weight loss success on Metformin

I've just started Metformin and im also on a 20 carb diet plan. I am just wondering is there anyone out there who has had weight loss success while on Metformin. I would gladly appreciate it Thax : -)

Replies

  • Annie_01
    Annie_01 Posts: 3,096 Member
    20g of carbs? Why so low?
  • NewTnme
    NewTnme Posts: 258 Member
    I've heard of metformin for weight lost but be careful.... your brain needs all the carbs it can get and as you may know metformin is used to lower blood glucose. 20 grams of carbs is extremely low alone without metformin. Ask your doctor maybe. Good luck.
  • Im doing the atkins induction thats why im doing 20 carbs a day...but so far i haven't slipped so i guess this is a good start
  • Thanx New Tnme
  • Metformin is for diabetes. 20 carbs is way to low. Talk to your doctor
  • Crash7676
    Crash7676 Posts: 41 Member
    I'm doing induction. Don't worry people, it is only for two weeks, to break a carb addiction. Please don't scare her! it is safe. :)
  • @Jennhill310 i do have diabetes they have me taking 1000 mg but i was wondering about if it helps promote weight loss because the doc said it did...
  • I was prescribed Metformin in 2011 for PCOS, but it made me extremely sick, so I stopped taking it. I'm not diabetic and I personally didn't lose any weight on it.
  • Shaky44
    Shaky44 Posts: 214 Member
    Most studies seem to show that patients starting on metformin lose weight. Those same studies show that patients who receive the placebo also lose weight. This phenomenon is likely due to the patients being in a clinical trial knowing they will have frequent physician visits where their weight will be recorded. This is often seen in clinical studies.

    That being said, it's easy to imagine that as your blood glucose levels don't experience the same swings, you will find it easier to control your appetite.

    I've lost over 100 lbs - all while on metformin - and to me the secret is to eat small meals frequently. Do not let yourself get too hungry.
  • Snow__White
    Snow__White Posts: 1,650 Member
    When I first started metformin
    I lost nearly 70 lbs with out exercise or diet change
    I also spent 95% of my time on the toilette from the side effects!
    Guess what now that my body is use to it I have no more side effects
    and no more weightloss from it!
  • janesmith1
    janesmith1 Posts: 1,511 Member
    "
    Can it prevent or control diabetes?

    No good evidence suggests that Atkins accomplishes either.

    Read More

    Prevention: Research into Atkins or other low-carb diets is sparse. Frequent spikes and dips in blood glucose after carb-heavy meals can, according to Atkins literature, lead to insulin resistance, a frequent precursor to Type 2 diabetes where the body doesn’t respond as it should to the hormone. However, diabetes experts emphasize weight gain from excessive caloric intake, regardless of where those calories come from, increases the risk of developing insulin resistance and possibly diabetes. Losing weight and keeping it off, no matter the diet, will almost certainly reduce your risk of developing the chronic disease.

    Control: "The New Atkins for a New You" devotes an entire chapter to diabetes management, but cites only five very small studies to support claims that low-carb diets improve blood-sugar control. Diabetes specialists agree that because blood glucose dips and spikes are intimately tied to carb consumption, carefully choosing and restricting some carbs is important. But the 30 or fewer grams a day specified in some Atkins phases is too extreme, concluded the authors of a 2005 report published in Nutrition and Metabolism.

    A study published in 2013 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition suggests that low-carb diets are as effective as low-GI,Mediterranean and high-protein diets in improving various markers of cardiovascular risk among people with diabetes.

    A few recent studies have shown that Atkins or other low-carb approaches help lower blood glucose and insulin levels—suggesting they may stave off diabetes or help diabetics control their condition—but they don’t do it significantly better than other diets."


    http://health.usnews.com/best-diet/atkins-diet
  • lighteningjeanne855
    lighteningjeanne855 Posts: 566 Member
    I'm taking 2000 mg of metformin each day, as prescribed by my endocrinologist.
    Just make sue you take it with food.
    Wellbutrin, an anti-depressant, is also useful for losing weight.

    On a personal note, I would increase the carbs after the 2nd week of Atkins "Induction".
    Meat, meat, and meat gets a bit heavy after while. Go to the next level of vegetables
    in "the ladder", and enjoy them with butter!
  • dawnee68
    dawnee68 Posts: 32 Member
    I'm on 1500mg of metformin. So far I have lost almost 5 kilos in the 6 weeks I have been on it.
  • feelin_gr_8
    feelin_gr_8 Posts: 308 Member
    I know my mom used to take metformin for diabetes and I remember hearing that it boosts fertility as well. Do they prescribe it even if you don't have diabetes? We haven't been able to conceive (have tried for almost 2 years)...but a drug that helps with weight loss AND fertility...I might be up for that!
  • Snow__White
    Snow__White Posts: 1,650 Member
    I know my mom used to take metformin for diabetes and I remember hearing that it boosts fertility as well. Do they prescribe it even if you don't have diabetes? We haven't been able to conceive (have tried for almost 2 years)...but a drug that helps with weight loss AND fertility...I might be up for that!
    They also prescribe it if u have PCOS
  • gcbma
    gcbma Posts: 112 Member
    I take metformin as well, and it did accelerate my weight loss. I was diagnosed diabetic, but now its considered a metabolic disordeer. I also worry about such a low carb intake, as metformin helps keep blood sugars low. My fear is that you will feel really bad, and get discouraged. Your body needs carbs. Also, it took me close to a month for my body to adjust to metformin. I was nauseated a lot, and had a good deal of GI upset.


    Good luck!
  • I was told 15 years ago due to my PCOS that I would never be able to have children. 11 years ago I went on the sugar busters diet lost 12 pounds and got pregnant with my son. I have read that a lot of woman conceive while on that diet. Good luck to you!!
  • Roaringgael
    Roaringgael Posts: 339 Member
    I've just started Metformin and im also on a 20 carb diet plan. I am just wondering is there anyone out there who has had weight loss success while on Metformin. I would gladly appreciate it Thax : -)

    My sister started on Metformin and immediately felt better because she was absorbing her carbs/sugar effectively.
    You should feel a boost in energy and feel less tired.
    Watch your blood glucose regularly as things will change as you go on.
    Weight loss is the most effective way to improve insulin resistance / Type II diabetes.
    So good luck!
    Be open to trying a sensible calorie deficit style diet if your low carb seems to difficult.
    :flowerforyou:
  • Thanx everyone for all the response
  • AuntShanna
    AuntShanna Posts: 18 Member
    Hey Coco, I was perscribed Metformin to help with PCOS and Insulin resistence, because of this I have to watch my carbs as well. I keep a good balance (for me) and what carbs I do eat, I keep to the low glycemic seriously whole food/grains ...but I occassionally cheat. I am only on 500 mg at night and it has not helped me lose weight... what I did lose was from the exercise I incorporated and no longer overeating on a daily basis. That being said, my girlfriend was diagnosed with similar problems and her doc perscribed 1000 mg a day and a serious diabetic diet, as she was trying to concieve also, she dropped 35 lbs and did concieve. but she had made VERY serious diet changes since she was a junk food junky before.

    As long as you communicate with your doctor, make wise choices with food and move to help keep your blood sugars stable (exercise is important here for insulin resistence, not sure if it works the same for diabetics.)... you will see success. I just have to add also... you have AMAZING cheekbones girl!
  • Predsfan2013
    Predsfan2013 Posts: 64 Member
    I too have Pcos and am on metformin. I am not doing low carbs because the medication makes, me sick without carbs. I use mostly complex carbs. I have lost 17lbs since October 13 2013. I watch my calories and exercise 30 min 2 days a week. It does help.
  • cathylopez1975
    cathylopez1975 Posts: 191 Member
    I have taken metformin for probably a decade. I was taking 2000mg daily. I never lost weight, but I didn't eat at a calorie deficit. In trying to control the blood glucose levels, my dr tried a number of additional oral meds that I always had problems with. Along with the metformin, I started on Byetta injections 15 months ago and took strict control of my eating and FINALLY was able to lose weight. My diabetes educator/dietitian said that the big spikes after meals are what were causing my weight issues, so the plan was to flatten out the spikes. I still eat carbs, but way less than I used to. I try to keep my macros balanced (equal proportions) - carbs, protein, fat. I eat only healthy carbs - no candy, cake, cookies, junk, chips, processed junk, etc. I make sure the carbs I eat have value, mainly veggies, fruits, brown rice, whole grains.

    By the way, I now do 500 mg metformin (extended release) with a once weekly Bydureon injection. My fasting glucose is in the low 80s normally and my 2 hr. after a meal is never more than 120. And I have lost 88 lbs.

    Good luck on your journey.
  • Lol thanx @Auntshanna
  • iowachapman
    iowachapman Posts: 38 Member
    I also and very similar to cathylopez197 I started at 280 lbs in 2009, and started on Byetta, and wanted to get off all meds. The initial year and half I dropped down to 207, then I thought I was good, stopped taking byetta, and other meds, over about 6 months trickled up to 230, was still going to the Y and watching what I ate, for another year n half until just last august I was stuck, then found a doc that put me on bydureon as it was once weekly, since going on the bydureon i have been able to easily lose weight again, though i did also start a 20 hour fast 4 hour eat window monday to friday at about 1200 to 1300 calories, and then weekends i have about 2000 calories. I am currently 195 A1C in Dec was 5.4 Blood Pressure 120/70 and cholesterol levels are good. Strongly suggest anybody who is type 2 to request the use of byetta or bydureon, it will help in many cases to lose. Also any appetite suppressing pills can help.

    Oh and as for what I eat, I mainly eat good, however i never refuse myself say a doughnut if I want one. Just dont eat more than 1, count the calories and adjust my calories. There are even times where I have gone to taco bell, i just add them calories up and make sure i am under 1300 for the day in my 4 hour eating window. For those that might yell thats not healthy, they can talk to my doc about my stats, A1C from 6.1 to 5.4, blood pressure with no meds, 120 over 70, lowered cholesterol, my stats show otherwise, and I feel good.

    oh yes i do take metroformin also.. 1000gm a day, have been on that since i been diagnosed in 2k
  • kamakazeekim
    kamakazeekim Posts: 1,183 Member
    I had my dose of metformin bumped up to the max in December and since then the weight has started coming off :) I've lost about 10 pounds so far!
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