Hi - Just wondering if anyone else is on the Sonoma Diet or considering the Sonoma diet and suffering from PCOS (PolyCystic Ovarian Syndrom). I've been batteling my weight my entire life, and have just been diagnosised with this condiditon, which really makes a lot of sense as I have read more and more about it. I just wanted to see if anyone else might be in the same boat - and if they've had success on this plan.

Thanks!!!

Hi The Sonoma diet is brand new and was released at the very end of December. I'm not sure anyone has been on it long enough to see if it makes a difference for PCOS symptoms. Though some of our Sonoma members may have PCOS and can tell us how they are doing so far.

If the diet plan looks like something you would enjoy and think you can stick to, please give it a try. Recent studies have shown that you can still lose weight on a regular diet if you have PCOS, without going on a special diet. In fact, exercise has been found to be more important than specific diets to lose weight for many women with PCOS, according to a major study by Penn State.

If you do give this a shot, please keep us updated so we'll all know how it works for you, and maybe it will help others with PCOS to decide on a diet plan. Good luck!!

Thanks Suzanne - I appreciate the support. I'd like to read more about that Penn State study - could you send me a link? Thanks!!!

I don't have a link to the actual study, because I read about the results in the Washington Post online. I did have it bookmarked, but the link died. However, I did copy part of the article in a post some time back that may be of help. I'll try to find the original later, but here's a little food for thought
http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/show...48&postcount=4

Hi JB
I have PCOS and I'm getting ready to start the Sonoma diet. I decided to get the exercise part down first and started doing walking tapes the first of the year. I'm not to the part where I'm planning to go totally on the Sonoma diet this week, I've been eating several meals a day to guidelines, but still get hung up on the after work snacks.(I'm usually starved by the time I get home) I've had PCOS since puberty, but was diagnosed in 1988. I'm also a research junkie so any thing you want to know about it just ask.
Bette

JB -- I licked the symptoms of PCOS and went off medication completely AND got myself a surprise (happy surprise) pregnancy by doing the Mediterranean Diet, which is basically wave 3 of this diet, but with more protein and fat. At the time, I did not have children and was exercising about 2 hours per day. Now that I have 3 children, I cannot exercise more than an hour a day and often I have to do less, so the Sonoma Diet's more modest portions of fat and proteina nd calories serves me well.

MY RE had told me that a 10% loss of body weight would significantly reduce the symptoms of PCOS. SHe was right. I lost that, got pregnant, gained only that back, lost it again, and have now lost another 10% PLUS and I have no symptoms whatsoever (even had to have dh fixed -- we'd never had to consider birth control before). I am now, for the first time in my life, on a regular cycle.

Now, I will say that I notice weight loss is still tougher than for others, but I comfort myself by remembering that the slower the loss, the better chance of keeping it off and the less hanging skin (maybe?).

I think this would be a great diet for you and is so similar really ot the PCOS Diet book in many ways. Good luck and PM me if you have any more questions.

Wow Paula - that is really great! Thanks for the info.
Jen

Just my opinion...

Although any diet is better than no diet when we are overweight, I am a strong advocate for a low-carb diet of some kind when you have PCOS. This is because many women with PCOS are also Insulin Resistant (IR), also known as Syndrome X. You can have one, without the other, but if you have PCOS and you are overweight, especially around the abdomen area, then you are probably IR. If you are IR, it means that your body doesn't break down sugars and carbs like it's supposed to. When sugars and carbs. don't get broken down within a certain time, the body automatically turns it to long-term energy storage (aka FAT.)

Some women with PCOS take a glucophage, like metformin to help their bodies handle the sugar/carbs., however studies show that a low-carb high-protein diet AND a good exercise program is TWICE as effective as being on the glucophage.

Do you crave sweets certain times of the day? Do you get a bit sleepy after a high-calorie or high-carb dinner, like pasta? If you do, you probably have some level of IR, and a low-carb diet would work better for you.

Problem is, if you have PCOS, your hormones are probably out of whack. (Mine were a mess when I was finally diagnosed.) This often leads to HBP and high cholesterol, so if you go on a high-protein diet, just be careful you're not taking in too much fat and cholesterol. I hear the SB diet is better than Atkins because SB limits your fat intake, too. And I have heard that the Mediterranean diet is great, too.

Good luck!
Jen

Jen - Thanks for the thoughts - you really have some great points and a strong argument for low carb. I've elected at the moment to go to a more low carb diet as opposed to starting any particular diet plan. As well as walking and other activiites. I've realized that the times in my life when I've lost weight - it wasnt by working out hard or dieting - it was by limiting my carbs and being active.

Thanks Again!

Jen

There have been MANY successful PCOS women who have lost weight on other plans besides low carb. It is just a matter of persistence with a diet and consistency with exercise. Nothing more. Some lose slowwer and some faster

Excellent advice Jen. The only other comment I would add is that transfats are FAR more dangerous and contribute MUCH more seriously to high cholesterol than saturated fat such as butter. So becoming label conscious around partially hydrogenated fats, shortening, margarines with trans fats, and so forth can be life saving. There is NO safe level of transfat consumption. Not all saturated fats are 'bad' for you and especially remember if you have a metabolic issue like PCOS that all human hormones are MADE from cholesterol. Little known fact. I can certainly provide more info about this if anyone is interested.

One other thing about olive oil, and other vegetable oils as well is that they are highly heat sensitive and while they are healthy and fine cold, put heat under them and they change. I still suggest a little butter in the rfrying pan rather than olive oil.

Humm.
The people who live in the mediterranean have been using olive oil for hundreds of years as a frying oil and They still remain health people.

And low to no cases of pcos.(until wester fast foods came into the picture) We will wait and see how it turns out with all the wester franchises has their effect as they take over.

That should tell you the cause of pcos..food,diet,lifestyle.

Here is a short bit on both the benefits of olive oil and the problem with heating it.

Olive oil, specifically extra-virgin olive oil, is clearly one of the "good oils" for you. It is a monounsaturated fat and contains major health benefits because of its vitamin E and A, chlorophyll, magnesium, squalene and a host of other cardio-protective nutrients. It has also been shown to reduce some cancers, as well as rheumatoid arthritis.

Unlike other oils, olive oil possesses health benefits because it is refined and unheated.

In addition, olive oil does not upset the critical omega 6:3 ratio, as most of the fatty acids in olive oil are actually omega-9. However, though monounsaturated fat is inherently more stable than a polyunsaturated fat (like most vegetable oils), the overabundance of oleic acid in olive oil can create an imbalance on the cellular level, which has been associated to an increased risk of breast cancer and heart disease. So, like most healthy foods, you don't want to overdo anything, no matter how healthy you perceive it to be.

Just a word of caution: Olive oil is not the best oil to cook with, as it is highly susceptible to oxidative damage when heated. Therefore, when choosing an oil to cook with, you will want to pick one that will not be damaged by high temperatures.

An exceptional alternative is coconut oil, as it is abundantly nutritious and useful. Not to mention it can help you prevent and fight many diseases and illnesses.

The only fat sources the Sonoma diet endorses as primary fat sources are: olive oil, canola, nuts, avocados. Grapeseed oil ,sunflower oil, the omega 3 oils found in flaxseeds and cold water fish are also mentioned in the book. Any other fat sources are not recommended on this plan.

Yes, I agree. BUT... its not a religion. And that shouldn't mean you have to refuse to consider other sources of wisdom. Indian culture has also used ghee which is clarified butter for thousands of years in good health.

Passing on my own expertise and people are free to take it or leave it. Remember, margarine made with partially hydrogenated fats was also considered healthy for decades. Now we know better.