Weight Loss and PCOS

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LinzyB24
LinzyB24 Posts: 28 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
So, I'm curious to know if anyone else is in the same boat that I have found myself in. My doctor has instructed me to eat healthy because of my PCOS, which is why I am losing weight. He wants me to stay under 100 carbs per day, and to an Italian girl that feels oh so impossible. Needless to say, I'm not staying under the 100 carbs.

I'm wondering if anyone else with PCOS has a specific weight loss plan that is working for them? Are you noticing a big difference with that plan versus the regular plan that MFP prescribes for you?

Replies

  • ChubbieTubbie
    ChubbieTubbie Posts: 481 Member
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    I am calorie counting and I changed my carbs section in 'goals' to 45%. I've read that limiting carbs helps with PCOS because of insulin resistance, but I'm a carb girl so that's the best I can do. :smile:
  • monstertwelve
    monstertwelve Posts: 102
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    for me...im a vegan...so that helps a lot and i dont have to worrk about too many carbs (except for rice, yummmm cant live without it!!!! lol)...
    also i take metformin, which evens things out
    but def try eating as healthy as possible! ive found that the more veggies you have...
    (1) the fuller you are
    (2) you can eat them all day and NEVER feel bad
    (3) they are low in everything bad and high in everything good!!!!
    just try adding more of them into your diet, it'll make a huge difference!!!
    ♥
  • LisaJayne71
    LisaJayne71 Posts: 197 Member
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    So, I'm curious to know if anyone else is in the same boat that I have found myself in. My doctor has instructed me to eat healthy because of my PCOS, which is why I am losing weight. He wants me to stay under 100 carbs per day, and to an Italian girl that feels oh so impossible. Needless to say, I'm not staying under the 100 carbs.

    I'm wondering if anyone else with PCOS has a specific weight loss plan that is working for them? Are you noticing a big difference with that plan versus the regular plan that MFP prescribes for you?

    I'm a PCOS girl too and struggle to lose weight.... I have never had any solid or sound advice from any of the specialists or the dietitians I've seen over the yrs... Interesting that your doctor has been the one that told you to cut back the carbs... I'll be interested to hear how you get on.
    I am seeing a new specialist next week so am hoping he comes up with something that gives me some solid and sound advice

    I too am on Metformin!
  • strivingfor130
    strivingfor130 Posts: 221 Member
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    I have PCOS as well and my doctor just told me I needed to lose weight and never really discussed the best options for that. A few weeks ago I did some verrrry basic research online, and most suggested lowering carb intake and eating foods with a low glycemic index from the GI diet. Idk if it was here or somewhere else but I saw something about a paleolithic diet as well. On here, I changed my percentage of carbs...I forgot what I have it set as, but out of a 1600 calorie day I am suppose to be getting 160 from carbs, 53 from fat, and 120 from protein. I go over my carb count alot but am still losing weight. I think you'll just have to find out what works best for you, and it may take a little time, but I'd definitely try at least cutting down your carbs a bit especially if you are eating a lot of them.
  • LinzyB24
    LinzyB24 Posts: 28 Member
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    It's good to know that there are others in the same boat! I'm also on Metformin, and it makes me feel oh so awful almost every single day! I'm definitely going to lower the carbs. I'll try the 100 per day for a bit. I certainly don't think that it will hurt!
  • Amanda_8504
    Amanda_8504 Posts: 3
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    I've had PCOS for 3 years now and since then I've really been struggling with my weight. I am also on Metformin, birth control & Spiraloctone (sp).
  • brookeflinn
    brookeflinn Posts: 3
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    I've had PCOS for at least 13 years (I'm 29 now), but my OB/GYN decided that the reason I was having irregular periods was because I was overweight. Well to tell a 16 year extremely active girl that she has to loose weight and everything will normallize but not tell her what more she can do to make that happen is a it rediculous. It wasn't until I was 23 that a doctor actually took the time to officially diagnose me. I refuse to take Metformin because I do not have diabetes yet and I am not trying to get pregnant.

    I have found that in order for me to loose weight I have to keep my carbs at about 30-35% of my daily intake...that is extremely hard to do as vegetables are nothing but carbs. I am also trying very hard to be a vegetarian because I firmly believe the more meat you eat the higher your chances for cancer are. Basically I'm driving myself nuts. Over the past two or three years I have been slowly changing the way I eat carbs. I rarely eat bread, any kind of bread. I went from bread to wraps, to just salads. The only rice I eat is when I occasion have chinese or sushi. And pasta has almost completely been eliminated from my life...there are some rare celebratory occasions when I'll treat myself to pasta though.

    There's a new book coming out in November that I am very excited about though. It's called "The PCOS Diet Plan: A Natural Approach to Health for Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome." My guess is it will be the same or similar advice that Jillian Micheals and Bob Harper...and many other people I guess have been trying to give:Stop eating processed prepacked foods. It's messing with our metabolisms and endocrine systems, not to mention most of it is high in sodium.

    I'm not saying my way is the best way, but I would strongly recommend checking out a book about the endocrine system and how food affects it since PCOS is an endocrine disorder. Small changes over time is going to be the way to win against the insulin resist...I think quitting cars cold turkey would have distroyed me :)
  • Amanda_8504
    Amanda_8504 Posts: 3
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    Thanks for the info brookflinn, I just might have to get that book.
  • godblessourhome
    godblessourhome Posts: 3,892 Member
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    try replacing your pasta with alternatives. i just had zucchini 'noodles' in place of pasta last night and it was delicious! use spaghetti squash instead of spaghetti or angel hair. try making gnocchi with pumpkin instead of potatoes. there are several things you can do to cut down on the carbs and not even notice.
  • kr0722
    kr0722 Posts: 2
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    I've lost 16 pounds in about 6 weeks, but I'm afraid I will hit a wall. I'm keeping my carbs around 80 per day, but know that last time I lost a substantial amount of weight I kept them lower - maybe around 60. PCOS sucks. I wanted to know if anyone also has their gall bladder removed? I had mine removed a few years ago and thats when I gained a ton of weight. Anyone else with PCOS and no gall bladder feel like weight loss is much harder now?
  • nuke0409
    nuke0409 Posts: 31 Member
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    I have PCOS too and I didn't want to get onto any pills. I take in very less carbs and found that I'm now clockwork on my cycles every month! I have been watching my carb intake for the past 1 year. It is definitely difficult to give up on carbs but the fact that I wouldn't bloat like a balloon anymore was a motivation for me. In anutshell, yes it has worked for me and is working for me :)

    Oh by the way, did I forget to mention that I am from India which means lots and lots of rice (pure carbs!)
  • chelso0o
    chelso0o Posts: 366 Member
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    +1 for the PCOS bandwagon. Stuck. Stuck. Stuck at 50lbs.... going to see a nutritionist so we shall see what they say! I'll let you know!
  • kazzsjourney
    kazzsjourney Posts: 674 Member
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    I have PCOS and have lost 205 pounds :) So it definitely can be done. The way I tackled the carbs aspect of it (i do love my pasta!) is I avoid carbs at dinner (night meal)....I might have them at dinner once or twice a week. I eat a lot of good carbs too barley, grainy bread etc...I honestly would be lucky if I have a pasta meal once a week....cut down slowly and before you know it you will be shocked over how rare it is that you eat pasta! :)
  • kr0722
    kr0722 Posts: 2
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    Hey all. I was lucky to get my PCOS identified early on by Dr. Redmond in NYC. First of all, weight loss is possible, but it is a little tricky bc PCOS-sufferers cannot simply count calories. When you're dealing with underlying insulin resistance you have to treat that sometimes to kick start weight loss. I am on Glucophage XR and Aldactone. That combo helps the IR and lowers testosterone. Once I began on that treatment I noticed weight loss - sometimes bc of stomach upset (not to be graphic) but also bc there wasn't an inherent resistance to overcome. No matter what PCOS weight loss is all about avoiding carbs. Not NO carbs but close to it. Keep track of your carbs that what I use fitnesspal for. If I stay between 65-75 carbs per day I maintain but if I get down to 40-50 I begin losing weight. To give you an idea a slice of white bread is 20 carbs, so once sandwich at lunch time and you have to eat all vegetables and protein the rest of the day. So you have to spread your carbs out. Fruit is great for some people but for PCOS people low glycemic low carb fruits like strawberries and pears are best. I have been up and down with my weight the last few years but this time I have lost 45 pounds slowly over a year but I have 55 pounds to go. if it takes me another year im fine with it so long as it stays off. I also work out with heavy weights and recumbent bike. I do 30-45 minutes interval bike then short and heavy reps of weights. seems to be working best for me but we are all a little different. hope m write up helped!
  • ALNoog
    ALNoog Posts: 413 Member
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    I keep my carbs at 25 or less... It works for me and helps with the very low energy levels I have along with pcos....

    I started doing low GI back In September and I've lost 35 pounds since then... I switched back to low carb last week and feel so much better... I am not weighing again until April first but am very curious to see what my loss will be for this month.


    I did low carb previously about 4-5 years ago and lost 89 pounds in 5 months and felt amazing!

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