any1 treating PCOS with diet and exercise alone??

shellygirl · 08-27-2006, 08:24 AM

Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone is treating PCOS with diet and exercise alone? Has anyone found success this way? (That is, success in their cycle regulating themselves, or success in achieving pregnancy?)

Thanks in advance,
Michelle

Mallory · 08-27-2006, 04:27 PM

I don't feel comfortable doing that right now, because at 5'5 and 165 pounds, I am overweight.

My plan is to try to control my PCOS symptoms with diet, exercise, and herbs when I get down to where I need to be (125 lbs). Losing weight increases your sensitivity to insulin, so I'd rather stay on my metformin until I am at my healthy weight.

shellygirl · 08-28-2006, 08:19 AM

Thanks for your reply Mallory. Weightloss is not an issue for me at the moment, which is why I am half thinking I might give managing PCOS on diet and exercise a shot. I think I managed it half-okay in the past before I was diagnosed, without even realising what was going on. I did notice that I got shorter, healthier cycles when I was exercising and eating well (before dx), but it just didn't click for me that they were related.

***bump*** Anyone else?

Love,
Michelle

DollFin511 · 08-28-2006, 09:40 PM

I would say diet and exercise are the most important ways of treating pcos, though supplementing with vitamins might eventually be needed. My suggestion about how to start is by cutting out all sugar and high fructose corn syrup. A good book with ways of doing so is found at http://www.ovarian-cysts-pcos.com/

The book goes into all the reasons that sugar and processed foods are bad for women with pcos, so I hope you find it useful

shellygirl · 08-29-2006, 03:49 AM

Thanks DollFin!

I use one of the diets recommended in the 'New Glucose Revolution: Managing PCOS' book (low GI diet). I am also heading to see a dietitian who specialises in treating PCOS tomorrow, so I will be interested to hear what she says, and what she recommends for me.

Love,
Michelle

cc9455 · 08-29-2006, 03:54 AM

Michelle,

Let us know what the nutritionist recommends, it will be interesting to see what she tells you!

Claire

DollFin511 · 08-29-2006, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shellygirl

I use one of the diets recommended in the 'New Glucose Revolution: Managing PCOS' book (low GI diet).

I bet that is a good diet, too. Low GI is very important for PCOS, as I'm sure you know. And Yes, please be sure and let us know what the dietitianist says!!

TennisNut · 08-29-2006, 09:42 PM

Hi Michelle!
I am only using diet and exercise for my PCOS. I exercise 5-6 days a week, for at least an hour. (Walking, weight lifting, tennis). I have tried to eliminate most of the simple sugars from my diet. Not always successful, but much better than I used to be. I have had 28-32 days cycles the last 8 months. At one time, I didn't have a period for 6 months!! I would like to lose about 6-8 pounds, but otherwise, I feel great about my success. I no londer take cinnamon, but would take it again in a heartbeat if I felt I needed it because I think it really helped to balance my insulin levels. Right now, I think I am exercising enough to keep my insulin in check.
Also, I know for me it is absolutely neccesary to eat protein with each meal and snack, and to eat breakfast. Good luck!

shellygirl · 08-29-2006, 11:43 PM

TennisNut! That's great news! That's what I wanted to know... if it was possible to be regular on diet and exercise alone. I'm so excited for you, and excited for what this means for the rest of us in terms of another (healthier) treatment option that may be available and successful for us.

I'm off to see the dietitian later today, so I will update you on what she says. She has some amazing credentials (in terms of PCOS and assisted conception diet and nutrition research and expertise) so I am confident what she says will be top quality!

Love,
Michelle

shellygirl · 08-30-2006, 08:05 AM

Ladies,

Just back from dietitian. She certainly thinks it could be possible to manage PCOS on just diet and exercise alone.

She wants me to put on around 7kgs to be ideal weight for ovulation / conception. It seems like I lost too much weight on Metformin. She says I am eating very well for PCOS, but I am a "small eater" so I need to eat more energy dense foods to put weight on. She wants me to eat more protein, more diary, more healthy fats and slightly more carbs to help with the weight gain.

She thinks I will be at my ideal weight in around 4 weeks, and then we will work on maintaining it.

She was supportive of my decision to reduce Metformin to 750mg. I will be seeing my specialist in about a month, so we will battle it out then over what dosage of Met he thinks I should be on!!

I am certainly keen to look at managing PCOS without Met at some stage in the future... will wait and see how things go when I see my specialist next, and also how my weight goes over the next few months. I got 32-40 day cycles on just diet and exercise alone before I started Met, but I only ovulated like once or twice a year. But I am confident with better knowledge about what to eat and the importance of exercise, I could possibly manage it better without Met in the future!

Thanks again for your replies!
Love,
Michelle

cc9455 · 08-31-2006, 02:25 AM

I am so happy you had a good visit with the nutritionist! That is really good news.

I am only a week in to it, but am trying to not have to take any meds unless I really have to and its nice to have proof from a pro that it CAN be done! I'm changing my diet and using some supplements instead and hopefully that will balance things out naturally (even though it may take longer.)

Good Luck with everything!!!

Claire

DollFin511 · 09-02-2006, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cc9455

I am so happy you had a good visit with the nutritionist! That is really good news.

I am only a week in to it, but am trying to not have to take any meds unless I really have to and its nice to have proof from a pro that it CAN be done! I'm changing my diet and using some supplements instead and hopefully that will balance things out naturally (even though it may take longer.)

Good Luck with everything!!!

Claire

I agree with you, Claire. It can be done naturally. Although for SOME, meds might be needed for a short time, until you can get everything under control (like Met), but for some (like ME), every drug I have tried over the last 5 years has made me WORSE. I take the drug, it gets rid of the symptoms, then I get a side effect, so I have to stop taking it... and my PCOS gets worse! This was especially true of BCP. So for ME, the alternative way is the only way. Which means diet, exercise and supplements that support my body. I've already had some success! Check out my thread called "getting results." It takes time, but it will work. I read recently that NPC and supplements can take up to 6 months to bring on AF even once, and a year to make it regular! So don't give up!!!