Posts by twindaze

I've probably had PCOS forever.  I was pretty developed at 12/13, but no period.  No one could believe that I didn't have a cycle yet I was so mature looking.  It was quite distressing.  Finally at 14 I started.  I never had regular cycles, I would for a few months, then they'd get all messed up.  And I've also had endometriosis, so lots of pain as well, horribly life-altering pain.  I used to miss school for that.  Until I had to work, so no option there.

I was put on the pill, that was all they had back then.  Then I went off to get pregnant, no period for several months.  Then I was actually regular for a few months, but no pregnancy.  That led to 3 years of infertility treatment, I sporadically would have a cycle on my own for awhile, then not at all.  I'd also began being too heavy by then, or on my way anyway.  By the time I was 30 I was skirting being obese.  I finally got pregnant from IVF, had 4 kids that way, because thanks to PCOS I had 35 follicles fromt hat one cycle.  My 4 kids were born in three pregnancies though, I had twins the second time.

So I went on Glucophage when the twins were two.  That and a low carb diet led to a large weight loss.  I've been on Glucophage ever since, it controls my irregular cycles and acne (I never outgrew acne until the meds) and probably my cysts (I got those for awhile, they're awful.)  But not the obesity.  I need the low carb diet for that.  The problem is that that is very hard to stick to.  I struggle with that, and continue to.  I've lost and regained, I'm working to lose again and am slowly having some success, slow going though.

So that's my story.  Oh, I do have a bit of facial hair now, not tons at this point, but who knows without meds.

To the PP whose insurance wont' cover meds, Glucophage is only $6 per month at Krogers, I don't even file my insurance anymore as they'd make me do mail order and all I'd save is $1 per month.  So I wouldn't discount that option.

Arc, how many calories have you been eating?  That's really the key.  You are doing a lot of cardio so you need to add that into your calorie needs at least somewhat.  Perhaps the estimate on what you burn with cardio is incorrect. 

If you've been logging your food you could have someone look at it and see what they say.  I'd be happy to look at it if you'd like, not that I'm a dietician or anything. 

Also, for me, the 5 or 6 meals thing does not work.  I need to eat 3 filling meals and only eat a snack if I can't make it to the next meal, which I usually don't have a problem with as long as I'm eating the right foods at my meal.  I do have a snack in the evening, but it's not a meal, it's typically a treat of some sort.

Good for you Sara.  My problem is that I get caught up in things like wanting to fit back in my summer clothing so I want to go faster.  I do think that losing slowly is the best way to go for long-term weight loss.  I don't go crazy, I eat 1500 to 1600 calories per day (up to 1800 like yesterday.)  I'm just glad I caught myself and started back before I gained everything back plus (I've definitely done that before.)

Anyway, OA is Overeaters Anonymous.  It's based on the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous and the group I'm involved with follows the Big Book principles.  The reason I gain weight is my compulsive overeating.  I'm a recovered compulsive overeater and I do sponsor as well.

Thanks for the welcome!

Yes, I lose weight on the PCOS diet.  I lose weight as long as I limit my food intake and if I eat this way I am not hungry.  With your activity level though, you'll have to eat more food than what I eat. 

I don't have any "don't foods," just "limited foods."  I drink diet pop and it's not a problem.

I agree, Lean Cuisine isn't health food or anything, but it's better than a lot of stuff.  I add in the veggies and so far today have an A- (my lean cuisine's score was only a C.)  I've never tasted Nutrisystem food or anything, but even at Big Lots it's priced at $3 for a meal.  I can get a Lean Cuisine for 1.49 when there's a good sale.  I just stock up.   Now I do cook dinner's.  I'm a SAHM and this is easy for lunch and keeps me from eating stuff like the frozen pizza the kids just had.

I personally see no reason to do something like Nutrisystem.  You can buy Lean Cuisine meals at the regular supermarket and they're pretty much the same idea as Nutrisystem, portion control along with low fat eating.  I eat something like a Lean Cusine most days for lunch and add veggies to it and/or a salad.  I'll eat about 3 servings of veggies.  That fills me up until dinner for 300 to 350 calories.  It sounds exactly like what Nutrisystem does.  For breakfast I have high fiber cereal with skim milk and I"ll snack on fruit if I must, but prefer to not snack before lunch.  Then I cook a regular dinner, mostly lower fat, with lots of veggies and salad again.  I add in a reasonable evening snack.  I stay full all day and I eat abotu 1500 calories.  Which is most definitely a quick weight loss for me.   I've tried eating 1200 calories but haven't found that to be sustainable at all.

So personally, I'd try doing your own portion control/high veggie &fruit diet and see how it goes.

Oops, dbl post.

I have a food addiction also, it is the cause of my weight problem.  And now that I'm older, it can cause me to gain weight fast.  When I was younger, it was less of a problem.

Anyway, keeping them out of the house is best.  I bought some Slim a Bear 100 calorie ice cream bars for my "treat" everyday.  I have an easier time not bingeing on ice cream, probably because that tends to make me very sick.  Other than that, I can have success with individual serving bags as well.

I've looked for a therapist to work with with no luck.  I was in women's circle for this, but it ended and so far the new session has not started.  I go to TOPS also, which helps keep me on the wagon.  But it sucks that I can't just be normal.

I'm with you too, I lost 90 and gained back too many over the past year.  I've tried and tried to get back on track before it got too awfully bad.  Finally I sucked it up and went back to my TOPS meeting and let everyone see how much I'd gained.  Now it's not biggy, I'm back on the way down.  For me, I need the accountability of a support group.  TOPS is inexpensive, but I'm guessing that weight watchers would work too, or even just a diet buddy.  Those don't work for me because I need someone there forcing me to get weighed, charting it, etc.