PCOS and the weight struggle

[Mikkijoe]

Wondering if any other ladies here have PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) and what they are doing for themselves to help in the weightloss. There must be some on here since 1 in 10 women have it, and 85% of that 10% are overweight.

For those of you who do not know and are wondering...PCOS is more than just an ovary issue, in fact it is a horrible name, and many professionals are trying to re-name it.  It is an endrocrine system disorder, affecting all hormones...insulin included.  Many of us have Insulin Resistance, making it SO easy to pack on the pounds, and so hard to reset our system and start taking them off.

Personally, I just found out at 48 yrs old, but my doctor suggested I have probably had it since I was in my early 20's, if not sooner. And I am now on a Low Amylose and going to the gym several times a week, and weight is finally coming off!

Would love to link up others like me!

[WendyB]

Welcome to the forums

Check out this thread. Looks like they have even started a group

https://community.fitbit.com/t5/Weight-Loss/PCOS-ladies/m-p/38197

[katiesTARDIS]

I have PCOS. I take Metformin for the insulin resistance and it has helped with it. Weight loss with PCOS is definitely not a cake walk, but it is possible. 🙂

[Juannzy]

Hey I am like you PCOS !!! 35.. dagnosed at 31 but was told I had it my whole life 😞 Lets link up ! 

[Betybee]

I too have PCOS!! I have had it since my teens...it has been struggle...especially with the weight. I have lost quite a bit by looooong hours in gym and very strict calories intake, but now (sadly) it is most of the weight back....it is crazy how easily I pile the weight back ( sometime it feels I gain weight by just looking at food. )

I live in countryside of NC now...gyms are far and so I need to do with what I got, like walking....

Anyway it would be to link up with folks with same troubles...share trouble, half trouble.;-))

[Vereera]

Hi  🙂

28 year old female with PCOS. I have struggled with it for the past 5 years...

All the suggestions above are great. currently take a low dose of birth control to keep  my hormones balanced...

I would like to recommend Dr. Fuhrman's "Eat to Live" book. My Godmother gave it to me 3 years ago. Dr. Fuhrman suggests to eat as many natural foods as possible and provides you with a sample menu and lots recipes.  I was once 275 lbs and I naturally worked my way down to 235 lbs. Due to the recipes in that book and taking 60 minutes daily to be active (take a walk use the stairs at work, Pole Fitness, or Zumba class) I regulated my period and have birth to my first child this Summer.

Best wishes,

I hope the book is as helpful to you as it was to me!!

[simoneshh]

When I was first diagnosed my doctor told me it would be hard for me to lose weight. And I repeated that almost everyday.

A few years later I got sick of the excuses and not having enough motivation. I decided just to do things and look after myself. I wasn't focused on weight loss, I was focused on being healthy. Most of my weight loss efforts hadn't been healthy or sustainable long-term, and therefore hadn't been successful.

I eat my 5+ day of fruit and veges, I have protein at every meal. If I go to the gym, I get pudding. I eat high saturated fat and high sugar foods on special occassion (not most days like a lot of the people around me). I dont feel like I deny myself anything.

When I go to the gym I do it properly, burning max calories (HIIT) and building max muscle through strength training. If I go 4 or more times a week, I lose weight.

It wasnt until I met other overweight women without PCOS that I realised anyone who doesnt exercise regulary and restrict calories struggles to lose weight.

Given my success (and its my success so I'm not selling it as a solution for everyone...) I now believe that PCOS can make it easy to gain weight, usually because of increased insulin resistance, but it doesnt make it any harder to lose weight.

[SashaMaxx86]

Hi ladies! I am also a PCOS sufferer. I just purchased the fitbit Charge today and will be using it in conjunction to the Weight Watchers program. Please add me! 

I was diagnosed 5 years ago during a routine annual exam. I have since struggled with the weight loss. I have to admit that I gave up for several years. My turning point was this year when we traveled to the DR and the plane ride was extremely uncomfortable! Since then I have joined weight watchers and will be using the Fitbit to encourage me to be a more active me! I also hope that the weight loss will help with my fertility issues. 

[BeccaM]

I have PCOS as well and can always use more friends. I was diagnosed at 16 and it has been a long road. I've had my fitbit for about 3 weeks now. I love it!

[busylizzie2]

I was diagnosed at the beginning of the week, and would love to know how people have lost weight. I'm about 10st but that's through very careful eating.  Steps vary but anything from 2-6K on a normal day.  Anyone tried a low GL diet? thanks! 🙂

[twolovebugs08]

Hi Ladies!

   I was diagnosed in 09 with PCOS... I have insulin Resistance I always go up and down in my weight I have my whole life. We had our first child in Jan 10 and second in Dec 12. I have Gestational diabetes with both of them with my daughter which was our second I was on insulin the whole pregnancy.

    After I had our daughter I was told I was pre diabetic which made me think and try and forget about it but at the start of 2014 I decided to make a life style change. I worked out on my own and it worked but I wanted more results. I found a fitness group in my area that runs and does conditioning also I joined them at the end of April and found out I LOVE RUNNING. It's my me time and I get to think freely with out anyone screaming over me or asking me 100 questions. I'm a stay at home mom so to me this was a important thing to find. Its a great group of people and it holds me acctountable. I've lost 36 pounds since then. I'm really starting to struggle more with the next 40lbs I want to lose. I think I need to go back on Metformin so hopefuly in Feb when I see my OB that will help me.

   I'm excited to start using my new Charge and hopefully that will hold me accountable also!  

[SunsetRunner]

I, too, have PCOS. It's difficult to lose weight, but I think I use it as an excuse more than anything. I need to get myself focused and stay on track. I take Metformin for help, but...meh.

[pinayrican]

Just diagnosed last week and would like some tips on what kinds of foods to eat.  Been slowly switching to a gluten free diet and dairy free is next.  I am pretty sure I have had PCOS since my teens and I am 33 now.  It went undiagnosed for years.  Would appreciate any advice.

[Kryssy90]

PCOS just sucks, doesnt it? i was diagnosed about 5 weeks ago. also with the PCOS brought insulin resistance. easy to pack on the pounds but sooo hard to get them off. there are times that i feel defeated when i have a bad week because i think, whats the point? its so hard. but guess what...  IT WILL BE WORTH IT IN THE END when i am at my goal weight and i am the happiest ive ever been. 

My doctor wants me to lose some weight and lower my blood sugar and cholesterol before placing me on Metformin. But the metformin is what is going to help me lose weight! ugh, complicated. She wont put me on it yet because a lot of women get pregnant very quickly after starting metformin. and with my current health, it would be a complicated unhealthy pregnancy. so with my head heald high i am going at this journey the old fashioned way. when i started, i was about 222 pounds. at the end of week 4 i had lost 12 pounds. but week 5 i went on vacation and gained a few pounds. my weigh in is tomorrow and im hoping to at least lose the weight i gained from vacation and start fresh for week 6. 

i hope you are doing well on your journey! good luck

[Mermaid3011]

PCOS is a b....ch - My friend has it and I am pretty sure I have it too! 

I was put on Metformin to outweigh the weight gain of another medication (Mirtazapine). Once I stopped taking Mirtazapine I kept taking Metformin and honestly - it made such a big difference in my weight loss. Maybe it's just "self fullfilling prophecy" but Metformin kept my insulin and sugar levels at bay and it was much easier to resist sweets. 

Next time I see my doctor I will ask to look into PCOS. I am 38 and it wouldnt surprise me if I had it most of my life.

When I started my diet in January I was eating mostly vegan, but after reading/listening to this book here: www.thedietfix.com by a Canadian Specialist in Obesity Medicine, I have introduced eggs, 0% greek yogurt, small amounts of low fat cheese and the odd tuna/salmon/chickenbreast into my diet, since it's just way easier to get your protein from these sources than veggies and beans (though it's not impossible of course! I am just lazy!)

I have also reduced my carb intake to fruits, vegetables, and small amounts of wheat (like wraps). The days of eating half a baguette with full fat brie are over. 

Occassionally I will share a thin crust pizza with a friend and have a salad on the side. You have to enjoy life if you want to lose weight for good!

Cutting out wheat has made me feel a lot better and want to believe that it has helped me lose weight slowly but fairly consistently.

[MRose]

PCOS does suck... I've had it for over a decade and I'm only 24. BUT! It is SO SO SO important to remember than there is no magic pill, rather, food is medicine! Food is your drug, and between diet and exercise you are going to improve your health ten-fold. I've always had major issues with insulin resistance but after getting rid of the refined sugar in my diet, everything else was just a snowball. 

A couple things you might ask your doctor:

What kind of fish oil to take

If you need to start hormones at all

What supplements you need

The supplements can be huge, as a lot of the time your body is unable to absorb everything you give it.

[Victoria35]

I find low carb, and eating low cal is the only way I lose anything! So frustrating but its coming off....slowly. Good luck x

[Kaytee7815]

I'm 27 years old, and never diagonsed with it, but I do have major issues with ovarian cysts that I'm under doctor's supervision for. I've struggled with my weight since I was in elementary school and my previous doctors never thought it was an issue. Last year from Sept-December I lost 20lbs, but after the new year, I gained it all back. Now I'm working to lose it all again as well as much as I can. I now weigh 240lbs. Hopefully with my new diet plan of cleansing my body and getting rid of all the junk food, today starts my new lifestyle.

-Katie

[MRose]

Hi @Kaytee7815, welcome to the forums! I'm so sorry you've been dealing with cysts, they huuuuurt >.< Have you seen an endocrinologist? If not, you might consider finding one familiar with women's health. Many of my fellow cysters have had the best luck with a good endocrinologist. If your doctor isn't doing hormone testing, move along. When I was diagnosed, my progesterone (and Vitamin D) levels were almost at zero, while a friend of mine exhibited the same symptoms but her testosterone levels were just too high due to other factors. 

Also, kudos for taking charge of your health! And as @Victoria35 said, low(er) refined carb diets often help more than anything else!

Something to consider: Endometriosis and PCOS are often misdiagnosed as one another, as they often have the same symptoms. In either case, giving your body refined sugar is feeing the symptoms, just in different ways. My guess is, if you're having such severe symptoms with cysts, that a diet overhaul (and quite possibly an elimination diet) would help you immensely in getting to the bottom of this. Ask your doctor about how you can change your diet along with the meds they've given you.

One last thing... think about learning some basic yoga if you don't already do it. When I get cysts, if I do some basic yoga stretches before the pain gets immense, it helps so much. You have to do it before you're at the hug-a-heater phase, but if you can catch it quick enough, it might help you.

[Puncharthays]

Hi,

I was diagnosed with PCOS a few years ago (after doctors trying to diagnose it for over 5 years before that) and was given Metformin by my doctor. I saw a nutritienist who told me to try a Low-GI diet and to avoid refined sugars.

I pretty much gave up sugar and alcohol for 12 months, was exercising 4 times a week and I lost 10kg in 2 months. I then lost another 15 in the 3 months after that. For years before going Low-Gi and mostly sugar free I really really struggled to lose weight, despite being fairly active.

Unfortunately after the passing of my mother, I started eating sugar again and put alot of that weight back on :-(.

In the last month, I've gone fairly strict with the Low-GI plan and have been avoiding refined sugars (I forgot how hard it is!) and I am already seeing results! (Just gotta keep going now!)

There's lots of information online about Low-GI, I highly recommend it 🙂

Best of luck!