Success with PCOS

I am envious! I'm 6 ft tall...eating between 1200 - 1400/day and exercise 5 - 6 times per week doing various activities; working with a trainer, swimming, Zumba, Power weight classes, straight cardio...and I think at BEST I have not lost anything. Maybe even gained! I don't weigh myself (too depressing) but go by the fit of my clothes. I am very good with the low carb...if I DO eat carbs they are very rarely processed, they're whole grain and I even try to avoid those! Quinoa instead of rice or potatoes...I'm doing everything I should. It's so frustrating! I've been working out and eating well for over 2 years and it's been 4 months of the 5/6 times per week with the trainer etc.

I'm waiting for an appointment with an endo that specializes in PCOS and am really hoping she can help. It's pretty difficult to stick to a strict regime when you don't see results. I've started going through the whole "what's the point?" lately and I have to snap out of that.

I am envious! I'm 6 ft tall...eating between 1200 - 1400/day and exercise 5 - 6 times per week doing various activities; working with a trainer, swimming, Zumba, Power weight classes, straight cardio...and I think at BEST I have not lost anything. Maybe even gained! I don't weigh myself (too depressing) but go by the fit of my clothes. I am very good with the low carb...if I DO eat carbs they are very rarely processed, they're whole grain and I even try to avoid those! Quinoa instead of rice or potatoes...I'm doing everything I should. It's so frustrating! I've been working out and eating well for over 2 years and it's been 4 months of the 5/6 times per week with the trainer etc.

I'm waiting for an appointment with an endo that specializes in PCOS and am really hoping she can help. It's pretty difficult to stick to a strict regime when you don't see results. I've started going through the whole "what's the point?" lately and I have to snap out of that.

Have you been tested for thyroid issues (including anti-thyroid antibodies) and insulin resistance? Most women with PCOS have insulin resistance and MANY have the same issue you do. For women who do everything right and still can't lose, you need to try an insulin-sensitizing drug like Metformin. Despite what you read here, some women DO need it. Short of starving myself on 800 or fewer calories a day, I don't lose weight without Metformin.

I'm not sure if this has been posted because I havent had time to read through the whole thread yet but I take cinnamon supplements instead of metformin...the metformin made my stomach upset and cinnamon is natural...its been working for me...there have been studies on it...google it...

Who has some double blind, peer reviewed studies on the effects of cinnamon? I haven't done much research, and the snippets I've seen are in regards to it's effect on blood sugar, rather than insulin. I need help with my insulin - my blood sugar is fine.

I take cinnamon capsules (holland & barrett). I read a study about it and it had very good results. I am not insulin resistant, ... I take it to prevent insulin and blood sugar problems.

My wife has it. She's lost about 45lbs now. It was very slow and frustrating at first. It just took sticking to the calorie counting and exercising a few times a week. But it was probably 2 months before she saw any weight come off and it was very slow even after that. SHe had to change her mindframe from "losing weight" to "being more healthy". The rest took care of itself.

I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2001. After many MANY fertility treatments (including some failed IVF's) we're finally on the road to adoption so my body is now "free" to diet and exercise to my heart's content! I'm negative for insulin resistance so I don't bother with Metformin anymore (though I took it when I was trying to get pregnant to increase my chance of success). I'm wondering if lowering my carb intake will help though? Or would that only have an effect for those with insulin resistance? My belief has been that I shouldn't cut out any food group so I would never cut carbs out completely, but maybe cutting back would help decrease the weight around my stomach. Any thoughts?

It's always humorous to me when people who don't have family members or themselves go through PCOS think that our bodies work the same way as theirs and that it should be "easy." If it were easy, when I was 16, eating little, and running 3 plus miles every single day, I should have been a healthy weight range. I have yet to see a healthy weight range since puberty. It's like telling an autistic person that it's easy to think like everyone else, just do xyz every day and you'll snap right out of it. Doesn't work that way. PCOS is for life. It never goes away, and it always affects how your body uses and stores nutrients and how it responds to exercise.

Oh, I so LOVE this! At age 55, I am a PCOS grandma, having started on this path at age 15 brought on by a combination of genetic predisposition and a case of hard measles. I've had the 'joys' of hair growth, weight gain, primary and secondary infertility, more hair growth, stubborn refusal of my body to lose weight, ammenoria, dysmenorria, anmenoria, etc. I am grateful everyday that I did have two wonderful sons who are now grown, and in April will have my second granddaughter.

I take metformin for the Insulin Resistance, but not for weight loss. My brain gets 'foggy' if I am on too many carbs or sugars without it, and it helps with other symptoms as well. It does take at least twice as much work for us to lose each pound with this disorder, but it is possible. I work out several hours per week, watch my diet carefully, work with my trainer to target that 'PCOS tummy pouch' and have lost 36 pounds since mid October.

Can you do it? YES. Is it easy or fast? NEVER. But getting your weight down into 'normal' range can really help with symptoms.

Feel free to add me if you need a PCOS grandma

Met really only causes weight loss without diet/exercise because of the nasty side effects. Things tend to go right through you until your body adjusts to it. However, it makes it easier to lose weight once your insulin sensitivity is increased closer to normal levels. I've been on met for 12+ years but only last year made the effort to truly try to lose weight. I think I did lose about 20 lbs. initially on Met but did gain it back later. It also took me 10+ years before I faithfully took my full dosage each day due to the side effects. Worst 3 weeks of my life when I finally started taking it.

This is my fear! The NP I just started seeing was really wanting to put me on metformin the other day. I know I can make the changes I'm just not sure I'll be exactly where she wants me to at our re-check in May. She said she'd give me 3 months to get fasting blood glucose back down(my A1C showed averaging 123). Plus my triglycerides went up to 183, up about 30 points. Which may be from my beta blocker apparently. She is freaking out but my total cholesterol is 150 and she insists I need to watch what cholesterol I eat. LOL Most of my triglyceride problem came from the prior more frequent daily soda habit I had and then baked goods/sweets and processed food which I have worked on cutting out quite a bit. Possible that I could work on reducing carbs more. I'm seriously wanting to do a good 2 weeks+ of gluten free. I'm wanting to try out something with my daughter and eliminate dairy and gluten for both of us. Both of us are lactose intolerant anyway.

Thanks. I was wondering how much cinnamon to do. I'm going to try it out and then encourage my mom to try it out. I think my dad is using cinnamon and something else along with diet and controlling his blood sugars.

Since starting with MFP in October (yes October this is my 2nd account)... I have lost 19 lbs. I have had PCOS since about puberty... I also have Hashimoto Hypothyroidism.

It can be done.

I have PCOS and I found out about 2 years ago. I also have an underactive thyroid. I was supposed to take medicine for it but I am horrible with remembering to take pills besides the fact that I hate taking medicine. I have lost 30 pounds so far with no help from medicine. I have not cut back on anything I eat I just try to moderate. I also try to drink plenty of water and exercise everyday.

If you are having a hard time losing it without medicine I would suggest getting a doctor to prescribe you some form. It might take a while to get the right dose. Medicine or not just put your all into it!

It may be harder to lose the weight but you CAN do it! Add me if you would like.

OH to be a boy sometimes!

At least then I'd be ok with the facial hair!

I really wish there was a "like" button for this... I'd like it a million times over! I wouldn't feel so bad thinking about how I have to shave my mustache before going out xD

I have PCOS and weight loss has always been a struggle. I am not on any meds. Right after having my son I lost 50lbs in 9 months which was great with lots of cardio and strict dieting as soon as i stopped doing that i gained almost 20lbs not a happy camper so now i am back on the cardio and strict eating kick trying to lose what i have gained and then some. So waching your carbs and sugars is the way to go. Cardio is very important even just dancing which i love. Good Luck!

Hello, i wasn't diagnosed with PCOS, i had multiple testes done and an ultrasound they found NO cysts but I was told that you could still have PCOS and not have any cysts...

I pretty much have all the other symptoms, irregular menstrual cycle, heavy bleeding (this stopped since i was put on birth control), facial hair, thinning hair on my head, i carry most of my weight around my middle, acne, oily skin, mood swings/depression. I also had a 2 hour glucose tolerance test done and i was told i was Pre-diabetic.

I was prescribed Metformin but i didnt take it after i looked up all the side effects and what not.

I am wondering how you all eat, i know a lot of you limit your carbs and cut out sugar. I try and eat mostly clean foods with complex carbs and lean proteins along with healthy fats like coconut oil, avocado, nuts...
BUT i eat around 1700-1900 calories a day, i'm 5'4 and 197 pounds, pretty sedentary BUT i go to the gym 6 days a week and do 60-75 minute steady state cardio sessions along with lifting heavy weights 3-4 times a week.

Does anyone else have their calories set to that high and if so what are your macros set to?