Hi! I just wanted to say that I got diagnosed with PCOS when I was around 16 years old. I am 22 now, and up until recently, I never had a regular period. My problems at first were minor, but around the time when I was 19, I put on a lot of weight (nearly 50lbs in a span of two years!) and my problems just escalated from there. I started getting coarse hair all over my body, including my face and neck, I got skin tags, my period was more irregular than ever. Finally, when I started losing my hair by the handful did I fully grasp the seriousness of the issue. I realized that unless I took action, the situation would only get worse. Besides the physical problems, I got moodier and withdrawn due to low self-esteem. I developed agoraphobia because I was obssessed with what others thought of me when I went out in public. Styling my hair to conceal my nearly-bald spots would take forever. Finally, when my weight tipped the scales at 225+lbs (I'm 5'5"), I decided that that was enough. I did not want to live my life trapped in my room alone, depressed and bitter at everything and everyone.
Never much of a pill taker, I went to my gynecologist looking for a more natural solution for my issue, but I did not get a very optimistic answer, and was told that I would have to be on meds for life. However, I did not listen to the doctor and did not lose heart. I researched a LOT on nutrition, PCOS and exercise. I started working out at the gym and watched what I ate. It wasn't easy at first, but my health is paramount, and so I had to make the commitment to stick with my diet and exercise and really make a difference. It took time and a lot of perseverence (there were weeks when I lost no weight at all), but I stuck to my plan. The result? I have lost nearly 70lbs, and am still raring to go. My period has been regular for the past five months. The hair on my scalp is growing back to its original glory. The hair on my body is getting finer and takes longer to grow back. My skin tags are all gone, and my skin feels much softer than it used to. I am a much happier and more confident person than I was now. I am no longer agoraphobic; in fact, I look forward to getting outside and seeing people and things everyday!
The reason I'm putting all this information out here (I've never posted anything on a forum before) is because when I was looking for some hope and inspiration online a couple of years ago, I did not find much of a natural solution. Most places just recommended taking drugs. I'm putting my story out here for all those women who are at the same place where I was 3 years ago. Please don't lose hope and never give up... The most important thing for PCOS sufferers is to regulate their metabolism, and naturally, the easiest way to do that is through exercise and diet.
What's my personal plan to fight PCOS? I do a lot of cardio and some weight training. Also, instead of eating big meals 3 times a day, I eat mini-meals throught the day (~every 2-3 hours). I try to make sure that every meal is nutritionally well-balanced, ie it has some carb, some protein and some healthy fat. I also eat a lot of veggies and fruit and make sure that I consume enough fiber and drink plenty of water everyday.
I hope that the info I have put on here will help someone out there with their PCOS troubles. And remember: never give up hope! Get up and take action... take charge of your own life.
Wow, what an inspiration! Thanks for sharing, you might also want to post on the diet and exercise threads to. Welcome to SC!
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PCOS, Male Factor Infertility, and One Tube Wonder! Surprise BFP 10/6/05, Placenta Previa 11/05 Incompetent Cervix and Pre-term Labor 3/13/06 DD born 5/06
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Thanks for your post. I am newly diagnosed and new to SC. Is there any particular diet plan you followed? I am reasearching some of the ones mentioned on this board, esp the Insulin Resistance Diet book and am trying to decide what to go with. I really want to make lifestyle changes that are going to help my symptoms. I, too, have thinning hair, skin tags and am 210lbs at 5'6".
Thanks,
Michelle
I think you'll find that cysters have had success on all types of diet plans: Glycemic balanced ones, low carb, vegetarian, and traditional (like Weight Watchers).
The key is to pick one that you feel you can stick with for the long haul to get the weight off.
The other key is developing a solid workout plan. For me, getting fit was at least 50% of my success. Sticking to my diet was 40%. The 'choice' of diet was 10%.
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Hey, SoulCysters! Need to eat more veggies, but can't find recipes??
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Svietlana & Michelle, welcome to SC! Thank you for sharing your story, Svietlana. I was Dx 30+ years ago with Stein-Leventhal Syndrome which was long before the era of computers & the TONS of information we now have available. I can honestly say I'm still learning more nowadays & am VERY grateful for this site in creating camaraderie as well as having such a rich source of excellent medical data. This site has reaffirmed my belief that you never stop learning.
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I'm helping a friend with her business:
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Just a gardening-chef-domestic engineer-SAHM who helps out in DS's school just about everyday (I'm there for the big bucks -LOL! )
For my diet, I eat as many different types of fruits and green vegetables. At each meal, I have some vegetables (collards, kale, broccoli, tomatoes, etc.), some carbs (<50% of the total amount of food), some protien (meat, legumes, fish. etc) and some healthy fat (eg. olive oil, cheese, seeds, nuts) I didn't take any medication whatsoever for my PCOS. I make sure that I don't eat a lot at a time, like I only eat till I feel a good kind of full... not stuffed.... I also eat every 2-3 hours. I always have breakfast, no exceptions, and eat something with fibre and protein (eg. bran cereal with milk and bananas, boiled eggs and toast, etc.). I also sip water throughout the day (a rough approximation: 1/2 cup every 20-25 minutes). I look up the nutritional information of foods I eat (a good source: world's healthiest foods website). I also look at the nutritional info on food packages (carbs, fat, calories, protein and sodium contents, usually). I don't eat enriched "white" carbs, except white rice.
For my workout, I do cardio for 45 minutes 4 times a week and weight training 4 times a week (each body part 2 times a week). I also go for walks, and just generally try to do something active everyday.
HOWEVER...
We all know that there's a lot more involved in losing weight and staying on track than just a workout and eating plan. What's involved is the right mindset. Everyone has good and bad days, energetic and lazy days. No matter how you feel though, it must be realized and understood that health is paramount. Eating away your problems only adds to your problems and nothing else. And also, no one can push you to go the distance, only you can. Getting the right attitude was the hardest thing I had to deal with, but I took it one day at a time, and now, eating right and working out are part of my life.
Another attitude adjustment is knowing that losing weight takes time and a LOT of patience. You didn't gain the weight in one day. It will not come off in one day... or even one month... or maybe even one year... depending on how much you have to lose. The key is to just stick with the plan and stay hopeful. Believe me... you will definitely see results, provided that you are honest to yourself in sticking to the plan.
I hope that this information helped, YoungChick. I will periodically come to this site just to give some advice or give some helpful hints.
Thanks for making me feel so welcome everyone! I really appreciate all the advice...it's wonderful to hear about your stories and what has worked for you.
Svietlana - thanks for all the details and tips. I am trying to get myself motivated to exercise on most days and to eat better. It's hard because that has not been apart of my life for so long. We just bought a treadmill for our home so that should make the excuses less on that end. I guess what appeared to be so daunting, and at the same time wonderful, about PCOS is that my lifestyle can have a lot of effect on how badly my symptoms can be. At least that is what reading posts on this message boards has led me to believe. I've never been good about eating right and exercising, but that is the one thing I need to focus on the most now to make myself as healthy as possible. When I was diagnosed and started researching, this was scary to me because I felt like I would fail. But being on this site has helped me to believe maybe I can to things to make myself healthy.
Thanks so much for the advise and support.
Michelle
There's hope for PCOS sufferers! 
thanks for sharing your story
