Hi ladies! we were just having a discussion about all the things surrounding weight training for us women with PCOS and having elevated Testosterone levels. Check out this article, it came from the PCOS Nutrition Center Site, and thought some might be interested in the read. According to them, because our testosterone is high, we will gain muscle quicker but because we will be dropping fat when building muscles and speeding up our metabolism, it should not raise, i think that is what I read lol

Check it out and see if it can be a bit of help for you!! :happy:



Rev Up Your Metabolism

Let's face the reality: The majority of us have sedentary jobs. Sitting all day in a chair does not help our waistlines and is hazardous to our health. A sedentary lifestyle is one of the main contributors to weight gain in America. A strong relationship exists between a lack of physical activity and increased levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, and overall, increased risk for heart disease. In an energizing closing session at The Weight Management Symposium which took place last month in Henderson, Nevada, Dr. Lenny Kravitz (yes, the Doctor) an Associate Professor of Exercise Science at The University of New Mexico, shared his tips with hundreds of dietitians on the best ways to increase metabolism and burn fat. Curious? I was too. Dr. Kravitz shared that one of the most effective ways to burn more calories and fat is by lifting weights.

Proabably the best thing about having PCOS is the ability to build muscle. Having more testosterone puts women with PCOS at an advantage to increase muscle mass. That's a great thing because muscle is very active and uses glucose very efficiently, requiring less insulin production. Resistance training increases muscle mass, which in turn increases resting metabolic rate (RMR). This leads to an increase in total energy expenditure and body fat loss. A double bonus: We not only burn more calories and fat during the time we lift weights but our metabolism stays up to 10% higher afterwards thanks to an increase in the flight or fight hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine.
Benefits of lifting weights:

Burn more fat
Increase and maintain metabolism
Lower insulin
Improve blood pressure
Aid in weight management
Improve mood
Increase self confidence


Ready to get your burn on? Here's some tips on what you need to know.

Skip the scale

Muscle weighs more than fat. As you weight train and gradually increase the weight, you will replace fat with muscle. This may cause a slight increase on the number on the scale, decrease or no change at all. Don't drive yourself crazy by monitoring your weight on a scale. You will see a difference in your clothes as you will still lose inches. Using a tape measure one a month or going by how your clothes fit are a better indicator.
How much weight to lift?

As much as you can. If you are lifting weights and it's not difficult to finish your last repetition, it's not heavy enough. Don't be afraid of heavy weights. Women with PCOS are strong! I assure you, you will not look like Arnold. If you've been lifting weights and haven't increased the resistance, trying adding on a little more weight next time. If you belong to a gym, consider scheduling a session with a personal trainer. Many gyms will offer a free personal training session or have staff that will help you learn about the machines and establish your settings. For best results, weight train two to three days with rest days between. Consistency is key: You will be burn more fat the more fit you become.
Change it up!

Varying your sequence and routine can make a difference; resting muscle groups by switching to weight machines that target different muscle groups prepares muscles for the next round. Work the largest muscles first (i.e., back exercises before triceps). You may find it helpful to observe what machines and exercises others do to get ideas for your workouts.

If you enjoy group classes, most gyms offer a fun weight lifting class called BodyPump. Click here to read a great overview of what you can expect from the class.

No matter what type of resistance training you do, adding muscle is the key to revving up your metabolism and burning fat.