PCOS and trying to lose weight

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Replies

  • audacity08
    audacity08 Posts: 5
    Hello Everyone! My name is Char and I have PCOS. My biggest battles have been with facial hair, cysts in my ovaries, and thinning hair.
  • rebeccaS85
    rebeccaS85 Posts: 141
    bump
  • sarahanneD21
    sarahanneD21 Posts: 3
    HEY EVERYONE I AM NEW TO MFP I TOO HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH PCOS THE SYMPTOMS I HAVE SUFFERED ARE EXTREME WEIGHT GAIN MAINLY AND IT IS SO DIFFICULT TO LOSE THE WEIGHT I HAVE GAINED ALMOST 5STONE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS, I HAVE RECENTLY GOT ENGAGED AND WANT TO START A FAMILY I HAVE BEEN TTC FOR OVER A YEAR BUT AS YOU ALL NO IT IS V DIFFICULT I HAVE NOW BEEN PRESCRIBED METFORMIN FROM MY DOC WHICH WILL HOPEFULLY HELP CONTROL SOME OF THE SYMPTONS SO HERES HOPING WITH PROER DIET ILL GET THERE
  • mosaiclife
    mosaiclife Posts: 1
    Hi, new user here. I have PCOS, too. I was diagnosed at 16 and have been on metformin and birth control ever since (until a few months ago). I took spironolactone for a while, but I really didn't notice much of a difference with the hair. I lost weight before even joining, but even after losing 25 lbs, my symptoms (which are all the classic ones) didn't change at all. Oh well. Anyway, I'm trying to lose more weight in order to make it easier to conceive with my husband. I'm actually on my third dose of clomid (150 mg) and taking a steroid as well that is supposed to help.
  • ponchita08
    ponchita08 Posts: 16
    I was diagnosed with PCOS at 14 years old. I have been trying desperately to lose weight, but it is really difficult. I have starved myself, taken my adderall far too often to try and curb my hunger, burned as many calories as I consumed and still I only lost 20 pounds. I am frustrated and tired of dealing with this and I need some inspiration, some motivation and most importantly some friends. I was told I couldn't easily get pregnant, but I have a 5 year old. I want to get in shape for my wedding. I am currently 224 pounds and I want to lose at least 100lbs. Does anybody have any suggestions??
  • jmbarclay15
    jmbarclay15 Posts: 5 Member
    My doctor told me you cannot be on any birth control pills or anything like that at the time of your blood test or the test results are not accurate. He suggested off pills for 3-4 months before the test.

    Also, even if you do have PCOS the only real cure is healthy living, some supplements can help but nothing works without a low carb diet and exercise. So I would start there until you know more!
  • astovey
    astovey Posts: 578 Member
    I was diagnosed with PCOS at 14 years old. I have been trying desperately to lose weight, but it is really difficult. I have starved myself, taken my adderall far too often to try and curb my hunger, burned as many calories as I consumed and still I only lost 20 pounds. I am frustrated and tired of dealing with this and I need some inspiration, some motivation and most importantly some friends. I was told I couldn't easily get pregnant, but I have a 5 year old. I want to get in shape for my wedding. I am currently 224 pounds and I want to lose at least 100lbs. Does anybody have any suggestions??

    I was diagnosed when I was 16, and 225 pounds. you can do it!!
  • Mmmie
    Mmmie Posts: 31
    I am 34 with PCOS and type 2 Diabetic and I have been trying to get pregnant for 3 yrs now Doc. Keeps telling me that losing weight is the best way for me to get then both under control but id has been a hard road I started at 260lbs now I am 227 and still struggling so I joined Today hoping that the community here would help keep me motivated

    I need all the Help I can get and will help whenever and where ever I can
  • alugaro
    alugaro Posts: 1
    I've had PCOS since I was 19, I'm now 30. Metformin worked for a while, i had suttle weight loss (10 lbs) but the side effects on your stomach were hard to deal with. I've been off and on birth control but I have to tell you the best thing I've done for myself is lost 25 lbs. My FSH, LH and other hormone levels are normal and spironolactone helps with the hair growth (how embarrassing as a woman). I was so worried and I still am but I am more positive about it. Watching what you eat and making life style changes are gonna be the best thing for all of us in the long run. Don't be discouraged, you lose the weight, you will see the difference. Its so much harder for us PCOS'ers to lose weight, people think I'm bs'ing when I tell them but its true. I used to have insulin resistance but no more. Its an everyday battle but you have to try and take whht control you can. Good luck ladies! You are not alone.
  • TankiBabi
    TankiBabi Posts: 40 Member
    There are a few other things you may have other the pcos but to find out for sure you have to do a bunch of different blood work tests and an ultra sound to find the cysts and depending on your age it is also harder to diagnose. Go to a fertility specialist they know more about pcos then a gyn.
  • toothfairy19802001
    toothfairy19802001 Posts: 10 Member
    I too have PCOS and I other health issues and battle my weight daily. I just recently started this to get a new healthier me. My doctor told me it would be harder to lose weight with the PCOS problems but could be done and I would feels tons better. Good luck girl!!
  • ValerieOestry
    ValerieOestry Posts: 3
    Hi All,
    I have been diagnosed with PCOS since 1999. Same thing as you all, weight gain, trouble losing weight, having to work SO HARD to lose it and keep it off, etc. etc. The best thing that has worked for me is an extremely low carb, high protein diet, and a workout schedule that has weight training and kick butt cardio in it. I have gone through it all - being down to 125 lb. and going back up to 160 lb (I'm only 5'2") and then back down again. The mood swings don't help. And binging on carbs cuz I want to, then spotting the next day and cramping so bad I want to scream. And the infertility treatments which cause worse mood swings when they don't work, and the tests, and shots, and....and....and.....

    But I will say that when I'm in shape, my PCOS symptoms are MUCH BETTER. I'm off the metformin for now but the older I get the more I think I will need something to keep it completely under control. Right now since my husband is overseas and I have no chance of getting pregnant anyway, I'm on a BCP that controls the bleeding so I only have a period once every 3 months anyway. That's pretty nice for now.

    Well, if anyone wants to friend me to get support through this process let me know. And I will open up my food diary and exercise diary to those who do friend me. And hopefully they will be able to fix us soon :D

    Valerie
  • ajl2
    ajl2 Posts: 40 Member
    I'm 29 and have 5 kids (thanks to Clomid). I have 2 sets of twins. I've never officially been diagnosed with PCOS, since my previous doctor wouldn't look into it for me. But I know without a doubt that it is the cause of my problems. I've gained about 40 in the last year. My periods have never been "normal" and after the birth of my second set of twins I stopped having periods. I've been taking progesterone seasonally to "start" my periods. My body hair is completely out of control! My legs are so hairy you wouldn't believe it. I've got chest hair...which is really embarrassing. And my facial hair is getting pretty thick and coarse and dark. it's gross. If it weren't for the fact that I DO get a period after taking progesterone I would think that I was going through menopause prematurely. I get hot flashes and night sweats. It sucks.

    I'm not wanting to have any more kids, but I'm pretty sure I'm at a point where Clomid could never help me.

    Two months ago I went to see and endocrinologist for chronic vitamin D deficiency. The doctor turned out to be very thorough and asked me tons of questions. I came out of that office with an official PCOS diagnosis and a script for 1500mg of Metformin daily. He also advised that I stay away from all sugar and white flour and any other simple carbs like white rice and such. I've been doing my best to stick to the diet. I am finally having success at losing weight! It's been two months today and I am down 13 pounds!

    I still haven't had a period on my own but I have been having a few days of spotting about every 28 days so it looks like something is starting to work in my favor. I might not mind getting pregnant again if I can do it without Clomid. :)
  • AmyNVegas
    AmyNVegas Posts: 2,215 Member


    I think you are confusing PCOS with ovarian cysts. PCOS is the production of immature follicules which don't develop into eggs so when you ovulate you actually don't ovulate, making periods irregular or like me, non existant. Ovarian cysts however, can grow really big and often need removal. Not the same thing however.

    Okay not sure why you think I am confused- PCOS is POLY CYSTIC OVARY SYNDOME - and causes ovulation to result in cysts on the ovaries among many other symptoms, and many women like my sister experienced large cysts and if you look at the research for PCOS, one of the most recommended treatments for PCOS is a lower carb diet to control insulin output which messes with all hormonal balances including female reproductive hormones. If you would rather take drugs and a bunch of hormone supplements instead of actually fixing the inbalance then by all means continue with what you are doing I was just giving advice which I know worked for my sister (who WAS diagnosed with PCOS) and MANY other women who had PCOS but were able to control and reverse the effects with a lower carb diet and avoided the drugs and hormones.
  • monaanand
    monaanand Posts: 2 Member
    Hi I have had PCOS since 16 yrs old. Recently , i started taking walgreens prenatal multivitamins and folic acid pills . and my period shows up every 30 days for past 3 months. ususally i dont blog much but i really wanted to share this info and benefit everyone else with pcos.
  • guroprincess
    guroprincess Posts: 140
    Hi. I have PCOS too, feel free to add me
  • PLUMPIE007
    PLUMPIE007 Posts: 1
    Hi there, I am in the same boat as you so you are not alone - have had some of the symptoms for over a decade but blood tests wise I do not have the disorder diagnostically (hormones are all normal except for higher estrogen) I don't have acne or excess hair growth, but I do have the irregular periods/constant bleeding, over 30 cysts in each ovary and each one hugely over sized, weight gain and acanthosis nigricans which has been diagnosed as insulin resistance despite my blood sugars being normal however I do have a family history of diabetes so I am happy to take the metformin they have prescribed to keep the diabetes at bay for the future. I am not supposed to be on any combined birth control pills (can't take mini pills as they mess up my hormones make me cry all the time and bleed constantly) as I get migraines but for now I have to deal with the risks of the combined pill until I can try lose some more weight and the metformin starts helping my cycles. I am hoping to go back to taking vitex supplement next year once I come off the birth control as in the past vitex and femaprin have given me normal cycles. It's very frustrating being told you have PCOS, then that you don't but you do have some of the symptoms so you must have it to some degree. I am also suspected of having endometriosis as well but the doctors only look at the PCOS and tell me to loose weight I have lost heaps in the past but it hasn't helped much as I end up bleeding all the time (same thing happens to me on keto/paleo I bleed constantly until I add back more carbs) and only have had good results from drugs and supplements. Its so unfair to live such a healthy life/diet yet never see any results.
  • Smashly18
    Smashly18 Posts: 1 Member
    i have pcos. trying to lose weight. feel free to add me as a friend. we can do this together.:smile:
  • kawhie
    kawhie Posts: 12 Member
    I have PCOS too just diagnosed last year despite begging my doctor of 10 plus years to believe me when I said I couldn't lose weight even though I worked out like a maniac and ate basically nothing. Finally, after gaining 40 of the 60 lbs back I took matters into my own hands and saw a endo. He took one look at me and said "yeah, I'm pretty sure you have PCOS"

    I now take 2000 mg of Metformin, 200 mg of Spiro. Net 1200-1500 calories a day and work out like a normal person 3-4 times a week. I have lost 48lbs in a little less than a year.

    I really think the Metformin is key. It helps the sugar/carb cravings and the insulin resistance. If you have PCOS I would look into being put on that.
  • twistedbutterfly
    twistedbutterfly Posts: 61 Member
    Hi! I also have PCOS. My doctor put me on Metformin, told me to take DCI, exercise and go on a 1200 calorie diet. I did so (while I haven't been perfect on the exercise and have had a few "splurge" days I've been a LOT more active than previously) though I was a bit cynical when told that I could see improvments with as little as a 10% body fat loss. It's been a slow process and I have a LONG way to go, but I've lost 60+lbs so far, and even though my symptoms are not gone, they are improving. My blood work is much better and my last ultrasound showed the the cysts themselves have gone from an 11 to a 4 on a scale from 1-10 (or so my doctor told me). So it does get better. Please feel free to add me. That goes for any of you. :)
  • proudtobeamom9
    proudtobeamom9 Posts: 1
    I understand that conceiving can be very hard due to different factors so I just want to share my personal experience to everyone and hope you will benefit from it too.
    My husband and I had a difficulty having a baby due to PCOS.
    We have been frustrated a million times and we almost gave up and opted for adoption.
    One day, my friend sent me this link and I thought it was not real at first but I tired it and followed the program..
    I am happily 3 months pregnant now with our miracle baby. :)
    I hope you will try and find it useful too.
    I think I owe to share it to the world because nothing is impossible as long as you keep on trying.


    Good luck, never ever give up! God bless.. stay positive!
    http://clikhere.co/kioPyngp
  • brissell
    brissell Posts: 23 Member
    I believe I have PCOS as well, I haven't had ultrasound to confirm but, I am pre-diabetic now too. My husband and I just started trying to have family. It took this for my doctor to figure out what was going on - even though for years I have been asking why can't I lose any weight even though I exercise lots and eat very healthy and clean.

    Anyways, I have lost a lot of hair on my head - do any of you know if it ever thickens back up when you have your blood sugar under control?? I have noticed that I'm losing it at a slower rate but, I'm still worried about the brush fulls of hair I have to throw out.
    Do the hair growth in unwanted places every slow down?
    Have any of you successful gotten pregnant and if so, did you keep taking metformin during pregnancy?
  • Jennlc033
    Jennlc033 Posts: 28 Member
    Thanks for all the post I was diagnosed in December and still struggling with the weight loss
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