Quote:
Originally Posted by katielauren2001
Hi,
I was diagnosed with PCOS after rapid weight gain (I wasn't eating very badly at all!) and irregular periods. Despite the fact that I have lost weight over the past year , I have now not had a period in 7 months - which is one of my longest periods (pardon the pun) of time without menstruation. I try to go to the gym at least 3 times a week, and have been doing so for a year, which includes cardio and strength training. As for my diet, it is very strict and I only allow myself a treat every now and again. An everyday diet consists of cereal such as allbran, hummus and vegetables for lunch, for dinner such things as chicken/fish/quorn/paella/macaroni cheese/quinoa with yet more vegetables and usually a small serving of new potatoes. I usually have a yoghurt and a few pieces of fruit around the day (sometimes a sweet or savoury snack is sneaked into my daily diet!)
I try to limit carbs (I do not eat bread, as I do not like it) and try to eat only wholegrain pasta and rice when possible - however this is not always feasible as shops here are extremely limited.
What suggestions do you have? Do I stay patient and accept that weight loss will be slow - however worth it in the end. Or do I try to alter my diet yet again and consult a doctor? I am not sure if I want to go on BCP, due to the fact I do not want to gain weight again. I would also not like to be on any medication such as metformin which could result in side effects.
Are there any safe supplements that could assist in helping PCOS or should I just consult my doctor about vitamins and supplements?
Thanks.
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Hi KatieLauren,
It doesn't sound like you have a low-carb diet at all. How many grams of carbs are you consuming a day? Are you keeping track in a food diary like MyFitnessPal or Fitday?
When my diet is high in carbs -- above 150 grams consistently -- my period is slower to arrive. If it's super-low carb (for me) under 100 grams per day for a period of time, it comes a lot faster.
Even if you're no longer eating junk, you may still be eating too many carbs. I love legumes like chickpeas (like in that hummus) and I had to give a lot of them up with my brown rice in order to get the carbs down. So, I fill in with tons of veggies and lean protein now and it's helped me maintain (I'm in maintenance at this moment) without going crazy or feeling hungry or deprived.
You may want to see a doctor anyway, but I would try to go lower carb -- eliminate the pasta and rice (even if it's "whole grains") altogether and just focus on lean protein and veggies and see if that helps. If you're vegetarian, focus on getting that lean protein without upping your carbs too much.