I'm new to the board and thought I'd start by sharing some of my experiences with PCOS - what worked and what didn't, weight gained, weight lost and now gained again (boo!).
I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 18, I'm 32 now.Between the ages of 15 to 18, I was always "heavier" than my peers. Periods were far and in between which lead to a visit to the gynecologist. Immediately he knew what I had and I am lucky to have been correctly diagnosed. This was way back in 1998. Don't remember specific advice except, lose the weight and was put on birth control pills that gave me wild mood swings.
I grew heavier throughout college, was always hungry and yet don't think I ate that much. I was always "dieting" but it must have been some kind of diet cause I grew to 250 pounds.My scariest moment was when I could not fit into Old Navy size 20. Had to go over to Sears to get size 22/24. Was probably depressed the entire time as well cause I LOVED fashion and could not fit into ANYTHING fashionable.
Had back ache, dark patches (neck & inner tight), bald spots, felt pukey after eating certain kinds of food, low self-esteem, intense food cravings....list goes on.
It was summer 2006 and I was having my annual "everything makes me want to puke" fest. I had this bowl of beef noodles and I was so ill over the next few days. It was also during that time when I read that animal hormones could monkey up my own system. A light bulb went off in me. The beef had made me so sick so I put the two facts together and decided to give vegetarianism a try. What have I got to lose? I was already at 255 pounds at that rate.
The first month, for the first time in my adult life, I lost 8 pounds. I was ecstatic. I've always tried to lose weight but to no avail and finally something! That pushed me further and soon I added swimming.
By summer 2007, I was at 154, my lowest weight ever. Unfortunately my health took at turn in Spring 2008 and I had regained 40 pounds over the next few years.
In Fall 2011, I was 190 and I didn't like where I was heading cause I promised myself I would never get back into 200. So I've been working hard, watching what I eat and exercising to get back to where I was. Admittedly this time around it's harder. The weight doesn't come off as "easily". Like I REALLY have to work to make it work. It has been frustrating cause if a normal person ate the way I ate, they would have easily reached their goals by now but with PCOS everything is slow-mo.
What worked for me that might help you:
1. Raw organic vegetable juice daily - my hair has lost 90% of it's gray. It's thick and luscious now. I don't have to dye my hair anymore. I had premature gray and have been dying my hair since I was 18. Always hated the extra chemicals. My skin is almost blemish free.
2. A whole foods diet with some fish/seafood - Mostly vegetables, fruits. It's a tweaked version of Dr Furhman's Eat to Live. I read his book all the time to remind myself, especially right now since I'm trying to lose weight again. The only set back is, it's hard to do no salt/sugar/oil all the time but when I really do it whole-heartedly the weight does come off.
3. Minimal amount of whole grains - It's sad but true but breads/whole grain pastas/brown rice kind of stalls weight loss. It seems to me, my intake of bread always has to be moderated. I hate this part of having PCOS.
4. Exercise - I work out six times a week but I do have trouble building muscle.
What didn't work for me:
1. Meat
2. Dairy
3. Trans fat/Margarine/Fast Foods/Packaged foods
4. Sugar - cookies, cakes, ice-cream, any combo of flour & sugar
5. Eggs - My period becomes irregular when I consume an average of 4 eggs per week.
6. No exercise
7. Microwaving foods
8. Birth control pills
This has been my experience so far with PCOS. My periods are regular but it's the weight loss that is so slow and frustrating. Weight gain happens so easily and then there's always the battle of food addiction. It's like my body craves for garlic bread, french fries or cheeseless pizzas.
Thanks for reading.
