From Obese to a size 4- 61 lbs down with PCOS!

OKAY! So some answers to your questions!

1) I have learned quite a bit about this whole process, and adaptability is the key to success. If you have ever met someone who did not hit a plateau in their weight loss journey, PLEASE send me their contact information. I want the key to this very frustrating problem.

PHASE 1: How did I start? I started with MFP, plugged in my numbers, and to lose 2 lbs a week, I needed to "net" 1200 calories. This method got me to lose the first 25 lbs. So with this method I was eating back some of my exercise calories and was eating everything in moderation. I used to run cross country and I didn't absolutely hate it so I would work on running a mile or running for time. I did virtually all cardio because I didn't dare enter the first floor where all of the "bros" were (intimidation factor) and I had no real idea of how to use the free weights/machines.

PHASE 2:
However, I started to stall out and could not figure out what to change. I had a few strategic things happen to me at this time, I was getting severely discouraged at this point, but when the girl at the front desk said, "Hi Nicole, nice to see you again" it made my day. I always felt like I was going at everything alone and that I didn't have a community to participate with. Also, I finally bucked up the courage to get a personal trainer. I was scared but it was ultimately the best financial decision I have ever made. I could get an "unlimited amount of sessions" at a discounted rate. I have always been a people pleaser, so even if at this point I wasn't "doing this for myself," I did not want to disappoint him. My original goal was to lose weight for my sister's wedding and in that year's time I lost 48 lbs.

When I got my trainer, I switched from 1200 net calories, to eating 1500 consistently and NOT eating back exercise calories, and doing weightlifting. This was really the jumpstart that my body needed. At this phase, I started to eliminate bread, rice, and pasta from my daily diet. Having PCOS and trying to stick to a low GI diet (google if you haven't-it's about not having glucose spikes), unfortunately these foods just really couldn't be a part of my daily plan.

I was sticking to mainly lean meats (chicken breast, turkey, and fish), vegetables, fruits and dairy within the 1500 calorie limit.

PHASE 3:

When I started to stall out again, I had to take a much closer look at how I was appropriating my calories within each macro. In order to get "lean" because I had to face it, I was NEVER going to be skinny. Just doesn't happen for a PCOS girl, but it's something I've learned to embrace.

In order to build muscle most people shoot for about 1 gram of protein per lb of body mass (i.e. 150 grams of protein for 150 lb person). I had also read somewhere that someone else with PCOS was consistently losing at 90-100 grams of carbs a day, and mine had consistently been 120-130 (not terribly high by any means but not quite getting the results I wanted).

My macros are now set to 40% protein, 25% carbs, and 35% fat. I have to supplement my diet with protein powder in order to get adequate protein numbers but they're not too bad Also, for me restricting my carbs to 90-100 grams a day was pretty tough, and to make sure that I would hit them I started to pre-log. That way I didn't find myself at the end of the day having gone over accidentally by 20 grams. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE UNLIMITED FRUIT?! This was the biggest disappointment ever, but you better believe I savor every apple I eat.

OKAY! WORKOUTS!
Do HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training)! It is the best and fastest way to get your calories burned without having to spend hours on a cardio machine.

WEIGHTLIFT! Lift HEAVY!

LIFE ADVICE:
Try to be realistic with yourself about what you may look like at your goal weight. I had never been thin before so I had no concept of what my body would look like at 150, 140, 130 etc. I randomly chose 130 18 months ago thinking that was right in the middle of the healthy weight range category for 5'4". To my dismay, I still didn't have the body of a VS model. Wait, what?!?!

Remember your accomplishments and where you came from. I'm starting to make peace with myself and my body, and starting to appreciate what I considered my flaws (I have HUGE quads, but they help me run fast!!)

My trainer said after I had complained about not being Miranda Kerr, "Rome wasn't built overnight." The idea of wanting immediate results would get me discouraged more often than not, so instead of wanting to be "done" in a month, I started expanding the scope of my goals. I mean I did want to be fit and skinny for the REST of my life, right?

Okay, feel free to send me questions if you have specfic questions! My diary is open to my friends!