Met and weight loss was Re: Just how many PCOSer's are overweight?
From: anonymous (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Fri, 28 Jun 2002 11:36:00 -0500 (CDT)
I have NEVER seen a statistic indicating that most women on glucophage
lose 25-30 pounds. That is a _considerable_ amount of weight. I have
read that many women on glucophae do not lose weight, and that the
positive benefits of glucophage are independant of weight loss.
GLucophage is NOT a weight loss drug. Some women do lose weight while
on glucophage, but this is due to lower insulin levels in their bodies
allowing weight loss to occur, usually in conjunction with other
weight-loss conducing habits. I did not lose weight on glucophage
without the addition of more exercise to my life. Generally, this has
included walking somewhere in the area of 5-7 miles a day, sometimes
running, sometime aerobics.
If you have been on glucophage and are not noticing your periods getting
more regular, or your hormone levels becoming more normal, then you
should consult your doctor with regard to upping your dosage or changing
your medication. Lack of weight loss is _not_ a reason to increase your
dosage.
I would suggest exercising more, or looking into a lower-carb or
better-carb diet, in conjunction with the glucophage. You do not
mention anything at all about your exercise and eating habits. Are you
making concerted efforts to lose weight, or are you hoping glucophage is
the magic answer?
If BCPs kept you thin in the past, and weight loss is important to you,
maybe you should consider going back on the pill. There could be more
than one explanation as to why women with PCOS put on weight so quickly,
or hold on to weight so stubbornly. Some say it is the insulin excess.
Some say it is the testosterone excess. While I feel the insulin
explanation makes more sense, it is true that many women have
experienced weight loss through adjusting their testosterone levels
directly rather than through lowering their insulin levels. More than
one woman here has reported weight loss success through taking BCPs or
spironalactone, indicating that for some of us, getting testosterone
down is key. Personally, I gain weight on BCPs, and spiro didn't do
anything for me, weight-wise. I feel that for me, insulin is the
problem. Maybe for you, testosterone is the problem.
I know that you said you went off the pill in order to get pregnant, so
you might not want to go back on the pill right now. Consider, however,
that getting your body in good shape hormonally is more important than
weight loss, and is perhaps the most important thing that should precede
trying to concieve, or even thinking about trying to concieve. Just
because the glucophage isn't causing you to lose weight doesn't mean it
isn't helping you to do what it is intended to do in PCOS, regulate your
insulin and hormones. You might have to choose between getting pregnant
and being thin. Which is more important to you?
At Fri, 28 Jun 2002, JEG wrote:
>
>Have you talked to your doctor since you have been on the Glucophage
>about maybe uping your dosage? My doctor told me that most women when
>starting Glucophage lost 25-30 lbs. It sounds like it is working for
>you since you haven't gained any more weight, but maybe adjusting your
>dosage could help. As well as remining active, working out and eating a
>balance diet. Hope that helps! :)
>
>At Thu, 27 Jun 2002, Jackie wrote:
>>
>>Hi guys, I saw this and it brought up alot of anger. I too was put on a
>>diet. I went off the pill a month before getting married in preparation
>>of trying to get prego. In that month alone I gained about 12 pounds.
>>After the wedding, when none of my clothes fit I went to the dr to see
>>if something was wrong with my thyroid or something to cause this crazy
>>influx. I was told that no, I must just be getting lazy. The thing
>>that makes me mad is that my blood results already showed signs of PCOS.
>>High testosterone, etc. If this had been caught then, I wouldn't have
>>continued to gain an additional 40 pounds. I am 5'8", 215 pounds. I've
>>only been married for a year and my poor husband doesn't quite
>>understand. He fell in love with a thin, young vibrant girl who all of
>>a sudden has the body of a 40 year old. Not that that is bad, but I'd
>>like to look my age. I'm covered in streth marks all over my breasts,
>>stomach, thighs and arms. I worry all the time tat he's not attracted
>>to me anymore. I know he loves me but it's hard even for me to look at
>>myself in the mirror. I've been on the glucophage for 6 months and
>>haven't gained any more but haven't lost either. I know I'm kind of on
>>a pitty pot but I want this to not happen to someone else. I wish there
>>was a way to educate more people and more doctors so other women can be
>>treated better and in a timely manner. Any suggestions.
>>
>>Thanks for letting in me vent.
>>
>>At Sun, 23 Jun 2002, PATRICK, wrote:
>>>
>>>Hi everyone!! My name is Nicole. I am 31, mother of 2, A 5 year old & A
>>>almost 1 year old. I am 5'7'' & 240. I have been this big for about 5 years,
>>>I have tried everything & I Exercise Daily & NOTHING!!! I am currently on
>>>meds. The thing that confuses me is that I lose large amounts of weight when
>>>I am pregnant but as soon as I have then baby the weight comes right back!!
>>>Very Depressing!! Nicole
>>>
>>>>>>>----- Original Message -----
>>>From: "Trista" <anonymous@obgyn.net>
>>>To: "Multiple recipients of list PCOS" <anonymous@obgyn.net>
>>>Sent: Sunday, June 23, 2002 10:23 AM
>>>Subject: Just how many PCOSer's are overweight?
>>>
>>>> Hi everyone! I am just wondering how many of us really are overweight. I
>>>> have read several articles that say only about 50% of PCOS women suffer
>>>> from obesity. . . and the possibilty that the obesity causes the PCOS
>>>> rather than the other way around. I personally gained 80 pounds in one
>>>> year with no change in my diet or exercise program, which in itself with
>>>> some other symptoms prompted me to seek medical attention. I dieted and
>>>> exercised exhaustively for a couple of years before just giving up and
>>>> accepting that I will always be huge. (I am in the process of foregoing
>>>> that acceptance for another try at a lifestyle change, however). I have
>>>> been to a couple different doctors (one a OB/GYN and one an RE); neither
>>>> actually did any tests on IR or anything. The OB/GYN did 2 ultrasounds
>>>> and a biopsy and diagnosed me that way. Both told me to go home and
>>>> lose weight (one actually told me to join Weight Watchers, which I did
>>>> without success) and come back to them when I had gotten down to a
>>>> sensible size!! Because I have failed at this, I have not sought
>>>> treatment for my PCOS again . . . I am ashamed of this failure and
>>>> know that the doctor's will just tell me again to lose weight. Anyhow,
>>>> it seems to me by reading this board that MORE than 50% of us are
>>>> overweight or obese. I would appreciate your cooperation in just
>>>> replying to this post with your height, weight, & any success or failure
>>>> that you have had with this problem. I would like to get a feel for
>>>> just how many of us are suffering with this. I am tired of
>>>> professionals not believing me when I tell them that I have TRIED to
>>>> lose weight without success. I will start us off:
>>>>
>>>> 5'2", 238 lbs, used to eat a low-fat diet and did one hour of aerobics &
>>>> one hour of walking per day - UNSUCCESSFUL, later joined Weight Watchers
>>>> and followed their program along with 20 minutes of walking & one hour
>>>> of lap swimming 5 days a week - UNSUCCESSFUL, currently not dieting, not
>>>> exercising, and not on any medications.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks in advance to all of you who will share!!
>>>>
>>>> We're all in this together ladies!!
>>>>
>>>> Trista
>>>>
>>--
>>Jackie
>>
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