September bride desperately needs to lose 60+lbs

I also have PCOS- it's not impossible to lose weight but you have to work harder, and you gain weight easily (so much fun!). About a year ago FH and I decided we both wanted to get healthier because we both had put on weight. I also saw a dietitian because I was pre-diabetic (Thanks again PCOS!). If you can see one I think that would be a great start, most insurances cover a certain amount of meetings if you are an at-risk patient and your Dr recommends it. I only needed 1 visit and it really helped me change my diet. Number one cut back on carbs! My dietitian said something like 40 grams max per meal, she also gave great snack ideas and taught me how to really read labels. We also started exercising together- we started with Tai Bo because it's fairly low impact, FH had old videos and literally dusted them off. We graduated into Insanity 6 days a week, and now I do a mixture of Insanity, weight training, and Zumba. I've lost about 25 lbs, FH has lost about 30, my PCOS is better controlled and I'm no longer at risk for diabetes.

What really helped us stick to it was to start off slowly, because if you try to change everything drastically at once you set yourself up for failure. We started out with small diet changes (whole wheat pasta instead of white, for example), and low impact exercising a few times a week. As you feel better and stronger, you introduce more, and you feel good, so you want to introduce more. At this point I don't even miss the things that I used to mindlessly eat, and exercising is just another obligation of the day, like going to work.

Prior to starting any diet or new exercise regimen, I encourage you to talk with your PCP. Secondly, avoid fad diets. Part of weight loss is centered around lifestyle change. Depending on the degree activity you do during the day should really determine your carb vs protein load. More cardio then you can consume more healthy carbs ( but in moderation) and less cardio/more weight training then consume more proteins. People underestimate the power of weight training in combination with cardio. It's highly effective. I agree with starting off slow. Also make lifestyle changes with your FH, friends, etc. Someone that will hold you accountable and motivate you. I also encourage others to start working out in groups. It may seem embarrassing but everyone starts somewhere and it's encouraging to work with others going through the journey.

There are so many more tips but some of the ladies about have offered some great tips. I've lost 40 lbs, put on muscle and maintained my weight loss for 4 yrs. It can be done.

I have PCOS as well and I've lost 40 lbs by getting on metformin and lowering my carb intake. Tricky at first but I feel great

I also have PCOS (diagnosed over 5 years ago). My doctor recommended birth control and lowering my blood sugar level. I've had the most success in lowering my blood sugar and keeping my weight down by severely limiting my carb and sugar intake. I mostly cut out foods like potatoes, pasta, bread, and rice. I eat lots of proteins, vegetables, salads, and soups. I do eat fruit. I don't make a meal out of fruit because there's still sugar, but it is way better to have the natural sugars in fruit than the sugars in other foods, such as dessert. I look for foods that have minimal amounts of sugar (no more than 5 grams). I do sometimes snack on crackers and cheese, but don't pick crackers with more than 10g of carbs in a serving. I do not drink anything with sugar other than milk (water, unsweetened tea, and coffee). It is important to note that while women with PCOS need significantly lower carb intake, we still need some carbs in order to stay alive! Anything whole wheat or whole grain is good because it is easier to break down. But they should only be a portion of your meal.

You'll have a better chance of keeping the weight off if you continue to keep your carb and sugar count down, as well as exercising regularly. And every once in a while, let yourself have a treat. I splurge on holidays and vacations!

I also have heard that spacing out your carbs throughout the day is optimal for women with PCOS. I aim for about 15g of carbs per meal.

I have one last thought! Last July, I was also diagnosed with a vitamin D deficiency after complaining of lots of abdominal pain. Google "vitamin D deficiency and PCOS." Reading up on it helped me see a possible link between the two issues. You'll probably see a few links that reference preliminary studies that show vitamin D can help decrease the effects of PCOS. Perhaps you could talk to your doctor about whether a low dose, over the counter vitamin D supplement is worth a try.

Let me start off by saying that I LOVE food. I've lost quite a bit of weight and I still love food. When I started losing weight cutting out sugar was the first thing I did. It was intense. I had migraines and the shakes. I was super irritable. I never realized how badly my body was addicted to sugar. I try to eat 5 small meals a day and one of them is usually a low sugar, low fat protein shake. I also eat Greek yogurt or cottage cheese. I eat lean meats and veggies. I usually have some kind of starch/carb with dinner, but I don't really eat bread anymore. Not with a sandwich (I do lettuce wraps) or a hamburger. That and exercising-even if it's just walking 3 times a week- really helped me shed the extra weight. I splurge now on holidays and sometimes the weekends. You can do it!