Losing weight with PCOS - need help

melissalennongallagher
melissalennongallagher Posts: 1 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I have just been diagnosed with PCOS at 18 years old. I've been told it will contribute to why I'm overweight however if I lose weight it will help stop my symptoms. The only problem is on the pills I have been given it is highly likely to put on more weight so im finding losing weight a lot harder. I still live at home and so my parents buy all the food so I can't really choose what I get for tea etc, I don't have a wide variety. I find it really hard to eat healthily and exercise as I don't get my own income and I'm in full time education so I'm having a lot of stress at the moment and find it hard to keep control. If anyone could help with any of these things even if it's a cheap and easy meal or light exercise plan or advice then I'd be very grateful thankyou!!!

Replies

  • socioseguro
    socioseguro Posts: 1,679 Member
    I suggest you join one of the MFP groups for people with PCOS.
    Here is a link
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/3070-p-c-o-sis
    You can find more if you search at the "Groups" link. Dark blue banner above
    Good luck
  • jemhh
    jemhh Posts: 14,261 Member
    Even if you do not prepare your own meals, you can choose how much you eat. Losing weight comes down to eating fewer calories than you burn. Fill out your MFP profile accurately. With 48 pounds to lose, I would suggest setting it to lose 1 pound per week. Weigh your food on a digital kitchen scale. Log it accurately using good MFP database entries (the USDA entries, entries that match food labels, etc.) Since you have PCOS, your BMR is likely lower than women without PCOS.

    While you can certainly lose weight without exercise, I would suggest adding some in. I know that, for me, it has been key to losing weight while still eating at a comfortable level. Start with walking 15 minutes a day 3x/week. Add another 5 minutes per session or another 15 minute session after a week or two. Keep adding time. Consider some sort of resistance training as well (bodyweight exercises, lifting weight, etc.) as they will help you retain muscle and get stronger.

    Make your health a priority now. You are young and this is the prime time to learn and develop good habits. I am sure that you are busy. However, we all are busy. You won't get less busy when you are out of school. At that point you will have a job and develop other interests that take up time. Throughout all of that, being healthy should be a priority.

    Best of luck!
  • Yi5hedr3
    Yi5hedr3 Posts: 2,696 Member
    Cut out ALL soda, bread, and milk. Ie: reduce sugar.
  • LZMiner
    LZMiner Posts: 300 Member
    Both my daughter and I have PCOS and neither one of us are overweight. What "cured" me, or at least got my hormone levels "right" was having a baby! Don't recommend THAT at 18! My daughter just went on the pill to "trick" her body into thinking it's pregnant. Apparently, pregnancy can help with symptoms of PCOS---the problem is that PCOS makes it hard to get pregnant!
  • Emily3907
    Emily3907 Posts: 1,461 Member
    I have PCOS too and one thing I want to tell you is DO IT NOW. I am 31 and have over 100+ pounds to lose. I wish I had lost the weight at 18/19/20 when I only had about 50-60 to lose.

    Also, did you doctor test you for insulin resistance? If not, I suggest having that checked. It can sometimes be a sneaky little booger that effects the weight loss efforts of women with PCOS. It can also provide you some insight about what types of foods you should eat and your macro goals, in order to help you be more successful. Luckily, I have managed to get my numbers in check since I was diagnosed with IR and I am now in the "normal" range.
  • LKArgh
    LKArgh Posts: 5,178 Member
    First, relax. PCOS is very very common.
    If you have not seen a reproductive endocrinologist, see one. This is something that, while very common, needs ot be treated by a specialist. It is very easy to end up with a diagnosis when in fact you are perfectly healthy and just experiencing normal hormonal fluctuations in your teens.
    If you have been given contraceptives as treatment, I would suggest you get a second opinion. This is very outdated advice, and can often cause more harm than good (my rerpoductive endocrinologist, even 20 years ago, was cursing for 15 minutes the dr who prescribed them to me).
    There is no reason to be overweight with PCOS. I have lived with it more than 20 years, never became overweight. You need to be careful about how much you eat and you need to exercise. Exercise is very important in symptom control, regardless of weight loss. Talk to your parents about how having a healthy weight will help you manage PCOS. Ask them to come with you to the next dr appointment, so you can discuss all together how they can support you.
    Good luck.
  • azulvioleta6
    azulvioleta6 Posts: 4,195 Member
    melissalennongallagher wrote: »
    I have just been diagnosed with PCOS at 18 years old. I've been told it will contribute to why I'm overweight however if I lose weight it will help stop my symptoms. The only problem is on the pills I have been given it is highly likely to put on more weight so im finding losing weight a lot harder. I still live at home and so my parents buy all the food so I can't really choose what I get for tea etc, I don't have a wide variety. I find it really hard to eat healthily and exercise as I don't get my own income and I'm in full time education so I'm having a lot of stress at the moment and find it hard to keep control. If anyone could help with any of these things even if it's a cheap and easy meal or light exercise plan or advice then I'd be very grateful thankyou!!!

    Which medicine is this?

    I agree with the advice to see an endocrinologist or RE if you haven't already.

    Making lower-carb choices and building regular exercise into your life are things that you can certainly control, even if you are not in control of what goes in the refrigerator. An added benefit--exercise helps with concentration and stress.
  • hmm33502
    hmm33502 Posts: 201 Member
    Emily3907 wrote: »
    I have PCOS too and one thing I want to tell you is DO IT NOW. I am 31 and have over 100+ pounds to lose. I wish I had lost the weight at 18/19/20 when I only had about 50-60

    Yes!!! I second this. I am 36 and let myself get up to 327 lbs. I have lost 83 lbs, but still have 90 to go. It would have been easier at 20....and I was only at 220 lbs then! Enjoy that younger metabolism and get everything taken care of early! My symptoms were finally managed a few years back, but then I lost weight so everything needs to be constantly adjusted. Just keep at it. My best weight loss is a super low sugar, lots of veggies (very little fruit) and LOTS of exercise!

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