Hypothyroid and PCOS

Hi, I have hypothyroid, have since I was 17 and I'm now 44, but no PCOS thankfully. I've read some things that do say that those two issues can be inter-related as well as the infertility and hypothyroid. Really your whole body depends on it's endocrine system to be able to function properly. I would recommend a book called Stop the Thyroid Madness. It's kind of one of those books I wish I had known about a long time ago- Full of good info and explains how many things relate to one another within our body.

As far as diet and exercise I stay away from gluten as much as possible, try to eat unprocessed as much as possible, lots of fruits and veggies, and proteins, fish, chicken and venison mainly. I cook and bake my own things a lot so I can monitor what goes into it, and usually make extras for dinner that I can eat again for lunch if possible. I think that lots of cardio is the way to go for us underactive thyroid folks, we really need the burn so I do more cardio than strength these days.

If you'd like to friend me, your more than welcome, I always try to answer people's thyroid questions as best I can...

Hi Jodie (http://www.myfitnesspal.com/user/jodilreagan/status ) i see your on Metformin, i am too, for the exact same reasons. Whats BC , if u dont mind me asking? xxx

I was diagnosed with PCOS about 6 years ago and had been trying to concieve for 4.5 years. i was refused fertility treatment 4 times over those 4 and a bit years cos of being overweight and i finally found out i was preggy a week before my treatment was due to begin a fter being refused for so many years. I was on metaformin for just over a year in the last 4.5 years and i swea\r thats what helped get me preggy on top of losing 4 stone. However when i first started trying over 4.5 years ago i was only 14 stones and couldnt concieve, this time i fell preggy a stone heavier! I genuinely think its more to do with diet than weight, however being overweight while preggy can have more compolications. I do believe there is hope for all PCOS sufferers when there diet has changed and some weight has been lost. at my heaviest i was 19 stone 4 ibs. I am now rising up in weigtht again and must relose it, however this time i am not looking for a baby so am finding the moti8vation hard atm to lose weight where as before i had a reason. You can do this!

Yup. I have both PCOS and hypothyroidism, and take levothyroxine for the thyroid (which has some crappy side effects for me), spironolactone, and metformin. The combination of levo & spiro brought on long-lost periods that metformin didn't for me. I also had TERRIBLE digestive problems from the metformin, until I started watching the carbs I was eating.

My very favorite low-carb foods are cottage cheese and english muffins. Sourdough bread is fairly low in carbs, compared to white bread, as well. Feel free to friend me, but please leave a message with your request so I know you're not a crazy. Even though crazy might be fun!

Do you take the regular or extended release version of Metformin? The extended release version is easier on the stomach. I took the regular version for many months and had awful GI issues from it. I just switched a week ago to the extended release and I haven't had many problems.

what is PCOS? I have hypothyroid and its the hardest thing for me to loose weight.

I have PCOS with insulin resistance and I was until I tested okay last year, borderline hypothyroid.

The main issue for many with PCOS is insulin resistance. Do whatever you have to do, regarding your diet and exercise, to help your body with your insulin resistance. I don't think there's a superfood or an easy answer regarding insulin resistance, but it's the sticky wicket.

Often we're stuck in a situation of:
You can't lose weight because your body makes too much insulin and your cells resist it, so everything is stored as fat, particularly in the belly area. You become more insulin resistant because you're overweight, but insulin resistance increases your weight which raises your resistance and so on. It literally makes itself worse.

You have to make that cycle stop if you have any hope of losing weight. If you're in an upwards cycle (out of control weight gain), reducing carbs to lower the trigger of your major insulin response is a good idea. But it doesn't have to be that way forever. You don't have to eat like atkins or cavemen or dance around linking your carbs forever. Once you lower the insulin overload, build up some lean body mass, and reduce some of your fat, your body will start responding to food a little more normally.

Take your meds, see your doctor regularly, increase your activity (especially if you're sedentary), and don't be discouraged. I know I lose weight slowly and sometimes it goes in reverse, but I know it will balance out and the weight will continue to come off if I eat at a deficit. I opt for high fiber carbs, but for me, at least, there's really no magic food to include or exclude that makes me lose. I just have to eat less than I burn.

Good luck.