Fed Up With My Inability to Lose Weight!

You probably already know what people are going to tell you! PCOS is a real condition, but it's not a lifelong sentence to weight problems. It's not as easy to lose weight, but it certainly is possible, even with your condition.

I'd encourage you to not have surgery, but rather start by making real changes in your diet. I lost my 150 pounds by doing three things:
- Keeping my fat intake under 30%
- Portion Control
- Exercise

Weight loss isn't always easy, but by setting some small goals for yourself, recommitting every day to start anew, and not losing sight of your ultimate objective you can be successful.

I wish you all the best.

Diane

How long have you been dieting? People on this forum seem to be under the mistaken impression that you can just diet for months on end. You can't. Give your body a break. Eat enough food to maintain your current weight and activity levels for at least two weeks. Then, give dieting another try. Also "exercise" is vague. What exercise? Another mistaken idea, especially among women, is that cardio is the key to losing fat. It's why the treadmills at gyms are full of the same women day in and day out, most of whom never lose weight. On the other end of the spectrum are the rail thin skeleton women who haven't a drop of muscle on their body.

Barry is right. You need to be a bit more specific. In what your exercise is and what you are eating.

I have PCOS too, though wasn't diagnosed till after I lost weight. I found that the only thing which worked for me was to count calories religiously, sticking to around 1,100-1,200/day (since you exercise a lot, you'll probably need more). I had to be quite strict with weighing everything and writing it down -- just a few "guess-timates" could really throw my day's calories off!

Also, do talk to your doctor about any PCOS dietary specifics. I've found that I seem to lose weight more easily when I cut right down on sugar.

As Barry says, don't try to diet for months on end. I find that I lose weight best if I diet for a month or two, take a break, then diet again -- each time my body seems to find a set weight that it plateaus at...

read the book "eat to live" by joel fuhrman

One hormonal problem usually coexists with at least one other; I'm 'assuming' you've also been evaluated by a board-certified endocrinologist and your thyroid function has been addressed. I've learned to not put anything in my mouth that doesn't have some compelling nutritional impact, e.g., if I really want something sweet, I've realized that I've slacked off on my fruit and vegetable intake before the sweet-tooth attack; it's one small thing that makes a big difference for me. Sugar in whole fruits will not 'dump' into your bloodstream as fast as refined sugars and they come 'prepackaged' in their skins with other nutrients that make up a combination that enhances the effect of each other. Refined sugar is better than sugar substitutes as far as health, but as little as you can use is the best amount! Same as with refined flour (if you can have flour). Wheat is a big problem for a lot more folks than realize it and refined wheat bread is a huge detriment for anyone trying to lose. Portion control is probably the most important thing for me to succeed, and trying to avoid gluten which is necessary due to celiac disease and it's attending vitamin deficiencies. I've started using a neutraceutical that my own physician uses and it also cut that strange feeling of always needing to eat "something" that I could never identify or satisfy. Apparently those minute amounts of trace minerals and vitamins, enzymes, probiotics, etc., help my body feel it has what it needs. NO cravings when I use it.

I hear your pain. I came to the same realization 2 months ago, and decided that despite everything I do (Calorie counting, Cardio, strength training, walking, biking, eating more fruits, veggies, grains and drinking water) I cannot lose the weight. I too, have been diagnosed with PCOS, and also Pre-Diabetic.

But.. I decided to stop looking at the scale. That was a hard thing for me, because I would get on it every day (more than once) because I wanted to know my body and how my weight changes. I had to realize that, that was stressing me out. Believe it or not, stress is also a culprit. I may not be losing the weight... but not stessing about it, makes me feel better when I put my clothes on, and they are a bit loose, or to know that I can do 50 minutes on my recumbant bike, and feel energized after. Its about being healthy.

Yes, I do wish I can drop weight like soooo many people do, 20, 30, 40+ lbs. That may not be for me. But, I do know that my heart is healthy and I am no longer Pre-Diabetic... and thats good enough for me :)

I have found that consistency in diet and exercise is what will help you to lose weight. I had a baby almost a year ago and because I'm nursing I couldn't drastically reduce calories like I did in the past. I got on the herbalife plan where I could have a variety of 2 shakes a day and one colorful meal. I know that you mentioned not wanting to take in more protein but its one of the easiest things to take in to help you lose the fat. It basically feeds muscle forcing fat to reduce. Personally I add extra protein to my shakes.

Best of luck to you.

Dela

hey hiii to everyone.............I have a query regarding Smoking and weight Gain. My friend is a chain smoker but from last 2 months he has cut down on his smoking, but he feels that it is putting a adverse effect on his health especially on his weight. Is this really bcause he has reduce smoking or its just in his mind. Is there a negative impact on your health after u quit smoking??

I follow an easy diet plan that is geared for the way my body metabolizes food. It works for me, it might work for you.

Eating low glycemic carbohydrates and lean proteins would probably be the best types of foods for you.

And most of us can't do it alone. If you'd like someone to chat with just let me know. You sound really frustrated.

Here's to your good health.

I also heard that when someone stops smoking that they gain 20 pounds. I would definitely lay off the carbs, diet, and exercise to keep some of that weight off and to keep future weight off.

If you already excersize and still cannot lose weight, then there could be a problem with your thyroid, you should go get that checked out. Also diets do not work cause when you start eating normally again you gain even more weight, what you need to do is a lifestyle change, eat healthy unprocessed food, and never starve yourself, starving yourself will only make your metabolism slow down, likely don't overeat either, Always eat breakfast. you should be doing cardio for at least 30 minutes 3-4 times a week, when you do cardio you need to make sure you are breathing heavy but that you are still able to talk. if you can't talk then you are not doing your excersize aerobically and you can get health problems from this. adding a strength training workout twice a week will help you build muscle that will burn fat even at rest. if you do have a thyroid problem then you may do what you want but it will still be very hard to lose the weight, also you should make sure your adrenal glands are working properly; adrenal fatigue is one of the most underdiagnosed health problems. hope i helped~erica