PCOS

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  • sammyjowedeking
    sammyjowedeking Posts: 116
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    I was diagnosed with PCOS on my 16th birthday and I am not 18 will be 19 in march. I was told weightloss would be really hard and I would have to be more tough on it than what other women have too. Let me tell you that NO doctor can tell you for your specific case that it is hard for you to lose weight. I have lost 13 pounds in only 18 days! No pills, nothing except eating right ( i only watch my calories and sodium not carbs or anything) and doing the 30 day shred and playing Just Dance 3. Ive lost 12 inches all over my body. AND I got my period back after about the 10th day of working out and dieting. To me I am working just as hard as any other woman would have to. Im not saying that woman with PCOS have been shown to have a hard time losing weight. Im saying that you women are not those past women and the dr doesn;t know how your body will respond. Just be hopeful and know you can do it. Dont even think about how it might be harder.
  • highland_sky
    highland_sky Posts: 27 Member
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    Bump - ditto on the PCOS.
  • Kany
    Kany Posts: 336
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    *bump*
  • shine_
    shine_ Posts: 150 Member
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    I feel like this might be the best place to vent about this, as I'll probably get yelled at anywhere else ("starvation mode grrrrr!" seems to be a popular one!) but I'm just wondering if anyone else with PCOS is struggling to eat enough calories? I average around 800 a day, sometimes it's more like 600 and sometimes 900 but I have never been past 1000 since I started actually counting calories. I eat no fast carbs - so no bread, no rice, no pasta... avoid flour, avoid sugar and saturated fats (obviously) and eat a high protein diet.

    I find it so, so hard to, with exercise especially, get the net calories up. I set my diary to private again after a few people I had added as friends accused me of promoting unhealthy weight loss which isn't at all the case, oh my god I'd love to be able to "top up" my calories at the end of the day with high sugar fruits such as banana and pineapple and to eat things like pasta and bread but I can't. I just can't. The whole "everything in moderation as long as it fits within your calories" thing just doesn't work for me and my PCOS. But how do you reach what people seem to consider the "magical" level of 1200 without eating non-PCOS foods? I don't walk around hungry, and I eat food I enjoy. I know I get stomach pains if I eat bread anyway for example, so to avoid it is not hard. What is hard though is being told by really lucky people without PCOS that I'm living my life wrong. I have in fact been told that so often lately that I'm now feeling really self-conscious about the way I eat and my 800~ calories a day diet even though it's working for me (I have lost 42lbs in 4.5 months which is a pace I am happy with). My little brother suffers from anorexia, so I get upset when people accuse me of promoting under-eating, I'm honestly just struggling to balance the calorie concept with the PCOS concept and was wondering if anyone is experiencing the same thing?

    Considering PCOS, is the 1200 limit important still or is it quality calories over quantity??
  • Pifflesmom
    Pifflesmom Posts: 134 Member
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    I wanna know something: Is there a MFP group for women with PCOS? I searched but it seems there's not. I'd be a great idea...

    there is it's private ill invite you

    May I also join your group? I'm having a terrible time with not seeing the results I want - likely because of PCOS and it would sure be nice to have some support (and provide support) with others in the same boat!
  • AmeChops
    AmeChops Posts: 744 Member
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    I wanna know something: Is there a MFP group for women with PCOS? I searched but it seems there's not. I'd be a great idea...

    there is it's private ill invite you

    May I also join your group? I'm having a terrible time with not seeing the results I want - likely because of PCOS and it would sure be nice to have some support (and provide support) with others in the same boat!

    I'd like an invite too, if that's OK?? Diagnosed with PCOS in 2008 and Endometriosis in 2010. Weightloss is slow but I'm getting there, darn it's a struggle sometimes though!!
  • karie_richardson
    karie_richardson Posts: 4 Member
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    I would love an invite too, its great to connect with folks who get it......By the way the low carbing (not to extreme) is the only way I have found I can loose weight. If I keep my carbs around 25 - 40 I can loose weight easy. I watch my calories too. Earlier there was a question about periods...I'm going on a constant three months now and ready for a break. Not sure what to do at this point and any help or ideas would be great. :(
  • PaleoPath4Lyfe
    PaleoPath4Lyfe Posts: 3,161 Member
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    Hello all!

    I'm new to this place so i thought i'd introduce myself and while here ask a question...

    I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and was told that it will be very difficult for me to lose weight and am more likely to gain weight very fast.

    So I hired a trianer, have spent waaaay too much money with weight loss programs (Herbal Magic anyone?) and have actually gained 20 pounds (lost 8 inches) since starting with the trainer 3 times a week and following the strict Herbal Magic diet.

    does anyone with PCOS have any suggestions on how to get my weight lower? I do not want to give up but am getting tired of the scale going the wrong direction when i'm doing all the "right" things...

    I have to hand in a daily journal on what I eat to my trainer and my diet centre - i do not lie about anything i've eaten and I even divulge when i've had a piece of gum because i want this so badly.

    suggestions?

    Most Dr's, dieticians and nutritionists should advise you to lower your carb intake. Eat fats, and proteins.......lots of vegetables. Limits should be placed on fruits, starchy vegetables and grains.

    I was diagnosed with PCOS almost 9 years ago and have been to a plethoria of Dr's (general and specialists), dieticians and nutritionists and this is what they all have advised.
  • chippy83
    chippy83 Posts: 92 Member
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    *I posted this in another PCOS thread, but wanted to share here as well.*

    I have PCOS and find it extremely difficult to lose weight. I'm currently about 235 pounds, and don't ever remember being below 200. The lowest I got was in 2004, when I got down to 206 pounds after a summer of an active job and daily workouts. My ultimate goal is to to get under 200, and first goal is to get below 230. My body tends to stay in a 5-pound range that I can never seem to get out of despite eating well and exercising... I find if I focus too much, sometimes I don't budge at all or I'll gain. This year, I am focusing on making better choices for myself. For the month of January, I am simply logging my food and exercise in MFP to track what I'm eating and see how that relates to the calorie goal. In February, I will start making more changes to modify my eating. Food is my biggest enemy-- I have problems with portion control, and if left to my own devices to choose a "serving" of something, I inevitably eat twice or more of the amount I'm supposed to. I also love carbs and sugar, and am working on reducing my intake of those while finding acceptable alternatives that leave me feeling satiated. Lastly, I also find that my body needs exercise, and I lose more when I do both cardio and strength. Sometimes my workouts are only 30 minutes on the elliptical (w/ a fair amount of resistance; burns about 400 cals) and 10 minutes of various dumbbell lifts with my arms, but I seem to have better luck when I incorporate strength. I'm also going to look into buying a mini elliptical or stair stepper for home that I can use when I want to watch TV but still move around.

    One last note-- My husband & I want to start thinking about having kids in another year or so... I plan to check-in with my gyno at my annual appt in a few months to see if there's anything else I can be doing. The last time I inquired about Metformin, I was told I didn't need it until I wanted to have kids.

    *I'd also like an invite to the private PCOS group, thanks!*
  • Christinah5150
    Christinah5150 Posts: 73 Member
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    I would like to join the private PCOS group as well. I was diagnosed today and my doctor didn't really provide me with any info. It's a little overwhelming.
  • ThisisMiss
    ThisisMiss Posts: 187 Member
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    i'd love to join the PCOS group :)

    I was diagnosed when I was 18 (I am 24 now) and I was never under 200lbs. In fact, 220lbs was probably my lowest in my entire adult life. I never really followed a specific diet plan per se, but I kept up with all organics and loaded up on veggies and some fruit too. I used to exercise daily as well (by that I mean, I would at least walk about an hour every day) and I started to really lose weight, especially once I got back on Metformin. I ended up getting pregnant (because of the weight loss and the Met) and ended up gaining so much weight from that and even though I am almost 10 months post partum, I am still 20lbs from my pre-pregnancy weight. I think mostly because I just never had the time to exercise or cook for a while (I am a single mom working from home and I exclusively pump for my DD).; I think it might be a bit easier for me to lose weight than some other people with PCOS only because I am not insulin resistant yet. I have a lot of diabetes on both sides of my family though, so it is something I am really wary about. I want to join a gym and maybe find a nutritionist, but I just can't afford it.

    What sucks is that many doctors still don't really understand much about PCOS (at least the GPs in London when I was living there or here in New Jersey) so all the real info and support I get is all online.
  • starrynigh8
    starrynigh8 Posts: 31 Member
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    I was just diagnosed with PCOS last Friday. At first I was super depressed, but then I decided that I didn't want to let this diagnosis get the best of me. I immediately got online, thinking there would be a group for PCOS on MyFitnessPal. I found the group but, I can't access it. Can someone please send me an invite?
  • AllyMaloney
    AllyMaloney Posts: 5
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    I've been living with PCOS for almost 20 years. Early on my symptoms were just the cysts, and it progressed from there. Like most, I carry my weight in my midsection, and at 5'4" my lowest weight as an adult was 155-160, which I would LOVE to see again. Not currently on Met, but have been several times in the past, as well as Aldactone. I prefer to do cinnamon and chromium. I try to watch my carbs but oh how I love them.
  • castadiva
    castadiva Posts: 2,016 Member
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    I don't have an official PCOS diagnosis, but have been prescribed Metformin, in the hopes that this will help with weight loss, as I do exhibit some signs of the syndrome (hirsutism - extremely embarrassing and distressing and overly-high androgens). Fortuitously, I don't have any cysts, and no period issues - completely regular. In my case, I first noticed an onset of the hirsutism on my chest when I stopped taking the pill. Unfortunately, my GP at the time's response was 'oh, you've got that for life', and no further steps were taken - just what you want/need to hear as a 21 year old with body-confidence issues. 13kg(28lb) down, and on Metformin regularly for a little over three months, and this symptom seems to be getting worse. Does anyone have any practical/helpful suggestions for dealing with this, please? I'd also love to join the group, if someone would be kind enough to send an invite.
  • mandiemma
    mandiemma Posts: 128 Member
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    Should we just start another group since no one can seem to get an invitation to the one already on MFP?
  • mattie733
    mattie733 Posts: 27
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    I think that would be a great idea.. Add me to it if you would.
  • elldeeldn
    elldeeldn Posts: 18
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    Can you add me too? Came off of depo and went from around 180 (still around 25lb heavier than my lowest weight) to 237 in just over a year. Thankfully my doctor agreed with me that that wasn't right and sent me for tests. My (lovely) gynae told me to watch the carbs and exercise lots and that would work, which it is...but then I damaged my achilles tendon <sigh> so that has slowed me down!
  • MatchGirl86
    MatchGirl86 Posts: 8
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    New to PCOS (less than two months diagnosed). Committed to avoid hormones and RX drugs and changing my lifestyle if necessary. I've started taking DIM, Dong Quai, Evening Primrose, cinnamon, chromium, and adopted a low GI diet. Mostly, I just want to regulate my cycle and lose some weight. I have acne, but no abnormal hair growth. Low energy and fatigue has negatively impacted my life. I also have asthma, which may or may not be related. Has anyone tried these or other supplements and seen any success with alleviating these symptoms naturally? I've read DIM can actually dissolve the cysts and help ovulation to occur more frequently. Let me know if you have experience with these, or other natural remedies that you would or would not recommend.
  • sweetsue70443
    sweetsue70443 Posts: 10 Member
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    Did u get the invite? I would love an invite as well!
  • sweetsue70443
    sweetsue70443 Posts: 10 Member
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    I have started a new group for us PSOCers to connect, if I have any takers! PCOSis :happy:

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