Losing Weight - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) Message Board

MomOf2WPCOS · 03-15-2008, 11:00 AM

Hi everyone. My name is Lori and I am 31. I was diagnosed with PCOS in my early 20's after multiple miscarriages, extremely long and heavy periods, and many many months of trying to conceive. Not to mention the hairgrowth on my face and bad skin. Now I have two beautiful children, Thanks to a wonderful doctor and Clomid. I no longer have acne and the hairgrowth on my face hasn't really gotten any worse although I pluck and wax and everything else you can think of. It is finally manageable. One thing I do not have under control though is my weight. I am grossly overweight. I have been on Metforminin the past, but it didn't help me to lose weight. I have also tried a multitiude of prescription diet pills only to be plagued with nasty side effects. I am 5'0" and weigh 230. It's awful. I desperately want to lose weight. People look at you like you are lazy and a slob, but in reality this disease has prevented me from shedding the pounds. I have never been this heavy and first started gaining weight and never stopped when I was around 22 the same time I noticed the hairgrowth on my face. Back then the hairgrowth was terrible. I was a mess. I am a very active person, but my one downfall is carbs. I know that they are the root to the whole problem of me not being able to lose weight. Does anyone have any good solutions as to how to curb my carb cravings? I desperately want to get and stay healthy for my children.

cmpgirl · 03-17-2008, 12:50 PM

Hi Momof2: I can relate to the weight issues. I wanted to ask if your doc ever sent you to an endocrinologist? The inability to lose weight with PCOS, is usually due to a slowed down metabolism. An endo is the best person to help evaluate metabolic rate.

In my case my metabolism was really slowed. So I began walking every night with my husband. We started slowly and gradually worked our way up to a power walk. It wasn't immediate, but I slowly started losing a pound here, 2 pounds there....and I eventually lost 40 pounds. I have kept it off for 10 years and I'm not even walking anymore, due to a serious back injury.

This is just my experience, but maybe it could work for you. I hope it was helpful. Good luck, cmpgirl

Noturningback · 03-27-2008, 08:29 AM

Hello Momof2!

I went to see my OB/GYN about two weeks ago (about my PCOS) and complained of the same thing. I'm 34yr old, 5'3" and 270lbs. As a side note - My husband and I have no children nor have we tried ttc yet - another reason I visited my OB/GYN. I've had a weight problem my entire life and I'm sure PCOS since 10 when I started menstruating.

I'm wondering if you have acanthosis nigricans, patches of darkened skin on the back of the neck, under the arms, and/or in the groin area. I discovered, not too long ago, that it is a sign of high levels of insulin which means one is most likely insulin resistant even if it isn't showing up on tests. My fasting glucose level is 75 - within the normal range but, I have many other symptoms of insulin resistance including acanthosis nigricans. I've had those dark patches since puberty and remember my mother trying to scrub off "the dirt" on my neck with rubbing alcohol (poor thing had no clue).

So, given all these factors my doctor suggested a low carb/paleo type diet. I've been reading a load of book on this subject. To name a few Protein Power Lifeplan, Life Without Bread, NeanderThin, Good Calories - Bad Calories. It's quite fascinating and as soon as I heal from a recent tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy (needed thanks to allergies - I swear there is a connection between allergies and my insulin levels...I digress).

To answer your main question, It seems one has to keep their fat intake high and protein intake moderate - high in order to survive a low carb diet. We have it drilled into us that fat is bad. Many are now arguing if even saturated fat is as bad for us as 'they' say. It seems many people follow a low carb diet but still go along with the low fat idea. Most ultimately begin to think low carb doesn't work but, the key many maintain is keeping your fat intake high, carbs low (and that depends on the person - you have to experiment with the grams daily to figure out what works for you) and the protein moderate to high.

I'm going to give this concept a good honest try to see if it works. It will be hard to not keeping thinking things are too fatty but, I have nothing to lose. None of the traditional diets are working for me. I'll go to my GP in 6 months and have a CBC done. Of course, my fear is that my numbers will go through the roof but remember triglycerides may be fat in the blood but, they're caused by carbs.

Can you tell this has been on my mind a lot recently.

~Danielle

panicPCOS · 03-27-2008, 01:36 PM

Hi momof2,

I can relate to just about all of your symptoms, including the facial hair growth which I've had since I was 12 (now early 20's). I've done laser treatments to no avail and end up shaving on a constant basis. I'm also the exact same weight as you and have been up and down with my weight for years (120lbs. just 3 years ago!). Since I started on my glucophage (metformin) last year it has helped and I'm not gaining rapidly at all anymore. As soon as I started changing my eating habits it has also helped. Talk to your doctor more about the weight issue or your gynecologist may even be the best person to speak with because a good portion of it is hormonally related.