PCOS ladies- it is possible. 106 lost in a year w/NO meds
joyzy
Posts: 97 Member
Last August I weighed 270lbs. Now I weigh 164. The short version: I stopped eating so much crap and started moving more.
I've posted here before to give people some inspiration since I used to love looking at these forums when I started what seemed to me to be an insurmountable goal. Seeing other people have success made me think that it was possible that one day I might be able to do it too. So that's why I'm posting again.
One thing I haven't mentioned before is that I have PCOS. (here's a description of PCOS. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001408/) The PCOS combined with unhealthy eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle lead me to gain roughly 10lbs a year throughout my twenties. It was a vicious cycle.
I married in 2002 at age 22, started trying for a baby in 2003 at age 23. We had trouble trying to conceive due to my PCOS and we went through fertility treatments to conceive our first two children. We have three kids and they were born in 2006, 2008, and 2010.
After our last baby was born in 2010, my concern for my PCOS kind of fell to the wayside since we aren't planning any more children. I sustained a debilitating spinal cord injury in 2011, I decided I needed to lead a healthier lifestyle, for the future of my family. I was left temporarily paralyzed from the waist down, and permanently paralyzed down part of my right leg and foot, and had to learn to walk again. I began counting calories with MFP, as well as cardio exercise every day for 45 minutes or more per day.
I know everyone is different, and there are varying degrees of PCOS. But my weight loss journey was possible without the use of any meds. (I had used metformin for a few months while TTC #2 in 2007 and it made me terribly sick). I did this entirely through changing my eating and exercise habits. I'm not saying this will be the case for everyone. Obviously, talk to your doctor to find out what's best for your personal goals.
So here's the basics of what worked for me:
Cutting down to eating 1500-1800 calories per day.
Cardio exercise daily: walking, jogging, running, elliptical, biking. 45-120 minutes of sweating per day.
And 7 months ago I added in strength training at the gym 2-3x/week.
I'm 5'8" tall and 32 years old.
Before (in the hospital with my spinal cord injury) and after (today!)
Before: size 24 - 270 lbs
Size 10 dress - 164lbs
Last week (164lbs)
If you have any questions, please ask.
Joy :-)
I've posted here before to give people some inspiration since I used to love looking at these forums when I started what seemed to me to be an insurmountable goal. Seeing other people have success made me think that it was possible that one day I might be able to do it too. So that's why I'm posting again.
One thing I haven't mentioned before is that I have PCOS. (here's a description of PCOS. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001408/) The PCOS combined with unhealthy eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle lead me to gain roughly 10lbs a year throughout my twenties. It was a vicious cycle.
I married in 2002 at age 22, started trying for a baby in 2003 at age 23. We had trouble trying to conceive due to my PCOS and we went through fertility treatments to conceive our first two children. We have three kids and they were born in 2006, 2008, and 2010.
After our last baby was born in 2010, my concern for my PCOS kind of fell to the wayside since we aren't planning any more children. I sustained a debilitating spinal cord injury in 2011, I decided I needed to lead a healthier lifestyle, for the future of my family. I was left temporarily paralyzed from the waist down, and permanently paralyzed down part of my right leg and foot, and had to learn to walk again. I began counting calories with MFP, as well as cardio exercise every day for 45 minutes or more per day.
I know everyone is different, and there are varying degrees of PCOS. But my weight loss journey was possible without the use of any meds. (I had used metformin for a few months while TTC #2 in 2007 and it made me terribly sick). I did this entirely through changing my eating and exercise habits. I'm not saying this will be the case for everyone. Obviously, talk to your doctor to find out what's best for your personal goals.
So here's the basics of what worked for me:
Cutting down to eating 1500-1800 calories per day.
Cardio exercise daily: walking, jogging, running, elliptical, biking. 45-120 minutes of sweating per day.
And 7 months ago I added in strength training at the gym 2-3x/week.
I'm 5'8" tall and 32 years old.
Before (in the hospital with my spinal cord injury) and after (today!)
Before: size 24 - 270 lbs
Size 10 dress - 164lbs
Last week (164lbs)
If you have any questions, please ask.
Joy :-)
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Replies
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Way to go! You look amazing and so healthy!0
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THAT IS AMAZING! Especially with PCOS, you are incredible! I have had cysts rupture before but no diagnosis of PCOS. And last year i had a miscarriage at the end of september (coming up on a year now) and i became very depressed and then had another miscarriage in January. But now i have decided to get my act together and eat healthy and stay active and i hope this helps my woman parts be healthier too! I would really love to have a healthy child some day.0
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You are amazing!0
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Ahm-mazing cupcake!!! Great way to inspire doll!0
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You look amazing Joy! Thank you so much for your inspirational posts
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You look so AMAZING, I hope you bought that dress it was soooo cute!0
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yep, it is possible. I did it too. removing the word crap (even though I eat healthy) and replacing with "less"
eat less, move more (to quote Brad Pilon)
Yes, it is all that matters.
blog bobbiesfitness.com
AWESOME JOB! YOU LOOK FANTASTIC!!!!!!!0 -
That is an amazing success story and a great inspiration so those of us with 100+ pounds to lose. Way to go!0
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You are so incredible, congratulations on all of your amazing success.
Thank you for the inspiration, I really needed this today.0 -
Congrats! You look amazing! Thank you for sharing your story, it is truly inspiring!0
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Definitely an inspiration! Looks like I need to up my cardio to 1hr 30 minutes a day and increase days for weight training! I am in a bit of a rut and have 74lbs to lose!0
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Way to go! You look incredible!!! And HEALTHY!0
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Was feeling super down and anxious yesterday. Thanks for your story. Truly inspiring 0
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Wow! Amazing transformation....you look great!!0
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WOW!
Congratulations!
Would love to be friends with you, if you don't mind.
I'm going to try what you said: take in less calories and move more.
AMAZING!!!
Girl, you should be the poster child for MyFitnessPal, lol.
Thanks for the inspiration!
Nicole0 -
What an inspiration your photos are... you look amazing and so healthy! I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2002 (at age 20) and have been fighting to get (and keep) my weight down ever since, in hopes of improving my chances of having kids. I've lost nearly 60 lbs since February but need to up my exercise goals if I ever want to see the kind of success you've posted here. Congrats!!!0
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Bump!0
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It is possible girls-
I was on medication- Glucophage, spirolactone, birth control pills, and two medications for blood pressure.
I have lost 52 lbs., and have been taken off of ALL of those meds. Now, I will say it has taken a while- I started in January. I also am still stuck with more belly fat, and a higher body fat percentage than I would like to have. I have about 10-15 lbs to get to my goal weight and a healthy BMI.
I honestly was so sick that I did not think it was possible. I was literally knocking at the door of being a full blown diabetic. I have two girls, thanks to the miracle of modern medicine. We are done having children, and I thank my lucky stars for them every day. I decided that I was going to take control of my health for them. I worked so hard to get them, they deserve to have a healthy mom.
I do lots of cardio, at least 45 minutes a day if not more- 6x per week. I am going to start backing off of the cardio a little and adding in some weight training soon. I really want to tone my belly and get my body fat down.
We can do this. I do think it is possible to defeat this awful disease. Maybe not be cured, but we can win.0 -
congrats Joyzy!!! thanx fot your support:drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker: :drinker:0
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You look cute as a button in that dress! I hope you bought it 0
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Congrats, congrats and CONGRATS! Not only is it possible to take it off but it is also possible to keep it off. I lost the bulk of my weight early on and have kept all of it off for the past few years. I have lost a few more pounds in the last few months but that is due to the stress eliminated from my life when my position at work was eliminated :happy: I keep reading these articles that say people that lose 100 pounds or more are unable to keep it off and I sit here and say huh!?! So job well done and now on to the second part of your journey :flowerforyou:0
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OMG, you look fantastic!! Congratulations!!0
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you rock! congratulations on transforming your body and life!0
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Absolutely amazing!! Congratulations, you look SO great!!0
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You look amazing!!!!! Great job!!!!!!0
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Amazing success!!! Well done you!0
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This gives me so much hope. You look awesome!! 0
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That is awesome!0
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Wow you look incredible. I also suffer from PCOS and have already had to have one ovary removed. In addition, I suffer from growth hormone deficiency (caused by a congenital disorder). I've had to struggle with my weight my entire life. While I'm not necessarily overweight at this point, I still carry a lot more body fat than I should. Hopefully with hormone replacement therapy and a good diet/exercise plan and lots of support I can do this too.
You truly are an inspiration, and proof that it can be done!!! Thanks for sharing.0 -
Today I started WW because MFP has not been working for me. I have gained nearly 30 pounds in 18 months. I have a total of 45 to lose and feel like it's such a daunting task. I'm feeling overwhelmed and saddened by letting myself go. Thank you for the inspiration!0
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