[Rana]

Hello everyone!

Come out, come out, come out of the woodwork!

Who is here this month?

Tell us about yourself (if you're new!) or tell us how you're doing (oldtimers).

Who is here this month?
What have you been up to?
How is your PCOS management going?
What are you working on this month?

The January Thread is here.

[Rana]

Who is here this month?

I am!

Obviously.

Actually, probably not as obvious. I am not sure if I can post daily, but I will definitely try to visit 3FC and catch up as often as I can. I am traveling a lot for work and this keeps me super busy.

What have you been up to?

Well, all of 2013 was a disaster food wise because I was simply not cooking and too busy (travel, finishing up school, so on) and I had gained about 15 lbs back from my lowest weight (165 lbs -- my average).

I found myself in December saying that I needed to fix this; but it was hard. I was completely unmotivated.

I started January "pretending" to be motivated, but since my BF was now really into getting healthy and losing a good chunk of his weight, I was getting back on the saddle, if only reluctantly...

But "pretending" for my BF's sake that I was motivated has actually helped me be motivated myself and in January alone I have lost more or less 6 pounds!


How is your PCOS management going?

PCOS is good. I had lab tests in January that showed that I had my A1C at a very good number -- I was managing my blood sugar levels despite the weight gain -- and my other labs showed pretty good.

I manage my PCOS through diet and exercise only -- I take supplements too, but no medications. I'm still taking my supplements and they seem to be working for me.

I am also getting my period regularly.

I do know, especially now that I am limited calories and food again, that my IR is still there -- when I eat too much "sugar" I do get hungrier, which is a classic sign of IR.


What are you working on this month?

BF and I are doing a program that is medically supervised and basically follows the Paleo plan. This is working for us because BF doesn't believe me when it comes to nutrition, exercise, or diets, because, of course, I am his girlfriend. If I had a medical degree, that might be a different story....

Anyway, we're willing to go through the rigamarole of the labs, the food plans, and the sessions because he really wants to lose weight for his health -- not sure what happened last year that made him rethink this, but I am happy he did! -- and I was doing it for him to support him... But I was unhappy that I was growing out of my clothes and I was desperately fighting not to buy new ones.

I am happy that he was motivated. It really helped me get back on track.

For February, my goal is to continue on this plan. This type of eating works for me. I am still skeptical about the program (some of the suggestions make me go "hm." ), but I am also willing to try it out as long as I am getting results and to support BF.

[astrophe]

Who is here this month?

Me -- Astrophe.

What have you been up to?

Funeral for MIL.

How is your PCOS management going?

Ok, but could be better. It's been a strange time right now. Putting the pieces back together.

What are you working on this month?

I have lab appt and endoc visit soon, so just trying to eat clean til then and go through my grief process.

It was not unexpected, and I'm glad she's no longer in pain, but it is still a huge adjustment.

A.

[veggiedawg]

Hi Rana & Astrophe,

I'm still around...off and on...

Rana--congrats on losing those 6lbs!
Astrophe--so sorry for your loss! I lost my grandmother last month, she was 96 and we weren't terrible close, but it still shook me more than I expected.

So, last month was a roller coaster. Trying to lose weight. Gaining weight. Getting a stomach virus and losing weight (ok. for a day or so) and now I'm pretty much where I started. I tried incorporating a protein drink in the afternoons, but no luck. I've just discovered Grokker.com and found one kick boxing video I like. That's what I'll be working on this month--exercise. I'm taking another nutrition class (for kids) at Coursera. It's pretty basic, but I'm trying to get us all eating a bit better.

Good luck this month!

[HopefulHailie]

Hi all! My name is Hailie I am here!! I am both a 3fatchicks and Ideal Protein newbie!!!

Iam on day 6 of Ideal Protein. So far so good!
I was diagnosed in January 2012 with PCOS. I havd been gaining weight steadily since my doagnosis. In January 2013 I saw a fertility specialist. My huband and I rying to get pregnant again after a 2nd trimester miscarriage with no avail. Dr said I needed to lose weight to start any treatments other than Clomid. So I started Weight Watchers. I lost 40 lbs. Unfortunately I gained back about 20 of those lbs. I decided to try Ideal Protein, which is what my dr suggested in the first place.

I weigh in on Monday, and I an looking forward to it.

Has anyone had spotting with IP???

HAILIE

[peaceandlove10]

Who is here this month? me.. peaceandlove10

What have you been up to? ... I'm so sad my symptoms are getting worse. I don't know what to do. I dont know anybody personally who has this problem and I feel like there is no one I can relate to.. I cant even talk to my best friend about it, no one gets it. I just isolated myself and I am so lost I feel like I have no life.

How is your PCOS management going? HORRIBLE. I have had PCOS symptoms since I was in middle school but it was diagnosed 6 years ago... have been on metformin and spiro and OCPs on and off,,, more off than on really.. My hair is thinning so much and Im worried I;m going to lose it. Also, I got my sugar checked at a health fair, the finger prick test at home monitor thing, and it was 100, 12 hours fasting, so I'm worried about that too because I have a risk for diabetes for having PCOS and I keep eating sugars... today i had donuts and chocolates. I want to cry On the plus side, my hirsutism was so out of control that my parents gave me money for laser treatments... but I cant afford them now so hopefully it will last a bit and when I save money I will get it at least once a year. Anyway so thats the only good thing that happened last year because I was afraid of being out in the sun and have people notice stubble on face and neck anyway... now Im afraid about my hair falling out... should i take spiro and metformin again? I can go to doctor all they are going to do is prescribe me metformin and spiro and OCPs but to tell u the truth I didnt see any change at all for two years I just got so hungry with the OCPs thats why I stopped taking them but now Im noticing my hair is thinning out and can see my scalp more. Why did this happen to me

What are you working on this month? Well starting tomorrow I will start taking spiro and metformin (hopefully they didnt expire) and will go to dr to get ocps again. maybe my hair will go back to normal... hopefully. but will also make quick stop at pharmacy and buy rogaine for men bc i heard it works better... plus Im practically a man now, so might as well buy the men's version.

[imperialistic]

Who is here this month?
Me I've posted on and off on in the forum for the past couple of years but then ventured in here because, although I've never been officially diagnosed, it's pretty obvious to me now that I have something that looks a loooot like PCOS.

What have you been up to?
Well, I was away for two months which means I was away from my treadmill, my kitchen and my conscience so I've managed to gain 10 lbs. I've gotten about half of it down since I've been back and getting into my regular eating habits again.

How is your PCOS management going?
A few years ago, my doctor tested my hormones and pinpointed the reason why I've been overweight all my life. After a couple of months of hard work, I got down to a normal weight... yet no symptom alleviation. I'm dealing with each element as it comes along. I have a family history of diabetes so I have to be very fastidious about what I eat. I'm currently on Yasmin and I'm careful about my diet- I had my blood glucose level tested and my doctor said it was perfect so I guess I'm doing alright. My current supplements are a multivitamin, fish egg oil, B12 (due to being a vegetarian), Iron (same about vegetarian) and Magnesium (something I read about it helping IBS, PCOS, diabetes etc).

What are you working on this month?
I've been working out for 30-45 minutes every day, counting calories just to get the last 5 lbs off. I'm thinking about adding cinnamon and chromium to my diet after seeing the other thread on here. I'm a little paranoid about being prediabetic and want to do whatever I can to prevent it.

Astrophe, I'm sorry about your mother in law. It can be hard to focus on yourself when you've had a loss but please take care

Peaceandlove, I wouldn't recommend the laser treatments. I had twelve sessions done and it was improving but then, all of a sudden, it came back with a fury. Apparently fluctuations in hormones can reset your hair follicles or something similar to that so it isn't recommended for people with PCOS or PCOS-like symptoms.

[crazycat32]

Okay, here I go!

Who is here this month?: My name is Karla, and I am brand new to
3FC, signed up today. I have struggled with PCOS for years, and my weight gain has been gradual, but steady, since 2003. I have two beautiful blessings, thanks to IVF/FET, and now that they are growing up, I want to get this weight off to set a good example for my children.

What have you been up to?: Well, since I'm new, I'm not sure how to answer this? LOL

How is your PCOS management going?: Not worth a darn. I HATE BC pills, so in September I decided to stop taking them. From May-August 2013 I tried the Ideal Protein diet, and had some success with it. I lost about 25 lbs and got back under 200 lbs. I wasn't able to stick with it, though, as it was too restrictive for me. I swore (again) that I would never go back above 200....well that didn't happen. So anyway, I go off BC and the weight all comes back. I did have a normal cycle right after I stopped, but once the weight started coming back, I was sunk. After a referral from my doc, I now see a nutritional specialist, as I am trying to adopt a lifestyle change that will be a permanent fit, not just a diet.

What are you working on this month?
: Since I haven't had much success keeping the weight off with diets that I've tried in the past, I've decided to take baby steps, rather than just jump in to a restrictive diet. So far, I've nixed pop and am trying to only eat sugar-free "treats", since I have a hard time just saying no to them. I've also drastically reduced my carbs and I am trying to cook healthier meals with more vegetables. The hardest part is when I go out or I'm pressed for time, then it seems like I find myself reverting back to pizza or burgers and fries.

I joined this forum because I am determined to be successful this time, and I know that if this is a lifestyle change, and not just a "diet", I'm going to need all the help I can get!!

[veggiedawg]

Hailie-How's the Ideal Protein going? It seems so strict, I don't know that I'd do well on it.

Peace&Love10- I have hair issues to, but haven't tried any medication for it. I went to the hairdresser..um...a decade or so ago and he made a comment about my thin hair and I've just cut my own ever since. Sad, eh?
I've also thought about getting a fake hair ponytail...just to get it to look thicker. (my ponytail is long but pitiful...LOL)

Imperialistic--I didn't know that laser hair removal wasn't recommended for us. I knew that electrolysis wouldn't work until your hormones were under control.
BTW, I watched that video you posted. She's a brave girl dancing online, but I feel uncomfortable watching. I know that's horrible.

Crazycat32-Good to have you here!
It's hard to stay motivated to eat good food. We still have pizza/takeout night on Fridays and it's tough not to binge. I've found ordering half a pizza with my toppings and half what the kids eat helps with portions.
I'm trying to serve only water at meal times. (I must buy a pitcher) The kids always ask for drinks as soon as I sit down.
What are the nutritional specialist meetings like?

[imperialistic]

Originally Posted by veggiedawg

Imperialistic--I didn't know that laser hair removal wasn't recommended for us. I knew that electrolysis wouldn't work until your hormones were under control.

Well, it isn't technically not recommended for women with PCOS but I was told that it shouldn't be used by women with abnormal hormone fluctuations or those who use birth control.. which is basically all of us. My doctor had initially told me that laser was an option for controlling hirutism. And the internet seemed to confirm that. It worked brilliantly for me until I stopped the pill- and then all of a sudden, it was back again... after 12 sessions. Very frustrating. I do have to admit though, that if you can afford to get it done at least once a month indefinitely, it's quite a good option. Just don't look to it as a permanent or even semi-permanent method of dealing with excess hair.

Originally Posted by veggiedawg

BTW, I watched that video you posted. She's a brave girl dancing online, but I feel uncomfortable watching. I know that's horrible.

It's not horrible to feel uncomfortable watching her. Fact is, we're socialized to think that situations like that are uncomfortable. Fat girls dancing or acting sexy or doing anything showing a semblance of self confidence is deemed to be wrong by society because why should fat girls be happy when they're fat? Only skinny girls are allowed to be happy.
What I mean is, it's a normal response. I used to feel it too (especially when I was bigger and especially about myself)- I used to think that girls like myself shouldn't get too comfortable or cocky or act too talented. It was a big lie. I had to slowly train myself out of it. The first step is acceptance

[littleagain]

Hi everyone,
I am new hear and have been diagnosed with PCOS about 10 years ago. Problem is I have moved to another state and cant find a doctor that knows how to treat this. I am on metformin 1000mg once a day and spironolactone 100 mg a day. I am starting to get peach fuzz all over my face and chest. I have also been finding dark course hairs on my chin area recently. I dont wantbto take BC pills. Is there anything I can take supplement wise to help with this. I already take B12 injections twice a month, plus multi vitamin, turmeric, holy basil, and a couple others that I cant think of right now. I am extremely tired all the time, yet I cant sleep when I go to bed.
I found this site searching for answers on my own since im not finding the right doctors to help me. Thank you in advance for your help.

[imperialistic]

Hi littleagain Don't despair, we all go through hard times like these. I'll refer you to this thread for additional supplements: http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/pcos...ents-pcos.html
And here are some doctors that may be able to help you and aren't too far away (if you're still based in Conroe): http://www.medicinenet.com/hypothyro...oe-tx_city.htm. Endocrinologists usually have more experience with PCOS and can give you advice suited to your needs.

[littleagain]

Thank you Imperialistic........ I am going to an endo in The Woodlands, the scary part is he asked me what was PCOS! I was in shock. So he is treating me for overactive adrenals only. This is the most frustrating disease ever! When I first moved here my reg doc told me I didnt have pcos and wouldnt treat me for it. So i went 3 yrs with no help and gained another 30lbs. I know, I should have sought out another doc. At some point you quit having any faith in them at all and just quit searching. Which is why I am so messed up now.

[imperialistic]

Littleagain, there is no such thing as quitting. If your endocrinologists doesn't have a clue- you should find someone else.
I love my doctor but he doesn't really know much about PCOS even though he does try. It's only in December when he actually diagnosed me. I was confused for years but a lot of my weight loss has been a result of my own motivation and keeping my hormones in check myself. I have full faith that you can do it as well (with a little help from 3 fat chicks of couse )

[crazycat32]

Originally Posted by veggiedawg

Crazycat32-Good to have you here!
What are the nutritional specialist meetings like?

Well, I've only met with her once so far, I have another meeting on Tuesday as a follow-up to see how it is going. At our first meeting, she had a very frank discussion with me about what PCOS does to my metabolism, and how that affects weight loss. Basically, the first step is to get my insulin levels regulated, and the best way to do that is to control my blood sugar and avoid blood sugar spikes. She gave me a list of food "rules" as well as a very "black and white" sheet of what I can eat and what I should avoid. It's been almost three weeks, so I am going to check in with her to report how it's going. I also have a list of questions for her. It's a bit pricey, but I've spent even more money on diets like Ideal Protein and Medi-weightloss. The problems I have with those is that I can't keep them up past three or four months and the 20+ pounds I have lost by then come right back! With the nutritionist, it's very personal and the diet is tailored to me so that I can stick with it and make it a lifestyle change, rather than just another DIET!