PCOS is making me fat! arrr

summer78
summer78 Posts: 2
edited September 20 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi to all,
I am a newbie on fitness pal. I was diagnosed with PCOS on friday after a 5 year battle being over weight. I am not very familiar with this disorder so if anyone had info to share I am be so very grateful!!

Good luck to everyone and God bless!
Summer

Replies

  • jerseynomad
    jerseynomad Posts: 7
    My wife has it. It made it tough to get pregnant but otherwise. It didnt affect her weight, but there are varying degrees of PCOS and not every case is the same. Her major issue with it was period irregularity. The doc put her on Metformin (used for insulin regulation) to help her get regular. And it worked.
  • RMakar
    RMakar Posts: 6
    I was diagnosed with PCOS last summer after battling my weight gain for the past 6 years. I went in for surgery last July to have a 6cm cyst removed from my left ovary. By the time I actually got on the surgery table however, my body had already reabsorbed it. Talk about frustrating! The doctors told me that I have to lose the weight in order to be able to get pregnant and let me tell you it isn't easy! But, don't give up! It isn't the end of the world you just need to find the workout plan and diet that works for you. Good luck!
  • Emilydmo
    Emilydmo Posts: 101
    If you search the message boards you will see that there are many people here with PCOS, so you are definitely not alone! The most important thing to remember is that you won't lose weight the way a normal person will, but that doesn't mean it isn't impossible, so don't get discouraged!! It just takes a little more time and effort but it does happen - I've lost 80 pounds just through diet and exercise. It seems like a lot of people go on metformin, but my doctor just put me on Yaz to help with some symptoms. I think eating the right kinds of carbs is critical with PCOS and it might help to take a look at a low-GI type of diet. Also, exercise is really important, too, because it helps with some of the insulin issues related to PCOS.
  • jagonthedestroyr
    jagonthedestroyr Posts: 8 Member
    you should be very careful, as medical student, ,my best advice is to educate yourself the most you can about the disease. There is nothing better than a patient that takes their own care into their hands and is educated, we appreciate it very much since it makes it easier on us so that we both are on the same page.

    As other response said, yes insulin drugs are used to treat it. The thinking currently is that PCOD (stein-Leventhal Syndrome) has been linked to insulin resistance and insulin administration leads to resumption of ovulation. You are also at risk for abnormal uterine bleeding with hyperestrenism.

    I would recommend going to medscape.com and educating yourself more. Also we use Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease - 8th Ed, which I wouldn't recommend to buy, but find a free eBook of it and read about your condition. It will also give you a good background to understand the insulin resistance part of your syndrome.

    Good Luck
  • summer78
    summer78 Posts: 2
    Wow! You guys are great! My Dr. did put me on Metformin once a day for a week then building up to three tabs daily and Yaz (for estrogen levels) . Also thanks for the education web site, I am a pharm rep and know most anything about derm you could ask but this gyno stuff is all a haze to me! lol Again thank you for all the information. I have been reading all day long and thought a person actually going through this would have some tip and pointers.
    Emily~ 80 lbs! You are my hero!!!! :)
  • rustyroof
    rustyroof Posts: 76
    Ive had it for 6 yrs or more now and I gained alot of weight but if I am honest I also didnt manage my diet or exercise.

    I dont take any tablets for it but I was given Metformin but I am pants at taking pills (good job I am not on the pill)

    My doctor and gynocologist both said weight loss is the best medicine for PCOS it's slightly harder as you have to watch your carbs, make sure your not eating quick fix sugers these raise your blood sugers quickly and drop them quickly, PCOS does this on its own so you dont need to add to it.


    Just eat a healhy recommended intake daily and do lots of aerobics and cardio and you'll start loosing and you'll fight the PCO's without any other aid.

    If your thinking of trying for a baby, then put this off for a year and consentrate on getting your body healthy it will fly by and you'll be giving yourself the best chance on conception.

    And dont read to much on the net it gets confusing and you start believing you have all the symptoms. Speak to your Dr or Gyno there the best people to advise you as they know YOUR body.


    Chelle : ))
  • AMPayne1115
    AMPayne1115 Posts: 4 Member
    Hey Summer! I have struggled with PCOS for years, and so has my mom and sister. (It is hereditary). There are medications that you can take, like the others have mentioned, to regulate your menstrual cycles and resume ovulation, which would be important if you want to become pregnant. I didn't want to be on any medication, though, so I decided to read about the syndrome to learn more. I am now back in school to get my license as a dietitian, with the hopes of counseling women with PCOS.

    I have managed to lose 70 pounds, although it has taken me about 3 years. Women with PCOS lose weight differently and more slowly than others, so you have to be determined and motivated to stick with it. A diet low in simple carbs and sugars is essential -- sugar seems to be the "fuel" for PCOS, and cutting it out has made a huge difference for me. My cycles have become completely regular and I continue to slowly lose weight, and I'm not on any medication at all. With a serious commitment to a healthy diet, you can take control over PCOS instead of letting it control you. I have some books I can recommend if you're interested. Good luck!
  • godblessourhome
    godblessourhome Posts: 3,892 Member
    as others have stated, pcos makes it more difficult to lose weight, but not impossible. :) sometimes it is frustrating because it happens so slowly, but your diet is key. my doctor/dietician recommended a diet that is 45% protein, 25% carb and 30% fat. i don't always hit it, but it is something i shoot for. i also try to limit my sugar. i can tell the days that i ate too much because the scale will move upwards. for me, exercise really makes very little difference in the weight loss. i used to kill myself working out and all i ended up doing was burning out. now, i try to walk my dog every day for 10 minutes or so and i still do about 20-30 minutes cardio 6 days a week because it makes me feel bettter, but it doesn't 'shed the pounds'. my body doesn't want to release the energy (fat) that it has already stored, even on the metformin. i'm not saying don't exercise, because i think you need to; i'm just saying that exercise may not work the same way that it does for non-insulin resistant people. also, the metformin may not help you lose any weight, but it may be helping to keep more weight off so try to be very cosistant in taking it. :)

    wishing you the best of luck in losing weight!
    dawn
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