Re: CLARA Re: PCO DIAGNOSIS 17 YEARS AGO
From: Amy (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Thu, 20 Apr 2000 15:25:45 -0400
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
I can tell you this, Clara - I have absolutely NO self control so I am like you
.... I have to ask for things to not even be brought to me...
I do not think you are nerotic...I envy you.
"Avalos, Clara" wrote:
> Amy:
>
> I try to shoot for 60... BUT I don't sweat it too much... SERIOUSLY! I am a
> disaster at that kind of thing.... I think of the menu/food for the day
> before I start thinking carb numbers... then I plan it out as though it
> would be a regular meal for non-low carbers, and I adjust things for me.
> That way my husband/guests can eat with no pain! Most of my recipes have
> been conducive to this, since the majority of the carbs always come from
> sides like pasta, rice, potatoes, corn, peas... And the small amount of
> flavorings that I use, like Thai curry paste or fish sauce, don't make much
> of a difference in carbs when the meal is divided into portions. For me,
> flavor and texture are making up for the lack of rice, etc.
>
> What I generally do is eyeball my portions (I always serve portions that
> permit me to see my plate in between, with no food close to the edges... oh
> gosh, I sound neurotic! Actually, it's an old rule of my mother's that I
> dug out of memory).... and one thing I CAN do is to keep track of the types
> of foods/liquids that I am consuming.... otherwise, for me, it gets too
> complicated, and that has always been my downfall with diets.... once you
> stop measuring, poof! gain gain gain!
>
> Also, keeping things general makes it easier for me when we go out to
> eat.... I have less difficulty making menu choices or asking for
> substitutions... So now, for example, I specifically ask that sides like
> potatoes, carrots, corn, bread, pasta are left off of my plate and I ask for
> beans or cauliflower or broccoli or even a small salad instead. Most food
> establishments are very accommodating. I also am getting a kick out of my
> husband's reaction to this... He gets a kick out of the left overs from my
> plate that make their way to his stomach!
>
> oh well. I don't know what will work for you. I've seen lots of people do
> really well & be able to measure & add & stick to limits that way. Often I
> wish I could! < sigh >
>
> Clara
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Amy Crowe [mailto:amy.crowe@trism.com]
> Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2000 3:04 PM
> To: Multiple recipients of list PCOS-MEDICATION
> Subject: Re: CLARA Re: PCO DIAGNOSIS 17 YEARS AGO
>
> Neat Site, Clara - What amount of Carbs do you limit yourself to a day??
>
> "Avalos, Clara" wrote:
>
> > Amy:
> >
> > I read in a later post that your appointment went well.. I am truly glad
> to
> > know this!
> >
> > In answer to your question about sites, I found the info at
> > http://www.ncenter.com/carbcharts... This one was the easiest for me, since it
> > lists all kinds of foods, even prepared foods/meals...
> >
> > Let me know how it goes!
> >
> > Clara
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Amy Crowe [mailto:amy.crowe@trism.com]
> > Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2000 10:07 AM
> > To: Multiple recipients of list PCOS-MEDICATION
> > Subject: Re: CLARA Re: PCO DIAGNOSIS 17 YEARS AGO
> >
> > Hi Clara - I have printed this message and I think I may go look for
> > nutritional
> > values as you did...Any sites that you know off hand???
> >
> > Anyway - My dr. apt is in an hour, so we will see I guess...
> >
> > "Avalos, Clara" wrote:
> >
> > > Hi Amy, how are you? I've been reading the posts sporadically this week
> > > (work has suddenly become crazy); I thought I saw one from you regarding
> a
> > > doctor's appointment... Did you go? Any news?
> > >
> > > In answer to your question, yes, I have lost some weight... it's kind of
> > > weird. I mean, it's not at all like losing weight with diet pills or on
> > one
> > > of those fad diets (I tried so many of them!). It's just a few pounds a
> > > week (like two or three), but that is without any exercise at all. I'm
> a
> > > bit of a workaholic, and I have difficulty finding time to exercise...
> > With
> > > that said, I am also noticing that I am not as fatigued as I was before
> > > taking the metformin. My body just feels "better"....
> > >
> > > The low carb diet really isn't hard to do. I am not actually following
> any
> > > one program, like Atkins or Zone or Sugar Busters. I just pulled down a
> > > bunch of nutritional charts off the web where all sorts of foods are
> > > classified by group/type, & listed with all their individual nutritional
> > > values, picked the ones from each group that were the lowest in carbs,
> and
> > > ignored completely the high-carb groups, and decided that these foods
> > would
> > > be the staples of our diet. In addition to the meat/fish/chicken/eggs/
> > that
> > > I cook, I make rice or pasta or potatoes for my husband. I just don't
> eat
> > > them. For each meal I also prepare a dish of some kind of vegetables
> that
> > > are low in carbs, either raw or cooked. And I go nuts with the
> > > seasonings/different cooking techniques/ethnic flavors... So one night
> it
> > is
> > > Indian style meat with cauliflower, another night it is Thai curry
> chicken
> > > and green beans, another night it is Mexican chipotle grilled salmon
> with
> > > steamed swiss chard in lemon-garlic-olive oil sauce, another it is Greek
> > > seasoned ground lamb burgers with green beans cooked with fresh tomato
> and
> > > olive oil.... I've always made these foods, I just always ate the
> > > rice/pasta/potatoes or included high-carb veggies that I now skip.
> > >
> > > In addition to the above examples, I am eating moderate amounts of some
> > > other veggies and a few fruits, to get my vitamins.... And I've actually
> > > been drinking more water without even forcing myself to do so.. (I think
> > > this might be metformin related, too, since I am noticing that my skin
> has
> > > gotten really dry and itchy since I started taking the metformin.... I
> > > wonder if anyone can tell me if Metformin has a dehydrating effect.)
> > >
> > > Anyway, I am keeping my fingers crossed... And I am going to start
> scaling
> > > back at work so that I can make time to exercise again. I have a
> feeling
> > > that now that I am taking metformin, it will not be so hard to shed the
> > > pounds.. I will definitely let you know how it goes!
> > >
> > > I've been reading your posts, and I know how you have been feeling,
> > between
> > > the weight & the other symptoms and how they affect your whole life...
> > > Sometimes when I read your posts, it's as though you have written what I
> > > think or feel.... You have been in my thoughts and prayers. Take
> care!
> > >
> > > Clara
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Amy Crowe [mailto:amy.crowe@trism.com]
> > > Sent: Thursday, April 20, 2000 9:19 AM
> > > To: Multiple recipients of list PCOS-MEDICATION
> > > Subject: CLARA Re: PCO DIAGNOSIS 17 YEARS AGO
> > >
> > > Clara - Have you lost weight??
> > >
> > > "Avalos, Clara" wrote:
> > >
> > > > Cyrilla:
> > > >
> > > > I am low carbing, in addition to taking Met & Spironolactone, and
> while
> > > I'm
> > > > not having problems with the low-carb style diet, the killer is always
> > my
> > > > crazy sweet tooth.... Especially for all things chocolate.
> > > >
> > > > I don't completely cut out chocolate... I would go crazy if I tried.
> > So,
> > > > instead of making sweets the spontaneous treat that they always used
> to
> > > be,
> > > > now every other day I will have 1 small piece of chocolate candy after
> > > > dinner. Since I am limited to this, I splurge and buy the "good
> stuff"
> > > > (Belgian chocolate or something equally scrumptious), and that makes
> it
> > > > worthwhile. Other times, when I am going nuts, I will make a cup of
> > chai
> > > > (that tea-like drink that they now sell at Starbuck's & coffee & tea
> > shops
> > > > everywhere). I sweeten it with Equal, and that does the trick...
> > > >
> > > > The key to my sweet intake is, whenever I know I am going to have
> > > chocolate,
> > > > I cut out some other food with higher carbs in it, to kind of balance
> > > > things. It's not scientific by any means, but it seems to work well
> for
> > > me.
> > > >
> > > > Clara
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: Cynthia Moller [mailto:cyrilla@ix.netcom.com]
> > > > Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2000 10:47 PM
> > > > To: Multiple recipients of list PCOS-MEDICATION
> > > > Subject: Re: PCO DIAGNOSIS 17 YEARS AGO
> > > >
> > > > Darn, you mean its all those yummy carbs and not the hormones!!!
> > > >
> > > > What do people who are lo-carbing it do when they have a real strong
> > sweet
> > > > tooth?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks for sharing, its great to know that I have some support.
> > > >
> > > > Cyrilla
> > > >
>> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: Kathy <jkmaxson@noble.cioe.com>
> > > > To: Multiple recipients of list PCOS-MEDICATION
> > > > <pcos-medication@forum.obgyn.net>
> > > > Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2000 6:28 PM
> > > > Subject: Re: PCO DIAGNOSIS 17 YEARS AGO
> > > >
> > > > > I was first diagnosed about 14 years ago, and was also told that it
> > was
> > > > > no big deal. The answer was BCP. I wanted to have a baby, so I was
> > > > > given Provera and Clomid. I also have 2 "Clomid" babies that I
> thank
> > > > > God for everyday. Especially now since I know how PCOS affects
> > > > > fertility! I went along with the "no big deal" theory for quite a
> > while
> > > > > until my GYN told me that it was not good for me to go without
> > periods.
> > > > > (I never have a period unless it is drug-induced.) Personally, I
> never
> > > > > thought it was a problem!! But, after he pointed out all of the bad
> > > > > things that can happen, I decided to do something. He put me on
> > Provera
> > > > > for a period each month, and that was that. Once I got hooked up to
> > the
> > > > > internet, I did my own research, and I was so suprised to find out
> > that
> > > > > all of the other symptoms I had were related to my not having
> periods!
> > > > > My facial hair, my weight gain, my depression. The bad part is
> > finding
> > > > > all of this info., and not being able to find a doctor who
> understands
> > > > > any of it!
> > > > >
> > > > > I am going to see Dr. Glueck from the Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati
> > > > > next week, and I am really hopeful. He is a leader in the insulin
> > > > > connection to PCOS, and I really hope that he can help. I know of
> one
> > > > > person who has seen him, and she told me that he was very
> > understanding.
> > > > > Right now I am on 1500mg of Met. per day, and I haven't had a
> period
> > > > > since February.
> > > > >
> > > > > About the anger - I do have some days when I can just fly into a
> rage.
> > > I
> > > > > notice that it is usually after a binge of sugar or carbs. I really
> > had
> > > > > emotional ups and downs on Clomid.
> > > > >
> > > > > Glad to have you on board! Kathy
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
![[ PCOS Discussion Forums ]](../../images/pcos_at_obgyn.gif)