PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome) and weight lose

Metformin made me sick as a dog. it was so hard to take it I stopped. I see it has worked for many people, but the side effects are awful I was not happy on Metformin.

You are insulin resistant, that's why it's harder for you to lose weight. Taking Metformin helps fix your problem until you fix your glucose levels which is done by losing weight. Extremely low carb with high fat and high protein is the way to go. You only need to eat enough carbs to allow you to function in a day. For most people it's around 40 grams. Get a blood glucose meter and keep track of your glucose levels. High levels of glucose means hard to lose weight. You want it to be low most of the day.

This is not accurate. Insulin resistance may eventually lead to glucose issues, but many people with IR have normal glucose levels. Also, losing weight doesn't fix the problem for everyone. My issues CAUSED the weight gain. Losing weight has never fixed my insulin levels nor my PCOS symptoms.

Good to know. So if your weight gain is the cause of insulin resistance, what I said earlier holds true but if insulin resistance causes weight gain, you're body is out of luck for using insulin like a normal person even if you lose weight. Is that a fair assessment?

Yup, that's pretty accurate. The only thing that helps is the Metformin and exercise. They both help your body use insulin more normally.

My wife has it. She used to be fat. She lost the weight and kept it off. All I can say is, any condition that makes it a little harder to lose weight or a little easier to gain can't keep you overweight forever if you maintain a deficit, so don't make it an excuse. Just congratulate your super-efficient metabolism for being oh so good at wringing every calorie out of your food and storing it so well and move on.

The problem is PCOS is so different from person to person. Some women experience all the horrible symptoms, some don't, I think it all depends on your hormone levels, metabolism, and lifestyle. For a lot of ladies with PCOS, weight loss and a diet low in sugar subsides a lot of the symptoms we deal with having PCOS, usually the more weight you lose, the more the symptoms go away. There are some women that can lose not going low carb, but I do have a lot of friends on here with PCOS and a lot are on some form of low carb diet. I have also tried myself to not have to be a lifetime low carber, I tried a pescatarian diet, ate very healthy, all whole foods, and was gaining weight ON A DEFICIT. You will see all over these boards that it isn't possible, but yes it is when you have a metabolic condition. I don't keep my calories at a set amount now because eating low carb takes a way your appetite, so I eat when I am hungry, and I usually fall between 1500-2000 cals. And I am losing. Wasn't losing in the same calorie allotment when I was eating carbs, so for most of us, watching your carbs really does matter. We have a lot of issues just like a diabetic, so this is why low carb or low glycemic is suggested for PCOS. Going low glycemic is not always enough for us, some have to be more strict to see results.

I don't believe we use having PCOS as an excuse, for people who don't have it, yeah they are going to think that, but until you have struggled with this yourself, you have no idea. I lost 40 lbs last year and just completely stopped. I was still working out, watching everything I ate, nothing. I tried IPOARM, upped my calories, gained weight - went and had my RMR tested, upped my cals to where they told me to, gained weight. I have gained back 20lbs of the 40 I lost last year trying to figure out how to fix my metabolism. I think IPOARM works for a lot of people, but when you have PCOS there is a lot of adjusting that needs to be done, which in the defense of IPOARM, Dan does state that people with metabolic issues may have this problem and need to adjust. My RMR test said I was burning over 2000 cals at rest, but when I ate that eating a regular diet, was gaining. I went back to low carb, actually following a keto approach, around April of this year, and the weight is FINALLY starting to come off. I was stalled out for about 5 months, and was as patient as I could possibly be. It is very difficult keeping motivation and the drive when you are not getting ANY results. And this is a big reason we struggle so much. I see girls on here all the time crying when they haven't lost in a week or two, try months and see how it feels - very discouraging.

Losing weight with PCOS is definitely very difficult for some, not as bad for others, it really all depends on the severity of your personal symptoms. I have high testosterone levels, which is causing hair loss, infertility, etc. But I don't have the issues with facial hair, things of that nature. I have been eating a clean whole food diet with the occasional convenient things for a couple years now, and I think it has helped make a huge difference and rid some of those symptoms for me. I would suggest trying to eat as clean and whole food as you can, there are alot of things in pre packaged processed foods that mess with hormones and add more chaos to our already weakened bodies. I buy meat that has no hormones or antibiotics and try and buy organic or locally grown veggies as often as I can. I was also told by my doctor to stay away from soy because it messes with women's hormones and we don't need more of that lol And soy is in ALOT of pre packaged processed foods, which is another reason I eat the way I do. I would just do the best you can, if you can't afford these things, afford what you can and do your best.

Also, there are a lot of great PCOS websites out there with a lot of good helpful information. My mom gave me this article about a vitamin supplement that works just like Metformin, have to find the article for the name, but I am going to try that and see how it works. I do take supplements, some that are suggested by these websites, to try and help with the hormone inbalances. Another thing worth looking into


Sorry for the novel all, I know how it is having this and what a pain in the *ss it is!! If any of you need more support, feel free to friend me, I have lots of great friends on here dealing with the same issues, always help having others that understand

Good luck and research, research, research! :flowerforyou:

I have PCOS and have lost about 30 pounds and am now at a healthy weight. Metformin made me sick, too, but it got better with time (and starting off on a low dose). I only stayed on the metformin long enough to get pregnant. To lose weight, I didn't go low carb, but I did try to keep my carbs around 160/day. I also tried to eat less processed food.

Have you had blood tests done? My ob-gyn ran blood tests to determine that I had PCOS, and my primary care physician ran blood work and found that my fasting glucose levels were high.

I have PCOS and have lost about 30 pounds and am now at a healthy weight. Metformin made me sick, too, but it got better with time (and starting off on a low dose). I only stayed on the metformin long enough to get pregnant. To lose weight, I didn't go low carb, but I did try to keep my carbs around 160/day. I also tried to eat less processed food.

Have you had blood tests done? My ob-gyn ran blood tests to determine that I had PCOS, and my primary care physician ran blood work and found that my fasting glucose levels were high.

160 grams of carbs seems like a lot. Have you tested at home to see if your glucose is still high on your current diet? I'm assuming you know that insulin resistance leads to type 2 diabetes if you leave your glucose levels unchecked?

The ADA recommends 135-180 grams of carbs a day for type 2 diabetes (http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/ask-the-expert/ask-the-dietitian/archives/how-many-carbs-can-i-eat-per.html). I recognize that many people need to have fewer, but I've done fine eating this much.

I haven't checked my glucose levels at home because I was never counseled to. My glucose levels were high for me, not necessarily high enough for my doctor to be concerned.

I had PCOS and Insulin Resistance 13 months ago. I started low carb dieting and exercising three times a week. I started a diet called "Link and Balance" where you eat 7 protein for every 15 carbs. The weight fell off! I'm currently 95 pounds lighter and no longer have PCOS or Insulin Resistance.

Low carb dieting changed my life and it's really manageable to maintain. If you learn how to portion control, it makes it so much easier! If you're not already low carb dieting start by taking baby steps and using MFP!

I'd love to have you as a friend!

I have PCOS only and have recently started a low-carb (under 70g/day) and high protein (between 90-100g) eating plan... And in just under a week I've noticed a huge difference in how I feel. I also have recently been diagnosed with hypothyroidism. The combination of diet and medication is astounding in the way I feel.

The ADA recommends 135-180 grams of carbs a day for type 2 diabetes (http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/ask-the-expert/ask-the-dietitian/archives/how-many-carbs-can-i-eat-per.html). I recognize that many people need to have fewer, but I've done fine eating this much.

I haven't checked my glucose levels at home because I was never counseled to. My glucose levels were high for me, not necessarily high enough for my doctor to be concerned.

ADA recommendations are high. Ask any type 2 diabetic that actively monitor's their glucose level and you'll get a much different answer. Their standards are for the general population and everyone's reaction to food is different. Diabetes is your responsibility, not what you read on a website, and the best way to take responsibility of your own health is to test yourself throughout the day with a glucose monitor.

I often visit the website below because there's a free chatroom that allows you to ask any diabetic questions. Most people come on at night around 8pm central time. You can ask anyone yourself if you don't believe me.
http://www.diabetesforums.com/


Edit You should know that the average time for someone to go from insulin resistance to Type 2 Diabetes is 3 years after being diagnosed. Some people manage to do it in 1 or 2 years because they don't take care of their heath.


.

The ADA recommends 135-180 grams of carbs a day for type 2 diabetes (http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/treatment-and-care/ask-the-expert/ask-the-dietitian/archives/how-many-carbs-can-i-eat-per.html). I recognize that many people need to have fewer, but I've done fine eating this much.

I haven't checked my glucose levels at home because I was never counseled to. My glucose levels were high for me, not necessarily high enough for my doctor to be concerned.

ADA recommendations are high. Ask any type 2 diabetic that actively monitor's their glucose level and you'll get a much different answer. Their standards are for the general population and everyone's reaction to food is different. Diabetes is your responsibility, not what you read on a website, and the best way to take responsibility of your own health is to test yourself throughout the day with a glucose monitor.

I often visit the website below because there's a free chatroom that allows you to ask any diabetic questions. Most people come on at night around 8pm central time. You can ask anyone yourself if you don't believe me.
http://www.diabetesforums.com/


Edit You should know that the average time for someone to go from insulin resistance to Type 2 Diabetes is 3 years after being diagnosed. Some people manage to do it in 1 or 2 years because they don't take care of their heath.


.

This is good information to know, thank you.

As I'm not diabetic (or prediabetic), and don't currently have high fasting glucose numbers, I'm okay with my current carb consumption, but I will discuss it with my doctor at my next physical. I was not suggesting that everyone should eat as many carbs as I do, only that my PCOS has improved and I've lost weight while on my current diet. I realize that this is specific to me, and I suggest everyone discuss their own situation with their doctor.

This is good information to know, thank you.

As I'm not diabetic (or prediabetic), and don't currently have high fasting glucose numbers, I'm okay with my current carb consumption, but I will discuss it with my doctor at my next physical. I was not suggesting that everyone should eat as many carbs as I do, only that my PCOS has improved and I've lost weight while on my current diet. I realize that this is specific to me, and I suggest everyone discuss their own situation with their doctor.

Being insulin resistance and prediabetic are very similar to each other. So similar that you could consider them one in the same. Maybe I've missed something but everything I've read leads me to believe that being insulin resistance is the same as being prediabetic. I've posted a link below for some good info on the subject and some quotes from them. Definitions for both prediabetes and insulin resistance deal with higher than normal blood glucose. Why they are considered technically different, I do not know but everything I read leads me to believe they are practically the same.

Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body produces insulin but does not use it effectively. When people have insulin resistance, glucose builds up in the blood instead of being absorbed by the cells, leading to type 2 diabetes or prediabetes.

Prediabetes is a condition in which blood glucose or A1C levels—which reflect average blood glucose levels—are higher than normal but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes.

http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/insulinresistance/

Sorry if this is ignorant, but I feel like this is a very helpful discussion. Does being diagnosed with PCOS automatically make me insulin resistant? I know it makes me more likely to be, but I thought that the fasting glucose test would be what tested for that.

Sorry if this is ignorant, but I feel like this is a very helpful discussion. Does being diagnosed with PCOS automatically make me insulin resistant? I know it makes me more likely to be, but I thought that the fasting glucose test would be what tested for that.

No it does not but 80% of women who have PCOS are insulin resistant, so your chances of being insulin resistant is high. Normally your doctor will want to do two separate test to confirm if you are prediabetic. They do a fasting glucose test and A1C. A1C measures your average glucose for the past 3 months which is how most people are diagnosed as being prediabetic. Did you do that test?

Yes, I'm in the normal range for both and test yearly since being diagnosed with PCOS.