PCOS/Insulin Resistance SupportSupport for us with any of the following: Insulin Resistance, Syndrome X, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or other endocrine disorders.
I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 13 (7 years ago), have been on birth control ever since, and I've done nothing but gain weight. I'm having a really hard time with this. I'm a newlywed and I feel completely undesirable. I'm married to an Army man, so I've got access to a free gym and I try to go every day. I've tried Weight Watchers and the likes, and I've tried calorie counting, but I can't seem to lose more than one or two pounds, which comes back even when my eating habits don't change. I desperately want to lose weight and stop feeling bad about myself. It feels like all the odds are stacked against us PCOS-ers, and I don't know what to do now. Are there any tips that anyone has, or is there anyone else out there who is going through the same thing??
Last edited by HardingHoney; 01-22-2006 at 05:41 AM.
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Hi there, as far as weight loss and dieting go, I tried WW and I have tried cutting calories and writing everything I eat and have had no luck. I lost and gained the same two pounds over and over.
Last Monday, I have started the South Beach diet and tomorrow I'll be able to report my first real loss in a VERY long time! It's been incredibly difficult for me to stick to this as I am a huge carb freak, but I am at wits end and I felt like I had to give this a serious try before going to my dr. for weight loss surgery, which I don't really want, but compared to being at this weight forever, I am more than willing to move forward with surgery.
I am thrilled that the weight is coming off. After reading a lot of info. on this board about insulin resistance with PCOS, the South Beach diet seemed like a logical choice.
Definitely read what you can about PCOS and that may help lead you in the direction you need to go.
I have PCOS and used to be over 300lbs....you can loose it. You have to do what works for you, for me, low carb and alot of exercise are about the only thing that whittles off the pounds. It comes off, dont despair, but its just that we have to work a bit harder than others to get it off.
I also have PCOS and started off close to your weight, (I was 195lb) in July. I'm now 164 and within sight of goal!
I've lost weight doing a low fat diet - started off at 1600 cal a day, now down to 1400 as there's less of me! It's been slow (research shows women with PCOS can be upto 4 times slower, losing weight than non PCOS-ers). But it's possible! Remember that every time you lose a pound, to someone else that would be 4lb. That thought kept me going!
I gained weight my one attempt to low carb - so it's not for me. If you check out your Basal Metabolic Rate here:
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Or
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That will tell you how many cals your body needs a day even if you did nothing all day. So long as your cals don't go under this, or over it, you should lose weight.
My diet is eat to my BMR in cals each day, and nothing over 5% fat except 150 cal a day of treat. I drink the odd glass of wine, and sometimes I save a couple of days' treats up for something really 'naughty'. I use FitDay to track my cals in and out - I think there's a better one on <--Linkosuction--> only I didn't discover that til I was a few months in! According to FitDay my diet is around 60% carbs and I'm losing weight OK. I also do 50 mins exercise a day - even if it's just walking. I think for women with PCOS the exercise is crucial, so use that gym even if it's just the treadmill!
Just make small changes - switching to wholemeal bread/pasta, stop using butter/marg/sugar, stop cooking with added fats/oil, drink 2 litres water per day, switch to skimmed milk, etc etc and you WILL lose weight! Make one small change a week, and they soon add up!
You CAN lose weight - who cares how slowly, if you're getting fitter? You can keep it off, too! Choose a diet that's kind to you (Not one with massive lists of 'banned' foods - who can stick to that longterm?) and that you can live with. And good luck!
PhatP x
Last edited by PhatPhoenix; 01-25-2006 at 08:06 AM.
Thank you guys for all the help. I had decided to go on weight watchers yet again to see if that will help, and I'm going to the gym daily for cardio workouts. I already only drank skim milk (I feel like I have to chew 2%! haha) and I cook with the least amount of margarine or anything like that that I can... but I will definitely try switching any pasta I eat to whole grain. I've already lost 2 pounds! That's just in a couple days, so right now I'm looking up. Hopefully it keeps going like this. My goal is to lose 5-6 pounds total by Valentine's Day, and I think it's very do-able. Thank you guys again for all of your words of encouragement. Even though I don't know you guys, it really means a lot to me to know that there are other women out there with the same problem who are overcoming it. <-- I love that guy.
Hiya! As another PCOS-er I'd like to ask if you've visited an endocrinologist, or if you were diagnosed by your gyno? My endocrinologist put me on metformin, and with the help of that, I don't feel like I'm fighting a losing battle anymore =) I also eat low carb (mostly) and just try to exercize. I've been successful doing this, along with a low calorie diet =) GOOD LUCK!!!
I just wanted to share my story with you- I am an Army wife, and have the priviledge of wonderful military healthcare. (Ok, I'm being sarcastic) after being treated for almost a year with glucophage being told that I had PCOS, I was still not feeling any better, only feeling worse. So, finally I had enough and requested to see a different civilian specialist. We moved to Texas in June, and I went to see my new Endocrinologist. She ran a bunch of tests and told me to stop taking the glucophage immediately, because I did not have PCOS. She said what I had was hypothyroidism, and started me on Synthroid. What a difference that has made! I am losing weight now for the first time in almost eight years, and I just feel like a new person. I had tried absolutely every diet out there, and only continued to gain weight. Nothing worked for me. Now I know why. So, I guess my point is, that maybe you should consider getting some second opinions, if you are not feeling better, and not losing weight, possibly you don't have PCOS, but something different.
Yeah, isn't the military healthcare fantastic? I was actually diagnosed by a civilian doctor for all of this, and I'm going to the doctor soon (on base), so we'll see what comes of that. Hopefully something good will happen.
Lastly, since you're getting new doctors be sure to quiz your new OBGYN. Ask her (or him) how much experience she has treating women with PCOS+IR. Ask her what her treatment approach is.
Ask the same questions for your new endocrinologist.
Ask for references for women with PCOS/IR they have successfully helped to lose weight or regain some degree of fertility.
This might sound like you're being picky, but to be honest most docs are quacks or they know NOTHING about PCOS/IR. The last thing you want is one incompetent twit on your medical team.
Also see if your new qualified OBGYN + Endocrinologist can recommend a nutritionist who know's their stuff for IR/PCOS. That will take the guesswork out of what to eat, whats good for you and how much of it you can have.
I know plenty of fellow PCOS'ers have had success with SB, IR diet or low carb. Personally for me it was starting on met. and working out in the gym everyday possible. Im a complete carb addict (like a lot of people with IR)and Im having some success with cutting carbs to under 80g a day and still watching my calories. It is possible so keep working at it.
Metformin has been the key for me. Along with counting calories and exercise. I now have clockwork cycles and with IPL treatments my facial hair is gone. Keep at it! It is possible.
I know that sounds weird, but... Birth control pills and chemicals simply mask the symptoms of PCOS, namely regulating your periods. However, the problems still exist even though the are masked. Also, BCP can cause you to gain weight... not what you need right now.
I probably never would have discovered I even had PCOS if I had not had my tubes tied at age 30 (I never developed maternal instincts). At that point, my periods got pretty irregular. I hit my top weight and was having a period once every 3 months when my sister stumbled upon an article about PCOS.
You're young, so I would look into alternative forms of birth control, like a diaphragm. I used one for a while and liked the fact that I was "running on my own chemistry" again.
I agree with the other replies. A low-carb diet is the one you'll probably respond best to. Exercise is also key. I absolutely hate exercising, but I just joined Curves fitness center for women. I don't feel intimidated there like I do around other gyms with super-skinny people. Also, the workout is varied enough and quick enough that it doesn't get boring.
I think I'm going to stay on the BCP for now, just because I really don't want to get pregnant this close to the Iraq deployment. I think it would be really hard to have my first baby without my husband here. When we're okay with the possibility of having kids (I know you suggested the diaphram, but I'm scared to use other methods of birth control b/c of friends who've gotten pregnant), then I'm going to go off of the pill, and then if a pregnancy happens, we'll be happy and more prepared for it! When I was a few years younger, though, I went off of the pill for a while, but my acne got so terrible and my cramps were back to keeping me in bed all day, so for now I think I'll opt for the chemicals! lol
PCOS: I feel like I've tried everything
<-- I love that guy.
I was actually diagnosed by a civilian doctor for all of this, and I'm going to the doctor soon (on base), so we'll see what comes of that. Hopefully something good will happen.
