Success with PCOS

What is pcos?

I have PCOS and I've lost 40 pounds (some before starting on MFP). It was hard at first, but I've stuck with it. Now it is slow and steady, but happening! You can do it, just keep trying. I also seem to have more success when I'm eating more things that keep my insulin at steady levels.

I have been eating a low carb diet, usually around 100 - 120 net carbs daily. I have an appointment tomorrow and hopefully they can give me something to help. Some people eat only about 20 net carbs a day but I know I can't do that, it will only cause me to binge eat. So check with a doc and see what your options are.

I have PCOS, and the big thing is processed foods, excess carbs and sugar. Even artificial sugars.

I have pcos, adenomyosis and endometriosis. I've cut a lot of carbs and no sugar except for fruit or agave and try to eat more like a diabetic and I've lost 23 pounds in the last month and a half! Keep it up and it will start coming off soon!!!

Cut carbs and sugar as mentioned above. Also processed foods. Just try to eat as natural and lower carb as possible. I don't think you have to go to 20 net carbs and I don't know what the one person meant about eating nasty foods. I have PCOS too and have had the most success with the diet my doctor has me on which is low carb and no processed foods. I'm not on any meds for PCOS right now except birth control so that I have periods.

Hi there. I was confirmed with PCOS a few months ago after finding a 'real' doctor who 'really' cared. My ultrasounds and bloodwork confirmed it. What we didn't know at the time was I'm also very insulin resistant (not quite yet diabetic but headed that way). So I started on Byetta injections to level out my insulin. Fast forward and I'm also on 1,000 mg on Glucophage twice a day. I have to take it faithfully. Nothing else has worked but Almased. Now... I don't push products...this is just what's working for me. I'm doing a shake in the morning, one for lunch, and then a 'green veggie' dinner. It's working after everything else didn't. I'm down 1.6 pounds since Monday the 20th. I couldn't be happier. Check it out. It may or may not work since everybody's different.

I am on the pill and metformin and I am losing. Metformin has made a difference for sure. I can't live without it. I am not as tired and feel so much better.

I have PCOS and I've lost 50lbs since September. I'm definitely in the cut out (fast) carbs and sugar camp! It makes such a difference when you have PCOS. I am starting to reintroduce slow carbs into my diet little by little now which is working fine as well as long as I exercise 4-5 times a week. I watch my sodium intake as well. Not currently on any medication for my PCOS.

I was diagnosed with PCOS after about a year or so of TTC...I was originally on Janumet, but my system was not absorbing the pill (my doctor diagnosed me with Type II Diabetes before the gyno diagnosed me with PCOS) I have lost 29lbs since starting my diet, and am feeling much better. Anyone that wishes to add me it would be great, there are so many people that dont understand the emotional situation that comes with PCOS, especially with so many of my friends conceiving...regardless of precautionary measures or not...=) good luck to you all in your endeavors.

I have PCOS and have always been able to lose weight as long as I stuck with it. I used to take Met but stopped. I'm now on BCPs.

Everyone's body is different. You have to find what works for you. I try to take my metformin on a daily basis, but sometimes it does make me sick to my stomach. I find it best to do the low carb low sugar. I was eating WAY to much fruit and it backfired on me. Right now I'm trying to keep my daily intake at 50 carbs or less and VERY little sugar. When I lose enough weight, then I will SLOWLY increase my carb intake. The mistake that some people make when they lose the weight they want, then they go back to eating normal carbs and normal sugar. You can't do that though. Just be patient. Good luck!

Hey- another cyster here! Exercise definitely plays a huge role in weight loss for women with PCOS. I think it's important to get at least 30 minutes of exercise in daily- it doesn't have to be intense- simply taking a daily walk around the block will help. For most of us, it takes longer to lose weight so the results won't be visible instantly but exercising daily is improving your overall health.

I know many women who have had success with The South Beach Diet (low carb) and/or a Low-Gi diet. I personally have lost a significant amount of weight following the SBD. I quickly became pregnant and gained nearly 100lbs. At this stage in my life the SBD just isn't something I could manage for the rest of my life. I wasn't losing weight at 100g carbs so I'm trying to keep them in the 50-75 range. You will have to experiment with food and find out what works for you because PCOS affects every women in different ways.

There are a lot of women on MFP with PCOS and most of them are very supportive. Feel free to add me if you like Good luck to you- You CAN do this!

The varied opinions are interesting. I've struggled with weight for years sometimes it seems no matter what I do nothing works. And was wondering how others with PCOS deal with it. Also I would be interested how others deal with some of the other symptoms like excess hair growth? I've tried lazer hair removal but the Dr said the PCOS makes it hard for it to be perment, also the heavier you are the worse the PCOS symptoms are which makes it easier to retain weight have more excess hair a real vicious circle.

The varied opinions are interesting. I've struggled with weight for years sometimes it seems no matter what I do nothing works. And was wondering how others with PCOS deal with it. Also I would be interested how others deal with some of the other symptoms like excess hair growth? I've tried lazer hair removal but the Dr said the PCOS makes it hard for it to be perment, also the heavier you are the worse the PCOS symptoms are which makes it easier to retain weight have more excess hair a real vicious circle.

Because PCOS is a syndrome, it affects everyone differently. The side effects one person has are completely different than another's. For most women, PCOS is caused by insulin resistance, the IR is not caused by being obese. This is very true for me. Once I hit puberty, even though diet and exercise didn't change, I started gaining weight inexplicably and had to starve to lose any weight. I am VERY insulin resistant. My only other PCOS symptoms are anovulation (once a year only from age 14 to about 35 when my body suddenly started working again), and polycystic ovaries. I also have autoimmune issues that are frequently tied to PCOS. I don't have what most would call 'excessive' hair growth, but I come from a family of women who are basically hairless. My grandma has never had to shave her legs, and my mom can do it maybe once every 3 months. I have to do it daily. I also have a light mustache and a couple chin whiskers that I pluck. My suspicion is that people who can lose weight without Met are less IR than I am. There are even women with PCOS that are NOT insulin resistant at all, but have many other symptoms. That's what makes it so hard to compare what works for PCOS. And I find it pretty condescending when people say 'oh, you don't need medication. Just do xyz.' implying that I didn't try or didn't try hard enough. My body just doesn't FUNCTION that way. Just because we both have PCOS doesn't mean our bodies work the same way with it.