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I never really bought into the "8 glasses per day" thing. Then I read the studies about how much water our bodies generally need, and how most of that volune is contained in the food we eat, and was really not swayed by the claims we need TO DRINK eight 8oz. glasses of water a day. Myself, I did try to increase the amount…

I had PCOS for 20 years without any signs I was insulin resistant. I was quite thin most of my adult life (5'4", 97lbs) without trying. The sudden weight gain and inability to lose weight indicated I'd become overtly insulin resistant...which is linked to PCOS. Like many women with PCOS-related insulin resistance, I take a…

Well...you know...insulin triggers our bodies to store fat. Since I'm insulin resistant, that means when I eat, I keep pumping out insulin, because I'm not sensitive enough to recognize I've produced enough. The net result is, without an insulin sensitizer, I'm essentially always in fat storage mode. Before I learned about…

Also probably not reevant to you, but I had a similar problem. I suddenly began gaining weight about 5 years ago, and couldn't lose even a pound. Last September I tried again, but this time managed to keep going until I solved the problem. I went from not watching what I ate at all and doing zero exercise, to eating…

I know exactly what you mean! Congrats!!

I'm 46 and living this "belly fat" thing for the first time in my life. I've finally found a combination of factors that are hlping me lose pounds, but not inches off my waist. Pretty much my whole life, I've had a flat, flat, flat stomach. In the past, when I've had body fat measured with calipers, it was difficult to…

Mine is a different story. I did 30DS before I learned I was insulin resistant. Since it is virtually impossible to lose weight if truly insulin resistant (because IR folks produce excess insulin, which keeps us perpetually in fat storage mode), it's (now) no surprise that I didn't lose an ounce on 30DS. I did all 3…

I don't know about this product, and have never considered a "cleanse". But I see questions about acai, and it reminds me of an experience I had. I started drinking acai juice several years ago, after learning about its high antioxidant properties, thus potentially preventing cancer or helping with anti-aging. That's what…

My protein powder (which I only recently re-Introduced to my diet) is 110 cal, 25g protein, 1g of fat, 0g sugar. ...And boy! It is not sweet or in any way good tasting.

I was just pointing out, the other day, that while there are great vegan proteins, they are also carb's. So, it can be tough to get that optimal carb/protein ratio. Like you, I've thrown everything and the kitchen sink at weight loss. I explained my story to you (I think) in another thread. But, to recap, I was thin nearly…

Aw, heck. No Trader Joe's near me. :-( But raw, fresh edamame should be zero, or very low in, sodium. ...Not so much when I encrust the pods with copious amounts of ground sea salt. (No worries, though. Most of the salt stays with the pod and AND I'm not really tracking sodium.) ;-)

Um...... Thank you!?!!! ;-) I was looking around the MFP web site, trying to decide what to have for dinner (looking for good carb-protein ratio). Then I remembered your comment about almond butter. I'm vegan, so my proteins are also carb's...and usually much more carb than protein. Edamame, for example, is "pretty good"…

Thank you so much, Shannon! You are so sweet! :-) I, too, struggle with achieving that protein goal, while getting enough calories and nutrients. I'm vegan, and even though there are lots of great plant-based proteins, they are also, in and of themselves, carb's.

I'm starting to think the gene thing is going to be debunked, or shown to be only relevant in some cases. Even though my own father went bald early, only about 50% of the PCOS women I've asked also have fathers who went bald prematurely. I don't know what the rate of premature balding is in men, but potentially 50% of the…

Cinnamon worked like magic for me but, coincidentally, someone I respect suggested I change my diet and aim for 20-25% protein, 30-35% fat, and 40-45% carb's. I am new to MFP and only recently figured out how to adjust my dietary goals. When I tried to adjust the fat/carb/protein ratio, the closest I could get to the…

Thank you! Very informative! Did you read about the research showing there may be a link between the gene that causes premature balding in men, and their daughters' PCOS? I came across so many interesting bits of trivia during my research, including how cinnamon was discovered to improve fasting glucose levels. I find it…

Sort of. PCOS is not actually a disease, but rather a constellation of symptoms, one of which is insulin resistance. EDITED TO ADD: People can have varying numbers of those symptoms. Few have all. The terms I've read are "many", "most", or "the majority" of women with PCOS are insulin resistant. I've even read it as a…

Good luck! And I hope it does work for you. But remember, it only helps improve fasting glucose levels in those who have (PCOS-related) insulin resistance. If you aren't insulin resistant, you'll likely see no benefit from taking cinnamon.

That's right! I did find a version at GNC. But, where I live, they only carry this weird kind that has just 150mg of cinnamon per capsule, with a recommended dose of two per day. That would only give me 300mg/day, and even 2,000mg/day doesn't help me with weight loss...only possibly maintenance. I need 3g/day to keep…

I guess that was a point I was making earlier. PCOS does not automatically equal insulin resistance. Myself, I had PCOS for decades without being insulin resistant. It just kicked-in a few years ago, evidenced by sudden weight gain and an inability to lose weight through diet and exercise. That was the tip-off I'd become…

Just FYI, I learned that the research dosages were 1-6g/day, but that many women found success at 3g. So that's what I tried first. Funny enough, my weight loss halted when I tried going down to 2g/day for a few days. I did that twice, and both times my normally predictable loss stalled. Once back at 3g, the weight loss…

Yes! I would like to try that one, but haven't yet made the move to order it online, since I can't find it at retail, locally. I've read anecdotal accounts that the combination of cinnamon plus chromium is even more effective at improving fasting glucose levels. Doctors sometimes prescribe a chromium supplement for this…

I have never sought any kind of treatment for my PCOS, specifically. I have always had PCOS (i.e. got my first period then didn't have another one for a year), but wasn't officially dagnosed 'til about 20 years ago, or so. My doctor didn't suggest a treatment, or mention any problems other than potential fertility issues.…

I had to do about a month of research to find this all out, and confirm sources, etc. Rather than posting all sorts of studies, here's a synopsis from the Livestrong web site: http://www.livestrong.com/article/546844-cinnamon-for-pcos-weight-loss/

I am vegan. So, my entire diet is plant-based, that's how. ;-) Okay. Okay. That's too simplistic. I could drink Coke and eat nothing but Doritos 'Sweet Chili Heat' tortilla chips and still be vegan. For the 5, I often drink a half glass of acai juice mixed wth beet juice in the morning, with a piece of whole fruit, such as…

Dump those one and a half pound undies! ;-) After getting rid of my old scale, and buying one that was supposed to be more accurate and "repeatable" (but wasn't much better), I learned that scale manufacturers consider a 5lb variability to be perfectly acceptable. Don't lose your nerve. Just keep working your plan.

Most of the water your body needs comes from food (if eating a healthy diet). For me, 1.5L is about the maximum liquid water volume I can consume without bloating up like a balloon, and feeling really ill and sluggish.

That does seem kind of high to me. I have an ancient (okay, maybe 12-year-old) manual treadmill. It does give the calories burned, but I always wonder how using it compares to motorized versions...in terms of actual calories burned, rather than general estimates. I aways keep it at the highest incline, and each step is…

PCOS. Refers to polycystic ovarian syndrome. The main symptom is infrequent periods, along with cystic ovaries, or a thickened ovarian wall. (This can cause fertility problems in some.) While there are an array of possible secondary symptoms linked to PCOS (incl. an adrogenizing effect, excess body hair growth, loss of…

I've written about this a fair bit, since joining MFP. A couple of things have worked for me. The biggest one? Cinnamon. Cinnamon is an accepted treatment for PCOS-related insulin resistance. It helps maintain better fasting glucose levels. I only gained weight with diet and exercise until I tried 3g/day of cinnamon…