Any PCOS sufferers that have lost weight without meds

I've lost about 7 lbs in 3 weeks but am starting to think I'm fighting a losing battle after reading so many posts about peoples experiences with needing extra help. Metformin made me sick all the time and other meds devastated my energy levels. Can I do this weight loss following the MFP calorie guidelines?
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Replies

  • I was diagnosed with PCOS a few years ago. I have only been on here for a little over a month so I am by no means a success story but I've lost 14 pounds so far. Metformin made me sick as well. I think every person is different obviously but I have really tried to cut down how much sugar I intake and I think that helps. Lots of chicken and veggies! Good luck! Feel free to add me if you need some encouragement :)
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    reducing carbohydrates generally works well with PCOS. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0WOqaTTzaI
  • stardust92
    stardust92 Posts: 46 Member
    I have lost 40lb since Jan 13 with nothing but logging cals and walking to work 3x week (30 mins mod pace).

    I eat between 1200 - 2000 cals a day.

    I went from 228lb to 187lb and im 5'3. Want to get to 126lb so have a long way to go but I hope it helps

    Would be more but I love my food
  • I'll definitely add you if that's okay, My profile says I have lost 14 lbs but this is in 3 years :laugh: I'm back on the site and still motivated so far.

    And many thanks for the youtube link, I'm listening as I type
  • Lozze
    Lozze Posts: 1,917 Member
    I had originally lost 40kg with no medication (put some back on when I started eating bad again) It's doable.
  • ShubhaBansal
    ShubhaBansal Posts: 81 Member
    I had lost 11 kgs without medicine..
  • Brilliant weight losses, feeling a little bit less down about it all now

    *get shoes on for a more motivated walk*
  • orczombie
    orczombie Posts: 20 Member
    I was never put on medication for PCOS. Just keep at it. :)
  • swet02
    swet02 Posts: 52
    I am fighting this now, my OB said, losing weight will help me a lot, I am looking forward to seeing the result...
  • It's absolutely doable. I lost over 100 pounds since February with no meds at all. Calorie counting, exercise, and sufficient protein is all it took for me. I never watched carbs, though I hear many people say you should. I was not diabetic, only pre-diabetic, so I didn't. After about 6 months of losing, my cycle returned to an almost normal state, cysts are reduced, and blood sugars are great. My last fasting blood sugar was 77, and my a1c is 4.2.

    Not everyone is the same, but losing weight is possible! Good luck to you!
  • swet02
    swet02 Posts: 52
    Sbatz, tnx for sharing that. I am also trying to lose without any meds. I am diabetic I guess, since my last fbs was already 10.1. And I am PCOS also, that is the reason why I am also afraid of getting pregnant because of my condition. But now, I am more confident that I can certainly do this. I am watching closely on my cal count, protein and sugar intake. Glad to say, I have not exceeded so far for my daily required sugar. I will be checking our my sugar and visit my OB again for the next two weeks and see how my diet really affected everything.

    Wish me luck guys
  • MandysChange
    MandysChange Posts: 40 Member
    I have PCOS and I am not on meds except a Mirena to control my cycles. I have lost 23 pounds since the beginning of September this year. I would recommend keeping your carbs under control and your protein high.
  • I haven't had any luck without Metformin. It makes me feel sick as well, but when I stopped taking it, it didn't matter how diligent I was about tracking calories and cutting sugar/fat; the scale did not budge one bit for me, and I started gaining towards the end of my "no meds" attempt. I'm back on the Meformin, but cut my dose in half. I'm not getting as sick as I used to, so we'll see if it helps. Good luck!
    I'm just glad I even had a diagnosis. I was diagnosed a year ago, but struggled to find a doctor who would take me seriously for the entire year before that, leading to a 100 lb weight gain in total. I also had a cystectomy in February, but that didn't seem to help much.
  • Conniehysell
    Conniehysell Posts: 4 Member
    I have PCOS and lost 50lbs... All without meds, but gained it back since my mom's health got really bad and she passed away in March of this year. But I'm back to get rid of it forever now
  • SkimFlatWhite68
    SkimFlatWhite68 Posts: 1,254 Member
    Yes.

    I was diagnosed with PCOS and Insulin Resistance about 16 years ago (was TTC, eventually had IVF baby).

    I've never taken drugs for it, even though the Endocrinologist wanted to put me on Metformin. Do you know all the side effects from that stuff?? OMG. I do have a Mirena IUD - on my third one, best thing I ever did for my cycles.

    Solution is a low carb diet and walking. 75-100g carbs a day, and they are from green vegetables and berries. Cut right back on your grains and starch vegetables. PCOS loves low carb, you will be surprised at the difference. Takes about half a week to adjust to lower carb lifestyle but after that, you'll be fine.

    My macros are set to Protein 40% Fat 40% and Carb 20%. If once a week I blow it, then so be it - back on lower carb the next day.

    Best wishes.
  • Vivian06703188
    Vivian06703188 Posts: 310 Member
    I just follow MFP I have set it up to lose 2 lbs a week with a sedentary lifestyle. I walk 5 to 6 days a week from 30 to 45 min. Initially I started at 1800 calories and MFP has reduced it as I have lost weight. I am now at 1380 calories per day then add my workout calories according to my daily activity. I have lost 42 pounds since June 2013 or July 2012 I can't remember I think it says it under my name. It is basically 160 days. I only weigh once a month and have not logged any loss for this month yet. I think anyone with any condition can lose weight following the MFP plan. I don't take any weight loss drugs. I try and eat healthy whole food. I don't think you get the results you want if you fast food but there are plenty of people who would argue with me on that front. The reason I say that is because it is so easy to miscalculate the calories if you don't prepare your own food. If you have already lost 7 lbs in one month you are doing very well and are seeing great results. I am unsure why you are questioning if it can be done when you are doing it.
  • Conniehysell
    Conniehysell Posts: 4 Member
    SkimFlatWhite, I know exactly what you mean about the side effects... I argue with my Dr at EVERY visit including today's about me not taking that crap. May I add you as a friend?
  • Carnivor0us
    Carnivor0us Posts: 1,752 Member
    Hey, I've had PCOS for a long time and I've lost weight with diet only. I used to take meds, but they didn't seem to help much. A ketogenic diet has helped me immensely and kept my blood glucose levels normal. Feel free to friend me and/or message me.
  • calcatb
    calcatb Posts: 4 Member
    I would have one of your DR's do a Metobolic Resting Rate (MRM) on you. its a breathing test that shows how many calories you burn by breathing and being alive. Then once we had that number we set my calorie intake. It takes a deficit of 3500 calories each week to lose one pound.

    I'm off Metformin now. They gave it to me to see if it would help me lose weight and the thinking was that I may have been experiencing insulin resistance, because I'm very apple shaped which is indicative of an insulin insensitivity issue.

    My actual MRM is significantly lower then what a "normal" person would see. But I'm one of those people who gained weight on weight watchers even though I could follow it to the letter. The calorie count is just to high for me to lose weight. I now lose about 1-2 pounds a week or so but with all my med issues I'm doing good and have lost 45ish pounds. I at least know what does work now and how to manage it which for me is a real numbers game of calories and excercise. Good luck to you and keep working on it regardless of your issues => you can lose weight. I think out of all the sites I have used and MFP has worked very well for me and lots of support!
  • I have lost over 20 pounds by eating low carb and high protein. I have also recently cut out dairy as apparently women with PCOS should not eat it. It has helped me get over my plateau.
  • teateatea23
    teateatea23 Posts: 17 Member
    From what I've gathered it really depends on your body. I have hypothyroidism and PCOS so it's definitely a double edged sword. Over the past two months I've lost about 5 lbs (and a couple inches... i never kept track) by doing C25K and not really changing my diet too much (I eat very healthy anyways, high protein, lactose intolerant, gluten free and low carb). For me slow and steady is how it goes, but 7lbs in 3 weeks sounds great! And good job to everyone else who has seen success.
  • buttshrink
    buttshrink Posts: 32 Member
    You can add me! I've lost just under 60lbs since march without any medication for my pcos. I eat around 1550 cals a day and exercise for 30 min to sn hour 4 or 5 days a week.
  • imaginaryplant
    imaginaryplant Posts: 93 Member
    Hello, in 2008, I was able to lose 130 lbs while not on my PCOS (Metformin) medication. I started at 285 lbs. I don't recommend this for everyone, but at the time I was considering weight loss surgery, so I felt that I had to do something about my weight or get cut open and I really didn't want that. For the first 5 days, I drank nothing but liquids, I ate liquids (broths, jello, clear low cal juices, crystal lights with an occasional diet coke just so I didn't give up)...I slept A LOT over those days. At the end of the 5 days, I had lost almost 20 lbs. After that I had broken my addiction to food and was able to handle a very strict 1200/day calorie diet. I don't recommend this for anyone who has any medical issues, besides having PCOS, I was physically healthy and 28 years old. I ate 1200 cals a day, and did brisk walks for 30 mins to an hour almost everyday.

    After I was down 50 lbs, I moved to the gym. I would do 1 hour of cardio, 1 hour of strength training (alternating areas of the body daily, just to make sure I didn't strain anything). Over 9 months, I lost 100 lbs. The last 30 lbs were the HARDEST to lose. I ended up having to get a tummy tuck because of the large amount of skin that I had left on my stomach which was causing rashes and my insurance paid for it. They removed 5 lbs of skin. I was always under the impression that taking Metformin and exercising was a bad mix, but I think as long as you drink a ton of water and dont overdo it, it should be fine.

    Right now, I have only gained 30 lbs back because of brain medication, and I've had the hardest time trying to lose. I'm on Metformin again, and I'm not afraid of exercising while on it.

    I'm sharing all of this because this was the biggest thing I've ever accomplished, I was told that I would NEVER be able to lose weight due to my PCOS. It is possible, and I am living proof that women with PCOS can lose weight and change their lives. I just hope that soon I'll take off these wretched 30 extra pounds that my stupid brain meds caused...i do know its possible, I just get discouraged sometimes.
  • I have PCOS and lost 50lbs... All without meds, but gained it back since my mom's health got really bad and she passed away in March of this year. But I'm back to get rid of it forever now

    Inspiring and thank you, I hope you get that 50 lbs back off, I'm sure you will x
  • I realise that I am managing to lose weight so far but the higher protein, lower carb system sounds like the way to go. I do expect to plateau quickly. Never really been lower than 190 lbs my whole adult life.
  • cafeaulait7
    cafeaulait7 Posts: 2,459 Member
    I do fine if I do something about the insulin problem. I do great on a low-glycemic diet, but I love certain things too much to do that all the time. So I have to exercise. It keeps my glucose nice enough, apparently, because I don't burn many calories doing what I do yet it works.

    If I try to lose weight without worrying about blood sugar or exercise, it does not work. It might at 1200 calories a day or something, but I've never tried that low. I don't want to, lol :)

    I'm hoping to do even better if I take a short yet brisk walk after eating earlier in the day. My night exercise clears out that glucose well, and I think a little earlier would cover me for all day. I monitor my BG, so I can tell how well my level goes down, btw. It's a huge drop and lasts till the morning.
  • Eve1972
    Eve1972 Posts: 297
    I lost all my weight without any meds, it can be done! Good luck!
  • kenzietate
    kenzietate Posts: 399 Member
    Hey, I've had PCOS for a long time and I've lost weight with diet only. I used to take meds, but they didn't seem to help much. A ketogenic diet has helped me immensely and kept my blood glucose levels normal. Feel free to friend me and/or message me.

    Keto is what helped me also. I finally found out about it in June and lost about 10 lbs before I unexpectedly got pregnant also due to keto.

    It is very possible to lose weight with PCOS and no meds. It takes a lot of work either way but it is very worth it! Good luck and feel free to friend me! I will be back at it as soon as I can!
  • Cinloykko
    Cinloykko Posts: 117 Member
    I'm on meds.... and they ALL make me sick. but i have a pretty extreme case of PCOS >>>
    but ive read of a lot of success stories that say you can do it without meds!!!! I think it can def be done. you just need to keep in mind that you will experience different progress. It might be slower than regular people, but dont get discouraged!!!! losing weight will ultimately HELP your pcos symptoms ... even 0.5lbs off is a step in the right direction :-)

    Tips:
    Restrict Carbs
    Watch Portions
    Be mindful of hormonal cravings/eating
    Strength training if your friend
    Low GI diets are great
    Some up's and down's are okay
    Slow and steady is the way to go

    Good luck!!!
  • teddiebare
    teddiebare Posts: 46 Member
    I was just diagnosed last week after not losing any weight in 14 months. I initially lost 50-ish lbs with low-carb and exercise, but I hit a WALL. And a bad one. I tried 1200 calories for 6 months. I tried 2200 for 6 months. Now I eat between 1800-2000, and I exercise 6- hours a week (3 of it being heavy strength training). I also walk 4-miles a day in addition to the exercise. I even did a week-long juice fast and lost exactly 0 pounds. I have tried raw vegan. I have been a vegetarian for 8 years and even added chicken and fish back into my diet to attempt Paleo. Nothing. I finally forced my doctor to help me figure out what the hell, and got my PCOS diagnosis after some more blood work.

    I am on a low level of metformin, and she thinks I will do well since I've already figured out the diet and exercise portion. I might go see an actual endocrinologist in January, just to make sure I don't need anything else. They've been convinced it was my thyroid for years, but were never able to get an abnormal lab result.

    So the short answer is: it depends. It depends on your body and how well it responds to diet and exercise. I have exhausted that avenue, and I'm hopeful that the low-dose of metformin will help get things moving again. I'd like to lose at least another 20-30 pounds, and I'm tired of struggling.