I will definitely look into seeing an endocrinologist, and maybe bite the bullet and get a new regular physician, too... he's got a bit of a track record with me when it comes to being dismissive/minimizing issues I bring up, etc. I was ranting to my bf today about him, I completely agree about the dr.'s statement that hormonal bc has minimal side effects... either he's completely clueless and therefor not really qualified to talk about this at all, haha... or he's flat-out lying to me. Either case is reason enough for me to move on.

So, on MFP... if I'm trying low carb/high fat, what should my little fat/carb/protein pie chart look like? And what amount of carbs counts as "low carb"?

Thanks for all the replies!

Hey everyone, looks like there is some good discussion on here. I myself have PCOS and also work in medicine (I'm a physician assistant). I actually did my masters thesis regarding metformin and myo-inositol as it relates to pregnancy and live birth rates. I have done alot of self-education, and I think that's what it takes to get the best health care for any condition. Let me know if anyone has questions, I'd be happy to talk personally as well. Good luck all!

serenity56 wrote: »

Reading this it sounds like
10% carb (30g)
20% protein (60g)
70% fat (70g) is what he is recommending to start, but that you can add in some more carbs down the road if it you do it smartly. Do those sound like acceptable goals?

http://www.ion.ac.uk/information/onarchives/lowcarbeating

That looks about the right ratios for what's known as ketosis, which is what the body does when it burns fat as the primary fuel. It may seem extreme at first, but it's actually quite doable.

However, your total calories are extremely low. By my calculations, that comes out to 990g. Unless you're on the short end of 4 feet, you should be eating quite a bit more than that, especially on a low carb, high fat diet.

Recalculate your numbers to bring calories back to something sane. You can keep the carb gram goal where it is (30g). Keep the protein percent goal where it is (20%, which may increase the gram amount). Then fill in the rest with fat. This will very likely push 100g and may even exceed it. That may look scary, but it's perfectly fine.

From there? Eat all the stuff that conventional wisdom says is bad. I'm not joking.

Butter, whole eggs, bacon, red meat, fatty cuts (and the fat on them!), chicken skin, cream, lard, tallow. The more conventional wisdom cringes at it, the better, basically. Yes, that means including the oft-vilified saturated fat and cholesterol. No, it won't clog your arteries.

The only fat that's bad is artificial trans fat. That is, hydrogenated oils, margarine, industrial seed oils, etc.

Get your fats from whole food and minimally processed sources. If you use oils, choose non-GMO and cold or expeller pressed. Favor unrefined versions for the most part, for their health benefits (as many antioxidants and whatnot are lost in the refining process), but don't fret if you can only afford refined (or really, really don't like the taste of the unrefined version). Favor fats with high saturated or monounsaturated content (avocado, olive, coconut, butter, lard, etc) for cooking, and save the polyunsaturated fats (walnut, sunflower, flax, other nut and seed oils) for cold uses, such as salads, because polyunsaturated fats are very heat-sensitive and oxidize easily (which damage the fats and make them bad for you).

Additionally, eat non-starchy vegetables. Leafy greens, broccoli, asparagus, etc. If it grows above ground, it's basically fair game, but be mindful of the fact that some still have more carbs than others. Be careful with root vegetables, such as carrots and parsnips, as they tend to be higher carb, but if you can fit them in, have a some. Minimize intake of starchy vegetables, as that will rack up your carb count real quick, fast, and in a hurry.

If you want fruits, stick to stone fruits (peaches, nectarines, etc) and berries (strawberries, blueberries, avocados, etc) for the most part. Treat fruits in general as dessert. Don't worry, you're not missing out on nutrients, especially if you're including green veggies and a variety of meats and meat cuts.

I think that's a sufficient primer. I also recommend checking out the Low Carber Daily group, which has a ton of resources and a great group of people that can help with the ins and outs of low carbing.

I don't have much to say on the fertility side of things, but I do know that I despise Metformin and the way it messes up my stomach. I've never had stomach cramps like this before. Does anyone have any tips to help with the cramps and diarrhea?

It took me a few weeks to balance out on the Metformin. For me, I had to add some carbs to balance it out. My body tolerates grains better than fruits. Fruits make that reaction worse for me unless it is berries. So I suggest you find out which type works better for you and bumping a little when your reaction strikes. Others on here also made me aware that dairy and a few other things trigger the reaction a little more. It is all about balance. For me, NOT EATING will make the reaction very strong...

I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2010. My cycle has never been normal, af always stays 15 days or more. I was never given any treatment for it except the occasional birth control pill or depo with didn't do anything for me. Well in May of this year I was put on metformin 500mg 2x a day. I just want some relief and a baby. But I have lost 15lbs since being on metformin.