PCOS and eating back exercise cals?

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Melroxsox
Melroxsox Posts: 1,040 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I understand that for normal bodies we should be eating back our exercise cals, but what about women with PCOS? I stick to a low glycemic index diet and pretty low carb and virtually no sugar, but I rarely eat back my exercise cals, I don't tend to be hungry enough, and im also afraid to eat them back because of my Pcos.....if anyone has any useful advice I would really appreciate it:)
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Replies

  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
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    I have PCOS.
    I eat them back.
    I'm losing so far. Slightly more slowly than I'd like, but I think given the PCOS that'd be happening anyway.
  • healthycurves2012
    healthycurves2012 Posts: 51
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    I have PCOS and I eat the majority of my exercise calories back, but I tend not to eat them all. I know my metabolism is slower than the average person, so I want to leave a little wiggle room.
  • godblessourhome
    godblessourhome Posts: 3,892 Member
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    i have pcos and have not had success eating back my exercise calories. what works for me instead is to set my activity level higher and eat the same amount everyday, regardless of exercise.
  • Melroxsox
    Melroxsox Posts: 1,040 Member
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    i have pcos and have not had success eating back my exercise calories. what works for me instead is to set my activity level higher and eat the same amount everyday, regardless of exercise.
    this is basically what I've been doing. my weightloss is so slow though!
  • NaomiLyn15
    NaomiLyn15 Posts: 388 Member
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    I have PCOS. I eat back my exercise calories most days. But, stop when I am full. I don't force myself to eat them. I have lost 53 lbs so far, and am the thinnest I have been since high school. Its working for me.
  • ashalabrown
    ashalabrown Posts: 22
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    I've been eating about 1/2 of mine back and doing fine that way. With pcos our weightloss will be slower than others anyway.
  • polegirl23
    polegirl23 Posts: 57 Member
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    I have PCOS and don't eat my exercise calories back. I know my metabolism is particularly slow and so I'm super careful about what I eat. I'm also a mini-person at under 5 ft tall and have a small frame so my intake seems low to a lot of people but my doc is happy with how I eat and what I eat and I seem to be pretty healthy! :)
  • tscott10
    tscott10 Posts: 53 Member
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    I have PCOS also...ugh! I have a terrible sweet tooth and I cut the carbs and sugar for awhile and then I cave in. I lost 30lbs and stopped MFP and running during the winter and gained 10lbs back. I am currently at 175lbs and I desire to be at 145lbs. I notice that if I eat back my workout calories I do not lose much or at all. It could be because of what I am eating... I have noticed if I am on high protein diet and cut the sugar I lose easily.

    Anyone can add me as a friend.
  • Melroxsox
    Melroxsox Posts: 1,040 Member
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    thanks for the replies ladies...damn pcos! it really complicates just about every aspect of my life lol....ugh.
  • Usbornegal
    Usbornegal Posts: 601 Member
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    PCOS Granny here: I have some days when I exercise for a long period of time and burn almost as many calories as originally given for the day. I try to eat back part of the exercise calories aiming for the 1200. But am often left with just carbs that are not good for me and am just not hungry enough. But if I don't eat back some I tend not to lose.
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
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    Oh, I will add, that while I am not low-low carb I'm trying to keep them under 45% of my diet. Eventually I want to move to 40% but right now even 45% is a struggle. I'm aiming for at least 25% protein.
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
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    I have PCOS.
    I eat them back.
    I'm losing so far. Slightly more slowly than I'd like, but I think given the PCOS that'd be happening anyway.

    Exactly that.
  • Melroxsox
    Melroxsox Posts: 1,040 Member
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    do you gals think it wiser to do lowlow carb or more whole grains?
  • alsw
    alsw Posts: 23 Member
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    bump
  • kecarlto
    kecarlto Posts: 49 Member
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    PCOS really bites. I've been dealing with it for about 7 years and found that if I follow the diabetic exchange guidelines it really speeds up weight loss. It takes some effort to relearn what a serving size is but it is well worth it. For example: on a jar of peanut butter it usually says that 2 Tbs = 1 serving but really 1 Tbs = 1 serving which counts as 1 fat and 1 protein; 1 slice of bread is a serving of carbs; 1/2 apple is a serving of fruit... So, anyway, since I do not actually have diabetes I do sometimes find myself drifting away from the guidelines but I can tell within a couple weeks that my progress has slowed, even if I keep my calorie intake in check. I do occasionally eat some cals (extra protein or milk servings) back if my exercise has been especially intense but not every time - it tends to slow my weight loss down. Even after all of that progress is still slower than someone without PCOS but much steadier than anything else I have tried.

    After reading all the different responses it looks like everyone's a little different. Just keep tracking and find what works for you. Good luck!!
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
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    I am not a fan of lower carbs. It's difficult for me and even when I did do it, I saw ZERO results from it. The thing that helps me most is exercise and my Metformin.
  • susannamarie
    susannamarie Posts: 2,148 Member
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    I am not a fan of lower carbs. It's difficult for me and even when I did do it, I saw ZERO results from it. The thing that helps me most is exercise and my Metformin.

    Exercise has been absolutely superb for me. I'm not a firm believer in low-low carbs, but I have definitely been helped by reducing soda (I used to go through 10-12 cans a day easily) and making sure I include fat and preferably protein at every meal.
  • Melroxsox
    Melroxsox Posts: 1,040 Member
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    I am not a fan of lower carbs. It's difficult for me and even when I did do it, I saw ZERO results from it. The thing that helps me most is exercise and my Metformin.
    I hear ya on the exercise! I could diet all year long and not lose one pound...actually with my PCOS I would probably gain! But adding the exercise is the main key for me it seems...along with the Metformin, which I only take at night now, because it was giving me such awful side effects during the day if I took it with breakfast in the morn.
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
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    I am not a fan of lower carbs. It's difficult for me and even when I did do it, I saw ZERO results from it. The thing that helps me most is exercise and my Metformin.
    I hear ya on the exercise! I could diet all year long and not lose one pound...actually with my PCOS I would probably gain! But adding the exercise is the main key for me it seems...along with the Metformin, which I only take at night now, because it was giving me such awful side effects during the day if I took it with breakfast in the morn.

    Are you taking it twice a day? you should be taking it either twice a day, or 3 times a day with meals, unless you're on the XR version (which didn't work at all for me)
  • Melroxsox
    Melroxsox Posts: 1,040 Member
    Options
    I am not a fan of lower carbs. It's difficult for me and even when I did do it, I saw ZERO results from it. The thing that helps me most is exercise and my Metformin.
    I hear ya on the exercise! I could diet all year long and not lose one pound...actually with my PCOS I would probably gain! But adding the exercise is the main key for me it seems...along with the Metformin, which I only take at night now, because it was giving me such awful side effects during the day if I took it with breakfast in the morn.

    Are you taking it twice a day? you should be taking it either twice a day, or 3 times a day with meals, unless you're on the XR version (which didn't work at all for me)

    nope my dr. told me only once a day now that I've lost so much weight. hopefully I will be able to wean off of it completely by autumn. I used to take it twice a day 500 mg each.

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