PCOS(polycystic-ovary-syndrome)

I was diagnosed when I was 12, so a while ago. When I first found out, they put me on birth control to regulate my periods and metformin for 3 years. The birth control did a prefect job regulating my periods, but the metformin never really did anything special. My symptoms are weight gain, irregular periods, Irregular Body Hair, and acne, which I have since kicked. Yay! My PCOS also led to Insulin Resistance.

I find the best way I have lost weight in the past is to just go it the old fashioned way. The fad diets don't really work as well. But healthy food, lifting weights, and cardio always does the trick. I am also Gluten Free, which I have noticed greatly improves my mood and energy, but that it most likely unrelated.

Feel free to add me

Hi all

I have PCOS as well- working hard to manage it naturally right now. I am 25 and have probably been suffering from it since I was 10 (when I first started my period, but wasn't diagnosed until 18). I never had a regular period until I started taking vitex a year ago (increases progesterone) and have suffered from acne most of my life. The only time my skin was clear was on spironlactone which I took on and off between age 18 and 25. It was great for acne, oily skin and male pattern hair but had some sucky side effects when I was on it recently.

I was already dealing with depression from the lose of my father and my acne was worse so I went back on spironlactone. Bad idea. Spironlactone is a potassium sparing diuretic. So it holds potassium in your body which can mess with your heart. To spare you the details I ended up taking a trip to urgent care and going off spironlactone.

I was at my wits end and needed a solution. I did hours of research and decided that the root problem was insulin resistance which was throwing all my other hormones off balance and actually causing PCOS. I was willing to do anything to fix it but my usual solution (spironlactone) had just been stripped from me.

(BTW Spiro doesn't actually deal with the root it just blocks the excess testosterone from affecting your skin. You still have excess insulin in your body that forces your ovaries to produce the male hormone.)

All of this happened about a month ago. I decided to take drastic matters to manage my PCOS and I have to say.... It's working!!! My skin is 80% clear from what it was a month ago. It's amazing.

I took the approach from two sides:

- healing my gut (to stop inflammation)
- Eating low GI foods (to deal with the insulin resistance and lower free testosterone)

Here is everything I'm doing:

Supplements:

1. Inositol (insulin sensitizer) 2 grams
2. NAC 1200 mg
3. Fish oil (reduce inflammation)
4. Vitamin D3 5,000 IU
5. Vitex (increase progesterone)
6. Probiotic

Diet:

1. Dairy free
2. Sugar free
3. Gluten free
4. Low glycemic index foods (basically paleo)
5. Drink homemade bone broth daily (gut and brain health)

That may seem extreme but I feel amazing. I plan to change it some once I get my skin to where I want it. But it's been a month and I've seen a significant improvement in my PCOS symptoms.

Hope that helps. Feel free to add me!

Diagnosed years ago but never really did anything about it- MISTAKE! Trying to lose weight and reverse it with low carb keto diet now. Rogue chin hairs SUCK. And so does the struggle to not gain weight. Trying to lose weight on shake programs and cal counting has been very discouraging because I lose soooo slowly. I'm jumping for joy if I see a pound lost in a week or two. My average loss is a fourth to half a pound a week. That's 1-2 lbs A MONTH?!? After several weeks to months of that (I've done this for years- so sometimes I wait and think I'll have a breakthrough, sometimes I give up too quickly :-/ ) I get discouraged and end up gaining it all back in a week or so. I'm really hoping the low carb will help me... I know I've never had enough veggies so I've changed that too. That'll be a permenant change ... Veggies aren't just for dinner anymore lol. My health is more important than my weight at this point- but right now I know they go hand in hand. Know your not alone in your struggle- or your triumphs! Good luck and best wishes!!

Hi k8! I've just started doing the keto low carb diet which is really low to start- 20-25 carbs. I'll gradually add in certain foods that'll raise my carbs- right now I'm getting carbs from veggies and berries so it's been ok. I think I miscalculated (big time lol) today tho and had about 40! I think anything under 100 carbs is considered low carb tho. When I add whole grains back in, I'll probably be around 50-60... There's a blog called -peace love and low carb- it's amazing and has lots of info and recipes etc!

I've had PCOS for a while now and was morbidly obese. I’m on a contraceptive pill and Metformin 1000 SR.

I started loosing weight on from Jan 2014. Started at 264 lbs, currently at 184 lbs and going. It takes time, but it’s possible. The cycle is predictable now because of the pills, but the cramps are not severe. The fatigue spells have almost disappeared. All the reports are encouraging.

For me personally, weight management has helped. I have a long way to go in terms of reaching my target weight. Hopefully everything will get resolved by then. Please don’t loose heart.

K8cain wrote: »

For those of you losing with the low carb....how low are you going, what did the doctor recommend?...MFP gives me 193 carbs.....I've been trying to keep it closer to 100-115...wondering if that is low enough for PCOS. Been "very good" the last 2 months and have barely lost 4lbs. With major diet changes and workouts 4x a wk, only seeing 4lb change is frustrating when others in my group are losing so much more. I'm 42 and have had PCOS a long time....metformin really didn't work for me but I originally took it for fertility issues. Fertility is no longer an issue just the weight loss. I have irregular periods but couldn't really care less about that either. I use to have very painful periods and would have cysts rupture which would knock me to the ground with pain....but neither of those in a long time. Guess I am pretty lucky in that sense. Have read a lot lately about low carb for PCOS.....just curious HOW low do I need to go?

Hi K8! When I first started I was looking online to see how low carb I should go. I found that they recommended 30-40% of your daily intake should be carbs when going low carb. And that's only if you don't want to do the EXTREME low carb. I love carbs too much so that's what I did. I just altered my goals on here to 30% carbs and then 35% each for protein and fat. The 30% results in about 100-120g of carbs, but calorie goal is set to 1450. If you're doing a 1200 cal diet then I suspect the amount of carbs would be lower. You just gotta make sure you're eating the right carbs. No white stuff! And no sugar!

You may need to go lower, but that's what has worked for me so far.

Try the http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/3070-p-c-o-sis group here on MFP. Lots of ladies who have the same or similar symptoms of PCOS. Lots of info on what diet changes have works, natural and other medications that help. Exercise that helps etc. Read thru the posts there and then ask any questions you might have.

Some have to do low carb, especially if you have Insulin Resistant PCOS, some dont. Some need meds, some dont. It is a crazy syndrome.

deagerth wrote: »

archanajoyce wrote: »

I've had PCOS for a while now and was morbidly obese. I’m on a contraceptive pill and Metformin 1000 SR.

I started loosing weight on from Jan 2014. Started at 264 lbs, currently at 184 lbs and going. It takes time, but it’s possible. The cycle is predictable now because of the pills, but the cramps are not severe. The fatigue spells have almost disappeared. All the reports are encouraging.

For me personally, weight management has helped. I have a long way to go in terms of reaching my target weight. Hopefully everything will get resolved by then. Please don’t loose heart.

Archana that's amazing congrats! Did u do low carb? If so do mind sharing how many u started at? I'm doing keto for a few weeks but will switch to low carb soon. TIA!

@deagerth Thank you! I follow MFP's recommendation .

Net Calories Consumed* / Day 1,200 Calories / Day
Carbs / Day 150.0 g
Fat / Day 40.0 g
Protein / Day 60.0 g

Being an Indian, most of our food is rich in Carbs But I see that as long as the caloric deficit is maintained, the weight loss is slow but consistent.

When I want to shed lbs fast I switch to high protein for a few weeks without adjusting the MFP macros.

In March I’m going to try switching goals to 40% Carbs (from the current 50%) and up my protein to 60%. There are experts in the forum who can advice you on low carb diets if you are going to try.

What worked for me after many years is – Losing weight through Caloric deficit, proper medication (I have Thyroid issues, PCOS and Asthma – talk about the perfect storm!) and exercise.

I’m sure you’ll find what works for you soon enough
I have around 53 lbs more to shed. If you’d feel comfortable adding me, we can keep each other motivated.

We can DO this!

I can't figure out how to add friends lol! I see the option to use FB, email or contacts but those won't work for ppl on here I don't know... ?

Consider lower carb diet.
Metformin. Is a definite
Consult an endocrinologist as well as weight management.

I'm so happy to see other PCOS ladies like myself. It's scary to think a lot of us only have 3-4 periods a year or have really long 30-40 day cycles!!

I was diagnosed at 20, started metformin and it gave me the worst stomach aches! I quit after a year and gained 30 lbs easily! I turned 30 and was newly married and the thought of my irregular cycles really scared me. I went through random fad diets, intermittent fasting and etc etc for 2 years. I started watching what I ate during the holidays (2014) when I was disgusted with myself and for the past 2-3 months I have had 2 menstrual cycles!! I have slowly lowered my carbohydrates (from 50% to 40%.. I loved carbs, so I need baby steps) and I plan on continuing to do so. I WISH I had started sooner than later!!

Message me, let's be friends, let's be each other's support systems.. I know how it feels to be sitting at your OBGYN and being told the "news" and then crying to yourself in your car.