I've decided to try my hand at a weight loss journal. I've never done this before, not in this way at least. I've kept a normal journal online for two years, but I suppose I always feared failure if I started something chronicling my weight loss journey...

Yesterday I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (http://www.pcos.net/whatis.html). I had actually been anticipating it for quite a long while, as I had several of the worst symptoms. But still, a diagnosis of an uncurable disorder is always an unwelcome shock of course. Though part of me wanted to know there was medication out there to improve my life and weight loss efforts, the other part wanted it to be all in my head.

I am supposed to go see a nutritionist, but the one at the particular clinic I attend isn't taking clients til next month, so I'm having to do some personal research concerning the disorder and the recommended diet until then. And I am reading conflicting advice.

For one, I already know that ANYONE trying to lose weight should avoid sugar, processed/junk foods, and high fat choices. Yet in my case now, I really need some specifics to go along with the Metformin (http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/diabetes/summary/metform/metform.htm) I have been perscribed.

In 1997 I weighed 235. I remember because I cried as soon as I got off the scales and turned to my boyfriend at the time to say, "How did this happen? When we first met I was 168..."

Now I know that the syndrome may have been developing then, and suddenly though I had always been a large girl, I could no longer fill myself with the foods I had been just a few months before. It seems I can gain weight rapidly if eating sweets and starches, all of course my favorite foods at the time.

It's taken almost 5 years to lose 30 pounds. I've slowly begun making much better eating choices and have developed a better attitude towards cooking and healthier foods.

But now I have doctor's orders to up the ante. So here I go, to try to work it out and bring my body to a natural healthy weight. 170 isn't going overboard, I don't believe. Not at my height, and certainly not in a day and age in which most girls from my generation could not fathom the thought of weighing more than 115...

Now it's time...wish me luck.:o

I wish you all the luck in the world!! I sent you a private message after I read your post in another forum, but I'm not sure you got it, suggesting you ask the new personal dietition here at Diettalk what she would recommend for you until you can see your diettian in person. Her name is Carolyn and she seems to have good qualifications and good advice. I know it must have been a shock to you to receive a diagnosis, but at the same time, now you know, so in a way, that is better. Hang in there..

Hi,

I don't have any diet advice, but I do participate on another forum (exercise based) where several of the women have the same condition as you and have discussed both diet and exercise.
I shamefully admit I never paid much attention to the information they were sharing (although I could do a search at any time and find it), but it seems to really help them to be able to talk about their specific difficulties with their diets in relation to weight loss and exercise.
If you are not on any particular exercise plan, you may find the forum very interesting (and addictive) as it is very much like diettalk except more exercise based.
But there are loads of knowledgeable professionals there (RN's, personal trainers, dieticians, etc) all who can maybe help shed some light on things for you until you can get with the person at your clinic.
If you're interested, send me a message. It really is a wonderful, supportive community of people there, so much like here!

Donna

welcome to DT and i too wish you the best of luck.
you will find such support and understanding. if i hadnt met the people here i did i wouldnt have gotten this far on my own.
the site is truly a Godsend.

take care and keep in touch.

First day...

Something amazing has already happened since I started taking the Metformin. This morning I weighed in at 201, three pounds lighter than only a little over a day before.

My eating habits had not changed, I've still not implemented a head-on workout plan, yet somehow either 3 pounds of fat or fluid have dropped off me. I'm not going to taunt it as a miracle medication just yet, but if I weigh 198 in the morning you best believe I just may. ;)

I took myself out for sushi last night, had a sausage and cheese omelette for lunch today (slept well past breakfast), and some fish fillets this evening.

I don't really think I'm eating enough, but I'm not hungry. In fact, for quite some time now I've had a reduced appetite- though it didn't enourage any weight loss.

It's strange...how money and stress have effected me. I want to think that it's much better to NOT be hungry than binging, yet I want to enjoy my life and food so much more fully.

Thanks to everyone who's been writing and sending well wishes...I really need them right now.

3 pounds is a great start!! it sounds like the med is just what you needed..it is only going to get better and better from this time forward..

Well I had not dropped three more pounds this morning (not that I rationally thought I would), but I still was at 201. :)

Today's going to be a big day. I'm going to pack up four more large boxes (moving out of the suburb into the city soon) and get some paperwork done, then concentrate on my strategy. Diet, exercise, supplement and otherwise.

I'm very excited now that the sadness has passed and I have a way to concentrate on my health, now that I know what's wrong...still I'm sure I'll often be reading the "SOS" section....LOL.

hey Christy:) I'm happy to hear about your 3 pounds! Hopefully the medication is just what you needed. I think that keeping a journal and reading other peoples journals is going to be very motivating. I just made an entry in my journal, and I thought I better check out yours. I think having someone else that is just starting a journal too is helpful. As you mentioned there are a bunch that have hundreds of entries where are journals only have a few:) Well I wish you the best of luck on your journey! Take care
Jen:)

I've had some amazing results from beginning my medication. This morning I weighed in at 199, the smallest I have been in ages. Five days ago I was at 204- it's unbelievable.

Not that I don't blame my own particularly bad choices for keeping myself overweight all these years, but it's enough to make me wonder if I could have found a natural, more healthy weight sooner if I had known my insulin levels were so screwed up.

I am still awaiting contact from the dietician, and for my book on Syndrome-X to arrive, however I have been back to the gym once and have been careful not to overdo the carb intake.

In many ways, I am quite happy that the doctor told me not to go on Atkins, because I don't think I can adapt my life 100% in that direction, which I know it would require.

I believe I am going to use exercise to counteract the places where I am weak, and apparently the Metformin is going to help me along the whole way...:)

I'm confused by the things my body tells me. Though I am not truly hungry, my body wants to eat. I want to sit in front of the TV and be comfortable and order a big salad from Steak Out.

I am thankful that at least I am craving a salad and not fried chicken or hot fudge cake, yet it still is a unsubstantiated idea. Because for one, the Metfomin has already seemed to cut back a huge portion of cravings and I am full from eating quite a bit today already.

Sometimes the idea of food bothers me or makes me feel a little nauseous, which is also the case at the moment.


:(

The mentality of the weight loss process has been the hardest thing lately for me to make a connection with. My body says one thing, my mind says another...and now with this new treatment both seem strange and confused.

A bit of a flop today diet wise. I had two Hot Pockets, basically because I finally was hungry and clear I needed food badly, it was the only thing that the idea of it didn't nauseate me ironcially enough. Why did it have to be that bad choice binge though...?

I have alot to think about when I get back from Christmas with the folks. I don't plan to overeat, yet I am still unsure on what exactly it is I am supposed to be avoiding.

I know that I should be working out more. Once or twice a week at the gym isn't cutting it, and besides that I'm throwing money down the drain. I've really got to get some things clear with myself, stop making excuses.

Let's hope the dietician can finally find some time for me in the next few weeks as well...

It's been far too long since I've posted in my journal. But there's some wonderful reasons behind why. Jeff and I have moved into our new apartment together and it feels as though it's a new life as well (and in so many ways, it is...)

But I've slacked in New Years resolutions. The good news is I've not gained, but the bad is that I've not lost either. My gym membership is wasting away.

I have alot to think about and some new perspective to gain. I can't seem to get the nutritionist at my clinic to contact me, and I can't afford an independent, so I feel as though it is all up to me at this point to figure out what a PCOS diet is after all.

Jeff is also seeming to suffer problems at the hands of sugar. We both are conflicted because though we know we shouldn't have sweets, we still crave them. And somehow I think that because I baked a homemade apple pie it is better than a candy bar out of a machine...and I know it just can't be.

I've gathered some inspiration from unlikely places. It's not like me to pay attention to Oprah or Dr. Phil...but between Dr. Phil's brute honesty and forcing you to actually look at your choices in life, and Oprah featuring stories of people who have lost 200-500 pounds (not just 30 like I battle with), I feel like there's more I could be doing for myself.

Hi it's me Jen. It's wierd how we both, after months, decided to post again on the same day. Well I wish you all the luck again:)

My husband Matt and I are in the same situation. We've been together for almost 6 years, and have become munching buddies.

We know we should stop, but haven't managed to yet. I hope you and Jeff can overcome your sugar problem.

Well I'm looking forward to starting over. Good luck!

Hey There!

Well, first of all I'm sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but I am glad you have figured out what is was. :) Congratulations on your new apartment, that is always very exciting!!

I know exactly where you are coming from with exercising and then binging on certain things...it is such a tough will power kind of thing. I posted in Jennifer's journal earlier about how I joined Jazzercise and I love it...it's such a fun way to exercise and a much needed break from the normal gym routine.

You seem to have the right attitude and there is no doubt you can do this!!

Check out my journal sometime. :o)

Take care, Much love,
Ginger

NINE_YEARS - HELLO :wave:

Come on now! Short of walking all they way over there...

Get back in your journal MISSY......

LETS GET TO GETTIN THIS WEIGHT OFF..... I"M READY! LETS DO THIS!!!

It's been a year and a half at least since I updated, which makes me sad/ashamed/many number of things. And of course the weight has gone back up again, to an all time high of 235. I'm not going to beat myself up anymore though, because every day is a new day.

This time I'm starting slow. In the past, I used perfection as a guide. I would exercise & eat perfectly, or else I would do none at all. What a stupid mindset. I have to start going back to the gym but slowly, 30 mins at a time. No pushing myself beyond the point that I won't want to go back.

At least though Jeff does seem to always love me, which makes me know that I'm marrying a guy with the right mind & heart. In fact, there are sometimes I think he is even more attracted to the larger me- but I can't use that as an excuse. I need to be healthy, not headed towards type II diabetes...

GREAT to see you back ! :D

You CAN do this ! :)

Beth :not:

You are very good at digging up old posts! Welcome back to DT and we're here for you! :)

Corinna

Hi,

Please to meet you. I have been here for 3 years. But my struggle to lose has been for four years in total. Like yourself I was diagnosed with PCO's and Insulin Resistance. On top of that I also have hypothyroidism. I had my thyroid removed due to cancer. So once a year I have to go off my Synthyroid and get tested for reoccurance.

From what I have read, PCOS/Insulin Resistance is a metabolic disorder. I have been struggling with losing the weight. When I was first diagnosed I was told to follow the Diabetic Exchange System. I was able to have small success with that. But now the nutritionist wants me to follow the Glycemic Index. She feels that I need to eat food that will have a slower effect on my blood glucose levels. Therefore, the food gets used in the proper way. I also came across something that says protein/carb balance is the right way to go.

It is definently a struggle. The way our bodies process food is so different than anyone elses. I feel the standard format of cutting calories to lose weight isn't enough for us. We need something very very specialized. I think the diet/nutrition community is starting to notice that. But I have come across so many different ways to combat the insulin resistance that I am not sure which approach is the best. All I know is that I don't want to become a Insulin Dependent Diabetic. It is frustrating enough just being Non Insulin Dependent Diabetic.

I wish you much success in your struggles. I am glad to have found someone that understands. I will check back in from time to time. I don't have a journal here yet. Even though I have been told that it will help out alot.

Take Care Ria

Well Christy,

It has been a month since you last posted in this journal. Why haven't you come back? :(

I definently could use another person that understands things medically.

I hope that you come back at some point. :c(

take care ria

In one month's time, I put on another 8 pounds...proof that I am steadily gaining 2 pounds a week. I've decided that I can't take any more of all of this and am trying something new, the Glycemic Index diet. I've never believed that Atkins was healthy, but Weight Watchers doesn't work for me either.

Tomorrow I'm going back to the gym again, going to try to dig deep and find that place that makes me want to go several times a week, that part of me that truly does feel better when exericising...

Wish me luck! :help:

Good Luck! You can do it!!

Glad to see you back!

-Lindsey

Eariler this month I my Meetup.com PCOS group got together, which right now is only 3 active members (including me) but it still gave me alot of positive things to draw upon. Our table was close to the dietary books and I kept eying one in particular, the G.I. Diet.

I hate the word "diet". I know better now, diets eventually end and for me it will have to be an entire lifestyle. But about a week later I was drawn back the book again and this time brought it home.

I've only been doing it for the past week, and not perfect at that, but I have since lost six and a half pounds. :) So I'm feeling better about myself. And though I still haven't convinced myself to start going back to the gym regularly, I think getting some initial weight off will improve my mentality.

There's still a long way to go, but I'm really happy with the Glycemic Index thing, I personally just couldn't do Atkins...

Merry Christmas :)

Beth :peace:

Hi,

Glad to see you back in your journal. I have been seeing a nutritionist as well. They recommended the Glycemic index for me too. The important factor with the Glycemic index is that it combats the insulin resistance. We need to eat food that will have a slower effect on our glucose levels. Glad to hear that you have had some success with the plan so far.I was doing well with it. But I started to stress eat right after Thanksgiving. We had alot happen in the family over the course of one weekend.

I hope that you will post in your journal more. Take care and Happy New Year!!!!!

Ria & Beth, thank you for your support! :)

I have lost around 11.5 pounds but I've already noticed I'm losing some wind in my sails. I find that when I'm really really tired I tend to put all my eating specifications aside and eat whatever it takes to make me feel better. Such as yesterday at work when we were doing a difficult inventory I had two slices of the company provided pizza.

But I can't be too tough on myself, I could have eaten four...in the past I probably would have so it is a step in the right direction.

The best thing about having lost that initial weight is that my socks no longer leave a cut ring around my ankles. I've never had small ankles but there was nothing more depressing than watching them swell up like some viking ankles. :c(

Today though I'm back at it. I'm going to use this week/weekend to get my mind straight. I have the Dr. Phil weight loss challenge here to read. His suggested eating is also very similar to the glycemic index plan, but I hope to get more out of the emotional and mental direction. I think that is where I'm failing myself.

Here's to a new year!

Hi

I am glad to see that you are sticking it out!!!! I do understand how frustrating this can be. I am the queen of frustration.

I do want to share one piece of good news with you. I went on tried on two pairs of pants that were unwearable for a long period of time. I am now able to comfortably able to zip them up. So that means not only weight lost but also inches lost. I haven't even been following the GI diet strictly or anything. So if I am able to accomplish this so can you!!!!!!

I do believe the site has great resources available to us when needed. I would like to recommend that you visit a chat on Thursday night called the I CAN CHAT. it is moderated by a wonderful lady called Monciapink. She is so full of optimism that you can't help but believe that you can do it. Or if your not inclinded to chat with anyone then she has a journal here. If you post to her then she will respond to you in her journal. Plus she will seek out yours as well. Monica has accomplished so much with her own weightloss journey. I first met her 4 yrs ago at another site. I followed her here. When we first started chatting, she weighed 307 pounds. Today after 4 years she is down to 183 pounds. I thought I would at least mention it to you to help you continue on with what your trying to accomplish. She will be extremely helpful to you. It is your decision.

Take Care Ria

Weight has gone up and down recently, sometimes the scales tell me something I don't feel is true and I realize that I'm depending on my newfound eating to help me lose weight- and it isn't enough. I need to be back at the gym, but all I want to do when I'm home from work is rest.

If you pour energy into anything, no matter what, it improves the quality of both the output and the finished product. There are so many things in my life deserve that care from me. It's so frustrating to be so sedentary, yet not filled with enough desire to change that...

It has been almost a year since I last posted, as well as a year almost gone by of more weight gain. Not the highest I've ever been but I feel so far from 2002 when I got down to 198.

I'm a little weak & probably am not yet at the right mindframe to do this, but I'm starting over.

Right now I'm doing a week of the 6 Day Body Makeover in which I eat foods that are supposed to help me kickstart my metabolism. Only problem, I'm starving. My body is craving sugar & fat, which I can't have. I eat but the cucumbers & such don't fill the void.

I think I'd become chemically dependent again on food. Otherwise I'm sure it wouldn't be so hard...

Here's to trying it (yet) again. :) :help:

Well, I didn't make it through the entire week of the Thurmond diet. There were only a few pills away in my birth control tray & that should have been a sign, with raging PMS you don't start a difficult eating plan.

But, even though it ended around the evening of day three I ate reasonably after that. Back more on the low g.i. sorta plan. Lunch was Subway where I threw out half the wheat bun, dinner last night was sushi, etc.

This morning I got on the scale & had lost 6.5 lbs! And that is with PMS water bloat. I'm sooo excited. :D

Hi :wave:

I want to apologize for abandoning your journal. I stopped posting in mine too. 8-|

But I have started a new one here in the Journal forum if you want to check it out sometime.

Congratulations on your weight loss. :super: :cheer: I wish I had that type of good news. Right now I am afraid to step on the scale. I fear that all of my previous loss has returned. Nothing is fitting me right. On top of it I have totally fallen off of the Glycemic Index wagon. If you are interested in learning more about it i would be happy to share info with you. It was mentioned in some of your previous posts.

Glad to see you back :) hang in there. I iwll keep checking back.

ria :rose: