nutritionist or endocrinologist??? help

everytime I lose weight, I suffer from hormone imbalance. This time, I have also PCOS. I stopped dieting and I eat a lot and I gained so much weight AGAIN. 

I need advice. should I go to an nutritionist or should I start dieting again under a supervision from an endocrinologist or simply should I try to balance my diet and eat more this time. 

what is the best diet for PCOS? some people say it is low carb, others say low GI and I don't know what to look for. 

just wondering if going to an endocrinologist will help?? any ideas?

i don't know a ton about pcos, but i would imagine that an endocrinologist might be able to steer you in the direction of a medication that might help ease the symptoms.  i know birth control is commonly used to help balance the hormones involved in your condition, and so is metformin, a drug that is commonly prescribed for diabetes, but also helpful for pcos.

i do think a nutritionist might also be helpful in guiding you through learning about better eating habits, although i personally do not advocate any specific kind of diet (ie low carb, low gi, low fat, etc).  i believe moderation is key. a lot of the weight lost in low-carb diets is water, plus carbs = energy. you just have to learn what the right (and wrong) kind of carbs are.  as for "low gi," sure you don't want to be downing lots of donuts and other high-sugar empty-calorie stuff, but i certainly can't support a diet that would eliminate things like carrots, fruits, sweet potatoes, etc...all foods that are packed with nutrition but high on the glycemic index. so i would focus on learning more about "nutrtition" not "diets." but that's just me. 

and, lastly, might i suggest acupuncture?  it has worked wonders for me in terms of balancing my hormones and more.  not scary, not painful. very soothing, in fact.  i look forward to going again if i'm ever not poor ;)

that's all just my two cents...i'm sure you'll get a lot of other helpful advice...good luck!

cruumb, thank you so much. could you tell me more about how acupuncture helped you to balance your hormones?? 

actually, I know a lot of info about healthy eating. I was considering a nutritionsit to help me with a low GI and low carb menu... 

I just want to keep track of my estrogen level while I start dieting again. 

hey, safina. no problem.  if you're willing to try acupuncture, i'd definitely recommend it.  i was experiencing a myriad of problems when i started going, due to many years of anorexia.  i mentioned that i'd been amenorrheic for a looooong time (at that point i wasnt willing to a. take birth control to initiate my period, or b. work on becoming more nutritionally stable enough to support a healthy reproductive system).  the first and second time i went back for treatment, my doctor asked me if my period had started yet.  i scoffed and say "no" ("pfh...10 years and you think you can start it just by sticking some needles in me?")

lo and behold, after the 3rd treatment, i got my period and had a regular cycle from that point forth (until i went wayyy downhill with the whole anorexia thing and my body couldn't cope).  

so, yeah...it's very relaxing as well.  once all the needles are in, you are left to rest ("bake") for awhile, at which point i could always feel really strong energy and movement in my body.  i thought it was cool when one time my qi (energy) actually popped one of my needles out.  

i wish i had the funds to keep going.  acupuncture is about balancing all the systems to alleviate symptoms, rather than just focusing on and treating the specific problem itself. i like this approach. it totally beats western medicine, which only tries to attack the ailment and never deals with underlying issues.

a nutrtionist could be helpful in developing a food plan that works best for you.  i, personally, however, would not go into it with the mindset of "diet," (please don't "start dieting" again) but instead something like "health plan."  something that gives you energy, doesn't aggravate your symptomes, makes you feel good and would be sustainable for a lifetime!  it's good to learn about refined carbs, empty calories and foods that cause insulin spikes  (since this plays a major role in pcos), but i wouldnt go about it with the approach of "low gi" or "low carb," specifically, because in doing so you can miss out on finding a healthy balance of all foods.  i'd just focus on getting enough of the "good stuff" rather than trying to eliminate things (which might incite a feeling of deprivation and leave you lacking in important nutrients).  once youre feeding your body the nutrients it needs, you'll probably feel better.  i hope! 

let me know how the acupuncture goes for you :)

love,  cruumb.

best diet IS low carb, but the dense carbs you DO eat should be Low GI. so its both. beans, ww pasta & bread, brown rice... (watch the portion sizes). and ideally you should see an endocrinologist And a nutritionist- but one that knows their stuff about pcos. once he/she has given you advice and a sample meal plan, the nutritionist becomes redundant IMHO. but a good endocrinologisy is very important for PCOS. dietwise, theres a lot of PCOS sites that can enable and educate you long term instead.

Why aren't you taking something to control your hormones while you try to lose weight? I'm not doing any special PCOS diet, I just eat less than I burn (-500 day). I'm still losing normally. Are you on any treatment for your PCOS? If not, it's just going to be counterproductive...

Cruumb, how is that your energy popped one of the needles out?? now, I am scared.. no. I don't think it is for me. you know? I have never understood the science behind the acupuncture. I hope it is not spritiual???

cptbunny, I read a good book about PCOS. I learnt a lot. yes, I have a prescription but I was hoping to get my period naturally :( the doctor said that I have to lose weight slowly and reduce my stress level. maybe if I will do just that, I will be able to get my period back. what do you think?

hey again, safina!

i understand your hesitation.  it may not be for you. but the science of acupuncture is based on finding balance, and pcos is largely due to hormonal imbalances, so it might be worth considering.

check out the mayo clinic's page on acupuncture...it explains it a bit more:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/acupuncture/ sa00086

everyone else had given good advice...good luck with whatever approach you choose...keep me posted on your progress!

<3 cruumb

Original Post by safina1:

cptbunny, I read a good book about PCOS. I learnt a lot. yes, I have a prescription but I was hoping to get my period naturally :( the doctor said that I have to lose weight slowly and reduce my stress level. maybe if I will do just that, I will be able to get my period back. what do you think?

You should take the medication while you lose weight. It not only gives you your period (which right now you're not getting, which can lead to infertility) but it also helps with other symptoms, including the difficulty with losing weight. You can easily come off the medication once you're in a healthy BMI zone, and get your period naturally.