pcos

[Jayyyy]

Hey I am a 20 year old with PCOS, just wondering what any other ladies with PCOS are eating to get in shape? I know a lot of people cut out dairy but I was just wondering what is working for you guys?

[mirving]

Hey! Also twenty with PCOS and trying to loose weight. Just started fitbit and already seeing results. I'm not cutting out anything, just reducing. So less dairy and carbs and it seems to be helping. Limiting it to a couple times a day. Good luck! 🙂

[melwoods87]

Hi ladies, I'm 27 with PCOS. I'm a group fitness instructor and studying to be a personal trainer. I have learnt so much about nutrition in the last few years so it's a real passion of mine.

I've managed to keep my weight under control by cutting out processed foods (anything that comes in a packet or cardboard box). The big one is also processed carbs like bread, pasta and white rice.

My grocery trolley contains fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, meat, chicken, eggs and nuts.I throw in some dark chocolate and natural yoghurt to keep me sane 🙂

You might like to visit some health food websites including eat, drink, paleo, I quit sugar (I wouldn't recommend adherring strictly to those diets but they have great recipes). The good thing is there are heaps of resources out there these days!

[yeni87]

Hey Melwoods87, can you post the links to those websites? I'm also 27, with PCOS, and I'm trying to get it under control, I'm so confused as to what diets to try, I heard low-glycemic is best, I hear Paleo works too, but right now, I'm trying out the elimination diet too. I'm also on metformin, but i have to admit, I haven't been as diligent as I should be, taking it three times a day. I just turned 27, so I'm turning a new leaf, going to really work at this, and my fit bit was actually a bday present from my bf.

[melwoods87]

Hi yeni87, sure thing here are a few:

http://eatdrinkpaleo.com.au/

iquitsugar.com/

If you send me your email address I can also attach a program I bought - it's an ebook which also might help.

I have only heard a little about the Elimination Diet but personally I find anything that restricts me from enjoying food I love can be tough to stick to. The Australian Dietary Guidelines are a pretty good indication of what I personally need to stay balanced however I cut out the bread, pasta and rice.

Ps how long can you be on metformin at one time and has it helped with bringing on ovulation? My dr told me I have to wait until I'm ready to fall pregnant (which won't be for another couple of years) before trying any medication to help ovulation. Do you know whether this is true?

[Vereera]

 Hi 🙂

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

All the suggestions above are great.

I would like ot 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 doen to 235 lbs. Due to the recipes in that book and taking 30 minutes 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!!

[mreneecohen]

Hi there! I am a 28 year old female, new to Fitbit and have been a MyFitnessPal user for about 4 years when I first learned that I had PCOS. Please add me so we can challenge eachother and motivate one another!!!! We got this!!!

[Vorpsgirl]

Hello I too have PCOS.  I have found it benifical to focus on lean protein, veggies and nuts.  I read a book a few years ago that recommeded a gluten free soy free diet.  I was very skeptical but tried it.  To my suprise my cycle normalized and I started to loose weight.  To test it I started eating gluten and soy again to see if that was really it.  My hormones went wonky again.  I don't know if this will help you but it helped me.

[Geocache]

I don't have PCOS, but I certainly support your effort in getting healthier.    I applaud you.

[Kryssy90]

i just found out i have PCOS a few weeks ago. my doctor told me no meds yet, just good old fashioned hard work to lose weight! lol. she told me no sugar, no fats (especially trans) and foods low in cholesterol. so basically ive been eating lean meats and veggies and ham/turkey sandwiches. its worth it though! i have lost 9 pounds in 2 weeks with this diet cange and my fitbit to help me stay active. ive got about 32 pounds to go before my doc will even consider putting me on the meds to regulate my ovulation. hope you ladies are doing well with your PCOS stories! 

[kgood]

I was just diagnosed with PCOS, but have been struggling with the symptoms for a couple of years. 

Mine are a bit atypical: headaches, fatigue, muscle pain, are the worst. I was only about 20 pounds overweight, but I think my symptoms would get worse if I continued to gain weight. My doc recommended I try this elimination diet and liver cleanse:  https://www.standardprocess.com/Standard-Process/Purification-Program#.Vf8L453BzRY

I followed this closely, but she recommended I eat meat the whole time to keep my protein levels constant, which helps with hormone regulation. It's only 3 weeks and it isn't cheap, but I lost 10 pounds and felt amazing.

Now, I'm more acutely aware of what foods make me feel crappy and what doesn't. I eat a low-glycemic index diet - not too much sugar or carbs and as little refined foods as possible. I also make sure to keep my blood sugar constant with fruit, veggie, and protein powder smoothies while I'm at work (grad student, ie lots of STRESS!) and eat a veggie, protein, and good fat (olive oil, avocado, flax seed, etc) in every meal. You definitely need a lot of protein and good fat to help regulate hormones. Gluten is the worst for me, especially white flour - no bagels or french toast for this girl. It's helped a lot. I've also been walking a lot to try to stay active - over 10,000 steps at least 5 days a week. So far I've lost about 10 pounds in about 1 month and I feel a lot better. A lot of docs say that even 5 or 10 pounds can improve symtoms a lot. 

I also have a friend that motivated me to get a fitbit to keep track of my steps. She does more than 10,000 steps per day and lost 20 pounds this summer and her symptoms (the worst I've heard) have drastically reduced. 

I'd recommend staying active and really thinking about what you're eating - a nutritionist can help a lot.