PCOS success stories without Metformin? Need Motivation!

So I was on Metformin, and some other medication and miserable. I actually gained on the medications and was feeling tired and weak all of the time.

I was working out all of the time and not seeing any loss. I managed to some how stay the same weight for over 6 months even with lower calorie intake.

I gave up the medications and only stayed on birth control because I need some kind of balance. Instead of cardio all of the time I switched to strength training and NOW finally after all this time I am seeing results.

Not scale results, but actual inches lost results. I have no idea if I have lost or not yet as I do not own a scale but I am seeing a major difference so far in only a few weeks of strength training.

Also I tend to avoid a lot of carbs as it seems to be a PCOSers worse nightmare.

I hope this helps.

Low carb, high protein (150g a day typically), staying active and trying to make every calorie count. I take Vitamin D and Chromium supplements but no Metformin. About 30 lbs down! It IS possible!

Not really a success story yet, but I am halfway to my goal and feeling pretty happy about it. I've lost 10 kg and am working on losing another 10. I have never taken metformin, and from what a fellow PCOS lady here told me, it is not common to prescribe it for PCOS where I live now (Germany). I was diagnosed at 23, based on my symptoms, the drs. did a lot of blood work (I remember my testosterone was high and a few other things as well), and I have also had ultrasounds which confirmed the cysts.

It's tough going, but you can do it!

I had PCOS and never took metformin

I ate within my cal goal (usually around 1600/1700) and exercised occasionally (3 - 4x a week for half hour). I eat everything within moderation, make sure I stuck to portion sizes. I lost 27kg over about 14 months. I stayed motivated because I knew every step I made forward was a step away from that unhappy lump laying on the couch all day in pain.

Last doc visit confirmed I no longer have PCOS

WOW! These stories are amazing. I struggle with Pcos and underactive thyroid everyday. I am hopeful that oen day I would see my goal weight on the SCALE I hate so much.

I was recently informed that I may have PCOS or close to having it if I don't start changing my eating habits. The doctor wants me to lose weight before continuing my TTC journey. I plan to lose 10 pounds per month for the next 5 months. I just need a little boost and some occasional motivation.

With insulin resistant PCOS I am only able to lose weight with restricting my carbs to around 50grams a day. I am seeing a Naturopath now who just took blood yesterday to get new readings I will likely go on Metformin, I've never had issues with it and I will accept any help I can get regulating my insulin level. I am also going to be taking desiccated thyroid meds to get my thyroid working properly.

I am struggling, restricted diet and lifting heavy five days a week hasn't done a single thing for me, if anything I have gained weight. Keto is the only way I lose but as soon as I reintegrate carbs I gain it all back.

Dear Friends

I have the worst pcos ever. not getting period on my own even after having metformin. we have been trying for a baby since 3 years with out any success. want to stay in low carb diet and loose weight to get pregnant. Hope, it works for me.

I've been trying to manage my PCOS without Metformin this past year (start in October). I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was fifteen and never had done anything about it because my doctor was completely useless. When I graduated high school I realized I needed to make a lifestyle change. I eat as healthy as possible in my given circumstances and exercise nearly every day (excluding the weekend).

With that being said. I've lost 65+ pounds so far. After I lost around 30 pound, my cycles started to get more regular (they started on March 15) and now they have been coming every month since.

For my diet, I keep it mainly low carb (excluding fruits and whole grains with the occasional splurge) with high protein and healthy fats. However I'm thinking of going vegan for personal reasons, which may be a challenge but I'm determined to try it.

Basically, it just takes tons of dedication and hard work!

No drugs/meds here, 30 lbs more to go. Just keep swimming!

U don't need metformin to lose weight with pcos!

I took metformin for 4yrs, I lost 50lbs the first year as I had a smaller appetite cuz I was always nauseous..but then my body got used it and no matter what I did gained all back AND I got a huge 20cm ovarian cyst which i had to have removed along with one of ovaries

If you have pcos go GLUTEN FREE now!

And use weights when exercising it's extremely important for pcos! take magnesium and vitamin d supplements, both vitamins pco
women are statistically extremely low in.

Get checked for hashimoto...

My periods returned after going gluten free..after no period for
17 yrs

Lastly..exercise after dinner and try not to eat after 7pm.
That alone helped me lose 100lbs in the past quite easily

I have PCOS and I have never been on any medication for it. I have lost 86 pounds so far. It took me about a year and a half. I started with very low carb, but it did not work for me for various reasons. I then switched to moderate carbs and my weight is coming off slowly but surely. At first I was strictly on a low calorie diet to take off as much of the weight as possible until my blood sugar stabilizes. It used to hover around 110 and now it hovers around 85 most of the time, which is considered in the normal range. My periods used to come once every 3-4 months, and at the 50 pound weight loss mark they started coming every single month like clockwork.

Diet: Started low carb, low calorie then gradually increased my carbs and calories guided by my glucose meter. I now eat a random calorie random carb diet (1000-2500 calories and 100-250 carbs).

The loss has slowed down because some weeks I eat at maintenance, but when I go at a deficit I do lose weight steadily. A typical day includes some kind of fish or poultry, mostly tuna, moderate amounts of starches, mostly beans and oatmeal, a lot of vegetables and vegetable soups, 1 or two portions of nuts a day, an indulgence food like chocolate or ice cream, and quite a bit of fruits (not the best choice, but I love them and I have enough flexibility to handle them now).

Basically I'm successfully managing blood sugar now without cutting down on carbs, gluten, dairy, or anything. As a matter of fact the bulk of my protein intake comes from dairy. Every person responds differently, so I urge you to experiment for yourself and arrive on a diet that works for you.

Workout: bodyweight and dumbbell resistance training 3x a week and incline walking 7x a week. Staying active whenever possible is what gives me such a flexibility with diet and keeps my blood sugar under control.

Low-carb all the way! It's the only thing that has ever worked for me.

Check out this highly informative 20-part series on dealing with PCOS: http://www.examiner.com/article/20-simple-steps-you-can-take-to-control-polycystic-ovarian-syndrome-pcos-1

The 5th post in the series examines going low-carb with PCOS: http://www.examiner.com/article/20-simple-steps-you-can-take-to-control-polycystic-ovarian-syndrome-pcos-5

But really, check out the whole series!

Also, a simple "low-carb pcos study" google search will result in a lot of medical information on how and why this works.

lost 22 lbs on my own with out metformin... taking it now i seem to have lulled oh and the fact my androgen levels are through the roods like 900's

I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 15, prescribed birth control, and slowly gained weight until I was about 20. When I really started trying, I was able to lose about 30 pounds by diet and exercise alone. I was able to keep it off for about a year before my body decided to lose its mind; I gained about 60 pounds in a year and a half by changing nothing except my brand of birth control. Now I'm on BC, levothyroxine, and metformin just to keep my hormones in check. I'm hoping that I'll be able to lose enough weight by the end of this year to get off of the metformin, at least (I've never had any issues with it; I just don't like taking so many meds). Good luck to you on your journey! It definitely can be done!