Any PCOS weight loss success stories?

[loveamiracle]

Hi, I am 23 years old and about 9 months ago I was told I have PCOS. I believe I have had it since I started having periods since I had many of the symptoms. The only symptom I never experienced (until recently) was weight gain. All growing up I was a very small child and throughout high school I was the same. My highest weight in high school was no more that 110lbs. I have never struggled with weight, until a few years ago. After I got married (and our eating habits only changed for the better) and shortly before marriage, I started putting on the pounds. Quickly! Within 5 months I had put on 30lbs then three months later 40 more! I couldn't believe my eyes. I never had this issue before! That's when I saw my OB, after being diagnosed I was told I needed to lose weight because thats what caused the PCOS, but I don't believe it, it just doesn't add up to me. Why the sudden weight gain? They lectured me and lectured me because I want to get pregnant and am obese now. All I have been told so far is I have to lose the weight, but I am exercising and eating right and I see nothing! I was put on Metformin 500mg 2X a day after being diagnosed and I have seen no change in weight or facial hair! I am frustrated because I hate the way I feel being this large. I guess my main question is are there ANY success stories out there of women losing weight with PCOS and taking metformin? I could really use some encouragement. I want so bad to start our family, but if I am this uncomfortable being my weight now, I fear how I will feel being pregnant.

[InPCOSNightmare]

Hi Mika, thanks for replying to my post, I read your post and I relate to your situation.  I went to see the GI specialist re my CT scan, (I was sent there by my primary care doc who said I had pcos) and the GI specialist want to do an upper endo and a lower gi laparoscopy.  The GI also said that my primary care doc is wrong about the pcos.  She said she when she (the GI) read the CT scan report her interpretation of the cyst were inside and not outside the ovaries. So GI highly recommened that I go to a OBGYN specialist as long as it doesn't offend my primary care.  I sat there just bewildered.  I had scheduled a pap with my primary care and called the office to have a referral to a specialist for OBGYN and they still want me to come in just to get a referral.  GI said I will need more tests by a specialish in OBGYN before concluding diagnosis with PCOS.  GI specialist was not thrilled about what my primary care doc had told me about my CT scans.  So now I am at a loss as to what to believe until I go to an OB specialist.  More tests...aaarrgh.  I really don't know what to think but am trying to just not worry about stuff and continue working out hard and watching diet.  I also just weighed my self and am down to 129.5lbs.  not much weight but something better than nothing.  So I consume anywhere between 1200 or less calories a day, rarely above 1800 cals (maybe when I eat a subway tuna sandwich?!)and I burn between 300-400 cals a day at the gym, sometimes more..depends. I do cardio for 40, 50 or 60 minutes (elliptical, treadmill), light weight, more reps., ab exercises.  So I burn anywhere from 1200 or more calories a week.  I don't drink soda, or sugary drinks either.  So the math says I should lose lbs...but I don't.  Blows my mind away.  E.g I drink my multivit drink in the am, then a large cup of green tea, shakelogy with almond milk for breakfast.  Then a cucumber/iceberg lettuce salad with carrot-ginger dressing and a bowl of miso soup.  Dinner was3/4 cup rice with 2 pork meatballs (1inch diameter,reduced fat meat, and baked in oven) and lightly stir fried bokchoy with garlic and ginger, snacks were 1/4 cup almonds throughout day, and plenty of water.  And this dinner is heavier than I normally eat.   Two hours later I went to gym (did treadmill, speed walk and jog interval for 45 minutes plus strength on legs and abs), came home and had another vitamin drink  (emergen-C 5 calories only, just mix with 4oz water), then a cup of herbal tea and more water, then I went to bed.  I eat like this often.  sometimes I just eat a really light dinner, just a bowl of veges and very little meat.  I eat beef like once a month or longer.  mostly chicken, turkey, tofu.  So I don't know how all the theories of metabolism isn't working for me.  And if I don't have pcos then I don't know what is causing this.  BTW I am terrified of doing the upper gi and lower gi.  I told my GI I have to think about it as I am scared of the procedure.  She said she want to make sure there is nothing she is missing about my GI symptoms.  Good luck with your new supplement, I hope it works.

[18canadianredhead]

Hi, I am 18 and I was just diagnosed with PCOS today. I believe I have had it for about a year or two now. I have put on 90 pounds, I have hair in spots that I shouldn't, have not gotten a period in 4 months, and I have crazy hormones. I used to be about 160 lbs, and I am now 250 lbs. I was just wondering and looking for people who have possibly gone through this as well, I was just put on 250 mg of metformin a day, and I was wondering if I could expect weight loss/ hair loss and regain my periods? Someone please let me know, I am so worried I will never lose this weight.

[Coco0904]

This really made me smile. What a lovely guy you must be to care so much about what your girlfriend is going through and do all you can to help her. Shows there are truly amazing people in the world, although often we find the opposite! Did you find that the lifestyle and exercise changes worked to alleviate any of the PCOS symptoms?

[Mika504]

I just bit the bullet and got laser hair removal done. It was the best money I ever spent!

It is not 100% gone but I am ok with going to get a touch up treatment about once a year.

Trust me, for your peace of mind....laser it the way to go.

[Mika504]

I completely understand where you are coming from when it comes to trying to lose weight and how hard it is.

I was diagnosed with PCOS several yeas ago. I was told that I would not be able to have children but surprise I got pergnant. Unfortunately I had a miscarrage and soon after found out I had cancer. I am happy to report that I am cancer free now but I am still dealing with PCOS and how hard it is to lose weight.

Last year I decided that I would do whatever it takes to lose the weight. I got tired of looking in the mirror and seeing a stranger. I have tried all kinds of diets and workouts. I joined a gym for a while, I did the HCG drops (before they came out with a report saying it messed with your heart), I have done almost all the fad diets, and I even did P90X for 90 days.

So far the only thing that worked for me was when I started walking last year. Like you, I do not eat poorly. I cook almost everyday and hardly ever eat any fast food. Well this year I hit a plateau and was not able to lose a pound. Can you imagine doing P90X and not lose a pound!! Well one day when out with a friend I met a young lady that was promoting a diet suppliment. I didn't pay her much attention until she told my friend that she had a friend with PCOS and it helped her lose weight. She had my attention...LOL. She gave me a sample and I tried it last week...I lost a couple of pounds so I bought a week trial off her.

I am starting the trial and will see how it goes. If it's for real and helps me even lose 3 lbs in that week then I will be happy to tell you all abou it.

A lot of people don't understand how hard it is for women like us to lose weight or how emotional it is for those of us that cannot have children. I'm glad there are places like this for us to connect.

Anyway, I'll keep in touch and let you know what my progress is. Wish me luck!

[InPCOSNightmare]

I am 43 and just diagnosed with PCOS.  After having a CT scan for a whole other reason...the results came back showing that I have PCOS.  So my doc told me about it and said well that explains why you have trouble losing weight and sent me along my way.  No explanations or insight on what PCOS was all about.  So I went home and did research online to find out what PCOS was all about.  I had my third kid in 2011 and had many complication and also had gestational diabetes, was on bed rest from complications of polyhydramnios and was on Procardia for stopping pre term labor.  After delivery I had a tubal ligation.  Weight prior to pregnancy was 122lbs and at the end was 178lbs.  Prior to pregnancy I was told I had cysts in my ovaries.  Several years earlier when I was about 35 yrs old I noticed I gained 20lbs in one year.  I went to my doc (same doc) to tell her this is crazy.  I also have MVP and I am not supposed to gain all that weight as it will make my symptoms worse.  So I struggled for years trying to lose this excess weight.  Oh, btw I was about 102lbs before all the problems started.  My doc said just diet and exercise.  OK...I have always had a very healthy diet, eat very little and exercise a whole lot.. all of a sudden I am gaining weight from every angle!  I thought I was losing my mind.  I can't eat like a regular person, I can't eat desserts, I can't indulge in anything or else the weight just appears the very next morning!  I used to go to the gym every day do cardio and weights.  So doc said it was muscle weight.  But I don't do bulk forming weight exercises!  I was extremely frustrated.  So over the years I have stuggled to lose any kind of weight.  I watch my foods, take weight lose supplements, anything to just lose 1 pound and it is just impossible.  I had to swim, do taebo and go to the gym plus practically starve myself before I finally drop 1 llb!.  This is not a joke it is the most frustrating thing to deal with.  I kept yo-yoing losing 1-2 lbs and gain 2-4 lbs.  Anyway after my pregnancy I worked out so hard to lose the pregnancy weight.  I did tapout, for the entire length and pushed myself so hard, I lost 4 lbs.  My weight is down to 130lbs currently and for the past 6-7 months I keep yo-yoing from 130-132 lbs no matter what I do.  I even tried zumba and zumba myself so hard and still no weight loss.  I took saffron extract for 8 weeks: no loss.  I took Mega T, weight loss supplements, cleansing stuff, even drink shakeology with a strict diet, did the 17 day diet for 2 months...wear sweat inducing rubber pants to sweat more...nothing is working.  I am not on any medications.  I was prediabetic after third pregnancy.  But my A1c levels are just fine now.  So my blood glucose is fine, I check it all the time at home as I am paranoid that my glucose levels my go out of whack but it hasn't, my BP is fine, my hormone levels are fine.  I don't know what else to do.  The set back for me is my MVP (mitral valve prolapse)  with this weight I get worse symptoms ie. palpitations as weight gain = increase blood volume which is harder on my heart.  I need to lose this weight to try and go back to at least 110lbs.  I recently went back to the gym and started interval training and on a strict diet..  So far after two weeks, no weight loss.  I just want to cry and scream.  I found this blog and I felt better that I was not going insane about my problems.  It is good to know that there are folks out here with PCOS having the same troubles.  Is there a way for us to find the most successful regiment without feeling defeated each time.  Starving is not a solution, and being on a restricted super ridiculous low cal diet is insanity especially with crazy workouts.  Will some doctor or researcher out there please help us figure something out.  I can't take Phentermine due to my heart condition.    I should not have taken weight loss stuff but I was desperate.  I've cut out caffeine, I drink green tea 1-2 times a day, I take a Shakeology drink make with unsweetened almond milk, and eat a small dinner with half chicken breast, allowed/recommended veges and no carbs or very tiny amount of carbs, lots of water throughout the day, minimal snacks, (seaweed, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds).  I don't eat fast food ie. burgers, fries etc.  If someone offers I will just try 1 French fry.  I hate this syndrome and I hate stepping on the scale as nothing seems to work and it seems almost hopeless.  I feel like I am pushed to the brink and I am hanging on by my nails.  Praying for good solution to fight this syndrome back.  PS.  I see a therapist also...it helps.. when the docs can't do anything or don't want to.