[BrandNu]

I have Hypothyroid and PCOS. Can calorie counting alone work for me or do I need a combination of CC with low carb and something else to combat my issues?

Any advise from anyone with my same issues who is CC would be great thanks!

[EatMoreCelery]

BrandNu,

Your weight loss may be slower because of the hypothyroidism, even if it's under control, but with diet, exercise, and persistence, I believe you'd do well.

I can't really speak to PCOS and weight loss but I'm sure someone here can.

If you haven't found the forum "Dieting With Obstacles" ... http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/dieting-obstacles-14/

[Intotouch]

I would recommend reading "the PCOS diet book" by Collette Harris.

I have PCOS and I have had great results following these principles. It's a low GL, high nutrition diet that includes protein with most meals. I also count calories.

I have been ridiculously healthy on this diet and have minimized or eliminated my symptoms of PCOS. I also include lots of cinnamon in my diet to help balance hormones and have eliminated hormone disruptors (sodium laureth sulphates in shampoos, soap, toothpaste) from my diet and environment. I hope that this helps.

[kaplods]

I have some similar issues - iisulin resistance and borderline low-thyroid, as well as metabolic syndrome/borderline diabetes.

I've found that "plain" calorie counting (or indirect cc by way of exchange plans) can work, but I have to cut calories more and have to put up with more hunger and cravings and more health issue symptoms if I don't control carbs as well.

To find the carb level that controls hunger best, allows you to lose weight most consistently, and helps you feel the best (and more able to exercise) you have to do some experimenting.

I've found that if I cut carbs too much, I end up feeling lightheaded and dizzy (and sometimes worse). However if I eat too high in carb, my weight loss slows (even on a reasonable 1500 to 1800 calorie diet) and I end up hungrier (crazy hungry).

And I lose weight about the same on 1500 calories of high-carb as 1800 calories of low-carb (and I'm crazy hungry starving on high-carb. In fact, I'm hungrier on 3000 calories of high-carb as on 1200 calories of low-carb.

My body temp is also higher on low-carb, which might be a sign that low-carb actually may increase my metabolism.

I don't think everyone is the same in this regard. I think there are people who lose about equally well regardless of carb level, so I think experimenting is the only way to find out if you have to (or want to) do more than calorie counting.