PCOS weight-loss input..

I've had the symptoms of PCOS for a long time and finally went to go see a specialist about it and found out I do have it, I’ve been on 1500mg of metformin daily for a few months now and have done a lot of reading up on it over the years. Been working out 5 days a week at a really intense level with cardio and need to start adding in the weights..

Any thoughts on what I can cut from my diet? ( I need to relook at this anyway )

Thanks!

Hi,

I have been living with PCOS since late puberty. I was finally diagnosed at the age of 26 by my Gyno at the time after I had an ultrasound study and eventual laproscopic surgery for Endometriosis. I had the classic "string of pearls" presentation. Prior to this, I had weighed in the 120's an at 5'2" and having an athletic build, I was happy. I had always had irregular periods and that gyno just continuously put me on the birthcontrol pill, stating I had a "hormone imbalance". Once she finally gave me the dx, she said I would have issues conceiving in the future but that's all. Over the next year, with working out 5 days a week at high intensity, I started gaining weight and no matter what I did, I put on 30 lbs in a year. That was when I read about the Zone Diet. I started following that and continued working out. Unexpectedly, my fiancee (now hubby) and I were shocked to discover we were expecting a baby. I had him and my PCOS went crazy. I happened to see an article in a magazine about PCOS and was like "What?!?!?" "I am at risk for all that?" And to think my gyno said it was only a "hormone imblanace". Sheesh. There was a name of a MD who was a Reproductive Endocrinologist who specialized in treating PCOS who practiced in Boston. I called her and made an appoiuntment. She took one look at me and said "I can look at you and see you have pcos" She ordered some labs and they showed I am insulin resistant. She started me on metformin that day. She stated that diets like Zone that are lower in carbs are what is most often successful for my type of PCOSer and that unknowingly, the Zone diet and exercise were what was needed to treat the PCOS.

So, I went back on the Zone diet and metformin and we conceived our second son. My PCOS since then has been a constant struggle. I have tried Weight Watchers with little to no success once and then tried it again with incorporating Zone practice and had a little bit of success. I am now 42 years old and have gained and lost the same 15-20 lbs several times. Everytime I fall off the wagon, the weight would pile back on.

A few years ago, I was introduced to the paleo and primal lifestyles and the book Deep Nutrition by Catherine Shannahan at an obesity clinic I attended. I lost 17 lbs during that time pretty easily when I was faithful. But I am not sure I was completely on board. However, I finally read the entire book by Dr Shannahan and that convinced me I had to commit to change. Since then, I have limited my net carbs (after subtracting fiber) to no more than 100g a day as she suggests, started making veggie/fruit smoothies in my Nutribullet, and been exercising 5 days a week and have lost 8 lbs in 3 weeks, which is amazing for me! I have pretty much cut out processed foods and aim for 30% carbs, 40% fat and 35% protein. My energy has skyrocketed and I am not hungry at all. I've lost a total of 16 lbs so far. My goal is to loose another 60 lbs.

I highly recommend the book Deep Nutrition!

Julie

I've been struggling with PCOS for about 9 years. I'm 39 and 5'3 and currently 260 lbs. My endo has me on Metformin and just put me on a strict 2,000 calorie diet. If I go over 2K on Monday, I have to subtract that number on Tuesday and so forth. He says that exercise plays a big part in maintenance, but to get the weight off it's 95% diet. Which sucks. I am hungry a lot but am consistently losing about a pound a week. Slow and steady FTW?

I lost a ton of weight when I went on Spironolactone, it takes a good few months to kick in and some bad side effects at first but I couldn't live without it now it reduces all the symptoms. I stopped taking it and got bad carb cravings and put on a ton of weight but I already feel better since starting it again. I tried Metformin but unfortunately didn't make a difference for me.

I quit taking it recently because I couldn't deal with the side effects (constipation, peeing every 5 minutes). Glad its working for you though.

Hi ladies I was diagnosed with this in November 2013 I haven't told anyone but I feel I'm struggling I have 3 children and no one knows how long iv had this for which makes it a bit harder - I have constant period pain and my mood swings are terrible happy jolly one minute and don't care about anything the next - the doctors didn give me any advice at how it may affect me and I don't even no if te mood swing are connected to the condition but I'm putting it down to that - I feel miserable and depressed as time goes on my last period was 1sr week of December I feel bloated and look massive!!
I have my own business as a forever living Distributer who specialise in natural aloe Vera based products and iv been advised by the health board to try drinking the aloe berry daily and to take multi macca suppliments as these help with fertility hormonal balance and libido - iv put an order in tonight for these products and I'm really hopin they help I feel so sorry for my family living with my mood swings

I found out I have PCOS 6 weeks ago, and was determined not to let this condition affect me. My gyn suggested I try intermittent fasting regime ( which she had tried ,she also has pcos) together with going to the gym 5 days a week and following a nutritional plan designed by well known uk nutritionist Marilyn Glenville (visit her website) I have lost a total of 7 kg and still going down. Find out more it's worth a try.

I have had PCOS probably since I was 11 years old when I hit puberty. Thy never really figured out what was wrong until I was about 25 or 26. I am 29 now. January 2010 I began cutting calories and working out more. I try to eat a low carb low sugar diet. I started at 301 pounds and now fluctuate between 185-188 and I want to be around 160. It's been 4 years on this journeying and 115 pounds down. I lose on average 25 pounds a year the past 4 years. When I am off metformin I gain back faster. I have been back on metformin for about 6-8 months and am down the 35-40 pounds I gained in summer 2012-2013.

I have found even saying fruit is too much for my body sometimes.

I tried spironolactone and it didn't help my acne, bloating, or symptoms much into opinion but I don't think I took it long enough. I may have to take to my endocrinologist about it again because acne and bloating are really bad.

Any bloating tips?

She is full of information on her website

http://www.pcosdietsupport.com/diet-tips/pcos-diet-vs-normal-diet/

Does anyone want to be email buddies? It's hard to lose weight on your own with PCOS especially when people don't understand the condition. I tend to do better with actual communicative support, somewhere around 2-3x a week. It's also nice to share recipe ideas, workouts, or just to have someone to vent to. If anyone's interested just message me...I just wanted to put it out there versus starting a new thread.

I'm 18 and only recently (back in November) found out that I have the symptoms for PCOS. I had started to get irregular periods (they stopped for 6 months from July-December but now they have come back which is strange) and from the age of 11 I noticed that my hair on my arms and legs was turning dark. I thought nothing more of it because my hair colour was naturally brown. I finally went to the doctor about everything. She said that going on the pill would help sort things out but I knew I could never go on the pill because my mum's side has a history of blood clots.

Since December, after my first lot of blood test, I have had to go to hospital for them to take blood and test for the gene that cause blood clots (since I can't have the pill). My bloods came back as two of them indicating that I was at high risk of developing blood clots (this scared me so much). They have put me on a four week Vitamin K diet and I need to go back and have more blood taken so they can do the other tests again.

I am no closer right now to even getting the Metformin stuff which could help me lose weight and balance my hormones. I am trying everything so that I can try to lose weight on my own without the medication. My doctor and the hospital keep telling to try and lose weight but I know it isn't that simple. I do Zumba regularly (which is great fun) and other exercises when I can. Although my weight has never shifted. When I was at secondary school I was 168lbs but now I am 203lbs. My weight steadily increased over the course of 2-3 years.

I am now at the point where I feel so depressed about everything. I hate the way I look and the way I feel. I'm just at a loss with what I can do. I am trying to eat healthily and do more exercise but the scales never shift. I'm getting worried that I will always be like this and will never go back to the weight I was when I was younger. I also want to get my weight down so I can possibly follow my chosen career path/hobby.

because PCOS not only stops from conceiving but from carrying. I wanted to make sure that I would not only conceive but carry to full term.

This is not true, unless you are a reproductive fertility doctor I would NOT be telling other women this! I have PCOS, among other hormonal issues. I got pregnant once naturally but m/c early. It took 2 years of fertility treatments to become pregnant with my 1st child. Never once did my Dr. (top 5 in the field) say this. It does not stop one from conceiving, it makes it much more difficult, but it is possible with help. Once pregnant, having PCOS does not put you at risk for not being able to carry or carry to term.

Hello all, I began MFP about 5 weeks ago and lost 4lbs first week!!! This gave me realistic hope that I may be able to loose a good 1-2 lbs p/wk. However that has not been the case. I lost .5 lbs this week (and one other week). I'm beginning to feel hopeless, sad and extremely depressed. Thinking of going on an antidepressant. I've been on Lexapro before in 2008-2009, but I gained a good 30 pounds on it. Since 2008 I've gained 90 lbs and have only lost 9. Has anyone, with PCOS been on antidepressant? If so, which one?

Just have to say. YES losing weight is very hard! Having pcos and hashimotos which is hypo thyroid basically. BUT IT CAN BE DONE! Vitex ladies vitex! It's a vitamin that helps with hormones. I was on metformin, taking the vitex, on a no carb diet and walking 5 times a week and within 3 months I got pregnant! After 5 years with my hubby I wanted to have a child and everyone kept saying lose weight lose weight! Me:" but why I see big girls all the time poppin out kids" WELL ITS BECAUSE of all these health issues! ANYTHING WORTH HAVING IS WORTH FIGHTING FOR! DONT STOP! I've been working on my weight loss again and lost 40+ so far! I promise it works! Just get up and do it and having someone call you mommy is the BEST reward in the world! Good luck and God bless

It is a vicious beast. Let me be your cautionary tale. I have suffered with pcos since puberty. I have been a yo yo since puberty. I was able to lose lots of weight in '03 with Pilates, riding bareback, barn chores, landscaping, and portion control. Had issues with water retention, and I still do. Met my husband that same year, got married the next Spring, got pregnant 4 months later. I was immediately as sick as a dog 24/7. Water would make me throw up or gag. Eating helped. My weight was out of control. I won't go into pregnancy complications, that will give you a nightmare. I almost lost the baby, almost died myself. Couldn't nurse. I lost probably over 100# in a year after surviving pregnancy #1. I was 22 when I had my 1st baby and I had never been on birth control. I used chromium piconolate after baby #1. I exercised regularly, portion control, barn chores, pilates, and took care of my husband and baby. Was the best shape of my life at 23-24. Got pregnant with baby #2. Threw up regularly and still gained weight. I was overwhelmed by stress and just decided to take it easy during that pregnancy. Other than feeling sick all the time it was a normal pregnancy and delivery. Weight never fully came off with doing the same things as before. People look at you like you are lazy, you'll tell them what you do to try to stay fit they think you are a liar. Fast forward late 20s, husband loses job, marital stress. My stress went up through the roof. After baby #2 things began to get out of control. 29 I had a pregnancy-sized tumor removed along with my rightovary. It was grade 1 ovarian cancer. I am now 31 and I have put on a lot of weight again after being on the treadmill all Winter. I honestly look/feel like the hulk while working so very hard. Pcos women are usually heavier, due to sheer muscle mass, produced by hypertestosteronism, we have a higher sex drive usually, and a more passionate temper. The heavy muscling will mean that some of us will never reach a normal bmi, so we are always treated like filth by most medical doctors. The only thing that has ever helped me to look and feel normal is Pilates. Unfortunately when I had surgery to remove the tumor I have so much trouble with scar tissue that core exercises make me feel unwell. It is very frustrating to have to work twice as hard to see half the results. It is also disheartening to know that our risks of heart disease, ovarian, and uterine cancer are heightened. It's absolutely true. I feel that I have another lease on life, but I have one ovary and a uterus that begs me to keep the weight off. More importantly, 2 kids and a husband to stay well for Back to the drawing board!

Hi , everybody . I've been reviewing online pages for people with pcos for a while since I was diagnosed having pcos after years of unsuccessfully trying to conceive . I went for ivf and have been blessed with beautiful amazing twins !and and amazing son. The down side however is it had taken a toll on my body I always tried difft things to lose the weight and some work a little but then it comes back or limit you so much that your body craves bad foods. . I work as a detective in the nypd and the unusual work hours take a great toll on the body . I started hearing co workers who I knew struggled with weight on a nutrition program and watched them shrinking before my eyes at a dramatic pace . I didn't ask for a while bc I didn't think I could do it . Until I went to my general DR and he mentioned it!! I have to share this with all of you struggling because it has been the greatest blessing of my life in terms of weight loss and health. In the first 3.5 weeks on this program I was down 3 clothing sizes from a 16 to a 10 and that's with no time to work out at all. I dropped a tremendous amount of weight and because the program is complete nutrition it's very healthy for the body and consistent with the healthy diet my dr told me would help with pcos. I'm so glad I found this program !:) If you are interested in trying it you can email me at scwiekalo@aol.com if you have any questions or want more information . I've struggled with weight my whole life and this has been the best thing I found to lose the weight gain health and tremendous energy ! Lol even with three kids 2 years old Twins and an infant . Good luck to you all:)