What's Working (Or Not Working) For You?
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Knit,
Impressed. You know all the answers, have good advice and you write extremely well!
I appreciate all the tips. Sadly I'm not too much of a chicken eater (although I do eat it). I do get fat from olive oil, avocados and sadly... A lot of steak. That may not help.
I've been told belly fat is hormones, but I'm built just like my mom and aunt, aside from being 5 inches taller. Just irritating that all of the weight is in the gut! Well, I have until March (in a wedding) to somehow figure out to lose 40 lbs!
I'll keep tabs on this group, it's very informative. I'll just keep doing my thing until I hit a plateau and then sadly I better put my Fitbit to use that I just bought! 0 -
I am taking berberine and I love that stuff. My blood sugars aren't all over the place and I broke my platue. I am glad I am not the only one not losing weight easily. I think walking 30 min a day and doing other forms of exercise has always been helpful for me and doable.0
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Going vegan and taking metformin.0
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mark_grace wrote: »Knit,
Impressed. You know all the answers, have good advice and you write extremely well!
I appreciate all the tips. Sadly I'm not too much of a chicken eater (although I do eat it). I do get fat from olive oil, avocados and sadly... A lot of steak. That may not help.
I've been told belly fat is hormones, but I'm built just like my mom and aunt, aside from being 5 inches taller. Just irritating that all of the weight is in the gut! Well, I have until March (in a wedding) to somehow figure out to lose 40 lbs!
I'll keep tabs on this group, it's very informative. I'll just keep doing my thing until I hit a plateau and then sadly I better put my Fitbit to use that I just bought!
I definitely do not know all the answers, but I've done a lot of researched and learned a lot from others here, as well. Thank you for the compliment on my writing.
It doesn't really matter what meats you're eating, as far as I've been able to tell. All the rules you've heard about what foods are bad for you in the last 20+ years are backwards. Those things are only that bad for you if you're eating a high carb diet... If you've cut the carbs, which are the problem and complicate everything else, steak, red meat, and all that aren't bad for you. It helps if you can get the grassfed, non-antibiotic type meats, but it isn't the end of the universe if you can't. The hormonally "grown" stuff can affect us PCOSers more than normal folks, but that is the way of it.
Cheese has more of a hormonal impact as far as my own personal experiences. If you think about it, milk - whether human breastmilk or cow's milk, etc.., includes the components to help babies of the related species to triple or more their birth weights, and as quickly as possible for species survival and all. Why would we want to put that type of metabolism amplifying hormone stuff in our bodies? Now don't get me wrong, I'm still a cheese junkie, but I'm becoming far more aware of how those things affect us in general, and me specifically. But just KNOWING makes a whole shift in perspective for me.
I would think that a certain amount of belly fat is the genetic/species component, but a certain portion of it could also be hormones, and those of us here know - if there is something that can be screwed up with your hormones, we're likely to have it!
Good luck on your goal, and just remember that losing inches is more important for how your clothes fit than the random number on the scale!0 -
I see a lot on here about low carb diets , as an alternative I would like to suggest "The PCOS Diet" book ... It talks about spreading carbs out throughout the date to help balance your blood sugar and metabolism. Carbs come from fruit, veggies, and whole grains.
I am personally doing ( or trying anyways) to do 45% carbs and balancing my C, P, F throughout the day ... PM me if you ( any of you) are interested in hearing more!0 -
mark_grace wrote: »Thank you guys! I actually am dairy and grain free (trying to combine low cal, LCHF, and Paleo all together)! Eating healthy fats - olive oil, avocados. I actually have never liked dairy so that's the easiest part. I get that the weight doesn't seem horrible that I'm losing (even tho it will stop at 190, does EVERY time I diet sadly despite all efforts). My question is where is the weight coming off at? I have thin legs, I'm 5'8", and literally all my weight is in my belly - sucks!! I measured my stomach and it has not changed one single bit! I'm down about 10 lbs now (weighed this am). So 10 lbs came from somewhere. My question is how to target belly loss, I keep hearing how it's hormones and my dr said my testosterone is VERY high (hence PCOS)... Just not sure how to get that in check and start reducing my gut!
Thanks again everyone
:):)
It's coming off somewhere, just not in the places you're measuring. I know I've found that I've lost inches (or fractions of an inch, as the case may be) in places like my wrists (as if they weren't boney enough already), ribcage area, and thighs (in areas/ways that I don't measure). It will come, and it will help if you can get the testosterone down. Check out the earlier posts for things that can help.
Unfortunately, you can't spot-reduce any area. Where the fat loss comes from depends entirely on genetics and hormones. Just keep working on losing weight and balancing your hormones and it will come eventually.mark_grace wrote: »Knit,
Impressed. You know all the answers, have good advice and you write extremely well!
I appreciate all the tips. Sadly I'm not too much of a chicken eater (although I do eat it). I do get fat from olive oil, avocados and sadly... A lot of steak. That may not help.
I've been told belly fat is hormones, but I'm built just like my mom and aunt, aside from being 5 inches taller. Just irritating that all of the weight is in the gut! Well, I have until March (in a wedding) to somehow figure out to lose 40 lbs!
I'll keep tabs on this group, it's very informative. I'll just keep doing my thing until I hit a plateau and then sadly I better put my Fitbit to use that I just bought!
Try not to stress yourself out about the deadline. Doing so rarely helps get you there and the cortisol from stressing can actually hinder things. Work on improving your health and the rest will follow suit. Confidence will make you look good at the wedding, regardless of the number on the scale.
Also, there's absolutely nothing wrong with steak, especially when you're eating fewer carbs. It's full of great vitamins and minerals that are crucial to health. The idea that it's somehow "bad" comes from horribly flawed studies that lump a good steak in with heavily processed "meat products."
To compare, I eat red meat almost exclusively (most commonly in the form of bison), and my bloodwork is pristine and I'm losing weight at the nice rate of about a pound a week.NicoleB0830 wrote: »I see a lot on here about low carb diets , as an alternative I would like to suggest "The PCOS Diet" book ... It talks about spreading carbs out throughout the date to help balance your blood sugar and metabolism. Carbs come from fruit, veggies, and whole grains.
I am personally doing ( or trying anyways) to do 45% carbs and balancing my C, P, F throughout the day ... PM me if you ( any of you) are interested in hearing more!
Low carb is the most popular/visible around here, because most of the more active/vocal members also have insulin resistance, for which low carb is hands down the best route to address. Unfortunately, for those with insulin resistance at least, sugar is sugar is sugar, regardless of where it comes from (yes, even whole grains or fruit), and causes glucose dysfunction.
However, not everyone is like that, and such a diet, or something similar, may be successful at least for those without insulin resistance. I'd love to see your progress as you follow that way of eating, and once you've got a few months of success under your belt, I encourage you to share your story in the "Success Stories" thread. 0 -
NicoleB0830 wrote: »I see a lot on here about low carb diets , as an alternative I would like to suggest "The PCOS Diet" book ... It talks about spreading carbs out throughout the date to help balance your blood sugar and metabolism. Carbs come from fruit, veggies, and whole grains.
I am personally doing ( or trying anyways) to do 45% carbs and balancing my C, P, F throughout the day ... PM me if you ( any of you) are interested in hearing more!
When I read that book, I gained something a little different. Yes, she did say I could have more carb-y foods than my doctor. No, she didn't take into account that I eat vegetarian and so most of my protein sources have more carbs than most people have.
I did find value in the idea of spreading carbs evenly throughout the day. However, it seemed like she recommended you be careful of the carbs you choose and the amount of them that you eat. If you recall, she recommended a plate that was 50% veggies, 25% proteins, 25% starch (maybe). That is still more light on carbs than many people eat at a meal, so it is actually supposed to restrict your carbohydrate intake somewhat.
Despite the fact that many here do a much lower carbohydrate diet than me, the idea of restricting carbs for someone with PCOS or with an insulin problem is a pretty solid one and is one that is presented in this book (unless I missed something when I read it).0 -
NicoleB0830 wrote: »I see a lot on here about low carb diets , as an alternative I would like to suggest "The PCOS Diet" book ... It talks about spreading carbs out throughout the date to help balance your blood sugar and metabolism. Carbs come from fruit, veggies, and whole grains.
I am personally doing ( or trying anyways) to do 45% carbs and balancing my C, P, F throughout the day ... PM me if you ( any of you) are interested in hearing more!
When I read that book, I gained something a little different. Yes, she did say I could have more carb-y foods than my doctor. No, she didn't take into account that I eat vegetarian and so most of my protein sources have more carbs than most people have.
I did find value in the idea of spreading carbs evenly throughout the day. However, it seemed like she recommended you be careful of the carbs you choose and the amount of them that you eat. If you recall, she recommended a plate that was 50% veggies, 25% proteins, 25% starch (maybe). That is still more light on carbs than many people eat at a meal, so it is actually supposed to restrict your carbohydrate intake somewhat.
Despite the fact that many here do a much lower carbohydrate diet than me, the idea of restricting carbs for someone with PCOS or with an insulin problem is a pretty solid one and is one that is presented in this book (unless I missed something when I read it).
This sounds along the lines of the "slow carb" type eating frameworks, where the carb amount is higher than low carb plans, but the focus is still on the non-starchy and high-fiber carbohydrate sources. That kind of framework works well for a lot of people, too.0 -
Dragonwolf wrote: »NicoleB0830 wrote: »I see a lot on here about low carb diets , as an alternative I would like to suggest "The PCOS Diet" book ... It talks about spreading carbs out throughout the date to help balance your blood sugar and metabolism. Carbs come from fruit, veggies, and whole grains.
I am personally doing ( or trying anyways) to do 45% carbs and balancing my C, P, F throughout the day ... PM me if you ( any of you) are interested in hearing more!
When I read that book, I gained something a little different. Yes, she did say I could have more carb-y foods than my doctor. No, she didn't take into account that I eat vegetarian and so most of my protein sources have more carbs than most people have.
I did find value in the idea of spreading carbs evenly throughout the day. However, it seemed like she recommended you be careful of the carbs you choose and the amount of them that you eat. If you recall, she recommended a plate that was 50% veggies, 25% proteins, 25% starch (maybe). That is still more light on carbs than many people eat at a meal, so it is actually supposed to restrict your carbohydrate intake somewhat.
Despite the fact that many here do a much lower carbohydrate diet than me, the idea of restricting carbs for someone with PCOS or with an insulin problem is a pretty solid one and is one that is presented in this book (unless I missed something when I read it).
This sounds along the lines of the "slow carb" type eating frameworks, where the carb amount is higher than low carb plans, but the focus is still on the non-starchy and high-fiber carbohydrate sources. That kind of framework works well for a lot of people, too.
That is how it seemed to me when I read it. I actually would really recommend reading it to most PCOS people as well. May also work well for some diabetics? Interesting read for sure.0 -
I went to the doctor, got the proper medication (metformin) and now just eat standard low calorie without counting carbs. I am losing steadily, although I am now supplementing with inositol and dci to see if that speeds things a little.0
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Dragonwolf wrote: »Thanks
I guess I'm around a lot of people who think "natural remedies" are the way to go, so I felt a little guilty when taking the medication made such a drastic improvement. Crazy, I know!
I'm a fan of natural remedies, myself, but I still don't think Met is "cheating." Most medications are derived (or were originally derived) from natural ones. Aspirin, for example, comes from a natural compound found (salicylic acid) in many plants, including willow bark, meadowsweet, and a number of fruits and vegetables. Likewise, "natural" doesn't always equate to "safe" (or even "safer" than its refined counterpart).
The active compound in Metformin can also be naturally derived from French Lilac (aka goat's rue), where it was originally derived (and the plant itself has been used since at least the Middle Ages).
That said, there are other options available for PCOS remedies. Inositol is a common one, which works similar to Metformin (though uses different pathways). Vitex is also a common one for more general hormone regulation (though it does have more side effects and risks than Inositol, so be sure to research it, especially if you're looking to get pregnant).
Can you take those supplements while taking Metformin?
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Dragonwolf wrote: »Thanks I guess I'm around a lot of people who think "natural remedies" are the way to go, so I felt a little guilty when taking the medication made such a drastic improvement. Crazy, I know!
I'm a fan of natural remedies, myself, but I still don't think Met is "cheating." Most medications are derived (or were originally derived) from natural ones. Aspirin, for example, comes from a natural compound found (salicylic acid) in many plants, including willow bark, meadowsweet, and a number of fruits and vegetables. Likewise, "natural" doesn't always equate to "safe" (or even "safer" than its refined counterpart).
The active compound in Metformin can also be naturally derived from French Lilac (aka goat's rue), where it was originally derived (and the plant itself has been used since at least the Middle Ages).
That said, there are other options available for PCOS remedies. Inositol is a common one, which works similar to Metformin (though uses different pathways). Vitex is also a common one for more general hormone regulation (though it does have more side effects and risks than Inositol, so be sure to research it, especially if you're looking to get pregnant).
Can you take those supplements while taking Metformin?
Inositol and Vitex are both safe to take with Metformin. They work on hormone balancing. Metformin affects insulin processing and such.0 -
Dragonwolf wrote: »Thanks I guess I'm around a lot of people who think "natural remedies" are the way to go, so I felt a little guilty when taking the medication made such a drastic improvement. Crazy, I know!
I'm a fan of natural remedies, myself, but I still don't think Met is "cheating." Most medications are derived (or were originally derived) from natural ones. Aspirin, for example, comes from a natural compound found (salicylic acid) in many plants, including willow bark, meadowsweet, and a number of fruits and vegetables. Likewise, "natural" doesn't always equate to "safe" (or even "safer" than its refined counterpart).
The active compound in Metformin can also be naturally derived from French Lilac (aka goat's rue), where it was originally derived (and the plant itself has been used since at least the Middle Ages).
That said, there are other options available for PCOS remedies. Inositol is a common one, which works similar to Metformin (though uses different pathways). Vitex is also a common one for more general hormone regulation (though it does have more side effects and risks than Inositol, so be sure to research it, especially if you're looking to get pregnant).
Can you take those supplements while taking Metformin?
I can't speak to Vitex, since I don't take it (though its different mechanism of action suggests it should be fine), but Inositol is safe. In fact, a lot of women find that taking both provides a sort of synergistic effect, since they both accomplish similar ends (reduced insulin), but through different means.0 -
So, I managed to find something that actually works for losing weight for me! I know, strange, right? :P
Ironically, Metformin is again proving to be ineffective at best, and counterproductive at worst for me.
Just after Easter, I gave a "zero carb" way of eating a try, pretty much out of desperation. Basically, the rule was to eat nothing but animal derived foods. So, I gave it a try -- meat, eggs, and a little dairy (namely cheese, but also some other high-fat stuff, too) was the entirety of my diet.
Lo and behold, I started losing weight within a week! I continued to lose weight for the next three months or so. Additionally, my skin cleared up even more (it had cleared since I went more general low carb) and my cravings pretty much went away. From the beginning, it was like my body breathed a sigh of relief.
Unfortunately, in late summer, some massive upheavals in my life derailed me, and shortly after that, I got in to an endo (finally!) and she put me on Metformin, which has made it a struggle to get back on. The Metformin has given me aversions to most meat in general and basically left me wanting nothing but carbs. As a result, I've gained some of the weight back and the acne and headaches are back, and I can't really get back on the diet that worked, though this is kind of proving what doesn't work for me.
So, I'm doing a trial to verify that it's the Metformin causing the food issues and will very likely be talking to my endo about stopping the Metformin and going with what works.0 -
Apologies for the rant against spironolactone below. I know it works for some people, but I wanted to share my experience with it, in case it helps anyone else. And I just get so irritated when thinking about how long I was on it and how much it set me back...
I was diagnosed with PCOS several years ago. I am on a BCP and a low carb diet, but that's my only form of treatment at the moment. My doctor originally put me on one of the all-estrogen style BCP, along with spironolactone/aldactone. We have been experimenting ever since, trying to find a nice balance, and I feel like we're making some progress.
I completely dropped the spiro (I was taking 200mg per day) due to nasty side effects. I was taking it to suppress facial hair growth and acne. It worked, but was SO NOT WORTH IT. When I started taking it, I weighed in at about 167lbs. While on spiro, I could not exercise at all. I could run for literally only 30 seconds and be bright red, out of breath, and exhausted. And it didn't matter if I tried running every single day, I never gained one ounce of stamina. Couldn't get through a weight training class without taking several breaks either. Even walking through the store, I would run out of breath and have to stop. As it turns out, shortness of breath and muscle weakness are two of the side effects of spiro. By the time I got off of it, my weight had climbed up to 183 lbs (my highest ever, by far). Stopping it was the best thing I could have possibly done for me.
After getting off of the spiro and making no other changes (other than being able to exercise again), I was able to whittle my way down to about 160 lbs.
Back to that BCP - The all-estrogen pill was great, minus the whole no-interest-in-sex-whatsoever part of it. I'm married, so that doesn't really work for me. Last year, I switched to a BCP that was one step down the scale from that one (I can't remember the name, sorry). That was a slight improvement. This year, I switched again and am now taking Desogen/Enskyce (desogestrel & ethinyl estradiol, I believe). I had been on this pill once many years ago and felt good on it at the time. Definitely another step in the right direction, but I'll give it a few more months before deciding if I want to make another change or stick with this one.
The LCHF diet was a fairly recent change--I started it in July. I've seen huge changes in myself since I went the low carb route. So much more energy, so much better athletic performance, better mood. Just all around better...
So, overall, I'm fairly happy at the moment. My weight is down to 151 (only 6 lbs above "normal"), acne is mostly under control, facial hair is somewhat better (I have also had laser hair removal on my face--not a permanent solution when you have PCOS, but still helpful), and periods are regular as long as I take my BCP. I have no plans for pregnancy, so I'm ok with that for now...
I hadn't heard of Inositol until I started reading this thread today. I will have to check into it and will consider giving it a shot.
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What is finally working for me:
1) Yasmin birth control. I was hesitant to take it but I have lost about 10 lbs since I started taking it. I also have noticed a little less hair growth (i'm still hairy though!)
2) Hot yoga. Something about sweating that much really helps me relax and I get a decent workout (depending on the class/instructor) I think that women with PCOS have a higher stress level so it's really important to find a de-stressor. Although I love the gym, it just doesn't relax me as much as hot yoga, nor does regular yoga relax me as much.
3) Cutting calories. I'm lightly active, and I ONLY see results if I eat 1200 calories. I guess it's my PCOS metabolism, but I really have to eat less than other people.
4) Vitamins. I bought some high quality vitamins. I take Dr. Fuhrman vitamins for women (I'm vegan) as well as iodine and omega-3's DHA/EPA. If I stop taking my vitamins, I really feel a decline in my energy and mood.
5) Lots of vegetables! As many as possible!0 -
la_vie_est_belle_ wrote: »What is finally working for me:
1) Yasmin birth control. I was hesitant to take it but I have lost about 10 lbs since I started taking it. I also have noticed a little less hair growth (i'm still hairy though!)
2) Hot yoga. Something about sweating that much really helps me relax and I get a decent workout (depending on the class/instructor) I think that women with PCOS have a higher stress level so it's really important to find a de-stressor. Although I love the gym, it just doesn't relax me as much as hot yoga, nor does regular yoga relax me as much.
3) Cutting calories. I'm lightly active, and I ONLY see results if I eat 1200 calories. I guess it's my PCOS metabolism, but I really have to eat less than other people.
4) Vitamins. I bought some high quality vitamins. I take Dr. Fuhrman vitamins for women (I'm vegan) as well as iodine and omega-3's DHA/EPA. If I stop taking my vitamins, I really feel a decline in my energy and mood.
5) Lots of vegetables! As many as possible!
How much soy are you consuming? If you're consuming a lot of soy, it might be part of the reason you're having issues. Soy contains a ton of estrogen that our bodies actually use, but since it's not the right estrogen, it can really throw us off. It might be a good idea to rotate in more sources of protein that are lower in phytoestrogens.0 -
For context, I assume I'm insulin resistant even though my PCP said my insulin (and A1C and fasting glucose) were normal. I did have pre-diabetes several years ago but lost 10% of my body weight and reversed it. Since about 2009, I haven't been able to lose weight unless I do something low-carb, and for maintenance 100-120gm carbs/day seems about my limit.
Anyhow, I lost 20 lbs from Aug 2014 to Aug 2015 and was struggling to lose instead of keep gaining. I'd done the Dukan Diet before (to reverse the prediabetes) but after more research and dwindling success with Dukan this time around, I tried a more moderate LCHF, lost a few lbs but then started gaining again, nd then switched to keto. I've been doing keto since 11/2 and have lost 12.6 lbs so far; 5 lbs to get back to goal weight! My macros are 65% F, 25% P, 10% C. I used to think I couldn't go below 80-100 gm carbs but it hasn't been nearly as bad as I expected.
I ordered some Inositol on Amazon after reading about it on here but haven't started taking it yet. Need to catch up on more threads and get a better understanding of what dose to start with, how to take it, etc.0 -
Dragon wolf--I consume almost no soy.0
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I tried every single diet out there over the last 11 years and the only way I lose weight is very low carb, less than 30g a day. The best success I had with Paleo, I lost 22lbs very easily in 12 weeks and was eating more than before. I am now giving Paleo another go.
Also, when I went on Paleo for a while everything improved. My skin, my depression vanished, my period came every 28 days on time while before I would only have a period every 3-4 months when I was lucky.0 -
**I just noticed in my last post I said "lost 20 lbs" when I meant "gained 20 lbs." Hah, quite the difference. Sorry for any confusion!
And an update is that as of this morning, the 20 lbs now have indeed been lost!0 -
macchiatto wrote: »**I just noticed in my last post I said "lost 20 lbs" when I meant "gained 20 lbs." Hah, quite the difference. Sorry for any confusion!
And an update is that as of this morning, the 20 lbs now have indeed been lost!
LOL! Definitely colors the convo differently. Congrats on the progress, regardless!0 -
What's working for me? Inositol is really helping.
I haven't lost much weight (I have about 20 lbs to lose to be my ideal weight, and my weight fluctuates about 7 lbs based on water retention, time of month, etc), but I've had a decrease in bloating and my hair is noticeably thicker. A friend who doesn't know I'm taking the supplement actually commented about how much thicker my hair seems. She has no idea that I even had an issue with thin hair.
My period is much lighter than usual and cramping is not nearly as severe! (It's usually extremely heavy and painful). It has taken a couple of months to see results with this supplement.
My next move is eat gluten-free for a month and see what changes I notice. I started two days ago and I feel better already. My midsection is less bloated and my overall mood has improved- of course it's too soon to tell if this is because of eliminating gluten, but if this trend continues, I'll stick with a GF eating plan permanently.
Anyone else seen symptoms reduced with either of these things?
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Thanks, @KnitOrMiss !
@arubamfp I've tried gluten free a few times and didn't really notice anything. Now that I'm doing keto, I'm wondering if it's more than I'm sensitive to other things I was still eating (oats?) rather than that I'm *not* sensitive to gluten. Going grain-free has been good for me.
I still need to start taking my Inositol! It's just sitting in a cupboard.0
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