PCOS and dieting?? Anyone?

it can be done you just have to be patient. I was dx with PCOS back when i was 23. They put me on Metformin to help get the weight off but it only made me sick so sure i lost weight just the wrong way. You just have to stick to low fat low calories, take your vitiamins and hit the gym. It will come off with persistance. Just dont get discouraged.

I've been on MFP for 5 weeks and I've lost 11.2 lb. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 15 years old. Once hitting puberty, I put on a lot of weight despite how often I'd exercise--I was taking dance classes for 4-5 hours a week and was on the pep squad with practice 2-3 hours per week and still steadily gaining. My doctor put me on the pill to regulate my hormones. Once I started college and moved out on my own I couldn't afford the pill anymore, and with a poor person's diet and a lot of walking to and from classes, up stairs, etc. I lost 60 pounds in about 6 months. During that time, I was taking glucophage to help with the insulin resistance part. Once my finances leveled out, I started gaining again. Three kids later, I'm the biggest I've been in my entire life (well, 5 weeks ago I was, haha) and I have a LOT of weight to lose. I exercise, diet, and create a huge calorie defecit and I still can only lose a little each week, no matter what I do. I can eat 1200 calories or 1700, it just comes off pretty slowly for me. I have weeks where I don't lose anything, and then a week where I lose 4, and then a few more weeks of nothing. I think it has to do with where I am in my cycle. PCOS sucks!!

If you are able to catch Jackie Warner Thintervention on Bravo you really should. One of the girls Stacey has PCOS and last week they showed her speaking with her doctor about her problems losing weight. I don't personally have any experience with this but perhaps some of the things on the show could help you in your journey as well.

GOOD LUCK!!!!

I was semi diagnosed with PCOS at 16, formally properly diagnosed after years of finger chewing and umming and aahing and changing doctors (simply because I was moving between areas an awful lot)....just this year....finally ^_^

I've been on MFP for a couple of months now and have not had any real problems. I hit a plateau around 3 weeks in too, after having lost 6 lbs and it was discouraging and it took its sweet time to move but it did and now I'm 16lbs lighter than when I started

I went to see my doc yesterday for a checkup on my weight and PCOS diagnosis etc. Her wise words were that PCOS is indeed a syndrom, not a disease or condition that can be put down to one perfect category. It is kind of like autism...a spectrum disorder of the body with some women being hit with full blown ever terrible symptom possible, and others coming off relatively mildly. In other words, there are no easy answers when it comes to treating the effects of PCOS

There is some evidence that insulin resistence is linked in with PCOS and metformin could be seen to help in some such cases (it certainly helped an awful lot with my cousin who also has PCOS, she is now the mother to a happy healthy baby). In my case it wouldn't help - I've had a full set of blood tests...multiple times in fact...and I personally am not insulin resistant, but if you feel you may be insulin resistant and it's effecting you, then go and ask your doctor about it because you never know, it might be the answer you've been looking for!

My doc also said this...PCOS and weight is like the chicken and the egg...no one knows which one effects the other...some people it's clear that it is being overweight in the first place that cause it, but for some people they were a healthy weight and then suddenly they bloomed...we went through my history and my hormone tests...there was actually nothing wrong with my hormone levels but I've never had a natural period...she explained that what was happening is that the fat in my body is metabolising the oestrogen before it gets to do the work it's supposed to....given that I was already overweight by the time I hit puberty, it was no suprise then that I never started my periods in the first place, and it was most likely that being overweight that is causing my PCOS. This has really helped me to understand what it is I'm dealing with and how to go about sorting it out...it seems clear that if PCOS is acting against my weight loss then by persevering, every pound I loose will make it even easier.

Perhaps you should discuss your test results with your doctor too. If you're like me and your weight gave you this syndrom in the first place it may just be a case of perserverence, but if it was PCOS that caused your weight gain then maybe there are other ways you can help to bring your weight down?

Just some thoughts

xxx

It comes of slowly, but it does happen if you stick to it. I was diagnosed 5 or 6 years ago, and until I made the lifestyle changes to be healthy, it wouldn't come off.

First of all I think that losing 10lbs in 3 weeks is great! Remember 2lbs a week is the healthy way to lose weight.. so you are on the right track!

Second, I have been living with PCOS just about all my life, was always a bigger girl, and would work out like crazy and the weight would not come off, or it would come off and then come right back on. Losing weight with PCOS is very discouraging I agree... but if you stick with it and keep moving forward it will happen. However, if you are not taking Metformin I would suggest doing so, as this is what makes or breaks the weight loss for me. I did an experiment and without the Met, if I ate bad and exercised I would gain, and if I ate good and did not exercise I would maintain. But I would never lose. Once I started the Met I would lose as long as I was maintaining good eating habits.

I started my healthy living journey in March of this year, at first I started only counting calories and watching fat intake. I lost 21lbs in the first month. In April of 2010 I hired a Personal Trainer who decided that Low Carb might be the best way to go. So we were constantly playing with my diet, uping my calories, lowering my calories, taking away carbs, adding fiber, adding protein. From April - July I lost an additional 10lbs only! I was disappointed and requested a new trainer. July I was all over the place, August I started with my new trainer - Gained 10lbs in the two months at which I seldom took my Metformin.

By September I was in full swing with my new trainer. I took many things I learned from Low Carbing (which is usually recommended for PCOSers) and looked into the Low Glycemic Weight Loss Diet (which is great btw). So now I am back to counting calories (it worked before) and I usually will only eat from the Medium or Low GI scale... and I allow myself to eat things I love on occasion. Ofcourse I have days where everything goes down hill.. but in September I lost 10lbs putting me at my original weight loss of 30lbs...

My goal for the next 14 weeks is to lose another 30lbs!!! and so far counting calories eating Low Glycemic foods and exercising on a daily basis (trainer 3 times a week, also doing the C25K three times week) is working for me! And I hope to say at the end of the year I have lost 60lbs!

My staple; www.pcoscommunity.com the girls here are amazing.. and I run a monthly exercise challenge there too which helps keep me motivated!

it can be done!! don't give up...

Also any PCOSers (or others) want to add me, I'd love to share journeys!

Also on pcoscommunity.com as sedivygal

and facebook: www.facebook.com/sedivygal

I was just told I have PCOS about a year ago. According to my doctor, it is hard to lose weight but it will come off slowly but surly. He also says that being overweight makes the symptoms of PCOS worse, and that as I lose weight it will actually become easier to keep losing, because weight gain is a symptom...which can be fought off by losing weight.... Was a bit confusing to me, but I hope he's right. So far I have not been put on any kind of medication, he just wants me to lose some weight and see where it goes from there.

This is very true. Although PCOS is not curable, the symptoms of PCOS become more controlled and often are less or obsolete. I have know many women that have regained menstruation, ovulating and more by losing weight.

I was diagnosed with PCOS about 6 years or so back and lost over 30 lbs in a span of 10 months. Losing weight with PCOS is a slow process but I did see a lot of symptoms reduce greatly. My cycles became regular and I didn't get the pain I would normally get on my 1st day. I started seeing changes in symptons & menstraul cycle in less than 3 months of regular exercising & diet control. Most of my diet control had to do with controlling my dessert intake.

I stopped exercising & gained weight again and was back to square one. But I'm back on track now

CandacePainter:
Wow! Great job! What was your plan of attack? How were you able to lose the weight?

I quit drinking cokes and just stuck to water and went to the gym at least 5 times a week! I also quit eating out as much too.

I was diagnosed about 9 years ago and its been a yo-yo ever since for me!

I HOPE that someone can help!!! Well, I got up this morning and went for a nice walk. Came home, took a shower, washed my hair, and left it wet for a while. Then I dried it (blow-dry) and brushed it. By the time I finished, I had a HANDFUL-no kidding-of hair that had come out. It kept coming out after I brushed it. I THINK it has stopped for now, but I am so afraid to even touch it, I don't know for sure. I know that some hair loss is associated with PCOS, but I have NEVER had anything like this. I am taking phentermine, metformin, and a birth control pill for PCOS symptoms. I am not sure if it is the PCOS, the PCOS meds, or something associated with weight loss... I called my OBGYN-the one that diagnosed me andf gave me the meds but haven't heard back yet. I am getting really concerned. I have always had VERY thick hair, and when I pull it back like a ponytail now, I can tell a difference in the thickness already! My scalp has been itchy for a while. I read something about meds for PCOS helping the "dead" hairs to go ahead and fall out and that the new growth makes your head itch some... Also, I am 32, and my mother and grandmother began menopause at 35...so, I am wondering about that too. Anyone have any ideas? I have read about so many things that it COULD be...that I am totally confused now. What can I do to STOP it? I don't want to have bald spots...especially at my age!

Neurotic:
I can vouch for that! My PCOS symptoms have definitely gotten worse as I've packed on the pounds....hair growth, YUCK!:noway:

Ya....thats what got my butt to the doctor...I mean when your just overweight...its bad enough..but that started and it was like OH NO...my self esteem can't have this.