Polycystic ovaries support thread

SezLennox
SezLennox Posts: 8 Member
edited December 19 in Motivation and Support
Hey ladies, for us unlucky ones with polycystic ovaries part of our symptoms can be finding it harder to lose weight healthily and even easier to gain. So I think we need to band together, share our successes and cushion the blow of our failures. We can do this! B)

So hi, my name is Sarah. I'm 25, 4'11" and my consultant wants me to lose one more stone (14lbs). I love running but find it hard not to snack after.

Tell me about you? What's your story? What motivates you and what journey do you see in front of you? Let's help each other get there!

Much love x <3
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Replies

  • TanyaHooton
    TanyaHooton Posts: 249 Member
    Cam you snack on carrots or cucumbers afterward? Not a lot of calories for the volume.
  • sumlucero
    sumlucero Posts: 13 Member
    Have PCOS since 18 but my weight just blew after I have started baking cakes and pastries. I figured sweets are really not for me. So i just bake and resist eating the goodies. Lols!

    Then I scrapped ready to drink juice and sodas as well. Cut back on fruits high in fructose. My doctor also recommended I take metformine to help in regulating and processing sugar. I havent taken the meds for some time though coz it makes me feel really lethargic.

    I guess it's hard to part with sweets specially if we have hormonal imbalance. But we really have to do it coz women with PCOS have hard time processing sugar into energy making it difficult to lose weight. Sad but buhbye donuts. :)
  • SezLennox
    SezLennox Posts: 8 Member
    Elms3321 wrote: »
    I'm Liz. I'm 30 and for the first time ever, I am losing weight with the app. I have had PCOS since I was 15. I was hit with Hashimoto's at 28. I love my life anyway. I want to lose 80 or so pounds. I have mastered healthy eating at home. Next step: beating the restaurant battle.

    Wow, Liz! Well done on the first time ever weight losses! I love your attitude to life. You are so right, restaurants are a whole new battle/temptation. I try to go the 'ignorance is bliss' route and only read the salads section but who am I kidding...my eyes see eeeeverything. >:)

    Any tips people?
  • gafford101
    gafford101 Posts: 10 Member
    I have pcos and hashimoto as well...I've never had weight problems until these diagnosis. Now im exhausted and trying to lose wight while craving sweets and carbs. ..yuck
  • SezLennox
    SezLennox Posts: 8 Member
    sumlucero wrote: »
    Have PCOS since 18 but my weight just blew after I have started baking cakes and pastries. I figured sweets are really not for me. So i just bake and resist eating the goodies. Lols!

    That made me giggle, you must have so much willpower to resist the goodies! :D
  • kgeyser
    kgeyser Posts: 22,505 Member
    Just an FYI, we have a PCOS group here on the site that is active and has lots of information: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/group/3070-p-c-o-sis
  • SezLennox
    SezLennox Posts: 8 Member
    sumlucero wrote: »
    My doctor also recommended I take metformine to help in regulating and processing sugar. I havent taken the meds for some time though coz it makes me feel really lethargic.

    I take 2000mg of Metformin a day :o and I find it hard to stick to too because it can make me nauseous/tired! My doctor recommended 'slow release' version? I must admit though, it has helped me to lose a little weight! Pros and cons, pros and cons! :#
  • SezLennox
    SezLennox Posts: 8 Member
    gafford101 wrote: »
    I have pcos and hashimoto as well...I've never had weight problems until these diagnosis. Now im exhausted and trying to lose wight while craving sweets and carbs. ..yuck

    Booo! Trying to avoid cravings is hard! What sort of things do you do to avoid them?
  • gafford101
    gafford101 Posts: 10 Member
    I also take 2000mg xr met a day and my thyroid meds...i drpped 25 lb and then gained back 5...i dont eat meat so it can be hard, and sometimes i gag when i eat certain foods like salad (which i used to love) since i started the meds....im just now trying to get back on the band wagon as ive been giving into the cravings and now im feeling and looking less healthy again....plus ttc wo luck....time to refocus on my health and happiness.
    I just want my energy back, but i feel like a slug...anyone else experience that?
  • SezLennox
    SezLennox Posts: 8 Member
    Hi Gafford101, personally I think it's important to remember that you've already come so far and try and build on that positivity! It must be harder when you don't eat meat, what sort of alternatives do you use in your meals?
    I get days when I feel lethargic and sluggish but it's not every day and not unbearably so either. Can you ask your doctor for any tips or advice on the gagging?
    Sorry to hear you're not having luck, I'm sending you happy thoughts and hope your luck improves!
  • gafford101
    gafford101 Posts: 10 Member
    Thanks SezLennox! A friend of mine was saying she had similar problems where there were days her body only let her eat carbs. ...i am focused on Excercise right now to burn the carbs off since i can't cut them out and pcos and carbs are bad together. ..i try to eat fish and nuts in place of meat. And moderation of course!
  • chrissjourney
    chrissjourney Posts: 121 Member
    Hi I'm Christina and I also have PCOS. If I'm not actively trying to lose weight then I'm gaining it. It can be a real struggle. New to this site today and maybe seeing others go through the same thing will encourage me to always push harder.
  • caseyhaar
    caseyhaar Posts: 1 Member
    Hi All! I was diagnosed with PCOS years ago. I was on Metformin when I was trying to conceive, but have been off of it for the last year and a half. Not sure if it truly affected my weight. Any way, I'm at my heaviest weight ever and I am desperate to get rid of it. My body aches so much!

    I've been using the MFP app and I've lost a couple of pounds just from keeping at 1200-1500 calories per day for the last couple weeks. I've found that eating the same things everyday helps me keep those calories in check. Dinner is usually something different. I've also added FitMiss protein powder shakes (with milk) to get the extra protein in.

    It's an uphill battle, but now that my appetite has decreased, I'm going to add the FIRM workouts back into my routine.

    Weekends are the most difficult for me. We like to go out to dinner and have a few drinks on the weekends. I find that those extra calories really destroy all that I have worked for over the week.
  • rachaelmarsh311
    rachaelmarsh311 Posts: 2 Member
    Hi girls!

    This was amazing to read. I'm 25 and waa diagnosed with PCOS when I was 17. I also have epilepsy. So the symptoms of PCOS make it harder to lose weight and the tablets im on for my epilepsy increase my appetite but reduce my metabolism. So im hit with a double blow. So far I have lost 40lbs but I've been told by my consultant im still considered as obese and want me to lose more. I am 5ft4 and weigh 172 lbs.

    I feel that women without PCOS kind of laugh at me when I explain the problems it causes and think that im using it as an excuse as to why I haven't lost weight quicker - it's taken me three years to lose the weight.

    Reading this thread has really helped me see that im not alone in this and I can do!

    Please feel free to add me and hopefully we can support each other! Xxx
  • tuffgirl19
    tuffgirl19 Posts: 771 Member
    I'm 46 and was diagnosed with PCOS in August. I'm on 50mg of Spironolactone daily.

    Gafford101- you mentioned that PCOS and carbs aren't good together. Did you're doctor tell you how many to eat, my endo did tell me a percentage or how many grams- just said to cutout sugar, white stuff like bread, potatoes, rice, etc. any help would be greatly appreciated!
  • SezLennox
    SezLennox Posts: 8 Member
    "I always look up the menu online before I go to the restaurant. That way once I'm there I don't need to look at the menu and I can just order. I look at the nutrition info and just choose what fits best into my day then. :)"
    [/quote]

    Online menu! Genius, I never think to look online for menus and nutrition values, I just get frustrated trying to scroll through MFP entries trying to find something similar. This is going to change my life :smiley:B)

    Also, best best best of luck as you TTC! Hopefully your cycles improving is really encouraging and a big high five on your 14lbs down!!!

    Xxx
  • SezLennox
    SezLennox Posts: 8 Member
    caseyhaar wrote: »
    Weekends are the most difficult for me. We like to go out to dinner and have a few drinks on the weekends. I find that those extra calories really destroy all that I have worked for over the week.

    Yes! It really can ruin a whole week of progress and that's why I don't include "cheat days" in general. Weekends can be too tempting/lacking in routine haha :#

    It sounds like you've found your rhythm and have a good plan in place, good luck!!! Keep us posted xxx
  • gafford101
    gafford101 Posts: 10 Member
    tuffgirl19 wrote: »
    I'm 46 and was diagnosed with PCOS in August. I'm on 50mg of Spironolactone daily.

    Gafford101- you mentioned that PCOS and carbs aren't good together. Did you're doctor tell you how many to eat, my endo did tell me a percentage or how many grams- just said to cutout sugar, white stuff like bread, potatoes, rice, etc. any help would be greatly appreciated!

    Hey tuffgirl our bodies need 135g to 145g of carbs a day anything over that is helpful to get rid of, anything under that is actually harmong your metabolism

    Good luck and hope that helps...stick with fruits, veggies, and whole grains and youll be ok
  • mountainmist823
    mountainmist823 Posts: 1 Member
    Helloooo ladies :)
    I was diagnosed about two weeks ago. I've also spent the last two weeks researching absolutely everything.... haha
    I also have IBS so in addition to my PCOS diet restrictions, I also have my IBS diet restrictions... which, honestly, leaves me with meat and vegetables... cant even much fruit :( how boring. I also have to figure out how to meet my food needs along with my families food needs. I don't want them to have to eat such a bland diet just because I do. Needless to say, I've been struggling to keep to my food plan and I 110% have to. I've got to do this.

    Feel free to add me!
  • iamamalia
    iamamalia Posts: 21 Member
    I'm in the PCOS club too :( I went off my metformin because I got tired of the nausea/diarrhea all day every day. I keep thinking i'll give it another shot, but keep putting it off.

    here's to starting this journey for the bazillionth time... was successful a few years ago (dropped 60lb), but stress and lack of sleep and some life changes put me back at my start weight yet again.
  • mfost50
    mfost50 Posts: 75 Member
    Hey. I'm 24 and was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 18 y/o. At the time, I managed to lose 40 lbs without any meds, used MFP and had no issues until after I was done with nursing school (for now).

    In May I was re-diagnosed with it and am now heavier than I ever was. I tried the metformin but I couldn't stand the GI upsets as they disrupt my time to workout as well as work. Though I would admit it helped getting my cycle to reboot so to speak. So I'm trying to get back into becoming healthier and lose weight without the need for meds. I thought if I could do it before, why not now?
  • NicoleMichael62
    NicoleMichael62 Posts: 50 Member
    Hello Ladies!

    I was diagnosed with PCOS at 18 and the struggle to lose weight was so hard with a busy school and work schedule that I never put in too much effort.

    I am now 28 and two months back I gave it a fair shot. Stuck to logging my daily food intake to MFP and am trying to work out 2-3 times a week and get my 10000 steps in as much as I can. I was originally 209lbs when I started but I'm now down to 191lbs. About a 17lb lose in a little more than two months.

    What works for me is not depriving myself. I found that I would either limit my bad foods or find a healthy alternative.

    If you wanna talk some more...let's be friends. :)
  • gafford101
    gafford101 Posts: 10 Member
    iamamalia wrote: »
    I'm in the PCOS club too :( I went off my metformin because I got tired of the nausea/diarrhea all day every day. I keep thinking i'll give it another shot, but keep putting it off.

    here's to starting this journey for the bazillionth time... was successful a few years ago (dropped 60lb), but stress and lack of sleep and some life changes put me back at my start weight yet again.

    Did you try the extended release it is softer on the stomach? Hope that helps. ..good luck!
  • ellielittlewood20
    ellielittlewood20 Posts: 19 Member
    I also have PCOS (along with IBS, CFS, depression etc) and put on 10kg when the doctor put me on the progesterone only contraceptive pill to try and sort out irregular bleeding. So far I've lost 5kg and am trying to loose the rest while getting more healthy to combat the symptoms of everything else. Feel free to add me, I try to look on the bright side and also really love food
  • mrsjobolton
    mrsjobolton Posts: 2 Member
    Hello can anyone recommend what I should eat with PCOS please
  • sfabianski
    sfabianski Posts: 2 Member
    Speak with your doctor or a nutritionist for better specifics but I try to stay away from carbs (even though I do have some) and eat lots of vitamin rich veggies and lean proteins.
    mrsjobolton wrote: »
    Hello can anyone recommend what I should eat with PCOS please

  • aroseintherough
    aroseintherough Posts: 2 Member
    Hi my name is Jackie and I'm starting over for what seems the hundredth time.
    I am 52 and I have PCOS. I have struggled since my early 20s with female related problems with Drs. that never took me seriously and have watched my weight creep up over the years to almost 300 lbs. I have lost the weight a couple of times but always found I had to eat less and work out more than my friends trying to do the same. Finally 4 years ago I found my self having an emergency hysterectomy. I was diagnosed in the ER because my Dr never took me seriously, never once performed the tests to determine why I was having so much pain and irregular periods, even when I went to him after my ER visit he started listing my options all things we had already tried and I said the only option is the hysterectomy, he again tried to talk me out of it, and when he asked me when I would like the surgery I said tomorrow he laughed at me and suggested a date 4 weeks away. Then he received the results from my tests from the ER visit, he came back to the room and told me the surgery would be the next day. After my surgery my family physician finally put a name to my years of problems PCOS.
    On my most recent weight loss venture I took drastic measures and was able to loose 80 lbs. but I found with out the supplements to fill the nutritional gaps and curb my hunger enough to get by on the small amounts of calories It required to get the weight off, I was not able to keep it off. I gained it back in less than a year. Even thought I continued to try to eat healthier than I have in the past.
    Now I rarely eat anything packaged, I use coconut oil, I eat organic, lean, grass fed, no antibiotics, no growth hormones, use essential oils, take good quality supplements.
    I still have not been able to find a Dr. that truly understands what I'm going through. So I'm going through this on my own. I have been educating my self and ready to give it another try.
  • tuffgirl19
    tuffgirl19 Posts: 771 Member
    I went to an OBGYN first, had bloodwork done and was referred to an endocrinologist who diagnosed me in August after tons of blood work, different tests, CT scan, etc. I'm taking 50mg of spironolactone daily.
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