Fighting a losing battle with PCOS

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Replies

  • gothchiq
    gothchiq Posts: 4,590 Member
    I would say get rid of the cheat meal. It seems to be undoing all your hard work.
  • Colorscheme
    Colorscheme Posts: 1,179 Member
    edited October 2015
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    kami3006 wrote: »
    carr3107 wrote: »
    I really am trying to understand. If PCOS means lower metabolism, it means you have to reduce the number of calories you can eat. But how does insulin resistance impact CICO?

    It doesn't change the principle of CICO but makes the balance between CI and CO a bit more challenging.

    Insulin resistance lowers CO. That's the only way it affects CI<CO. Those with insulin resistance tend to lose weight better on a LCHF diet. It appears LCHF raises CO some how, and it can lower appetite (lowered CI).

    I don't think eating low carb increases calories out at all. That would probably violate the law of thermodynamics. There was a study done by Kevin Hall where people were divided into groups. LCHF and another group went on a low fat diet. Both groups ate 30 percent less. In the end, both ended up losing the same amount of body fat.

    All the volunteers were obese.

    Now with PCOS, we know that eating carbs causes high blood sugar so it's best to eat low carb for that reason.

    Link to report: http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/08/13/432087757/you-don-t-need-to-go-low-carb-to-burn-body-fat-study-says
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    I would suggest asking for a referal to a registered dietician who is familar with your condition. Professional individualized advice is probably what you need.
  • gennieeexo
    gennieeexo Posts: 11 Member
    You know, after reading everyone's responses and feeling very sorry and whiny for myself I've realised you're all right - my diet does need changing. I definitely need to really monitor everything that enters my mouth as it all adds up. I think I've just been under the impression that I can get away with eating more because of how much I exercise and that's clearly not the case.

    Currently searching the internet for low carb and high protein recipes. I need to start being thankful for what I have lost so far and be a bit more positive :)
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    Well done @gennieeexo , it sometimes takes just sitting back and mulling over the information for a while for it all to make sense.
    Good luck in reaching your goal.

    Cheers, h.
  • nvmomketo
    nvmomketo Posts: 12,019 Member
    realityfades wrote: »
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    kami3006 wrote: »
    carr3107 wrote: »
    I really am trying to understand. If PCOS means lower metabolism, it means you have to reduce the number of calories you can eat. But how does insulin resistance impact CICO?

    It doesn't change the principle of CICO but makes the balance between CI and CO a bit more challenging.

    Insulin resistance lowers CO. That's the only way it affects CI<CO. Those with insulin resistance tend to lose weight better on a LCHF diet. It appears LCHF raises CO some how, and it can lower appetite (lowered CI).

    I don't think eating low carb increases calories out at all. That would probably violate the law of thermodynamics. There was a study done by Kevin Hall where people were divided into groups. LCHF and another group went on a low fat diet. Both groups ate 30 percent less. In the end, both ended up losing the same amount of body fat.

    All the volunteers were obese.

    Now with PCOS, we know that eating carbs causes high blood sugar so it's best to eat low carb for that reason.

    Link to report: http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/08/13/432087757/you-don-t-need-to-go-low-carb-to-burn-body-fat-study-says

    I have read that those with insulin resistance lose weight faster on a low carb high fat diet when compared to other diets (this isn't true for healthy overweight people). I didn't keep the citation.

    I think a low carb diet does affect CO as well as CI in some people. It does .... something. I have IR and was losing 2-3 lbs per week on 1500 calories per day while sedentary. I'm a 5'8" middle aged woman whose main activity is coaching a few times per week. To lose 2-3 lbs per week I should have needed a daily caloric deficit of 1000-1500 calories per day. I don't think I was overestimating my calories by THAT much. For instance, on an average day I would usually have coffee with cream, bacon and/or eggs, a salmon patty, a burger patty or steak, cheese, mayo, some veggies with butter or a dip, and perhaps a 1/4c of nuts for a snack... everyday. I know I wasn't starving myself, and I'm pretty sure I don't have a TDEE of 2500+ calories. The only conclusion I can make is that the low carb food affected CO for me.

    I think saying CO didn't change when I went very LCHF would be an impossibility. To lose weight the CO must be greater than the CI. I was only about 20-25 lbs over weight (over a normal BMI) so it wasn't like I had a large amount of weight to lose, and it wasn't more than a few pounds of water lost, probably in the first week or so.
    That 2-3 lbs loss continued for over 3 months, and has just slowed now that I'm back into a size 10.

    It doesn't violate the law of thermodynamics. Just how my body dealt with food (CO).
  • Colorscheme
    Colorscheme Posts: 1,179 Member
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    realityfades wrote: »
    nvmomketo wrote: »
    kami3006 wrote: »
    carr3107 wrote: »
    I really am trying to understand. If PCOS means lower metabolism, it means you have to reduce the number of calories you can eat. But how does insulin resistance impact CICO?

    It doesn't change the principle of CICO but makes the balance between CI and CO a bit more challenging.

    Insulin resistance lowers CO. That's the only way it affects CI<CO. Those with insulin resistance tend to lose weight better on a LCHF diet. It appears LCHF raises CO some how, and it can lower appetite (lowered CI).

    I don't think eating low carb increases calories out at all. That would probably violate the law of thermodynamics. There was a study done by Kevin Hall where people were divided into groups. LCHF and another group went on a low fat diet. Both groups ate 30 percent less. In the end, both ended up losing the same amount of body fat.

    All the volunteers were obese.

    Now with PCOS, we know that eating carbs causes high blood sugar so it's best to eat low carb for that reason.

    Link to report: http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/08/13/432087757/you-don-t-need-to-go-low-carb-to-burn-body-fat-study-says

    I have read that those with insulin resistance lose weight faster on a low carb high fat diet when compared to other diets (this isn't true for healthy overweight people). I didn't keep the citation.

    I think a low carb diet does affect CO as well as CI in some people. It does .... something. I have IR and was losing 2-3 lbs per week on 1500 calories per day while sedentary. I'm a 5'8" middle aged woman whose main activity is coaching a few times per week. To lose 2-3 lbs per week I should have needed a daily caloric deficit of 1000-1500 calories per day. I don't think I was overestimating my calories by THAT much. For instance, on an average day I would usually have coffee with cream, bacon and/or eggs, a salmon patty, a burger patty or steak, cheese, mayo, some veggies with butter or a dip, and perhaps a 1/4c of nuts for a snack... everyday. I know I wasn't starving myself, and I'm pretty sure I don't have a TDEE of 2500+ calories. The only conclusion I can make is that the low carb food affected CO for me.

    I think saying CO didn't change when I went very LCHF would be an impossibility. To lose weight the CO must be greater than the CI. I was only about 20-25 lbs over weight (over a normal BMI) so it wasn't like I had a large amount of weight to lose, and it wasn't more than a few pounds of water lost, probably in the first week or so.
    That 2-3 lbs loss continued for over 3 months, and has just slowed now that I'm back into a size 10.

    It doesn't violate the law of thermodynamics. Just how my body dealt with food (CO).

    Were you eating the same amount of calories doing LHCF or eating less than a regular diet?

    I'm not saying that low carb doesn't work. I just don't buy that low carb, high fat has some magical property that increases calories out without needing to move more or eat less. Also, low carb is notorious for easier weight loss because carbs bind to water. So when you eat low carb, you're realeasing a lot of water that's been stored in the body.

    With that said, I'm glad it worked for you.
  • ALMOSTkickedpcos
    ALMOSTkickedpcos Posts: 35 Member
    Hi cysters!! I am a victim of pcos too. And here is my story. I was 12 when it was spotted and was put on contraceptives. It made me too sick. I was ''experimented'' with lots of different medication by lots of different doctors but nothing made my periods regular. I would miss them for months. Ugly thick black hair started appearing on my face and thick black rings too. I actually studied it thoroughly last year and realized, if not treated, what those cysts can be. It actually scared me. So first thing was to speed up my metabolic rate. I am 19 now.

    Move your body as much as you can. Walk, run or climb steps. Be active as much as possible. Believe me, just few months back I was THE laziest person you would ever come across in this world and I completely guarantee you for this. PCOS, makes us slow!! Do changes in your grocery list. Buy fresh fruits and veggies. Yeah, I know they are boring, but hey have you seen those amazing recipes on internet? Yes they add magic to boring fruits and veggies. Enjoy cooking. Try new every day but make sure it includes low Gi and crab stuff. Replace every fried thing you like with baked. Bake yourself a delicious whole meal brown bread. Trust me, once you start cooking for yourself, you would love yourself more. Do running or brisk walk for at least 30 mins per day. Trust me it's just a matter of time, you would see results. You would actually feel your body.

    I stopped every single medicine i was taking on my own (would not recommend). From April 2015 I started going to gym on regular basis, made my schedules and strictly followed them. I changed my eating habits too. Every fried thing was replaced by baked. Rice and all sorts of processed foods were completely off the plate. Only bread i consumed was whole meal home made ones. Fresh fruits and veggies became my pal. I am 5'3 and weighed 165 lbs in April now i am 130 lbs. I feel great with my body, Things are getting normal now.

    If you happen to find a good doc, it's a blessing. A month ago I consulted a really good doctor. Surprisingly, she agreed with me, that I was ''experimented'' and should never have given contraceptives for over years and metformin in high dose instead folic acid +B12/B6 supplements should have given. Rather than checking for adrogen levels (which were damn obvious) she investigated for prolactin levels. Those were high!! it was never investigated before. So now i am on Dopergin-supressing prolectin levels, Metformin 500mgx2 and folic acid suppliment. I never felt better before. I still exercise every day. Doctor tells me to maintain this weight or lose no more than 4-5kgs.

    I am the least responsible, determined or committed person. If I can than why you cant!!

    PCOS makes you a lot slow, lazy, sleepy, ugly and moody. But, hey you can not let these cysts win right? Every time you do exercise and feel a little better while these cysts becomes a bit smaller and you become a bit healthier, it's when you tell those cysts to shrink there *kitten*!!! And every day we all can work hard and live for no other but for OURSELVES! And WE ALL KNOW THAT WE can DO IT!! can WE?
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