PCOS and low carb

I have PCOS and I'll never eat low carb, that is just the facts.

What I do though is I limit my refined carbs. If you look at the GI index for foods, I'd recommend focusing on ones that are lower GI.

What types of snacks do you eat now?

I have PCOS and did low carb (the wrong way) for years! I think alot of people have the misconception that as long as it doesn't have carbs you can eat it, which is the misconception alot of people have of the atkins diet, even though in phase 2 and 3 you do eat carbs. I didn't find success with this and depleted my body of alot of vital nutrients. I would suggest to stick to eating veggies, lean meats, and low glycemic carbs, so essentially very close to the South Beach Diet. There are certain carbs you can eat that will not effect your blood sugar.

The reason low carb is successful is because part of the problem with PCOS is your insulin levels, so you kinda have to treat yourself like a diabetic would. But alot of people tend to do more "eat as much fat as you want as long as there are no carbs", and I don't think that is healthy. Not saying all low carbers, but alot do have that misconception, myself included back then. It isn't just about losing weight, and you need carbs - meats and cheeses do not have the nutrients your body needs, yes they have protein but not too much else - you need all those varieties of veggies, having your body nutritionally sound is the most important thing to remember. I truly believe that if we can get our bodies to optimum health ( i have done alot of holistic research on the topic), pcos can be cured, unlike modern medicine who says there is no way to get rid of it. It is a hormonal imbalance and when your body is where it should be nutritionally, it can go away. Not saying this will happen in a short amount of time, we all have reeked alot of havoc on our bodies by eating processed junk, it is definitely a lifestyle change that needs to be made and lived for the rest of your life.

I don't necessary eat low carb anymore, but eat as clean as possible, no processed or convenient foods, all whole foods, and I do eat grains, but whole grains in their natural state. And this has been working for me quite well, and you don't feel deprived. Also, beans are very very good for you and do not raise your blood sugar. My best advice would be to either follow the south beach or do like i do and eat as clean as you can. definitely alot of cooking and prep, but well worth it. I have never felt better and though I struggle sometimes with those convenient foods, as long as you stay on track the majority, they shouldn't affect you.

Let me know if this helps at all

I have PCOS and am insulin resistant. My diet consists of LOTS of fish....and Greek yogurt!

I can't agree with Bellamarie's post strongly enough. Insulin resistence is a key symptom of PCOS, which mean medically recommended treatments include eating lower carb. It's really not an option if you want to stimulate your body's response to insulin and avoid diabetes.

I will say this; lowering your carbs feels daunting to you because carbs / sweets are an addiction. Our body LIKES these things and there is something to the notion of a 'sweet tooth' and a 'sugar jones'. It feel insurmountable and impossible to reduce consumption of these things because we're wired to like them.

And, like any addiction, withdrawal sucks. Big time.

BUT, I'll say that once you get over the 'hump' and have reduced your intake, you'll find the cravings for it aren't really there anymore. When I look at how I eat now, I actually make a conscious decision to put some sort of starch in there. Rice / potatoes (even sweet potatos), couscous, etc - it's all sitting uneaten on my shelves. As in: uneaten for the last 8 months. It's just not a component of my meals anymore. I have no desire for it. And, there are carbs in vegetables / fruits, the more than satisfy the ratios you need to balance your nutrition.

you'll improve your health dramatically if you work on achieving a low - at least much lower - carb diet than you're eating now.

I was diagnosed with PCOS 12 years ago. Don't wig out about Metformin, but do ask why it was prescribed for you. I was given it to regulate my cycle and prevent borderline insulin issues from becoming worse. My blood work did not make a strong case for my having insulin resistance/metabolic syndrome.

I spent some time on South Beach and paid attention to the glycemic index of foods. I read a great book, The Insulin Resistance Diet - it is a bit like eating like a diabetic would, linking carbs with protein to combat the insulin spikes. It was easy to read the science and full of ideas for meals and snacks.

I am not a typical PCOS-er though. Many of the symptoms I do not have. Low carb does not mean NO carb, it just means pay attention to where they are coming from and how they affect YOU. I eat fruit in the morning because any later and I battle all day. I do better with more protein and healthy fat. I do not eat any grains or legumes - actually hinder my weight loss efforts in spite of working out like a banshee and make my hands swell (even though it is homemade and whole wheat).

I have PCOS as well...I eat a lower carb diet but the carbs I do have are more whole grain. Now, that's not to say I don't splurge and eat the processed foods and have a few drinks...but it's more the exception than the rule! If you eat cleaner and exercise you'll feel a whole lot better! What made a huge difference for me was logging everything I ate here and seeing where I was going wrong. The other piece of my puzzle was having the NovaSure procedure, not a good idea for women still wanting to have kids, my period is now almost non-existent, I have more energy to work out because my iron levels are up, no more cramps and my confidence is through the roof! It's a struggle and a long road ahead of you but keep with it, we can do this! :flowerforyou:

I have pcos and I don't do carb diets. I did this once lost 20 and then gained it all back.

I'm all about eating healthy and working out. No eating after 5 and always within my calorie count. Lost 12 pounds in 2 weeks so I'm pretty happy with that.

Eating bread on its own is the bigger problem as it causes the blood sugar problems...at least that's what I gather from reading?

Yes, buttering it or dipping it in olive oil reduces the blood sugar impact of the bread as the mixture has a lower GI than the bread (and the other things are carb free).

I picked up some diabetes cookbooks and used those to help me come up with ideas of snacks that are enjoyable. Celery and peanut butter are a staple, as is yogurt.

On top of that, I find that my body responds much better to exercise than it does to just dieting. That's the pain of PCOS... no one is the same. Experiment and find what works for you.

I have, like some other people, done better with eating clean rather than true low carb. I find that by eating clean I just naturally eat lower levels or carbohydrates. Basically I eat only "clean" carbs... so fruit, brown rice, oatmeal, sweet potato, occasionally granola.

Go to www.netrition.com and check out their low carb link. There are literally hundreds of low carb items to replace every day items that you use that are high in carbs, and also a ton of snack bars and stuff like that. If you are wary of sugar substitutes or sugar alcohols, this won't help much though.