I've been dieting and exercising for about 10 days now. I usually do a low calorie diet (this time its 1,400 calories a day) but I also decided to try low carb and low dairy for my PCOS. I exercise about 3 times a week for an hour each time. So after 10 days of this I haven't lost ANYTHING! I fluctuate between gaining a pound or two and maintaining my pre-diet weight. What's up with that?! Usually I lose 1-2 pounds a week, sometimes 3!

The low carb thing is hard because even though I cut out alot of breads and pastas, my favorite veggies and fruits are high in carbs. Not sure what to do about that. I can't cut out everything!

I had been taking Metformin XR with some vitamin supplements but one of them was giving me a serious upset stomach (what I mean is, it felt like the lining of my stomach was being eaten away, not the normal side effects of Metformin which I'm aware of). So I stopped the pills for a few days and I'm going to reintroduce them one at at time. Till then, any suggestions on the diet? Oh, and I'm at 195.6 lbs and my goal is to get to 165 by September (when I try my next fertility treatment).

Can you post your typical daily menu? That might help

I have PCOS as well- I eat between 1350 and 1550 calories a day. I eat low carb (south beach) but not low dairy. My carb intake is around 35% a day.

Perhaps you are eating too little?? Especially on the days you are working out. How much water do you drink??

I agree with beerab, post a typical day - it will help.

Breakfast is 400 calories, usually eggs, light sausage links, whey protein shake and/or fruit (grapefruit, bananas, pears, apples, oranges or strawberries are my fave).

I have a 100 calorie snack, usually fruit, rice crackers with hummus, baby carrots, string cheese or celery with PB.

Lunch is also 400 calories, a low carb tortilla wrap with meat and cheese. Or a tuna fish sandwich on bread. And another piece of fruit (I like fruit). Sometimes I'll have a Lean Cuisine.

Another 100 calorie snack

Dinner is 400 calories, usually fat free refried beans (though I'm trying to cut that out due to the carbs), grilled shrimp, mixed vegetables or some kind of soup.

I'm wondering if I should just start exercising more or if maybe I'm overlooking something else like salt content. There are days that I don't stick to my diet exactly but not often enough that I should be gaining weight.

Not to be indelicate, but how's your fiber and your pooping habits? If you aren't regular, perhaps it is poop making the scale not show significant change.

What about sodium? That can cause bloat.

I also agree with the upping the calories if you stopped losing.

Metabolism is the fire. Exercise is the spark. Food is the fuel.

No spark and too much fuel? There's no fire.

Lots of spark and too little fuel? There's no fire.

Need both in the right mix to keep the fire blazing.

I've been doing 40% carb 30% fat and 30% and feel decent there in case that helps.

GL!
A.

Hi!
I just want to say that I experienced the same thing of staying within a 2 pound range, despite exercising (between 5 and 7 times a week, minimum of a half hour, maximum about an hour and a half) and watching calories, staying at 1500-1800 a day. I was worried about restricting calories too much b/c I think in the past I have done that and did not want my body to think I was starving it. I finally had an appointment with an Endocrinologist about 10 days ago. He increased the amount of metformin I am on. For the last 5 days, I have been losing about a pound a day! I am not having ill effects from the metformin, other than a bit of gas.

I was previously on only 500 mg a day. Now I am working up to 2000 a day, 1000 in the am and 1000 in the pm. Currently I am taking 1000 mg in the am and 500 in the pm. Next week I will start the full dose of 1000 in the am and 1000.

I know metformin can be really difficult on a lot of people's systems. What I have taken from this though is that maybe getting the proper balance of medications may be key for you. I believe there are some alternatives to metformin. If you have not made an appointment to see an endocrinologist, I would also highly recommend that. My regular doc just has basic knowledge of insulin resistance, but an endocrinologist should really know his/her stuff. It did take me about 3-4 months to get my appointment scheduled with the endocrinologist as a first time patient....so that was a bit of a bummer, but I am SOOOO glad that I had the appointment and have had my medicine increased.

Am new to this site. Hope to get to know you all. Good luck!

Jenny

Forgot to add... I've taken plain Metformin (got queasy), then changed to Metformin XR (better) and also tried Glumetza.

So try a different type/brand if the one you are on is bothering you.

A.

I think it'll come off any second now basically. It's only been 10 days, and when you exercise as much as you are, it may take a bit longer to fall off just because your body is repairing itself daily after working out, but when it does come off you'll be happy!

Your diet isn't working IMO because you are still eating a lot of carbs.

Bananas? No no no. Way too many sugars and carbs. Do you track your food intake? I use sparkpeople.com and aim for under 40%. If you love fruit (I can relate I LOVE fruit)- eat more berries- they are low carb. The strawberries are great- just don't eat too much. Blackberries and raspberries are best. Then come the Strawberries, Casaba Melon, Papaya, Watermelon, Peaches, Nectarines, Blueberries, Cantaloupes, Honeydew Melons, and Apples. Again don't eat too many of these cuz the carbs do add up! Every other fruit I wouldn't even touch at this moment unless it's a rare treat.

Get rid of the bread- if you MUST have some bread make sure it's whole grain- no white breads or pasta at all. I eat sandwich thins every morning with breakfast. It's 22 grams of carbs, I eat it with protein, and that's my main carb fix of the day.

Also you said high carb veggies? Don't eat corn or potatoes. You don't need them anyways. I'd look into expanding your veggie entourage if it's limited to only a few different types.

Get rid of the lean cuisines- most of them have at least 50 grams of carbs! And no more rice cakes- eat hummus with your veggies. Eat large salads with protein for lunch- today my lunch is going to be cucumbers, onion, tomato, and tuna with avocado on top- YUM!

I know I'm sounding like I'm cutting out your whole diet but really with all my research I've learned that proteins and veggies should be your main focus, then whole grains, THEN fruit. I love fruit and mostly eat blackberries and strawberries now. I do have an apple with peanut butter now and then, and I do enjoy watermelon and cantelope now and then as well.

Check out my pcos blog- link underneath my signature- you can see my daily menu's there. I've just started it so it'll increase over time- but you can see exactly what I eat every day I'll add a post about fruits and veggies for you tonight or tomorrow

In my post I said that I experienced the same thing of exercising 5-7 times a week with no weight loss. I forgot to specify that that went on for NEARLY A YEAR with no weight loss. And I was also watching what I ate and recording my calories. Despite huge motivational issues, I did keep working out over the course of 11 months. It is frustrating to keep working out when your body is not showing "any" results. I also was having my body fat tested and even that was not changing! I believe that the levels of insulin being produced by my body were NOT allowing weight loss.

I really highly recommend that you have a doctor (an endocrinologist if possible) re-evaluate your medicines. Like I said, I was not losing ANYTHING for nearly a year until my metformin was increased past the very low level of 500 mg a day that I was on. Also, if it is the case where your diet and exercise are not making a difference, I believe it really could be the medicines. And if you can't take metformin, maybe you can get on something else. Now that I have my metformin increased, I am losing "something" pretty much every day. It has ranged from .2 pounds to a pound a day. Of course I am still exercising daily and also watching what I eat, and limiting carbs when possible.

It really sounds like you may be in a similar situation as I am. I know that my primary care physician could not explain why I was not losing weight. I brought her records of Food logs and Exercise logs. In my case, it took seeing the specialist and having my medicines changed around for the "healthy lifestyle" to actually start having results and my weight loss to start happening..... So, if you continue to not see results, please consider what I am saying.

I agree to see a specialist- and also I don't take the pills and after a long time of trial and error am finally seeing the results. The pills are great for people who can take them but don't put your focus on them because it doesn't help everyone. It'd be disapointing to go on a higher dosage and see no difference. I'm not saying anyone does rely solely on those pills cuz they don't work alone either! You still need the proper diet and exercise (btw I exercise almost everyday).

If you have barely been put on metformin some doctors will make you wait a few more months till you can up your dosage.