Weight loss and hormone imbalance advice

[Bobbybear10]

I know this isn’t an AIBU, but honestly I only use this part of the site so I’m posting here. I also know the answer will be slow and steady, lifestyle change etc etc but im still going to ask anyway!

I would like to know if anyone has any extra tips to boost weight loss for someone with a serious hormone imbalance (pcos) which makes weight loss super hard!
I have a cycle maybe once a year so my hormones are buggered tbh.

I am doing a low calorie and decent exercise routine but my average of one, at the most two pound loss every two weeks is very disheartening and frankly it will take me years to shed the weight.
It’s also awful when by the time I’ve lost a pound everyone else has lost four!

So short of going to the GP (which I am tempted to do!) does anyone have any advice/over the counter medicine/magic wand.

I would be forever grateful to anyone that could help me to help myself!

1-2 lbs a week is healthy and sustainable. You mustn't be disheartened at that. I have pcos and have used WW in the past and now I use my fitness pal. I worked out my TDEE and then minus 15-20% off that and that's my daily calorie intake.
Lots of people will post about low carb and low GI to help as well. I just try to drink 1.5-2lts water, limit booze and eat lean protein where I can. Good luck!

Thank you for you reply!
What your saying does make sense I know.

My weight loss is more like 1lb every two weeks but if I’m really lucky I will do 2lb.

It’s so long and arduous because to loose that 1-2lb I’m having to go no higher than 1000 calories a day, I know people will say that’s not enough but from lots of past experience I know that’s the only way my body looses any weight at all. (I presume due to the hormone imbalance)

Low carb for people with PCOS works better than any other diet. Forget calorie counting.

Your body processes things differently.

You need to eat less than 40g (ideally 20g if you can) carbs a day and lots of protein and fat and you will lose weight.
There are lots of FB groups out there for PCOS weight loss.

It might be worth trying metformin to help you along. If you have pcos you are likely to be insulin resistance. It worked wonders for me. Metformin, low gi and excersise helped me lose 2 1/2 st, regulate my cycles and conceive two babies naturally

If you don't mind me asking, what's your weight/height?

1000 cals is really low, working out your tdee would really help to see what you actually need daily. What's a daily food diary look like for you?

There are lots of things to help but the main thing is that you're in a calorie deficit. High protein and fat and low carb will help too.

You need to lose weight gently otherwise you’ll risk it all coming back on when you stop. Calorie restriction (if too severe) can cause the body to think it’s starving and try to conserve fat, so you’re better off trying to address the balance of what you’re eating (eg. Like WW). You need to make sure you have a sustainable lifestyle and diet which you can keep up in the long run, otherwise you’ll slip back into old habits.

I’ve got PCOS and I know how you feel - the treatment is losing weight, but the condition makes it more difficult to lose weight. Frustrating or what! I was prescribed metformin to address some of the symptoms, and it helps with insulin resistance and apparently can help with weight loss. There is no magic bullet, but your GP will be able to offer other suggestions too. Good luck, I know it’s not easy.

CallMeRachel
I have tried low carb (slimming world and the blood sugar diet by Michael Mosley) it seems to work for the first couple of weeks and then just stagnates, I’m not sure if I’m just strangely put together?!

Lndnmummy
Honestly that sounds amazing! Is it a DR thing or chemist?

Hi there I have an under active thyroid and losing weight is sooo hard I do low carb and I'm losing between three and five pounds a week .
A girl I know has pcos and she was put on metformin and it really helped her weight loss and acne . Hope you find a solution I know how hard it is good luck x

Metformin is a diabetes drug which can be prescribed for PCOS symptoms like insulin resistance. I had it a long side clomid to conceive my DS as clomid didn't work on its own due to being insulin resistant.

I found that I lost weight using it cos it gave me a dodgy tummy!!

YouBoggleMyMind

I’m 5’7 and 15 stone
It honestly is the only thing that gets any pounds off. If I go over 1500 daily normally then I put on weight, if I go to 1000 I lose a pound every two weeks, if I can go lower than 1000 I can lose more but it’s fucking awful living on less than 1000 long term and I have so much to lose it will definitely be a long term thing!

RosieStarr

I know slow and steady is probably the way to go but I’m tbh it’s starting to get a bit drastic now. With the really slow weight loss it will take me a very long time to get back to a healthy weight and I will end up really ill if I can’t get the weight off fairly quick.

Low carb has a proven record for hormonal gain. But you need to stick at it for a while. My issues with sugar dips and insulin didn’t really iron out till at least 5-6 weeks low carb then more sustainable weight loss came after that.

What sort of things are you eating?

@YouBoggleMyMind I also found the same thing! The combined of that plus other medication totally put me off food, so I lost weight that way, although I don’t think that’s how it was supposed to be working, lol

I couldn't even get up to the highest dose as is just be stuck on the loo!! I was glad to come off it once I was pregnant! My DS is going to be 1 in a couple of weeks and I'm still try to lose my baby weight

@Bobbybear10 My husband consistently lost 1kg per week on WW, friends have reported the same on SW. Could try that?

@YouBoggleMyMins Wow! I wasn’t quite that bad! I’m sorry to hear it did that to you, but glad it helped you conceive ☺️

Hi OP, I also have PCOS, low GI is the way forward as you are likely insulin resistant, so low carb and wholegrain carbs only, cut out as much refined sugar as possible. Lots of fibre and veggies, be aware of too much fruit, high lean protein. High fat won't be helpful if you have PCOS like it is for others who low carb. I lost five and a half stone and kept it off for six years (until I fell pregnant, hoping to lose the gain after) , by doing the above totalling no more than 1250 calories, to maintain you can go to 1500-1750 but eat like most people who are fairly healthy and you will gain. I also found high intensity cardio such as spin, three times a week helped kick start my metabolism

With low carb, the weight loss stalls at weeks 3 and 4 then starts up again after that. You need to stick with it.

Oh my doctor also commented it was likely my lifestyle and diet choices that meant I fell pregnant quite quickly, when it was assumed I'd need fertility treatment

Metformin, or if not wanting to TTC there’s a specific contraceptive pill that’s supposed to help (Yasmin/dianette I think it’s called?)

Thank you all so much for your advice.

I will spend a bit of time digesting () all of the advice, but it looks like a trip to the GP and back on low carb is going to be the way forward.

I am actually trying the lighter life shakes and bars for breakfast/lunch at the moment with a light dinner of say fish and veg/chicken veg with a handful of beans/spinach/lentils.

Agree with the above advice, and would also recommend myoinositol which has a similar effect to metformin and you can take with metformin provided you are eating enough carbs to prevent hypoglycaemia. 4000g/day, Myova is a good brand.

Sorry 4000mg

Exante.