Losing weight with PCOS.

Because PCOS presents with insulin-resistance, much-like Type II diabetes (and can lead to it if not managed) many women diagnosed with PCOS eat a low-carbohydrate (some even to ketogenic levels) lifestyle.

You can get good support at the low-carb group: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/411-low-carber-daily-forum-the-group-

... or the keto group: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/1160-keto

... or the PCOS group: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/groups/home/3070-p-c-o-sis

I've suffered from PCOS since I was 14 years old before starting this journey I had a cyst close to the size of a grapefruit putting me at risk for surgery! I didn't want to get to that point! I read and read on natural ways to improve and possibly eliminate this cyst among a couple smaller ones! I started taking vitex stopped eating wheat come to find out I'm a celiac and its very common in women that suffer from PCOS! To make a long story short I know longer have super painful periods or pain in those areas anymore and all my cyst have shed and had remained shed ever since! I know wheat/gluten is a hard thing to avoid but I see it as this I rather be pain free and lower my risk of ovaries being removed then indulge in gluten products!

Good luck! I dropped 20lbs in a month and 6 inches off waist and 5 inches off hips so far!

My wife has PCOS. She struggles with finding encouragment to deal with the harder effort it takes to lose. You all can add her if you want. She is having success though, just needs encouragment sometimes. (stormygirl_82)

I have PCOS and am insulin resistant. I've also got gluten and lactose intolerances to contend with, as do many women and girls with PCOS.

Because of my insulin resistance and my issues with gluten and lactose, I've been eating according to what is most commonly known now as the "paleo diet". Eating this way has definitely helped with blood sugar issues as well as some problems related to chronic inflammation that I had.

The other thing that has been absolutely vital for me is exercise. Not cardio (running, elliptical, spin, zumba, etc.), but lifting heavy weights. I do that three times weekly, walk every day, and swing kettlebells two or three days as well.

I think the heavy weight lifting combined with the change in diet has helped to balance my hormones like nobody's business.

You can lose weight--you just need to find the way that works for you, same as anyone else does. PCOS varies widely from person to person, so my way might not be the best way for you, and vice versa.

Not all women with PCOS need to be on low carb diets....I've got at least a few friends on here who have PCOS, have lost a bunch of weight, and did not worry about carbohydrates. It really depends on what's going on with you. You should speak to your doctor about all this--that's the best way to sort it out. Nobody here knows how to advise you properly regarding your diet, as your situation is not necessarily the same as mine, hers, or hers.

How low carb one can/should eat is another matter that you'll want to ask about if your doctor thinks it's a good idea for you to eat that way.

Low calorie foods are generally higher in carbohydrates because when they remove the fat, they end up adding sugars to make it taste decent. Full fat foods are much more satisfying and taste better (my opinion), though they do take up more space in your caloric budget.

I have PCOS and not all women with PCOS are insulin resistant (i am not). ive lose 186 pounds thru exercise, eating well (for most of my journey 1800 calories), getting enough fluids and resting. Best of luck. Oh and i am only 35 pounds away from goal

Hello there!

Always got a fist-bump for my fellow soul cyster.

The basics - got diagnosed in 2010, however long suspected it was the case. My joyful symptoms include being a big ol' apple shape (although that was more with the distribution of the flab, rather than the cause of the flab itself - that was largely down to an awful diet and sitting on my ever-expanding backside), male pattern baldness, and excess facial hair (sexy, right?).

Meds-wise, I was prescribed Dianette (which I am still on), and Metformin (which I have recently come off).

Long story short, I've lost the best part of six stone (84lb). I started at 16 stone (224lb), or thereabouts - I was a serial scale dodger!

What worked for me in terms of weight loss? Shedloads of hard work, basically. Even in the early days I had to sweat myself inside out to make the smallest losses, but was determined to stick at it - the time would pass anyway, right?

I didn't want to bite off more than I could chew in terms of making changes at the beginning, so my diet was largely portion control rather than setting out a particular plan - one step at a time. And just sensible choices, really - a banana instead of my usual couple of Mars bars, that kind of thing.

As time has gone on, I've tried various diets - I tried very low-carb for a period, but personally found it unsustainable. Low GI worked well for me, and wasn't too restrictive.

Now, as I'm largely at goal and shaping up with heavy lifting, I've shifted over to a high-protein, high good fat, moderate carb diet. I don't deny myself much - life's too short for a world without beer/pizza/chocolate - but they're very much moderated. As a result of the high fat/protein/moderate carb, I've found myself feeling very sated and the hunger pangs - which I don't doubt were down to sugar spikes - are largely eliminated.

Regarding my PCOS symptoms - well, for me there hasn't been a magic wand as such. I still have to have hair ripped out of my face once or month or so, and my crowning glory could never be described as that again. But my physical and mental health have vastly improved, and for me it boiled down to "you can be fat, hairy and balding...or you could just be hairy and balding".

I really wish you all the best - don't feel that you have to fall victim to PCOS and use it as an excuse. It's hard, it's trying, and there are days when I'm due a wax and my hairline looks particularly sparse and I want to cry and shake my first at it all. But eff you PCOS, because I actually don't mind looking in the mirror these days. It can be done, I promise you.

If you want anything else, just drop me a line All the best xx

Last year I was diagnosed with PCOS after a long fight with my docs who were putting all my problems related to it down to hormones for almost 7 years, I eventually was scanned and shown to have it.
It explained a lot for me too, I always find it really difficult to lose weight without really having to make drastic cuts to everything and work out like crazy! In fact I didn't start properly losing weight until I started tracking everything on this, the second I stop paying close attention to my diet my weight leaps back up.

However, about a in March I decided enough was enough weight wise (I kept yoyoing through dieting and not dieting) and I've stuck to a diet and so far have lost a stone ( that's 14lb or 6kg) It takes time but it is possible! ^_^

Not all women with PCOS need to be on low carb diets....I've got at least a few friends on here who have PCOS, have lost a bunch of weight, and did not worry about carbohydrates. It really depends on what's going on with you.

Agreed. I was diagnosed with PCOS, I lost 20kg and am a normal weight now. All of my 'symptoms' have gone minus the unsightly body hairs, but I can deal with that. I didn't feel it was any harder to lose the weight and I certainly didn't pay attention to my carb intake. You can do it! :flowerforyou:

I was diagnosed with PCOS 8 months ago when I was 5st heavier. Prior to that I'd spent about 12 years on the 'tomorrow diet', eating to excess today as my new healthy lifestyle starts tomorrow. I'm vegan so was conscious of my diet anyway but that didn't stop me hitting the morbidly obese category.

I'm PCOS med free and haven't followed a particularly low carb diet but I have cut back on white bread ( I LOVE the stuff and found it difficult to control the amount of bread I was consuming), potatoes and pasta, though I still eat their wholemeal /wheat counterparts. My success has been due to portion control, being aware - actually thinking about when and why I'm eating (I was a bit of an idle grazer) and upping my activity levels. The usual stuff. It's easily maintainable and I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything.

My only symptoms were very very irregular periods and being a bit of a wobbler..while I'm still far wobblier than I'd like to be - I'm a stone and a bit off target - the other stuff seems to have righted itself.

Good luck..you can do this! :happy:

Bump :-)
PCOS-er diagnosed 10+ years ago. I try to avoid processed, high carb foods and stick with high-fiber whole grains. I too can't control myself with the 'whites' bread pasta etc, so I try to avoid them. I'm happier when i don't eat them. I'm vegetarian so I really can't do 'low carb' but I do eat plenty of whole, fresh fruits and veggies :-)

I also recommend eliminating soy from your diet as much as possible. It's in everything. Even watch for it in cosmetics and beauty products. Soy is a plant estrogen. It will mess with your hormones and your thyroid and soul cysters don't need any more stuff messing with our hormones.

I stay between 100-200 carbs and eat as I please. I am also on Metformin which I think has helped somewhat. Other than that I haven't had any issues. Good diet, exercise. Pretty basic.

I have no tips. I was diagnosed with PCOS after multiple misdiagnosis. I have had it since 11 and to be honest so far weight loss is a nightmare rollercoaster for me. All I know is I can't give up or stop. if others here would add me I would appreciate it. I really need the encouragement.