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I have PCOS and find it incredibly difficult to lose weight . Anyone else dealing with this issue? I'm already a vegetarian, has anyone had good luck with this?
Thanks!
Same here!!! I've been vegan since the beginning of the year and have lost around 3 lbs. I'm taking metformin (glucophage) which so many people lose weight on... but not me! I'm also taking a water pill which works w/ the gluc to help cystic acne. my acne has gotten a bit better, but no magic weight loss like I hear from others taking it. it's all very frustrating and discouraging! So... sorry I don't have a more positive answer for you, but I guess it's nice to have someone in the same boat, eh? =) for me, i think one thing that helps is getting to the gym more... I've been really failing at that lately due to a crazy schedule, but I just have to work harder to fit it in. good luck to you!!
Yes! I have had PCOS along with ALL the symptoms for sixteen years. I did all the research on holistic and conventional treatments and tried various things with no results. Just when I was resigned to suffer from it forever I found my cure. One year ago I eliminated all gluten from my diet in my ongoing efforts to lose weight (already eating mostly vegan and very healthily) and was stunned to see all my PCOS symptoms begin to vanish within a month. I absolutely could not believe it (still can't). I was also able to finally lose weight - I've lost 140lbs in the last 13 months. Hope this helps!
I don't suffer from the syndrome, but have suffered from various bouts of ovarian cysts and find that certain times of my cycle are much more painful than others (bloating/swelling). My mother went through PCOS when she was younger. I was vegetarian for 6 years and never had any symptoms, then i started eating meat again and went off birth control all within 6 months. Everything hit me at once.
I am hoping that since going vegetarian for the past month and a half and vegan for the past 3 weeks that this will get better. The only thing i have noticed was that my cycle is off. I slipped one weekend and i felt AWFUL for a week. We can go through this together!
Thank you for your responses! I hadn't thought of gluten free, but with great results it's worth a try! This is such a frustrating thing to deal with and I feel like I've tried it all......I'm going to see a nutritionist soon and hopefully she can shed some light on this issue. I will certainly pass along any useful info I find out!
Yuppers! I have PCOS too. For me, I've had excellent success in managing my weight by ensuring that I control my sugar intake. I make sure to eat something like a handful of nuts before I have a piece of fruit to help curb the insulin response. I try to avoid anything refined (flours, sugars) as that stuff can make insulin spike, etc. I used to be on Metformin but since I've been vegan and actively avoiding sugars (even natural sugars like honey, dried fruit, maple syrup, etc.), my insulin resistance has normalized and my doctor recently said that my blood tests are absolutely perfect I don't need to be on medication anymore.
In terms of weight loss, I've lost about 35 pounds since going vegan and another 12 since going "Superhero". I went from a size 14/16 to a 2/4. I did have to exercise and limit my calories in general, but I find the Superhero diet is very beneficial for someone suffering with PCOS.
I've been dealing with PCOS since I was 14 (I'm 33 now) so I have a lot of info and experience. If you have any questions, please let me know. I'm happy to help! :)
Thank you Hilary!
Sugar has always been someting I struggled with. I have such a sweet-tooth. I've already made the switch to agave and brown rice syrup, but it's hard when I go out. I'm also on metformin, but I haven't noticed any differences. It's hard to keep taking a medication when there is no visible effect.
Also, and this may be too personal, but have you had children? I'm 25 now and I'm scared to death that I'm going to wait too long to get pregnant and not be able to. I remember the doctor's words so clearly when she said that after age 30, fertility suffers. I have that thought at the back of my head at all times and it's just adding to my stress level.
Thanks again for responsonding!
Right there with you gals on the PCOS. After reading the posts, I have two questions. First, how do I find out if I'm glutent intolerant, and what foods would I have to eliminate from my diet if I was. Second (this is more directed to you Hilary, and I also hope it's not too personal), do you have children? and if so, was it difficult to get pregnant?
I guess I have a third questions. Does anyone have darkening of their skin or hair loss? Have you found anything to help with these symptoms?
It's nice to be able to compare PCOS notes without googling the Syndrome. It is scary to read some of what is out there.
Hello again ladies!Tessa:Interesting that you mention the sweet-tooth thing. Having a constant sweet-tooth is actually a SYMPTOM of PCOS. Interesting, isn't it?
Unfortunately for us PCOS gals, even natural sugars like agave and brown rice syrup should be avoided as much as possible, because sugar is sugar when it comes to your hormones (insulin). Sounds like a death sentence, I know, and I'm sorry for that. It's best to get your sugar fix from fresh fruit. (Even dried fruit contains too much sugar for a regular snack.)
The reason that fresh fruit is better is because it usually contains a lot of fiber as well, which curbs the insulin response. In fact, any time you plan to eat anything sweet - whether it's an apple or something much more sinful - it will serve you well to eat something that contains a little bit of fat and fiber in it first (for example, a small handful of nuts, a couple of whole grain crackers and hummus, some sunflower seeds, etc.) because the fat and fiber will prevent our insulin response from surging.
Not too personal at all! (I'm an open book LOL!) I do have a daughter, but I will tell you that because of the PCOS I had a very hard time getting pregnant (I was never able to ovulate on my own) and I even suffered two miscarriages while trying to conceive (this is all before I went vegan). In the end, after trying for over two years, my husband and I pursued IVF (in-vitro fertilization) and had success on the first try. We now have an 18-month old little girl who we are beyond grateful for.
Inner Winds:If you are wondering if you are gluten intolerant, a doctor or a naturopath can do some testing to determine if you are. However, you can sorta do it yourself by eliminating all foods that contain gluten for about 2 weeks and then add them back in and see how you feel. Here is a GREAT website that tells you all about gluten-containing foods: http://www.csaceliacs.org/gluten_grains.php
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