Does any of this sound familiar??? I need some guidance!

[weight2Go]

I tend to ramble on, so bare with me...

Age:30
Gender:Female
Health issues: PCOS, insulin resistance, high blood pressure

It all started when i hit puberty, when i gained over 60lbs over the summer holidays. It blew my mind as to how this happened. I was not vegging out doing nothing, I was helping my father on the farm, and most of my time that summer, I was baling hay. If anyone knows about this, it is a hot grueling task, that starts in early morning, and your don't finish until the sun goes down. I went to see my Dr. about the weight, and all he said was wow, you must be eating too much. He sent me to a nutrionist where they gave me a strict diet to follow. What i can rememeber of it, breakfast was 1 pc. mof whole grain toast, and 1 egg. Lunch was 1 cup cook pasta with an oil/vinegar dressing, peas and onions, and for dinner was a huge green salad with tomatoes, and for dessert, I was allowed to have fat-free jello. Needless to say, 2 moths into the diet, and I put on an additional 20lbs. So, I went back to dear old doc. He told me i must be cheating! I was crushed... I had followed his diet religiously. I left his office, and didn't go back.
At the age of 18, was diagnosed with PCOS and elevated levels of testosterone.
Age 19 diagnosed with high blood pressure
Now weighing in at 240 on a 5'3 frame.....
Doc, puts me on birth control pills to regulate my cycles...MORE WEIGHT!!!!
Treid multiple types of diets, to have absolutely no effet or more weight yet again.
Start starving myself..literally. I was eating 1 tbsp of low-fat yourgut and one dill pickle daily, sometimes skipping days in between. Weight was fianlly seeming to go, It took 2 years to get down to 135lbs. I felt wonderful. Then met a guy....happiness leads to weight gain??? well, it did for me. He didn't like my "diet". He wanted me to eat, and watching him eat, made me want to eat. I started eating raisin bran cereal in the mornings, chicken for dinner, and the weight came back in leaps and bounds. I noticed it coming back, but it didn't bother me as much, as I finally had someone who loved me...at least i thought so. After 3years he lfet me because i was no longer the woman he fell in love with...It was "hard" for him to be attracted to someone who was fat. The most devestating words to ever hear!
Many years have passed..the hurt probably will never leave!
I am happily involved now, and have 2 beautiful children...many obstacles have been over come (usually fighting with dr's to get with it) but many more goals to set and reach!
I weighed 296lbs at the end of my pregnancy 7 1/2 mths ago...have lost some, and weigh around 250lbs...
We are moving to a new place in Oct. and a new life begins...I will be starting atkins then (not alone, my hubby is going to try it too...he's just has a tiny tummy)
If you have any advice on how to get started, and what to look out for, please let me know!!! I want to make this work!

[MsManners]

Re: Does any of this sound familiar??? I need some guidance!

STOP!!!!!
Back up. Now you were diagnosed with PCOS. Okay.
Are you taking medication?
Are you in on going treatment?
Have you had endocrinology reviews?

This is a hormonal issue that CAN be regulated and reversed with medication.

Once you were diagnosed you should have been put on medication depending on the type of PCOS you have. While most hormonal meds include a degree of steroid, new ones use a synthetic steroid which should help you lower your weight. But part of the side effects of the meds are rapid weight loss.

Plus, from a quick read through, people with PCOS should NOT avoid fruits, but instead should be on a GI diet, NOT a diet that potentially increases fat intake.

Maybe you have checked all this out, but it sounds to me like you REALLY need to talk to a specialist (endocrinologist) about this BEFORE you start a weight loss program.

Alex

[Spirit_Wolf]

Re: Does any of this sound familiar??? I need some guidance!

I would not throw the Atkins diet away out of hand for PCOS. I know for certain that it improves insulin resistance in 2 ways, but decreasing the need for insulin production (because insulin is secreted in response to carb consumption) and by facilitating weightloss which by itself can improve insulin resistance. I have been informed by several people that going on Atkins allowed them to get off Metformin (which is the drug most commonly perscribed for insulin resistance)! Having said that, you should definitely work with a Dr. if you are on any medication, especially for diabetes or insulin resistance, because Atkins works so well at reversing these conditions and your dosage needs to be monitored so you don't hurt yourself with an overdose!
If you are not on any meds and want to avoid needing them in the future then I say go ahead and try Atkins!
Three pieces of advice:
1)Get the 2002 edition of Dr. Atkins book and READ it. You really need to do this as it helps to explain how the diet works and is extremely inspiring!
2)Do a clean induction. Don't cheat, don't overeat restricted foods like cheese and cream. If you are hungry eat meat or deviled eggs and realize that some of the hunger of induction is simply cravings, not true hunger. It is difficult for the first few days and you may even feel sick (induction flu) but eventually you feel terrific and the hunger goes away!
3)Post in the forum, ask questions, start a journal if you want, try the exercise challenges (they have inspired me!) and remember you are not alone!

[missnikki217]

Re: Does any of this sound familiar??? I need some guidance!

Just thought I'd pop in and say i have these same problems at 21.

I was diagnosed with PCOS at 14 (put on birth control to treat it - regulate cycles, reduce cramp pain) as well as pre-diabetes, High blood pressure at 19. I find this diet helps with the side effects of PCOS - the harsh cramps, trace periods. For blood pressure, well I'm thinking it must be hereditary, because nothing I have tried seems to lower it, even exercise. But I must say, it is much lower on Atkins+Meds than it was before the meds, and with only the meds.

[weight2Go]

Re: Does any of this sound familiar??? I need some guidance!

Thanks for responding...

The only reason I got diagnosed with pcos was becuase my older sister was going to a dermatologist for bad acne, and when her blood work came back, he commented on it, and asked if anyone else in the family had similar symptoms etc... I then went to him for the initial blood wor, and he put me on spironolactone for my hair growth, but nothing else.
Fast forward many years...
I requested birth control from my Dr...
then my mom was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes...so, i did some research...and saw this thing called insulin resistance, and it sounded so much like me.
At that time, I had been trying to concieve our first child (only 2 years ago...)it had been several months with no luck. I mentioned to my dr. that maybe i could get some blood work done to rule out insulin resistance, and she denied me. saying that i didn't have it, that i must just be eating too much...I was so sick of hearing this, as i was recovering from a 2 year bout with anorexia, and the moment i ate anything, and i literally mean anything, then weight came back on with a vengance!
So i went to another Dr. who sent me for the blood work, and it came back that myh insulin levels are 5 times what they should be!!!
He sent me immediately to a fetility DR., where i was put on Metformin... 5 mths later, i was Pregnant!!
My biggest pet peeve, is that they all blame over eating! It's not always that simple. I'm not saying I don't enjoy the odd chocolate, or chips, but who doesn't!!! Instead of them researching and doing blood test (repeatedly if nessecary!) and find the missing link!
Everything i've learned about myself, has been all self researched. I don't have any special Doctor looking out for my well being.
I wish you better luck, than i have had...May the world wake up, and stop pointing fingers, and lend a helping hand instead!