I was in the same boat as you a few months ago. I went Paleo for a year, ate 1400 calories per day and did Crossfit 4-5 days per week. I gained 12lbs of FAT (not muscle!), which should be impossible in regards to the calories in/out theory. My face was breaking out horribly, too. I was 100% organic, grassfed, low fruit Paleo. I felt like there was no hope. Except now things are turning around...
This might sound sacrilege to the PCOS community, but I dropped most land animal products from my diet in the past month and started following The Beauty Detox Solution by Kimberly Snyder. I also quit Crossfit. The reasons why I made these changes are:
1. No Crossfit: PCOS already causes chronically high levels of circulating cortisol (the 'stress' hormone), and Crossfit is so intense that it can make cortisol worse in women with PCOS (non-PCOS women can get away with Crossfit much better).
2. Land animal products, and even some fish, can cause a huge release of insulin just to be digested (not blood sugar... they are two different things). Although animal products don't have carbs or sugar in them, for some reason they cause an insulin response. For example, after eating a meal of organic meat and vegetables, I noticed my blood sugar wouldn't really change (I have a monitor), but I was gaining pure fat in my belly and face at an alarming speed (2-3 lbs per week). Then I found this study from 1997 that found animal products created a worse insulin response than whole grains!
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/66/5/1264.abstract
3. It's not about burning calories. That might work for non-PCOS women but PCOS was never about calories in the first place. If it were, the calorie in/out protocol would work for us. Instead I've been doing activity that promotes low cortisol levels and well-being. I went from kickboxing, Crossfit, and HIIT to pilates, yoga, walking, slow kettlebell swings and a HOT BATH every single night.
So far in the past month:
1. I've lost 7lbs when the scale has not budged for a whole year
2. I am reversing my acne (my cystic testosterone acne around my mouth, jaw, and cheeks is disappearing, and being replaced with small pimples on my forehead-- a sign of detoxification!)
3. I no longer have stressful feelings that everything in life is urgent, or feelings of hopelessness, and my feelings of self-worth are increasing.
My protocal in a nutshell:
- 2 cups spearmint tea per day (blocks testosterone production)
- The Beauty Detox Solution meal plan- green smoothie for breakfast (I don't feel blood sugar spikes!! amazing.); green salad for lunch; probiotic salad with a vegetable dish for dinner, sometimes with quinoa or another ancient grain.
- Hot bath each night before bed with Epsom salts for detoxing. No exceptions.
What I avoid:
Dairy (the worst insulin response according to that report- worse than white bread!)
Land animal meats (even organic)
Caffeine
Gluten
Soy
PLEASE REMEMBER.... each woman with PCOS is different, so my protocol that is helping me might not be right for you. But I wanted to respond because it seems Paleo + Crossfit isn't working for you, and I was in the exact same boat!
So again, just to sum up my changes-- I went from urgent, stress-inducing, calorie-burning activity and stress-inducing, calorie-dense foods to
lighter, low-stress activity that promotes well-being, vegetable-dense meals, and a daily ritual that I can look forward to (hot bath).
Good luck and HUGS!!!