PCOS Bride

Hi Tarhata - I don't have any advice but I'm sorry you're struggling with this! Your doctor may be able to recommend weight loss strategies. Good luck.

What is PCOS?

You might want to talk to your doctor about taking Metformin. It is prescribed for women with PCOS to help keep their glucose down and help lose weight. I recommend the extended release version - the other was too hard on my tummy.

PCOS also known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

I have PCOS. Losing weight is harder for us BUT not impossible. We just have to work harder. The great thing is though that most woman with PCOS have an excess of testosterone which means its easier for us to build muscle and to maintain it. Focus less on cardio and more on weight lifting. Muscles burns more calories at rest then fat does. Woman with PCOS should focus on a low carb high protein diet because of any glucose issues we may have. You can ask your doctor to start you on Metformin, that will aid in the weight loss. But it's always better to try to do things naturally. Once I lost about 30 lbs most of my outward indications of PCOS started diminishing. The excess hair on my chin (yuck), the hair on my head thickened, my periods became less painful, and I wasn't so tired and depressed all the time. The best thing for a woman with PCOS is weight lose because all of the symptoms are caused by excess weight and glucose regulation issues.

I actually did a research paper on PCOS in my physiology class (and I'm obsessed with Whitney Way Thore). @Swole is probably the best to go to because it looks like she really has a good handle on it.

I have PCOS. For me the things that seemed to help out the most were clean eating and upping my water intake as well as light weight lifting. For the dates that I couldn't make it to the gym I'd still go for a walk with FH and MaKyla with hand weights just so I could keep moving and not feel like I fell off the wagon.

I too have PCOS. Was diagnosed about 10 years ago after switching OBGYN's like a million times. @Swole said everything that I was going to say. Exercise and eating healthy is really the best thing for it. Metformin also, but it really made me sick and I eventually stopped a few years ago because I just couldn't take the way it made me feel (always nauseous). I plan on starting again after the wedding so that when I try to conceive I have a better chance. My doctor said diet and exercise is the most important though.

Many girls and women have PCOS, I was surprised to find out how common it is. I was always a curvy kitten so I never really let the weight bother me, but the mental struggle with being depressed, over emotional etc is what affects me the most. And how thin my hair is!! Also nervous about trying to conceive. They say women with PCOS have a hard time getting pregnant. I find that when I eat better and exercise, I feel my best. Its easier said than done, especially if dieting is hard for you. Doctor says not to look at it as dieting, just changing your eating habits. Good luck, and talk about it as much as you can. Its awareness. Most women don't even know about it. Best of luck to you!

P.S. Try a Facebook page called PCOS Awareness. Alot of girls chat on there and sharing stories really helps you feel better.

Hi, I also have PCOS. It is very hard to lose weight, I have tried everything... The thing that's helped me the most, was completely changing my diet. I don't eat fast food, I don't drink soda, I just watch what I eat and I check ingredients on everything I buy.

This happened to me in college. I was tested 2 times for brain cancer until my Primary sent me to a endocronologist who was able to diagnose me with the PCOS (when i was about 26).

I went on BC pills and spironlolactone. I also started working out and going on Weight Watchers. I went from 228 lbs (plus size 22) at my heaviest to 178 at my lowest (normal size 14). The working out really ramped up the weight loss (20 lbs in one month). I went off all the pills 1 month before the wedding (gained 10 pds in the meantime) and was put on metaforim to help ovulate.

I was able to get pregnant way faster then i thought (2.5 months post BC pill) after years of thinking i would need to go to a fertility specialist or that I was completely infertile. So surprise!

I wanted to stay away from taking any medicines, I'm already on so much as it is. I've already been offered Metformin but wanted to see what I could do myself before looking to medicine.

I've already started on a Low carb High Protein diet but it was only doing so much I did manage to lose about 20 pounds when I adapted it but I really only focused on cardio which may be why I've been having some trouble. Thank you so much for all the advice everyone!

I also have PCOS. Was diagnosed at 13 and have been taking BC for years. I tried metformin at one point, but choose not to stay on it long. I never really tried that hard to loose weight before knowing it's hard for women with PCOS to loose weight. I started a lifestyle change in March and have lost 45 pounds. I've gone low carb (I do best when I aim for under 75g), high protein (aiming for 110g per day), high fiber (over 25g), limited to no dairy (always had a problem with dairy), and as low sugar as I can go. I try to EatAs cleanly as I can and to meal plan. I do a combo of cardio and weight lifting, though I don't get to the gym as often as I'd like. If you want some idea for weight lifting workouts, message me. I also work with a fitocracy coach which I can recommend. He doesn't specialize in PCOS, but has helped me loose my weight.

Eta: I also do what Jaclyn does and try to take walks more often. I also wanted to say to Jaclyn, that you posting on this thread is inspiring to me. I had no idea you had PCOS. I always thought I would have to adopt (which FH is totally cool with) and couldn't or would have a really hard time having children. The fact that you have one with one on the way, shows me there's some hope!

I feel for all you ladies that have to deal with this. one of my friends has PCOS and it was so bad that any treatment she had tried didn't work and she recently under went an Oophorectomy on one of her ovaries.

i have hypothyroidism so I semi understand what you are going through with the weight gain. I have been being treated for just over a year and have lost 40 lbs, i am still not where i want to be but am happy with how i look right now. And my mind set is much better.

I wish all you ladies the best of luck with your goals!

@RJmargo it took a bit longer than we had anticipated but we're currently on baby #2 with plans to adopt more in the future. It's still possible to conceive, it may just take a bit longer and a few extra steps.

Good to know. That's what I've heard from other people (drs, etc), but it's good to hear it from someone else with PCOS that's had success.

Hello, I have PCOS and it is very hard to lose water but definitely not impossible.... you need to speak to you doctor and ask about birth control... I started mine about 6 months ago, and I must say since my period became regular I been loosing a lot of weight, also by changing eating habits to healthy one.. lots of water also helps... you have to see witch birth control works best for you... hope it helps you

I too also have PCOS and was diagnosed in my late teens. I've been on all types of BC from the pill, shot, patch, IUD, and back to the pill. There is hope ladies for conceiving a child. I had a healthy son 9 years ago and that was a blessing. I think being on BC on a regular basis may have helped that because it regulated my cycle. Unfortunately after having my son my hormones went crazy and I got the facial hair growth, acne and gained a lot of weight. I decided to have gastric bypass surgery to help loss weight because nothing else was working. I lost over a hundred pounds with the surgery, diet and exercise. Diet and exercise was the biggest factor in the weight loss. I also had laser hair removal which didn't last because of the PCOS. Metformin didn't work for me and the Spironlactone made me sick. I will be starting my exercise routine again to get back into shape. Weight training was definitely very helpful.

Sometimes having PCOS is discouraging but you are not alone. Don't look at this as you need to loss weight, look at it as I need to get healthier. If you decide to work out and eat healthier that is great. Stay positive and celebrate the little wins. The scale may not always give you the number you want but your body will show you in other ways that you are doing the right thing. You will be a beautiful bride no matter what.

I have PCOS and my wedding is 33 days away. I tried everything weight watcher, calorie counting. At first on weight watchers I lost 2 lbs then gained 4 ... I got so depressed I just locked myself in my room. My doctor wanted me to try weight watchers and see how that goes for two months. The plan try and then she'll put me on diet pills. I am taking half a dose of phentermine to help me lose wight and it's working! Since you have a good amount of time before your wedding I'd recommend metphormin. It is a pill given to people with diabetes, but also prescribed to women with PCOS because it helps with many of the symptoms including losing weight. Good luck.