Could PCOS be the reason I've always been overweight?
Hi all,
I was dx with PCOS in May, but sort of suspected I may have it for the past year. I'm lucky in that I don't have any of the issues with facial hair (with the exception of one annoying hair under my chin) or acne or any of the other really awful symptoms. But since coming off the pill I've had very irregular periods and am ttc, so that's why I went to the dr and then got dx. Anyway, I've been overweight my whole life despite being a fairly active kid and eating pretty well (we weren't allowed to have junk food or sodas and rarely had desserts). When I graduated high school I weighed around 170 and looked the best I ever have. About a year later I met my husband and my eating habits and activity went way downhill and in the past 10 years I've gained about 60lbs. For a while I've been thinking that my weight gain caused me to have PCOS and what I've done to myself is going to make ttc very difficult. I know that I did cause the weight gain, but did I cause the PCOS also? Could I have had the PCOS all along and that's why I was such a chubby kid?
No one can give you a definitive answer on that, but more than likely, most doctors will say that pcos is NOT the reason you've always been overweight.
Healthy weight for any particular height has a fairly broad range, but for the most part it's based on 'energy balance' (or calorie balance), rather than just being 'fairly active' and 'eating healthy'.
As for causing pcos... There's no definitive answer there, either, however, the current theory is that it's genetic.
The 'first' answer, when it comes to treating pcos is a foundation of healthy lifestyle habits (ie a calorie controlled, healthy diet, coupled with daily exercise totaling a minimum of 300 minutes per week.)
If you have other pcos-related symptoms, or are TTC, your doctor might also suggest medications to help in those areas.
For specifics, check out the stickies at the tops of the various forums here. They will give you great talking points, and background for when you meet with your doctor.
Fortunately, you're in a great city for pcos treatment. Lots of good, knowledgeable doctors in the ATL.
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Hey, SoulCysters! Need to eat more veggies, but can't find recipes??
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I have always wondered the same thing. PCOS is thought to be inherited but no one in my family has had problems like I do. I guess I just got the short end of the stick.
As for TTC, I went to my OB/GYN and he gave me the provera and clomid I needed to get pregnant. Thankfully it only took 2 cycles because I told DH that if it didn't work after 2 cycles then I was not going to keep trying. I was turned away from Infertility treatment centers in ATL because of my weight and I am not on the extreme side of overweight. I am usually around 240-250.
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Jennifer (27)
Clomid 100mg June 2008 - BFP July 7th It's a BOY!!! - James Hunter born March 8, 2009 @ 10:30pm 7 lbs 11 oz, 20 inches long
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I have often asked myself the same question. My mother didn't have my sister and I until she was almost thirty because she had alot of trouble conceiving. I just assumed it was going the smae issues and of course I do. My weight gain occured much the way yours did, but when my sister died about 5 years ago it became worse. I am at 290-300. I am working aout 30 minutes a day. I feel better, but not losing much weight. My doctor recently put me on a prescription for weight loss. Is it the PCOS that makes is so difficult?
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I have always wondered the same thing. PCOS is thought to be inherited but no one in my family has had problems like I do. I guess I just got the short end of the stick.
I am at 290-300. I am working aout 30 minutes a day. I feel better, but not losing much weight. My doctor recently put me on a prescription for weight loss. Is it the PCOS that makes is so difficult?
No, it's not the pcos...
It's awesome that you're working out 30 minutes a day, but for weight loss the number needs to be at 60 minutes a day 5-6 days a week. Since you can already comfortably do 30, consider adding a second workout session, at some point during the day for 30 minutes. That will give you a total of 60.
I started out at over 240 pounds (and lost 90) by working out 2x a day, and watching what I ate.
The doctor who created the weight loss program that all contestants on The Biggest Loser follow also recommends that people looking to lose weight work out 2x a day.
His book is wonderful. I highly recommend it to everyone. I've posted the pdf of the first two chapters over at Fit Cysters.
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Hey, SoulCysters! Need to eat more veggies, but can't find recipes??
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Could PCOS be the reason I've always been overweight? 
well, my two aunt and my grandmother all seemed to have pcos - but were never dx with it.
