I have pcos (at least I think my doctor confirmed it?) and I have been wanting to lose weight.
Every single resource I see is all about how you need to change your entire diet because of how your body processes things and so on.
Not only is this so overwhelming for me to hear but very annoying. I just want to eat what I like without having to constantly worry about how my body will react
Idk what to do I want to be healthy and lose weight but
PCOS, or polycystic ovary syndrome, is a common hormonal disorder that affects millions of women worldwide. It is characterized by the presence of multiple cysts on the ovaries, as well as a range of symptoms that can have a significant impact on a woman's quality of life. In this article, we will explore the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for PCOS, providing you with a comprehensive understanding of this condition.
What is PCOS?
PCOS is a condition that affects the female reproductive system. It occurs when the ovaries produce excess androgens, which are male hormones typically found in smaller amounts in women. This hormonal imbalance can disrupt the normal menstrual cycle and lead to the growth of small cysts on the ovaries.
Causes of PCOS
The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, but several factors may contribute to its development. These include:
Genetics: PCOS tends to run in families, suggesting a genetic link.
Insulin Resistance: Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels. Insulin resistance occurs when the body's cells become less responsive to the effects of insulin, leading to an overproduction of the hormone and an increase in androgen levels.
Hormonal Imbalance: Women with PCOS produce higher levels of androgens and lower levels of estrogen, which can disrupt the normal menstrual cycle.
Symptoms of PCOS
PCOS can manifest differently in each individual, but some common symptoms include:
Irregular or Absent Menstrual Periods: Hormonal imbalances can cause irregular or infrequent menstruation.
Excess Hair Growth: Increased androgen levels can stimulate the growth of excess facial and body hair.
Acne: PCOS-related hormonal imbalances can lead to the development of acne on the face, chest, and upper back.
Weight Gain: Many women with PCOS struggle with weight gain and find it difficult to lose weight.
Fertility Issues: PCOS is one of the leading causes of infertility in women due to the disruption of the ovarian function.
Diagnosis and Treatment
If you suspect you may have PCOS, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional. A doctor will typically perform a physical examination, review your medical history, and may order further tests, such as blood tests or ultrasound, to confirm a diagnosis.Treatment options for PCOS focus on managing symptoms and reducing the risk of long-term complications. These may include:
Lifestyle Changes: Maintaining a healthy weight through diet and exercise can help regulate hormone levels and improve symptoms.
Medications: Birth control pills, anti-androgen medications, and insulin-sensitizing drugs are commonly prescribed to manage PCOS symptoms.
Fertility Treatments: For women struggling with infertility, fertility treatments such as ovulation induction or in vitro fertilization (IVF) may be recommended.
Conclusion
PCOS is a complex condition that can have wide-ranging effects on a woman's health and well-being. By understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for PCOS, individuals can take control of their health and work with healthcare professionals to manage their condition effectively. If you suspect you may have PCOS, it is essential to seek medical guidance for a proper diagnosis and personalized treatment plan to improve your quality of life. Remember, early intervention and ongoing management are key to living well with PCOS.
This post is the restart of my PCOS journey. I felt like I fell off the rails a bit and just let myself have whatever whenever and skipped meals again.
So this is my starting point and I’m hoping this little blog spot will keep me honest and encourage me to push past the tricky parts and maybe even help someone who sees this later.
I’m not going to lie and say I didn’t spend 20mins looking for the pro Ana pages I used to scroll as a teenager hoping to find that perfect diet that will make things quick. But that’s not something I want to glamorise as a “quick fix” mentally ever again I feel like I’m in the right headspace to seriously change my habits and make progress.
So here’s the go
Medications
- Metformin (Daily)
- Ozempic (Weekly)
I’m still unsure of ozempic I know metformin will probably make me shit my pants at some point as I’ve tried it before and felt like my insides could explode but we are slowly increasing the dose so that doesn’t happen again but ozempic I’ve been on almost a year (as prescribed by my endo) and I haven’t seen much results although I’m not on full doses yet/haven’t made many changes to habits.
Starting measurements
Height: 170cm
Weight: 150kgs
If anyone ever sees this and has any meal/food suggestions or helpful suggestions in general I’m open to it.
Work has been crazy stressful and I’ve thought I was a day ahead all week but I still have managed to stick to stick to the plan!
I’ve done Pilates at home the last 2 days while watching tv and I don’t why I wasn’t doing this the whole time! I know I’m not paying as much attention the entire time as if I were in a class or at the gym so I stretched the workout to an hour and a half which I still enjoyed.
I’ve still struggled with my nausea so eating in the morning has been difficult. I eat enough to make sure my meds don’t eat my stomach and then I’ve added an extra snack later in the day to make up for it. I’m still not eating as many calories as I would like and certainly not as much protein as I want. But I’ve been planning meals for the Friday grocery run so hopefully next week I’ll be able to up that.
I have been congested this week and I’m assuming because of that I have not felt like eating a whole lot in general. Today, i wasn’t feeling like lunch so i drank my protein shake. Well, my sister tempted me with sushi and i ate WAY too much (didn’t even finish it and was not anywhere near a large amount for me previously but on this med it killed me)
It has been 6 hours and I’m still feeling majorly stuffed! I am definitely taking Mag07 before bed tonight cuz i want to just lay in a heap until this passes! It is wild the difference this med makes.
Although mental game note: the guilt and shame I’m feeling for being this full is substantial! I have to remind myself there are going to be rare occasions where i still indulge and as long as it’s not to the level i was prior to Zepbound, im not a failure!
NSV: we had a birthday party this weekend and i ate two pieces of my favorite pizza and a little fruit and that was it. I don’t want this all to be negative so i have to note i am SUPER proud of myself for this! I think for me, and probably most people, parties are VERY hard!
Hello! I'm looking for people with diagnosed PCOS to answer my anonymous survey. I'm diagnosed with PCOS and for my Biomedical Science course I'm doing my BI project on PCOS and medication. I need active participants please! Thank you :]
My neighbor asked my grandmother when I was expecting the other day. I can't seem to budge this belly no matter how good my intentions are. I hate looking at photos of myself because it's all I can see. I told Aaron we should just get pregnant so I can have a good reason for being fat.
been at it for nearly 3 weeks - 12/13 pounds down 😩 at my doctors appointment the end of February i was 178.8 which isn’t even the highest weight i’ve ever been, but i was diagnosed with PCOS that day (finally) and i decided that i was done being disgusting and “obese” no matter what i had to do to get there…
i still definitely struggle with my eating habits & the mental aspect of it all but i know i can do this and i’m HOPING i can reach my goal BEFORE the projected date it gives me 😳🙏🏼😬 wish me luckkkkk 🌟🦋
Ok so, I just found out I need surgery (again) and then after that will need it pretty much every 2-5 years until I can get a hysterectomy (I have a chronic gynecological condition) and at the same time there is a risk of it turning to cancer or just spreading around my body as just tissue.
I’ve also been having a very bad depressive episode and I’m just not willing to do much right now so if I seem like I’m just lurking, it’s cause I’m scared to say stuff and interact at the moment. Still contacting my “safe” people though. Anyway blessed be <3
Done with day 2! Did a great job yesterday with sticking to calories but I’ll need to find even more ways to get more protein in. Maybe I can mix protein powder into my apple dip 🤔
Did a dance workout and went on a 2.5 mile hike putting me well over the 45 minutes.
I did get all my water in! Just have to be a lot more conscientious throughout the day on the weekends.
Also I am officially 40lbs down from my highest weight! I weighed in at 227 at the hospital the day my cyst ruptured and was 187 yesterday! My cyst ruptured in July of 2022 and got diagnosed with PCOS in October of 2022. I have been able to lose weight mainly by medication and limiting my sugar intake but I had taken a break in October of 2023- now after I called off my engagement ✌🏻 but I’m ready to get back on track and have my hot single girl summer ☀️
I’ve decided my goal for the 75 hard is to lose 20lbs, which is just under 2 lbs a week. That would put me under 170 which I haven’t been in 6 years. My ultimate goal is to be under 155lbs which is my normal BMI and a weight I was able to maintain before my PCOS symptoms took over.