Success with PCOS

traciwe

i have pcos and have lost 65 lbs....the more weight i loose, the better my symptoms get...the minute i start gaining weight again, my cyles instantly go back to being whack

crimsontech

I have PCOS as well. I don't take any drugs for it, but I have SIGNIFICANTLY more weight loss success with exercise over just calorie reduction. I do 30-60 minutes (sometimes more) of a cardio activity (walk, bike, hike) 5-6 times a week, with a 1200-1500 calorie diet and lose 3-5 pounds every week.

I recently switched to a doctor-supervised 800 calorie diet with less than 20 carbs per day and lost 12 pounds in the first 6 days (which was about 5-6 pounds of fat, the rest water). My weight loss has slowed down to 0.5-1 pound a day now that I'm past the first week. I'm at 311 pounds now and only a couple of weeks away from being under 300 for the first time in a few years!

Susan77

I also have PCO and on menaphormin(sp) also! And its hard to loose weight. It comes off slow but its works and the dr is happy with my progress! Takes time but stick with it!!

crimsontech

i have pcos and have lost 65 lbs....the more weight i loose, the better my symptoms get...the minute i start gaining weight again, my cyles instantly go back to being whack

Agreed!! Before I started losing weight, I wouldn't have a cycle at all. (sometimes I randomly have one once a year or so) Now that I'm burning off so much fat, I've been having a light flow pretty much every single day this month. I also "flowed" through a lot of December and part of January. Luckily it's very light but still, annoying!

Silverstar46

I was diagnosed with PCOS at 15 and given Aldactizide to help me lose weight. It did, but then I stopped taking it.

When I was 24 I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic which is also a PCOS link. They put me on Metformin but I HATED the side affects and stopped taking it.

Five years later I was 320lbs, miserable and scared about my health. Went to the doc, was put on metformin again and THIS time there were no side affects (probably because I was even more insulin resistant!). He also put me on birth control and spironalactone (a stronger form of aldactizide to help with excess hair growth).

Didn't diet, but took those pills in the AM and PM. Lost 11lbs without changing a thing.

Then I decided.. well I've already lost 11lbs without trying.. let's TRY now. Found MFP and I have lost 35lbs in 100 days.

I don't exercise a lot but I move more. I walk more. I watch what i eat and I no longer eat processed foods. I still eat chocolate (usually dark) and have the occassional Pepsi (not diet) and I'm doing fine. But I really think processed foods are the devil. I had some over the weekend and I gained 2lbs in water weight and felt like crap for two days.

Hope this helps.

astovey

I was diagnosed when I was a teenager. I ballooned up to 225 when I was in college. I had some success with low carbing. I tried ediets.com and ended up being a featured success story on their website. I lost 84 pounds and have kept it off for years. I struggle typically within a 10 pound range, but am still comfortable with where I'm at.

I agree that sugar and carbs are the devil for us. You will see changes around your waist if you watch your sugar and carbs. PCOS women typically have a lot of excess weight around their waists.

I think you really have to take charge of your PCOS, and not let it take charge of you. Excercise does wonders. Start small. I did, and worked up to half marathon.

This.

I was diagnosed when I was 16. I had all of the symptoms and was put on birth control. I was about 225 when I was 16 and Im now 143. Counting calories and exercising helped me most. I wasnt able to lose weight without exercise. Too many people use it as an excuse, but you can do it! Dont let it define you, it can get better!

RachelT14

I have PCOS, am not on any medication and apart from when TTC never have been. I am not IR and low carb does not really work for me unfortunately. The 24lbs i have lost so far on MFP are down to calorie control and Powerwalking on an almost daily basis, it does take time but it is do-able, i have been logging on MFP for 230 days. I have previously lost over 3 stone before (45lbs) using slimfast so that i would be the right BMI to go on the IVF waiting list here in the UK.

My heart goes out to those of you who are trying to conceive but there is always hope. I was diagnosed in 2001 after 8 months of ttc with no cycle. I have 10 failed attempts to conceive with just medication, 3 with IUI and was put on the IVF waiting list in 2005, i was told this was the only way i would conceive. 2 months later i conceived naturally, unfortunatley the pregnancy ended in a missed miscarriage at 16 weeks. I then got pregnant naturally again 6 months later and had a little boy. When he was 16 months old and without my cycle returning i was amazed to discover i was nearly 14 weeks pregnant. My children are now 6 and 4 and i have only just started to get a normal cycle back since starting on MFP.

This is hard but we can do it, it might just take us a whole lot longer than others but it can be done.

sexycheesemonkey

For those of you TTC, I wish you luck. We did all the treatments too, up to 3 IVF attempts. Ultimately, I've never been pregnant but I have three amazing children through adoption and frankly, am SO GLAD that I never have to feel bad for passing on my horrible genes LOL.

That's awesome. We have one frozen emby left. If this cycle doesn't work, we are looking into adoption as well. Would love to ask you questions if you don't mind?

I wish it were that easy. My husband and I havent tried fertility treatments yet...he does not approve in anything that has to go through a doctor. Unfortunately he wont get tested...at the moment at least. So it's up to me...and really...it just makes me feel like this is my fault and makes me feel kinda bad about it. I know he wants kids...and it's all Ive ever dreamed of. I love my husband...and hoping that this 'diet' works and helps me...because if it doesnt...then he has already claimed adoption in not something he would ever want to do. =( I dont want anyone to think badly of him, I do love him and it's just the way he is (part of his upbringing).

lauryn86

it seems like everyone has PCOS, I don't know if I have it, as I don't go to the doctor, but what do you mean by quickly enough? if you're losing or averaging 1 pound a week or 4 in a month, that's healthy and most likely fat, and the slower you lose, you're likely to keep it off long term. drink plenty water, eat when you're hungry, eat fruits/veggies. it's not hard, it's a matter or doing it, we're all a lot smarter and capable than we think we are.

Its not just weight issues with pcos, its fertility, acne, hair. U wud no if u had it.
N some of us do eat healthy n it stil doesnt come off, its harder for us pcos sufferers than someone that doesnt have it !!!

you are so right pink princess!!

DanielleRN8

I have PCOS, endometriosis, and hypothyroidism. I ballooned up quite large with my son (our little miracle baby) but have recently started losing weight. I exercise everyday (I started out with cardio only and now am doing the 30DS) and I eat between 1.200-1,400 calories a day.

Sophie983

I was diagnosed 3 years ago. My period wasn't on time for about 6 months, but I did not have any other problems. I lost 10 kilograms (about 22lbs) and ever since then my period comes every 28 days. Always around 10 am

I gained some of the weight back and now I'm dieting again (actually, I'm changing my eating habits). I am an emotional eater ... that's my biggest problem.

I'm back on track now. In the last 35 days I lost around 5.5 kg (around 12 lbs). I don't take any meds at all, however I do eat a lot of quality cinnamon. I exercise A LOT. I walk my dog every day (at least 1 hour), I do Jillian Michael's 30 day shred and I cycle (4-6 times a week for at least 40 minutes). I work hard and it obviously helps.
I don't eat as much carbs as I used to. I eat a banana every morning (after I drink a glass of lemon juice - organic lemons) and I eat whole grain pasta once a week.

I DO NOT EAT PROCESSED FOOD. White flour and white sugar are my worst enemies. I do enjoy something sweet occasionally. Today I ate a small organic chocolate with coconut sugar (I don't know the proper english word for it). I do not eat sweets with white sugar.
I mostly eat organic food.

Once I read an article that PCOS girls shouldn't drink Diet Coke and stuff like that. I hate diet coke anyway so that's not a problem

There are days when I don't have time to exercise ... but it doesn't happen often. Today was actually the first day when I was away all day and couldn't do anything.

Exercise is the key.

RachelT14

I eat a banana every morning (after I drink a glass of lemon juice - organic lemons) and I eat whole grain pasta once a week.

Exercise is the key.

Can i just ask what the lemon juice is for as i eat a banana most mornings. And i also agree excercise does seem to be the key

cerrajean

Okay I'm going to hijack this thread just a little bit since we're (mostly) all PCOSers here -

For many with PCOS, we don't have periods on our own. That's how mine was diagnosed- I was 16 and hadn't started yet so my parents took me to the doc and told them I was broken, fix me. They did the necessary tests and put me on birth control. So for me, period = birth control. They do not exist separately.

So I haven't been on birth control for the last 5 or so months and just had my annual checkup. as has happened in the past, the doc gave me a 5 day cycle of provera (progesterone) to jump start things, and while I've noticed the symptoms and all that usually come along with our dear friend TOM, he has not shown up. Mind you, I'm not asking for a diagnosis, I just talked to my doctor about it less than an hour ago, I'm just wondering if anyone has had something similar happen after losing a significant amount of weight.

I've always been heavy, and provera has always worked, every time I've used it for the 11 or 12 years since the diagnosis. I'm wondering if anyone has experienced shifts in hormone levels as your weight came off. Some people say if you lose weight your body can try and correct itself and your PCOS can lessen or disappear, so it's not THAT weird of a concept. Additionally, I've been super active compared to the previous years, which I know can also affect it.

So for now we're just putting me back on birth control because it could be other hormones that are out of whack right now. If it still doesn't happen in a month, I guess we investigate further.

OH to be a boy sometimes!

(And before anyone suggests it, yes, I'm taking a pregnancy test tonight JUST to be sure, but I'm 95% positive that IT will be negative- but doctor's orders!)

cerrajean

OH to be a boy sometimes!

At least then I'd be ok with the facial hair!

darina23

Yes, when you have PCOS, your body requires a lot less calories then a normal person. For me that magic number is 1200 a day. I have to exercise almost every day, eat low carb and high protein diet. The weight is coming off slowly, but it's coming off. I actually lost about 45 lb in 2 years, working to lose another 30.

darina23

Also, if you're looking for a natural supplement to lose weight with PCOS, look into Blood sugar formula, it has the cinnamon, spirulina and a bunch of other vitamins. I'm taking it and pretty happy with the results so far. Also, apple cider vinegar is a great appetite suppresant, it's natural and also regulates your blood sugar. But again, do your own research and see if you want to give it a try. As with anything, you'd have to do it for at least 2 weeks to see any results.

mlucarelli74

Five years ago I lost 50 lbs on a diabetic diet. I'm not a diabetic, but do have PCOS and a thyroid problem. They checked me for insulin resistance when I was diagnosed and it was negative but the diabetic diet still did wonders for me! The weight came off at a steady pace and I felt WONDERFUL! I was also exercising regularly and drinking a lot of water. I am trying to do the same thing now. Metformin ripped up my stomach no matter how many times they tried lowering the dose...I just couldn't take it and aldactone didn't do much for me no matter how high the dose...lol But the diabetic diet and exercise did wonders and balanced my hormones.

CjOlsnr

Hi everyone. I'm VERY new here- this is my first post in fact I'm 18 years old - will be 19 in June- and have PCOS. My highest weight was right around 240. I'm only 5'3 so that's a LOT of weight for me.

I just started the My Fitness Pal thing daily this past week. I've also started watching what I eat, cutting back on soda (before that's all I'd drink) and drinking TONS of water. I've lost about 12 lbs in 45 days and I think that is doing pretty good. I started excercising the last week as well and just did my first REAL excercising today.

I have a question for everyone. I find myself staying way below my calorie intake that I'm supposed to have, but what I'm reading here is that I should be more cautious of my carbs? Is that true? How many carbs would you recommend staying around?

KSDare

Hi, I too am very new here and this is my first post. I been formally diagnosed with PCOS since 2008, but the Docs have been trying to prove it since I was 18 (so over 10years...diagnosis of the condition has changed in that time).

As part of my managment program I saw a dietician who specialised in PCOS. The basic message is not necessarily just eating low carb, but eating low GI. So the carbs you eat have to break down lowly so you dont have a blood sugar spike and put extra pressure on your pancreas. If this happens the excess blood sugar gets stored as fat as you dont get a chance to use it.

So what I have done, and this seems to work for me is change things like use more sweet potato. I make lasagna with thin slices of butternut pumpkin instead of pasta, I use food processed or finely chopped cauliflower instead of rice, or if I have rice I use basmati.

Basically this is why often diabetic diets work, because they are focussed on controlling the amount and type of carbs consumed.

If you want to do some more reading here is a link:
http://www.glycemicindex.com/

KSDare

Hi, I too am very new here and this is my first post. I been formally diagnosed with PCOS since 2008, but the Docs have been trying to prove it since I was 18 (so over 10years...diagnosis of the condition has changed in that time).

As part of my managment program I saw a dietician who specialised in PCOS. The basic message is not necessarily just eating low carb, but eating low GI. So the carbs you eat have to break down lowly so you dont have a blood sugar spike and put extra pressure on your pancreas. If this happens the excess blood sugar gets stored as fat as you dont get a chance to use it.

So what I have done, and this seems to work for me is change things like use more sweet potato. I make lasagna with thin slices of butternut pumpkin instead of pasta, I use food processed or finely chopped cauliflower instead of rice, or if I have rice I use basmati.

Basically this is why often diabetic diets work, because they are focussed on controlling the amount and type of carbs consumed.

If you want to do some more reading here is a link:
http://www.glycemicindex.com/