Worried about androgens and losing weight

pland54

I'm starting to get good and motivated to start on an exercise regimen, but my goals are not weight loss, so it's a bit complicated for me to figure out what exercises (and how much of them) to do. Here are my starting stats:

5'6", 110-115lbs, small frame, weight mostly concentrated in my stomach

Goals: I have PCOS, but the 'lean' type. I don't need to lose weight, but I need to protect myself against cardiovascular disease and diabetes. My condition makes my weight collect in my midsection, too, so I want to tone up my stomach. More than anything, though, I simply want to have more energy and stamina.

What I'm afraid of: my body produces way too many androgens already, and it makes my face break out and my hair fall out (not attractive). I've read that exercise can increase androgen levels. Does anyone know about this? What types of exercise? How much?

Can anybody give me some tips on where to start?

ubermensch13

Have you spoken to your Dr? He/she will probably have a better response than the non doctors here.

BarackMeLikeAHurricane

Spot reduction is impossible. You can build muscle underneath the fat on your stomach, but you can't "tone up" your stomach. Muscle tone refers to a muscle's tension at rest. Exercising increases muscle tone and mass. If you add muscle underneath fat it will make your stomach appear thicker.

pland54

I've been working with doctors.....took years and years to get a diagnosis, and now that I finally have one I'm in the midst of a myriad of every test imaginable. But despite the mixed messages my doctors have given me, they've all told me that they always tell patients with PCOS to follow a low-glycemic diet and exercise, but I'm the first one they've seen that's not overweight. Always the 'different' one, lol :ohwell:

In any case, I suppose I should say that I'm not looking to get hardcore into anything, just make gradual positive changes to be healthier, without raising androgens. That's a big fear.

starjumper12

are you taking any medications to help with the PCOS? typically if you don't need to lose weight, there's not a lot the dr can prescribe except exercise and specialized diet - if you don't already have a diet like that then you really need to see someone about that - a dr, a nutritionist, a dietician. the combination of diet and exercise should reduce your PCOS symptoms (like elevated estrogen + androgens as well as poly-cystic ovaries and the belly weight concentration) overall. you really need a dr's assistance in figuring it out for your, so if your dr doesn't know how to help your specific condition then you should probably find one that specializes in it.
i'm speaking from the opposite side of experience- i was misdiagnosed with PCOS and mistreated by my dr for the last 2 years until they finally started doing baseline bloodtests at the beginning of the cycle and found out that my hormone levels were LOW, not high.

pland54

are you taking any medications to help with the PCOS? typically if you don't need to lose weight, there's not a lot the dr can prescribe except exercise and specialized diet - if you don't already have a diet like that then you really need to see someone about that - a dr, a nutritionist, a dietician. the combination of diet and exercise should reduce your PCOS symptoms (like elevated estrogen + androgens as well as poly-cystic ovaries and the belly weight concentration) overall. you really need a dr's assistance in figuring it out for your, so if your dr doesn't know how to help your specific condition then you should probably find one that specializes in it.
i'm speaking from the opposite side of experience- i was misdiagnosed with PCOS and mistreated by my dr for the last 2 years until they finally started doing baseline bloodtests at the beginning of the cycle and found out that my hormone levels were LOW, not high.

Yikes! Sorry to hear you were misdiagnosed....seems to be much more common for them to miss the diagnosis when it's right in front of them! I'm working on getting referred to a specialist, but it might be a while before I can actually see them. Also, I live in Germany and my German is sub-par, and according to my insurance I have to go to another city to see an endocrinologist who speaks English. So, doctors visits are on the agenda....I'm just impatient!

omma_to_3

I think the exercise will improve your hormone levels. It typically does for PCOS, but I'm not sure how much of that may be based on reduced insulin levels. If you're not overweight, you probably don't have elevated insulin levels. Did they test them? The low-GI diet is good for everyone (PCOS or not) but I'm not sure it will make a big difference for your PCOS if you're not insulin resistant, but I don't think it will make it worse at all.

threeohtwo

Ok. So I have PCOS too but unfortunately not the thin kind . I'm not sure who told you that working out would raise your androgen levels. Working out can raise testosterone levels in females but its not the bad kind. There are multiple kinds of testosterone in the body including free testosterone. Do you have insulin resistance? That will affect my advice as well. What tipped you off that you had PCOS? I don't imagine you have much belly fat if you weight 110-115. Thanks!

pland54

Yes, the insulin resistance is an important bit of info....I'm currently awaiting test results. They were supposed to call me today, and it's agonizing awaiting the verdict. Because of the severity of my symptoms even though I am not overweight, I am expecting that I will indeed have insulin resistance.

I suspected PCOS because I fit the profile completely, except for excess weight. No periods, acne, hair loss, and then finally an ultrasound of my ovaries, which looked horrible, lol.

I don't have that much belly fat, I just don't like my profile....does that make sense? I am really small-chested, like to the point of looking like a 12 year old So it's not that my belly is big, it's that my belly is AS big as my chest, and that bothers me.