nice for now.

Well, if anyone wants to friend me to get support through this process let me know. And I will open up my food diary and exercise diary to those who do friend me. And hopefully they will be able to fix us soon

Valerie

ajl2

I'm 29 and have 5 kids (thanks to Clomid). I have 2 sets of twins. I've never officially been diagnosed with PCOS, since my previous doctor wouldn't look into it for me. But I know without a doubt that it is the cause of my problems. I've gained about 40 in the last year. My periods have never been "normal" and after the birth of my second set of twins I stopped having periods. I've been taking progesterone seasonally to "start" my periods. My body hair is completely out of control! My legs are so hairy you wouldn't believe it. I've got chest hair...which is really embarrassing. And my facial hair is getting pretty thick and coarse and dark. it's gross. If it weren't for the fact that I DO get a period after taking progesterone I would think that I was going through menopause prematurely. I get hot flashes and night sweats. It sucks.

I'm not wanting to have any more kids, but I'm pretty sure I'm at a point where Clomid could never help me.

Two months ago I went to see and endocrinologist for chronic vitamin D deficiency. The doctor turned out to be very thorough and asked me tons of questions. I came out of that office with an official PCOS diagnosis and a script for 1500mg of Metformin daily. He also advised that I stay away from all sugar and white flour and any other simple carbs like white rice and such. I've been doing my best to stick to the diet. I am finally having success at losing weight! It's been two months today and I am down 13 pounds!

I still haven't had a period on my own but I have been having a few days of spotting about every 28 days so it looks like something is starting to work in my favor. I might not mind getting pregnant again if I can do it without Clomid.

AmyNVegas

I think you are confusing PCOS with ovarian cysts. PCOS is the production of immature follicules which don't develop into eggs so when you ovulate you actually don't ovulate, making periods irregular or like me, non existant. Ovarian cysts however, can grow really big and often need removal. Not the same thing however.

Okay not sure why you think I am confused- PCOS is POLY CYSTIC OVARY SYNDOME - and causes ovulation to result in cysts on the ovaries among many other symptoms, and many women like my sister experienced large cysts and if you look at the research for PCOS, one of the most recommended treatments for PCOS is a lower carb diet to control insulin output which messes with all hormonal balances including female reproductive hormones. If you would rather take drugs and a bunch of hormone supplements instead of actually fixing the inbalance then by all means continue with what you are doing I was just giving advice which I know worked for my sister (who WAS diagnosed with PCOS) and MANY other women who had PCOS but were able to control and reverse the effects with a lower carb diet and avoided the drugs and hormones.

monaanand

Hi I have had PCOS since 16 yrs old. Recently , i started taking walgreens prenatal multivitamins and folic acid pills . and my period shows up every 30 days for past 3 months. ususally i dont blog much but i really wanted to share this info and benefit everyone else with pcos.

guroprincess

Hi. I have PCOS too, feel free to add me

PLUMPIE007

Hi there, I am in the same boat as you so you are not alone - have had some of the symptoms for over a decade but blood tests wise I do not have the disorder diagnostically (hormones are all normal except for higher estrogen) I don't have acne or excess hair growth, but I do have the irregular periods/constant bleeding, over 30 cysts in each ovary and each one hugely over sized, weight gain and acanthosis nigricans which has been diagnosed as insulin resistance despite my blood sugars being normal however I do have a family history of diabetes so I am happy to take the metformin they have prescribed to keep the diabetes at bay for the future. I am not supposed to be on any combined birth control pills (can't take mini pills as they mess up my hormones make me cry all the time and bleed constantly) as I get migraines but for now I have to deal with the risks of the combined pill until I can try lose some more weight and the metformin starts helping my cycles. I am hoping to go back to taking vitex supplement next year once I come off the birth control as in the past vitex and femaprin have given me normal cycles. It's very frustrating being told you have PCOS, then that you don't but you do have some of the symptoms so you must have it to some degree. I am also suspected of having endometriosis as well but the doctors only look at the PCOS and tell me to loose weight I have lost heaps in the past but it hasn't helped much as I end up bleeding all the time (same thing happens to me on keto/paleo I bleed constantly until I add back more carbs) and only have had good results from drugs and supplements. Its so unfair to live such a healthy life/diet yet never see any results.

Smashly18

i have pcos. trying to lose weight. feel free to add me as a friend. we can do this together.

kawhie

I have PCOS too just diagnosed last year despite begging my doctor of 10 plus years to believe me when I said I couldn't lose weight even though I worked out like a maniac and ate basically nothing. Finally, after gaining 40 of the 60 lbs back I took matters into my own hands and saw a endo. He took one look at me and said "yeah, I'm pretty sure you have PCOS"

I now take 2000 mg of Metformin, 200 mg of Spiro. Net 1200-1500 calories a day and work out like a normal person 3-4 times a week. I have lost 48lbs in a little less than a year.

I really think the Metformin is key. It helps the sugar/carb cravings and the insulin resistance. If you have PCOS I would look into being put on that.

twistedbutterfly

Hi! I also have PCOS. My doctor put me on Metformin, told me to take DCI, exercise and go on a 1200 calorie diet. I did so (while I haven't been perfect on the exercise and have had a few "splurge" days I've been a LOT more active than previously) though I was a bit cynical when told that I could see improvments with as little as a 10% body fat loss. It's been a slow process and I have a LONG way to go, but I've lost 60+lbs so far, and even though my symptoms are not gone, they are improving. My blood work is much better and my last ultrasound showed the the cysts themselves have gone from an 11 to a 4 on a scale from 1-10 (or so my doctor told me). So it does get better. Please feel free to add me. That goes for any of you.