PCOS'ers please help!

in my experience, low carb is the way to go with pcos.
why take drugs when you can fix it with food? or rather, the lack of certain foods =]

I have PCOS and Metformin was the only way I could jumpstart my weight loss (and I've done low carb and the whole 9 yards and it still didn't budge!). I would try low carb first if you haven't because that is typically what helps when you have insulin resistance. If all else fails, Metformin has worked great for me. I am on the extended release version and I don't have bad side effects or anything. Insulin resistance can cause weight loss resistance so if you can get that under control, you can move forward.

in my experience, low carb is the way to go with pcos.
why take drugs when you can fix it with food? or rather, the lack of certain foods =]

I agree. My doctor and dietician both suggested that I go with a low carb diet, basically the diet guideline that the American Diabetic Association follows. I was on Metformin for about 5 months, but once I switched to gluten free/low carb (although I do cheat sometimes, I'm def not perfect on that), I no longer needed the Metformin. Changing my diet like that seriously helped me. I always struggled, losing and gaining the same 10 lbs over and over again but as soon as I adapted this kind of diet and really focused on my exercise, I saw a huge change. Just cut out the starches, while still getting carbohydrates from fruits and veggies (although 2-3 servings of fruit a day is pretty much the max recommended for the ADA diet), and you should notice a difference!

I've been on Metformin for 5 months and its the only thing I've noticed help me kick off my weight loss too. I also try and follow a low GI diet as much as possible and exercise as often as I can. Without the Metformin however I was doing all these things before and noticing no changes. I'd stopped putting on weight but I wasn't getting rid of any of it though.

My first piece of advice for anyone with PCOS is not to go see a gynaecologist - you need an endocrinologist. nobody understands hormones like those guys! Mine was amazing, prescribed me Metformin straight away which can also really help with fertility issues. As we're not trying for kids yet she was explicit that we be careful and use protection otherwise we could easily find ourselves unexpectedly pregnant!

Low carb where you can, but try and stick with the low GI foods as much as possible. You don't need to give up all carbs, you just need to choose the right ones. And the groups on this site for PCOS sufferers are also full of useful tips so I recommend joining up!

Good luck on your weight loss journey, feel free to friend me if you want some ideas on what to eat!

I have PCOS and I do not take metformin. Have your doctor see if you're insulin resistant first, and then if you are take the metformin. Go see a reproductive endocrinologist before you're ready to start a family so that you can get the PCOS under control and allow him or her to advise you how to manage the disorder. I am currently under a reproductive endocrinologist's care for PCOS and obesity, which was the best decision I ever made.

There are several groups on MFP for women with PCOS, I recommend starting with one of them.

I too have PCOS. I have never taken metaformin (sp?), but I've read that women who take it either love it or hate it. It's mainly sucessful with PCOSers who have insulin resistance, so it might be good if you have that.

I personally started out taking birth control to help with the symptoms, but after 4 years and no improvements, I finally quit taking it. I feel so much better now that I'm not taking it, and I'm actually starting to lose some weight.

I take everyday:

A multivitamin: GNC Women's Ultra Mega
GNC Liquid B Complex (really good for women with PCOS, helps if you're feeling sluggish and some women with hair loss say it helps them)
GNC Triple Strength Fish Oil
Nature's Bounty 2000 mg Cinnamon with Chrominum
Nature's Way Vitex Herbal Medication

Also, I cut down on sugar. I no longer drink soda, and stick to clean eating. It helps I have celiac disease and I cannot have gluten anyway. I also stay away from dairy and soy, soy will especially screw with your hormones and some women have problems with soy messing with their cycles.

I personally do not want children so I have never studied the infertility caused by PCOS. You should join one of the groups here on MFP, they are sure to have loads more information on this issue.

I agree with other posters that low glycemic foods + exercise are really effective. I took Metformin for about 3 years for reactive hypoglycemia, and was also on the pill, but still experienced a lot of symptoms from PCOS that doctors couldn't really help me with. I decided to go off the pill after 5 or so years of use, and unexpectedly became pregnant. I had to take Synthroid for hypothyroid due to pregnancy, and of course after I discovered I was pregnant I went off Metformin, also. I have not had to take Metformin since finding out I was pregnant, my reactive hypoglycemia hasn't returned in full. I currently use the Eat Clean Diet guidelines for planning my meals and I love it. Although I am a cheese and booze addict, I find I don't crave these things at all when I eat 'clean'. I'm also training for a half marathon, so booze isn't a desirable element in my diet when I have to get up and run the next morning! I don't feel deprived until I run out of vegetables to fill my plate with each meal

Metformin can have different effects on different people. I never had a problem with the side effects, personally, and who knows if it helped me become pregnant. It is commonly prescribed for women with fertility issues, and the last time I visited the endocrinologist, they told me that Metformin users have an across the board 40% lower chance of cancers. Making the decision to take drugs of any kind is a big decision, and in my opinion it's always better to try to correct problems nutritionally and with exercise first. Sometimes, though, one's body does need help in the form of drugs. Try not to judge yourself for your decision, whichever way you go. Good luck!

dont mean to sound dum. what is POCS?

I lost weight with PCOS eating low carb and high protein. I did eat whole grain carbs, and basically cut out all processed foods. I lost about 100 lbs that way.