Re: DIET
From: Jennifer (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Wed, 16 Jul 2003 10:16:46 -0500 (CDT)
WOW!!!! That is GREAT Sonnet!!! I'm happy so far but was afraid this
weight loss was a fluke and might stop. Now I have more hope! How much
Glucophage are you on? Currently I'm on 1000mg but from some of the
posts I've read, that seems low. I saw one lady even mention that
1500mg is the minimum for treating PCOS. How much are you on now? How
much were you on when they upped your dosage? BEST of luck with the
baby...congrats! :)
--
Jennifer
At Wed, 16 Jul 2003, Sonnet wrote:
>
>I just wanted to add my amen to Jennifer's comments:
>
>I have also tried every diet mentioned and lost NOTHING. I gained
>weight on most of them ecept starvation diets. The worst was Slimfast,
>my god it was like I could watch my belly expanding on a daily basis!!!
>Not to mention I felt terrible. A couple years ago I went on a diet of
>limited calories (like 1200 a day) with less than 10g of fat a day, PLUS
>walking 10 miles or more every day, and in 6 months I GAINED 50lbs. It
>is pretty horrific.
>
>In ummm 2000 I think I cut refined sugar out of my diet. I was still
>eating carbs like bread, but I gave up soda, candy, ice cream, anything
>with added sugar. It unfortunately only lasted a few months but I did
>lose a fair amount of weight. The first week alone I lost 8 lbs.
>
>Now then in late 2001 my endo upped my Glucophage dose and I have to
>tell you, I have not dieted at all (although my diet is pretty healthy
>after all these years spent with nutritionists) I still eat carbs, even
>sugar, when I want it; and my excercise level has gone basically to
>nonexistant. I still walk when I can but nowhere near the levels I once
>did and no regulated excercise routine. I am 9 months pg, and ASSUMING
>I will lose about 15lbs of baby, placenta, and water when I give birth;
>and ASSUMING I can lose about 20lbs through breastfeeding (neither of
>which I think is far fetched) I will have lost 100lbs since I started
>the new dose. 100lbs! Without a day of dieting! I'm throwing a party
>when I get there :)
>
>Anyway that sounds a lot like what Jennifer said, but I'll throw in my
>experience as well. I do think everyone is different and you have to
>find what works well for you and your specific case of PCOS. There are
>studies out now that say that treating PCOS with insulin sensitizers
>works well even if the women are "lean" PCOS-ers NOT diagnosed with IR,
>so I think possibly this is something to pursue and the low carb diet as
>well. It can't hurt to try it at least!
>
>Good Luck!
>
>At Tue, 15 Jul 2003, Jennifer wrote:
>>
>>I am sure there are a ton of opinions and advice on this, but I'm just
>>going to give you my experience. I have been on every diet I have ever
>>heard mentioned and the most I EVER lost was 16 lbs on any one. Then
>>even if I stayed doing the same thing my body just stopped losing or
>>sometimes even started to gain weight. I always assumed I was going
>>into starvation mode since I was so hungry and felt terrible....but this
>>was before my PCOS diagnosis.
>>
>>Now I am of the opinion that some people with horomone or metabolism
>>problems (PCOS being in both of those categories) may just not be
>>capable of losing weight no matter what they do because their body is
>>fighting them. Since my diagnosis 3 1/2 months ago I have been on a
>>roller coaster ride....I'm taking 300mg Wellbutrin, 1000mg Glucophage,
>>and birth control. I know most people here will want to kill me for
>>this comment, but I've lost 16 lbs and haven't been on a diet,
>>exercised, or really even tried. In fact, once I saw I was losing
>>weight, I wanted to help it along and went on a very healthy diet of
>>lots of veggies, fruits, etc. I gained 4 lbs back in less than 2 weeks.
>>So I got depressed and went back to eating whatever I wanted and have
>>lost those 4 plus some more.
>>
>>Now I know a huge part of it is that my cravings and hunger have
>>diminished signifigantly. I know Wellbutrin is supposed to help you
>>with sweets cravings, but I am attributing the rest to the Glucophage.
>>My Dr. recommended Weight Watchers as well....but it did't work for me
>>before, and as long as I'm losing now I'm not going to mess with it. I
>>realize this probably isn't the healthiest way of doing it and I know
>>I'm not going by the food pyramid....but at this point I'm so desperate
>>I'm just doing what works. So obviously with 8 years you have a lot
>>more experience on this than me and may already have meds working for
>>you....but this is just my two cents. Since this experience I am
>>touting Glucophage left and right!
>>
>>But also, for an alternative view....the diet I did lose the most on was
>>Atkins. I didn't feel hungry and was able to satiate my craving for
>>sweets with sugar free candies and colas even though Atkins doesn't
>>recommend that. Other than that I followed to the letter. It also
>>helped with my cholestorol etc. I got tested before, at 6 weeks, and 12
>>and it kept getting better so in my case the claims that high fat raises
>>those levels was incorrect. One of the easiest diets I've been on and
>>it really felt right. Before I even saw articles on it, it occurred to
>>me from my anthropology studies that this is the way our ancestors ate.
>>(as in early man) They didn't have flour and rice and starchy veggies
>>readily available. They mostly ate meat and whatever leafy greens,
>>eggs, etc they could scavange. Of course many disagree, but I also keep
>>thinking about how America has ballooned more than ever since supposed
>>health organizations started pushing the low fat high carb diet. Well,
>>enough of a book here....great luck to you. It's a terrible struggle
>>but hang in there and no matter what love yourself because you are more
>>than your body!
>>
>>--
>>Jennifer
>>
>>PS Oh yeah....I'm PCOS but not IR like you mentioned...
>>
>>At Tue, 15 Jul 2003, anonymous wrote:
>>>
>>>Cysters,
>>>
>>>I am so confused about what we should do to get this weight off and
>>>improve our symptoms! I am currently on the South Beach Diet, but after
>>>3 weeks, I am hungry all the time! I don't know if I should be doing
>>>South Beach, Atkins, Sugar Busters, The Zone, Slim-Fast, Weight
>>>Watchers, etc. I have read that if you are IR you should be doing
>>>low-carb. But what if you have PCOS and are NOT IR? I have also read
>>>that those with PCOS should simply cut portion sizes like a normal
>>>dieter, yet still follow the food pyramid. I am concerned about getting
>>>this weight off and improving my cholesterol, triglycerides, high blood
>>>pressure and other symptoms too. My doc told me to join Weight
>>>Watchers. I am at my wit's end . . . information overload!!
>>>
>>>What is working for you?
>>>
>>>Witchy Woman
>>>
>>>8 year PCOS "survivor"
>>
>--
>email always welcome: sonnet_fitz@hotmail.com
>
![[ PCOS Discussion Forums ]](../../images/pcos_at_obgyn.gif)