Hi,

I have been newly diagnosed with PCOS. This is causing my body to produce too much insulin and hence more fat storage. I only seem to store in my top half which is giving me an apple shape.

I was put onto a low carb diet on Monday last week, and have stuck to it very well except this weekend. It seems that it is very difficult to be the only sober person at a party and I had a few whiskeys & water. Would anyone happen to know the effects of whiskey on insulin levels?

Also, I would like to hear some success stories!! I really want to know that when we stick to our low-carb diet we will be able to go down to a normal weight- or am I stuck as a chubby individual for the rest of my lif :-S

I have an appointment with a Gyne on the 20th November and I am hoping that she will prescribe me some meds that will help me along with weight loss. Sorry about all the questions but- will a low carb diet and the prescribed meds help to alleviate the symptoms of PCOD ie. excessive hgair growth?

It is nice to have been diagnosed and know whats going on inside my body but I am some what stuck in a maze with no answers. There is no cure but I am hoping that the symptoms will disappear slowly!

i was diagnosed with PCOS at age 12 (!). i store most of my weight in my abdomen, too - i've got small hips compared to my waist. it sucks.

i'm not a low-carb success story (yet!), but i've been low-carbing for a year on and off, and it's helped immensely with my acanthosis nigricans - it's practically gone - and somewhat less with acne and hair loss. i'm certain it'll only get better as time goes on.

as for meds, in the past, i've used metformin, spironolactone, vaniqa and birth control for my PCOS. i think they're worth trying, if your body can handle them - some people seem to have trouble with met. i'm kind of wary of birth control for some reason. but the other meds seemed to help me a bit... but lowcarbing consistently, seems to help a lot more.

i was on a low-calorie diet of my own making while a teenager. i'd eat a bowl of high-fiber cereal with soy milk, no lunch, no snacks, with a dinner of roast meat/poultry and roasted veg, or stew of meat with veg. i did lots of cardio and some weightlifting. i lost 70 lbs and my PCOS symptoms improved immensely - what i take from that experience is that it was the weight loss that helped with PCOS. also... it was relatively low-carb anyway. but i find my current lc diet way more satisfying, though i'm losing more slowly. also, i drink liquor twice a week. life's too short.

anyway, that's my experience. hope that helps...

I'm in love with this site! I was diagnosed a few years ago. My GP told me to do South Beach, my gyno didnt want that and put me on Metformin... so I do both. Ive been low carbing for about 10 months and just hit my 30lb mark. I feel so much better now that I am exercising, low carbing, taking bc, and taking met. I'm not sure which is having the positive effect, or what combo of the 4... but I really dont care. Im taking this month off my bc (because Im not a bc fan in general) so I am excited to see if I get my period all by myself!
My hair growth on my face has gotten a lot better as well as my dandruff. As for the oh-so-lovely abdominal weight gain... it is coming off.
There is light at the end of the tunnel.
PS- I use to drink a lot... which didnt help my weight problem. I cut down, but still drink every now and then. Life is too short... and PCOS shouldnt mean you cant have any fun!
Good luck! Cant wait to hear about your successes!

Ladies, don't give up! My mom's friend was the one who "diagnosed" me. It was about 9 months ago. I've always had irregular periods (basically once every 5 months), some facial hair and really bad acne that nothing could fix. I'm not overweight but I could lose a few pounds. I've been low-carb off and on since I was 13 (not because of PCOS), and every time I saw some type of results. When my mom's friend told her about PCOS I was so happy to hear that there was something I could do about it!

So, when I learned of PCOS I instantly I stopped eating so many carbs and began taking vitamins and essential fatty acids. I saw that my face started to clear up after about 3 weeks, and I was slimmer . And about 6 weeks later I had my long-lost period! That was something I never thought I would be excited about. I am only 21 and I would love to be able to have babies someday, so I was happy that my hormones were finally behaving.

But after 4 months, I slowly started to eat carbs again because of my budget. Then I gradually got more and more cystic zits on my cheeks and jawline (the most common place for girls with PCOS), and I started gaining more weight, and you guessed it, I have not had my period since the one I had while on the diet. This confirmed I had PCOS (I didn't see a doctor about it). This Monday I finally got fed up with my condition and decided to try LC again. It's only been four days of very little carbs and I've noticed my stomach is flatter, and those zits I've had all month are disappearing as well. I'm going to do my best this time so I might be able to have my own kids someday! And I would love to NOT get diabetes!

So, girls with your newfound condition, do not get discouraged and do not assume that you will never get better. I saw results pretty quickly the first time, and this time I see results within four days! I recommend staying consistent on your low-carb diet and taking your essential fatty acids. Please research their benefits if you have not heard of them! Also, it helps to stay on ANY diet when someone is doing it WITH you. I have two people keeping me accountable and vice versa.

Also, I am pretty sure PCOS is genetic; my mom has had a miscarriage before, she had me and then my sister, and after trying so long to get pregnant again she went on the diet 8 years ago and gave birth to my youngest sister. My grandmother has facial hair and is diabetic. Also, both my sisters and my mom have had thyroid problems. So if you know that your family has had any history like that, it's likely you will have issues too. And it's best to catch it before it's too late, meaning if you don't start acting now you can develop much worse things than facial hair, like diabetes.

Thanks for reading and good luck to all the girls struggling with this stuff we didn't ask for!

Hi. I'm also with pcos (hair growth since 14, ovaric cyst, 'apple' obesity, and also androgenetic alopecia) . I've never taken metmorfin, also if I have insuline-resistance. Since I've restarted the proteic diet and a low carb maintenence, I've lost 74 pounds in 7 months and this month I've had the first real spontaneous period (I've always suffered of amenorrhoea). For hair growth, you must take your medications and be very very patience.
I must return to my gynecologist because he must give me the new pill to place by an androgenetic medication.

Hi everyone
I am newly diagnosed PCOS also; very asymptomatic other than significant weight gain esp around waist, and anovulatroy cycles.On the TTC journey almost 2 years now and really hope losing weight and following a LC diet will help achieve pregnancy

I am trying to figure out the site.....so just posting to say hi really. I am going to try and stick with South Beach

Welcome Slimbaby!
If you are trying to improve/resolve the symptoms of PCOS, LC is the way.
There is a nice South beach following here on the forum. Go to the main page and under LC Daily support, you'll find the South Beach forum. Lots of good support and information there.

Good luck with your journey.

Progress not perfection.

Lisa

Thanks for the welcome Lisa
My husband and i are getting ready to start tomorrow....looking forward to losing a few pounds before the holidays
I also have to watch my dairy intake so will be replacing with rice milk....find breakfast the toughest meal really as I dislike eggs ...can only eat them once in a while. Going to try vegetable juices and seeds/nuts
Thanks for pointing out the South Beach forum= I will check in there
Progress not perfection= I love it !!
Fiona

I was "officially" diagnosed with PCOS in 2010 (I was 27). I believe I have suffered from PCOS since I was a young teenager.

My husband and I have been TTC for nearly 9 years now. No success at all. We have even tried numerous rounds of Clomid in 2007 and again earlier this year. Still no success.

Even though I haven't lost much weight (YET!), I am already seeing positive changes in my body!

I am also Hypothyroid, so my body is out of whack ALL the dang time. I have never, EVER had an regular cycle in my entire life. But, just in the last few months since starting to make a lifestyle change, my body has changed too.

I have now started AF naturally, on my own--without medicine--for the 3rd time. I had a 32 day cycle followed by a 35 day cycle. THIS! is just amazing to me. It may seem trivial to someone who does not have any issues in the reproductive/hormone department, but for me it's a huge deal! I know most of you gals probably understand that! Making better choices and cutting out sugar has started to work wonders for my body!

This gives me lots of hope of finally getting my BFP! I know that this lifestyle will help others too!

I guess what I am trying to say is that...even though you may not be losing pounds your body can still be changing on the inside.

Good luck to everyone!

Wow Emily that alll sounds very positive especially seeing your body react in such a real way. Am sure this will really inspire you to keep going.
9 years is a long time for both you and your husband....please God it will happen for you really soon xx
I have officially started, and Day 1 is fine so far !! Hopefully tomorrow goes well too. Just going to take it one-day at a time, as have a habit of making changes for a brief time then falling back to bad habits as I love chocolate and sugar. Really have to keep the main goal of becoming parents to the front of my mind!
Best of luck to everyone

It definitely does help me want to continue on...even with the many "slip-up's" I've had. :P

I can't help but feel that our BFP is close. Best of luck to you!

I find that it's easier to think of this as a lifestyle change not so much a diet. I stop myself from thinking about all the things I CAN'T have and all the things that I CAN have...like bacon! And, steak! And, real butter, lol. Just to name a few!

Also, as for the chocolate and sugar... after awhile the cravings go away. They really do! There are plenty of LC alternatives out there, so you can always indulge every once and awhile!

Thanks Emily..I too am trying to look at this as a long term change not a quick fix diet. Thats why Im taking it one day at a time, and if I fall off the wagon I will just get back to it!

"One day at a time" is a good motto to follow. However, sometimes when it gets a little tough, you gotta think of it as "one meal at a time"!

Yea thats a good point!! oh its so hard to make changes!!