[chunkylove]

Hi everyone! What I did was work out a whole bunch-I did the Team Weight Loss at Lifetime Fitness which involved me working out about a hour 3 times per week. As Far as eating goes, I was doing low carb but not very strict. I was on I guess what you could call the second phase of atkins or south beach. Basicall I ate protien and vegetables, and I also ate nuts and low carb pitas and wraps. I drank unsweetened soymilk due to recent lactose intolerance, and had a little cheese here and there. Cheese doesnt seem to bother me, only milk. Also a little half and half in my coffee doesnt bother me either. So yeah I drank coffee and tea as well. I never eliminated caffine. Before I knew it I had lost 30 lbs! I was focusing on 5 lbs at a time, so I didnt get to discouraged by the big goal number. I have a hard time staying focused around the holidays, but Im back and Im swinging hard at it again. I know this is what works for me. Also I know that during weight loss we have a tendancy to want to weigh ourselves incessantly, but I have found that the opposite is working wonders for me personally. You see my problem with weightloss is failure, or falling off the wagon. When I fall I fall hard and I get so hard on myself and then its just a fast downward spiral that somehow involves me justifying me eating bad, since I already gained weight so whats the point, I might as well have this cookie, bag of chips or whatever the case may be. Then I just feel bad for myself and I emotionally eat. SO I have found to avoid this downward self-loathing spiral; I simply DONT weigh myself until I have gotten back on the wagon for 1-2 weeks. I feel so much better actually. I havent weight myself in awhile, and I feel great. I know its needed to track progress, but part of the progress is sans scale. Its in our minds. We need to learn to look at it wholistically and not depend on scales and points and calories and carb counting, and JUST DO IT like the nike slogan says.

Not weighing myself right away to find out how much I gained back sort of elimates that feeling of "awe forget it". I know what I need to do. I see me everyday and I can just do what I need to do to get back to that place where my face is starting to look slimmer and where I can see a difference, then I weigh myself and often I am RIGHT where I was before or even lower so its a victory and I keep going. I dont know if that sounds odd to others, but it works for me. I mean its really really really hard to lose weight and have these hormonal issues. Dont even TALK about that time of the month. Goodness, I have a horrible menstration if I have been off the wagon prior to it, and I can gain weight like 5 lbs do to serious sugar cravings and so I just do my best during that time. I do my best to have sugar free candy around. Russel Stover is good. I like a few of their candies. The coconut ones really taste like almond joy. Anyways its a journey you know? There will be times when I will just eat a bisuit yes a white flour bisuit, then I keep going, and I dont look back at the other biscuits (lol Im being dramatic on purpose). I keep going by golly because I know that my health is worth the effort. I want to have children someday when I do get married, and I have a better chance of hvaing kids if I lose weight.

Ok this is getting long but I do have more info to share that might be helpful to some.

I read an article that confirmed my suspitions, that eating low carb may be best for women with ovary issues. Honestly its the only thing that has worked for me. It took me 7 months to lose 15 lbs doing WW flex, then in 4 months I lost 30 lbs doing low carb not so strict.

Also I have started eating more MUFAs and incorporating that into my low carb eating. I have foudn that it helps to curb cravings for carbs when I have a serving of MUFA with every meal or snack. MUFAs are Mono Unsaturated Fatty Acids such as nuts, seeds, olives, olive oil and avocado.

I have yet to do any research on MUFA affects on hormones in women with Ovary issues. If anyone has any links to research on that topic let me know.

So thats it basically. I have been diagnosed with PCOS and for years I struggled with the traditional approach to eating less and working out more. the more I worked out the more I ate and I didnt lose weight. Not until I really tried low carb and working out. Also I almost forgot I do take a supplement called Relacore that seems to help me relax and keep the belly fat at bay. There is something about stress that causes us to gain weight around the middle, and the vitamins in Relacore help with that. Its all natural its all vitamins. I am not a salesperson, just saying it works for me. AND one last thing. Since I have lost weight, I get my period every month right around the same day. Its due any day now! JOY!
Anyways, thats my 2 cents.

[beerab]

That sounds great! Glad you lost all that weight.

When I did Atkins I became violently ill- I love fruit so I decided to limit my carbs, but concentrate on good carbs, I eat a lot of fruits and veggies daily and that seems to work for me Overall I eat a lot less meat and carbs and mostly eat fruits and veggies

[sws19]

this is great. i too was only following the low carb thing very loosely since being diagnosed in late october. so that's what i was doing. low-ish carb plus gym about 2 times a week (running between 2 and 4 miles each time) and metformin. and turns out i had lost about 13 pounds in a little over two months. i haven't yet seen any results in the way my clothes fit, but it gave the motivation to really actually start counting calories and incorporating strength training and stuff so i can really bring things to the next level. hoping to actually seem some results soon. i'm also hoping that reverting to low-ish carbs (occasional pizza, bagels, noodles) plus exercise one or two times a week will enable me to maintain once i reach my goal weight. time will tell...