PCOS girls

I am going to write a drastically different post than I would have written about three months ago.

In the past, what worked for me to lose weight and get in shape was focusing on low glycemic index foods and avoid dairy. I am certain that doing this makes it more likely for PCOSers to lose weight.

HOWEVER. This time around, I really haven't had the motivation to do that, and I've really been focusing on calories in, calories out. And I try to put a lot of calories out so I can take in what I want. So it's not a ton, but for a mom working a sedentary job, I figure burning 2000 calories a week is pretty decent. I run and lift and do random other cardio here and there. I think exercise is fabulous for PCOSers.

I try to hit a good protein total, which means I end up eating fewer carbs than I might otherwise, but I'm definitely looking at upping the protein rather than managing specific carbs.

And it's working. I've lost almost a pound a week since August, though not consistently - I've had long plateaus here and there with sudden drops. That's life.

I guess I may be lucky because other PCOSers do seem to need to go low glycemic index. But it might be worth a try to just get a decent amount of exercise and eat at a nice but sensible deficit. I set my calories at around 80% of my sedentary TDEE and then eat back all my exercise calories. I also have a day once a week or so when I just have whatever I want and forget about tracking. AND if I go over I don't sweat it.

I think for me, being able to do this as "normally" as possible has been important this time around. Plus I really love dairy and white potatoes.

I agree that PCOS makes fluctuations even more extreme than they are for the general population. For that reason, I weigh myself daily and have conditioned myself to just know that if I see my weight go up four pounds, it doesn't mean I've truly *gained* anything. My concern with weekly weighing is that if I hit the wrong day, my weight could look like it's way up even though it's not, and that would be depressing and demotivating, and I wouldn't be able to wait until the next week to find out what is really up. I feel like for me it needs to be either daily or monthly, and I really like the constant feedback of daily. I just generally track a new low weight when it seems I've hit it for real a few days in a week.

Good luck!

I just recently lowered my carbs drastically from 150+ down to 30. I dont work outside my home and have not quite gotten in a regular exercise routine so I limit my calories to 1200 a day. it is still a work in progress for me but I already feel better after just 4 days. I just told my husband that even though the # on the scale is the same and my inches the same i actually feel slimmer. It might be all the water ive been drinking lately instead of all the diet soda, or it might be the cut down on carbs.... who knows.

I try to focus on eating mostly whole foods and cut out all fast foods and heavily processed foods too! the drs tried putting me on metformin but I cant take how sick it makes me...

Also, do any of you guys get discouraged looking at yourself? I tend to bloat a lot. It looks like I gain ten lbs, lose ten lbs, some days I have a double chin and some days my face looks nice and skinny. It's really discouraging.

I understand your pain :-( I have 2 babies and that doesn't help the situation. I am getting a tummy tuck though after I lose my weight.... that is the only thing helping me stay positive!

Met makes me so sick too :-(. But PCOS symptoms subside with weightloss anyway so we should be fine in the long run

I am not diabetic but I check my sugars a few times a week and they seem to have become more stable and steady since low carbing. I dont want to become a diabetic, it runs in both sides of my family though so I really have to watch out! I am determined to kick PCOS in the *kitten*!!!

I have PCOS. I have lost about 50 lbs since January just counting calories and going to the gym 2 or 3 times a week. I haven't really been paying much attention to carbs and sugar but I'm going to start since the weight loss has slowed down a LOT.

My goal in life is to not become a diabetic! Ugh. I gained a lot of weight my freshman year of college, too. I went from 180 two years ago (senior in high school) to 242 at my heaviest. It sucks because I didn't eat THAT unhealthy. I think it was all the processed foods at the college.

me too! Last year I went down from 230 to 165 (not really in a healthy way though I was going through a divorce and pretty much stopped eating) once my life stabled out I gained 30lbs back and now im kinckig myself fot it! all my medical results last summer were PERFECT. ugh.

I have recently discovered I have PCOS and trying to figure out how to deal with it. I have lost 25 lbs in the last year, so slowly it frustrated me to no end. Now that I know a little bit more about PCOS it seems I'm pretty fortunate to have lost this much. I am trying to configure my diet as I have tried everything from low carb to no dairy, meat and veggies only and have seen the same results for most diets. I am going to the Dr. later this month for help, what should I be asking about Metformin? What does it do and has anyone NOT been made sick from it?

you are pretty much guaranteed to get sick from it, most people I know have. from what they say is after a week or so your suppose to get use to it and not get sick but i give up taking it after a few days. I have been on the regular and the extended release and they both killed me so i decided to go the natural route. lower my carbs, and take cinnamon. so far its working for me when it comes to my blood sugars.

as for infertility and cycles. mine are incredibly normal but im still unable to get preggo.... we just dont have the $$ right now to dig deeper into it to find out more

There is a new metformin medication called Glumetza that eliminates most of the stomach issues as well. Saved my life.

Yup Yup... I have PCOS too and I've lost a total of about 30 lbs this year. I pay attention to calories in/out and my protein intake. I workout usually 5 days a week (cardio/weights). I've not been able to workout much in the last 2 weeks because I've had a terrible cold! It won't go away! I also started taking Metformin, on day 3 now. I notice a slight stomach ache, but no other signs of sickness from it.
Anyone may feel free to add me! Good Luck Everyone!