Hello!

I am new to this site, & want to know who's had a major weight loss success (while battling PCOS) and by what means...

I have been looking at/experimenting with lower carbs and low glycemic index foods. It seems to be working for me. My dr. recommends the Zone. She also suggests I try to eat 20g protein/30g carbs (or less) at each meal, with 2 - 10g protein snacks as desired.

I'd love to know what others w/PCOS are doing....

Thanks for your input,
NJCyster

Hi NJCyster,
I'd be intrested as to what Other diets everyone else is using too. Right now I'm currently on Weight Watchers, and trying to do a lower carbs. I try to keep away from white flour, sugar, and processed food. It seems to be working for me. Everyting takes time though and that's that hardest part with PCOS and trying to loss weight.

I hope some of this helps!

Kristi

Hi. I'm newly diagnosed with PCOS among other things. I've been following Dr. Schwarbein's plan which is low carb (not no carb) and so far it's helping me feel better. I balance protein, real carbs, good fats, and veggies at each meal and snack. I eat about 60gms of carbs per day. As I get used to the plan it gets easier to prepare meals and make good choices. I've also lost 10lbs in less than 3 weeks. I haven't been able to lose weight in more than a year! I'm pretty happy with her plan and I believe in her theories. She has 2 books out. She's a renowned endo.
I believe there's a few of us on the low carb board who are doing the Schwarzbein plan.
Good luck with your health plan!

Body for Life nutrition instead. It's very near the Zone, however, much easier to follow. I have done both, and BFL is hands down the way to go. There is a book by Bill Phillips titled Body for Life. There is also a board here too.

Good Luck!

I am doing a diet called the Insulin Resistance diet. It is lower carb. The basics are you can have 30 carb grams at a sitting but you must link with protein. I like it and have been successful. I have lost about 7 pounds in 2 weeks. Beans, milk and vegtables (with the exception of potatoes and corn) are counted as protein. The main thing I like about this diet is that I am not constantly feeling guilty. If you just have to have a cookie thats fine but you must link it with say a glass of milk.

If anyone is intrested there is a 35 page sample of the book at Amazon.com The author is Cheryle Hart (I hope I spelled that right off the top of my head)

Kym

Ive done Protein Power and Atkins, both with great success

Sorry I should have said that Veggie (with the exception of corn and potatoes) are balanced in the IR diet not protein.

Kym

Hi everyone!

RobinH: Your weight definitely looks like it's going in the right direction! Are you still doing Protein Power & Atkins now, or have you made up your own plan?

Opp2: I have also read the Insulin Resistance Diet and it makes sense to me too! I've been applying some of it it to my eating patterns.

Niffer & Jenni: I'll have to check out more info on BFL & Schwarzbein!

I'd still love to hear from someone w/PCOS who's met their weight loss goal, and what your plan is!

Thanks for the information & good luck with your weight loss goals!

NJCyster

NJCyster...... I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 19....Im now 37.

I was once well over 300lbs, and with Protien Power I managed to take off 100lbs. I then put 40 back on when I started a high stress job. Since quitting the job, and starting atkins, things are looking good if you want, go over to the LowCArb forum and check out my before and during pictures. Ive still got 50 more lbs to go before I post an after pic.

Dont let the doc's tell us we have to be fat the rest of our lives!! We dont!! and we can do it!!

RobinH,

I had a look at your photos, you look great! Keep up the good work!

I had a look at your food journals too. I am cutting carbs, but not as low as you are. Do you feel deprieved at all? Are you taking any supplements? I like having oatmeal in the morning, and maybe a slice of whole wheat bread or brown rice with lunch or dinner...What do you think?

NJCyster

NJC,

I take a multi vitamin, magnesium, calcium, chromium picolinate and L-Carnitine. When I get the jumpy hands and feet at night time, I'll add a potassium too.

I dont feel deprived at all. I think because when Ive fallen off the wagon, Ive fallen hard, and I feel so rotten. Its just not worth it to me, to eat the "old" way.

You mentioned eating oatmeal etc. Its very good for you, and if your body can tolerate it and still let you loose weight, then great. Im too sensitive and anything like oatmeal, flour, potatoes and rice will set me off on a sugar binge just as easily as a kitkat bar. So depending on what your system is like, it may work just fine for you. But you have to try them out, and see what works. Atkins isnt for everyone. You might start with Atkins, do the 2 weeks induction, and then move right into the ongoing weight loss and add a few things that you would like.

I havent added much. I feel safe with my meat and veggies.

Hope this helps
Robin

My endo put me on SugarBusters. I haven't been very successful, but she is still working with my meds.

I like SB because it's very realistic, doable and there are many, many things that you can substitute for unhealthy foods without feeling deprived. There's a SugarBuster forum if you're interestedin taking a look at it.

I'm doing pretty good (am down 22 pounds since October, not flash-fast, but pretty good). I simply avoid refined grains and sugar. I'm going to go stricter, using SugarBusters. I have read Atkins and read independant research instead and I do not like that approach, to put it mildly. I think most women would benefit from trying a more moderate approach first. If I were better about avoiding sweets, I'm sure I'd have lost more weight.

GBMM - 22 lbs. since October sounds great !

I have looked at the 1st SugarBusters books, the plan seems quite limited to me, but maybe the new book is different...Have you looked at Insulin Resistance Diet or low Glycemic Index approach? If so, what do you think?

I remember reading an earlier posting of yours, are you still breastfeeding? I am trying to wean a 3 yr old, he still nurses once a day, in the morning. LOL!

Take care,
NJCyster

I was diagnosed with PCOS a few months ago but had already been subscribing to a lower carb diet previous to because I somehow *knew* I had it after reading about it.

I've lost almost 30 lbs since this time last year, but the majority of that weight was lost when I was working out more- so I suggest that you really make exercise an important part of the PCOS counterstrike. Definitely incorporate some weight training into your life...it makes a world of difference.

My doctor put me on Glucophage XR. I was on Metformin previously and liked it better simply because I could break up the pills (I'm not a fan of pill swallowing). But I noticed a huge upsurge in my energy when I got on the medication- are you on any?

Everyone is debating what sort of diet works best but personally I think a woman has to make it somewhat unique for her or else it will be hard to live by. I have had a hard time sticking to books and gram counting. What works for me is that I deeply cut back on these things:

1) Sweets
2) White Flour products
3) Colas (even diet ones)
4) Fast food
5) Frozen dinners
6) Processed snack foods

And with all that said, those are practical things most anyone wanting to live a healthy life avoids. Now if I slip up and have too much of any, I feel really nauseated and bad. It's hard for me to imagine I used to practially live off the stuff!

I swear by sushi. I live in a city where it's easier for me now to stop at a sushi bar if I'm out and hungry than to stop at a McDonalds. It helps if you can try to actively make better choices like that.

I let myself have dark chocolate and cheesecake, and I can't quite give up potatoes so I'm not going to make myself miserable. A baked potato is better than fries for you anyday if you know what I mean.

I know I could be more rigid and probably lose weight faster, but I'd rather not get discouraged.

Good luck to you...email me sometime!