Loosing weight with PCOS

countryfan

So here I am about to start yet another weight loss journey complicated by the fact that I have symptomatic PCOS, rheumatoid arthritis, IBS and a number of other health issues. I'm approximately 7 stone over weight and have a dangerously high BMI. I know that the recipe for success is eat less exercise more but I've one problem..... I have terrible lower back pain, pains in my knees and joints just walking around the house never mind doing any exercise. I'm only 35 and I feel trapped in this body of pain and I'd love some advise on what has worked for other people. I know swimming would probably be a great exercise for me but unfortunately I can't swim. Any help would be greatly appreciated especially from people who have had successful weight loss who have PCOS

fits

countryfan wrote: »

So here I am about to start yet another weight loss journey complicated by the fact that I have symptomatic PCOS, rheumatoid arthritis, IBS and a number of other health issues. I'm approximately 7 stone over weight and have a dangerously high BMI. I know that the recipe for success is eat less exercise more but I've one problem..... I have terrible lower back pain, pains in my knees and joints just walking around the house never mind doing any exercise. I'm only 35 and I feel trapped in this body of pain and I'd love some advise on what has worked for other people. I know swimming would probably be a great exercise for me but unfortunately I can't swim. Any help would be greatly appreciated especially from people who have had successful weight loss who have PCOS

Head over to health and fitness forum. 90% of weight loss is going to come from diet so you need to start looking at that. For exercise id focus on improving mobility for now. Maybe get advice of a physiotherapist. Swimming or even just walking in a pool can be good. Good luck!

sunshine and showers

Talk to your doctor about it. PCOS can cause issues like insulin resistance. There are medications that can help, metaformin is one to ask about.

Fix the eating first. Exercise may get easier as the weight comes off. I would advise maybe starting adult swimming classes or water aerobics!

Oryx

As mentioned, aqua jogging or aqua aerobics will give you a nice water based workout without needing to swim. Do you have access to a gym? Crosstrainers, spin bikes and rowers give you cardio without impact and will have instructors to hand as well.

At the point you are at, anything you do will help. So don't worry too much about how the exercise will affect your weight. Just find something you enjoy and do it. You can build on that start.

lynnsback

I concur with the others. PCOS can be treated with metfomin, along with various herbs, exercise and diet. My PCOS is so well controlled that I no longer show any signs of it.

You may have to fight to get treatment for PCOS, as many docs wanna just shove us on the pill, but it's worth looking to get it sorted. Also, since you have RA and IBS, have you considered a gluten or wheat free diet?

countryfan

Thanks everyone for the replies...... I'm on metformin & aldactone but find the metformin makes me very nauseous & hungry oddly enough. I've just watched operation transformation & one of the participants has PCOS - they reduced her carbs to very little. Anybody ever tried carb free??? I dream of symptom free PCOS & just know loosing the weight would give me a fighting chance

Amazingfun

Many people with conditions like yours have found success with the AIP diet (Autoimmune Paleo):

http://autoimmune-paleo.com/paleo-autoimmune-protocol-print-out-guides/

fits

countryfan wrote: »

Thanks everyone for the replies...... I'm on metformin & aldactone but find the metformin makes me very nauseous & hungry oddly enough. I've just watched operation transformation & one of the participants has PCOS - they reduced her carbs to very little. Anybody ever tried carb free??? I dream of symptom free PCOS & just know loosing the weight would give me a fighting chance

I'd be very hesitant to go carb free altogether but it is possible to reduce them way down and limit those you have to slow release wholegrain and the like. I lived with someone who had pcos for a time and I don't envy you.

mkdon05

A great way for you to kickstart the process is by eliminating as much sugar from your diet as possible, especially man made sugar (e.g Fructose corn syrup and all the other disguising names). Check the labels on everything you eat and if it has sugar in it, try and avoid it. Its not always possible but if you can reduce your intake significantly you will start to see results, not only in your weight but also your wellbeing.

There are sugars in carbohydrate but these are needed to sustain energy and the sugars present in them (Glucose 50%, Fructose 50%)are broken down and absorbed by the body in a different way so I would not eliminate carbs altogether.

Get the diet right and introduce some low impact exercise like cycling or even just walking.