I have been diagnosed for 6 years with PCOS. I can say right off that I didnt take any kind of BControl before I was 26 and it took about 6 years to get pregnant. I had cystic acne, major bouts with weight gain, lots of problems with facial and body hair.. the whole gammit. I took Metformin for 3 years and it made me realize that.. life is TOO SHORT. I was sick, had chronic fatigue, low libido, couldnt keep my mind together, suffered with depression during that time. I did lose a significant amount of weight.. but my blood levels didnt change.
I have EXTREMELY worked out since I was 18.. and no i have not been thin without very extreme dieting measures. I have been thin a few times in my life, the first of which was anorexia and I stopped having a cycle completely for 2 years. The next was the Metformin incident.. and I had to do my regular 2 1/2 hr workout each day, plus eat less than 1200 calories, the third is the IDeal Protein diet and it didnt last.
As PCOS women.. we need more protein and almost no carbs (except fibrous).. Carbs = glucose and that means borderline diabetic or worse for us.Its better for you to eat an ideal diet of protein, but not a great amount of fat and almost no natural sugars... Any carbs should be largely fibrous after 2 p.m. If you must eat starchy or sugar carbs, they should only be in the morning, when your body is working full steam. The lucky thing about PCOS is the higher Testosterone levels.. which means you gain muscle mass (at a rate unlike regular women) and you will burn fat that way if you do weight training. I do about 1 hour of weights and 1 hr cardio and 30 minutes of ab workout everyday. And yet Im still overweight.. So its an uphill battle. But I feel good and isnt that what life is about?
I take no meds from the doctor anymore, because the side effects are BAD for me.. I take CinnedromeX (supplement), UltraglycemX, and do Supergreens. That keeps my levels in the clear and I can function and do my active job, and be happy.
I have to tell you PCOS ladies trying to have children.. I didnt know when I had my daughter that most women with PCOS have "unhealthy children".. I found this out about 6 years ago when my daughter was going through her struggles.. We dont have the happy balance internally that will produce us with healthy children.. so think about how badly you want children and what you need children for.. they are the ones who truly struggle and suffer.. No judgement on my part.. but my daughter has had every issue in 11 year you can dream of.. and I will not be having anymore do to this. My daughter has been plagued with everything from signs of CF, sleep apnea, major food and atmospheric allergies, multiple breathing disorders and illnesses to Arthiritis, muscle disorders, bone maladies.. and had had many surgeries to boot.. I hear from MANY women in the PCOS realm that this is very common... Plus she has Learning Disabilities, and educational issues as well... I wish someone had told ME.. so here I am telling you! If our bodies cant keep US healthy.. why do we expect them to do honor to children we would carry??
My mother passed away in November at 58 from PCOS complications.. I definitely heed that as a warning about caring for myself..
so I am glad to hear they aren't necessary!
