Kicking PCOS to the Curb

ActorDirector
ActorDirector Posts: 1 Member
in Introduce Yourself
Hello there! Finally getting back to MyFitnessPal and kicking my workouts into high gear. Was finally just diagnosed with PCOS. it's been a struggle to lose weight my whole life but it's on now!
I can definitely use some friends on here to have some extra support. Or if anyone else is dealing with the struggle of losing weight with PCOS I'd love to hear from you.

P. S. best "diet" for PCOS?? I've heard low carb, gluten free...what have you guys heard?? What's worked for you?

Replies

  • LizPalen412
    LizPalen412 Posts: 38 Member
    edited October 2016
    Hi there - I'm trying to lose weight with PCOS as well. I've heard that low carb is the way to go if PCOS causes you to have difficulty losing weight, but PCOS affects everyone differently, so I think it's hard to apply a "one size fits all" diet to it. But it's definitely worth a shot if you have trouble losing weight otherwise. Gluten free is only necessary if you have a diagnosed gluten allergy (gluten free things still have carbs in them, so low carb and gluten free are 2 different things), but that is a completely separate thing from PCOS - gluten free does not need to apply to people with PCOS unless you have something like Celiac disease as well.

    I've just started back at MFP this week, so I can't say what's working for me currently, but I've always been able to lose weight in the past by just counting calories and increasing my activity - sticking with it is my problem ;)

    *Edit to add: my doctor also has me on Metformin, which may be why I'm able to lose weight when I actually stick with something, even if it is not low carb.
  • NormaMaree13
    NormaMaree13 Posts: 21 Member
    I self diagnosed my PCOS at 15 y/o. I was officially diagnosed at 16, with my first surgery being at 17. I'm currently 21 and just had my fourth surgery ever & second for the disorder, in April.
    I've gone through countless types of BC pills, as well as intrauterine devises. I've also had all the off label medications like metformin, saw palmetto, spironolactone and more. I have seen a nutritionist to help with my disorder and I had stopped consuming high processed foods, heavy meats like beef, dairy, gluten, even soy and then I finally went vegan bc it was just easier to find food I COULD eat that way. I still had to cut out breads of course, carrots, bananas, red wine... in all honesty, after I got used to it, it was easy. It took about a month to completely adjust. As far as symptoms, I experienced more hair growth to the scalp, longer nails, less unwanted hair, and the big ones: I lost nearly 30 pounds and my pain significantly decreased.

    The weight loss wasn't just diet, but also exercise, mainly running every day for 30 minutes and occasionally going on 5 mile walks in the park. I lost about a pound a DAY. I went from having pain EVERY day to once every two weeks.

    THEN, I went out for a celebratory dinner, had normal food, then fell off the wagon, gained 20 pounds back and have experienced pain more often, at about twice a week.

    I plan to get back on the ride and stay there. I feel like I have a lot of experience with this kind of thing so if and CYSTers want, add me on here and shoot me a message! I'd be glad to send you my "no" list of foods. Hopefully I can get back to doing things the right way and help out other sufferers.

    Xoxo, N.
  • acaldwell3590
    acaldwell3590 Posts: 15 Member
    Hey there Cysters! I was diagnosed with PCOS back in 2011 or somewhere around there. It was a struggle to finally get diagnosed. I knew something was wrong from about 2006 on but no one would listen because I was young. When I was finally diagnosed I was put on bc then later added spironolactone. After taking the spironolactone for about a month I noticed it changed how I felt a ton and it was AWESOME but I was still struggling heavily with weight. I'd get healthy, lose 10-15 lbs then I'd fall off the wagon and gain 20. I complained to my doctor and was then also put on metformin which is also pretty great. I still continue to yo-yo quite a bit though but mostly because of myself.

    I have tried the low carb diet a few times and it worked a bit the first time but honestly, I was MISERABLE. I didn't enjoy it one bit. Now I'm trying to just track my calories and exercise and seem to be moderately successful up to know so hopefully having a community of people struggling with similar issues will be very beneficial.

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