I cannot lose weight which I'm told is likely because I have PCOS. I don't mean I can't stay on a diet, I mean I can eat very small amounts of food and not lose weight. Supposedly surgery will change hormones enough to allow weight loss, but I'm terrified that I will have surgery, eat next to nothing but still not lose weight.

Just now, Serengirl said:

This is all really informative actually and I like the cold hard facts so thank you but this is the first time ever i have heard that Protein Shakes were making you gain weight? How? You mean Like Premier Protein type shakes that have 1 gram of sugar? Im an occasional pescatarian but mostly vegetarian bec I dont ever eat meat so i rely on shakes to get in all of my protein but i am fascinated by the fact that shakes can make you gain. did you test your blood sugar after drinking them? how did you discover this? Its hard enough for me to get in protein but god if i cant have at least one shake a day I am boned. Theres only so many eggs a girl can eat.

also what does WLM mean?

3 hours ago, Darktowerdream said:

Struggled most of my life with chronic illness and many medical conditions. Of these I was diagnosed with late onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia, pcos, and eventually endometriosis. My body fights against me every step of the way. I initially lost weight cutting carbs, sugar to below 20 net carbs and also cutting calories. While this did work in the first go around I couldn’t maintain as well as I wished. Despite every effort. It doesn’t help that I am unable to exercise. But at some point despite eating 800 calories, counting carbs, being strict about little to no sugar, etc. my weight skyrocketed and I sought out help but doctors didn’t want to hear it. They assumed it was my fault, my eating habits. I fought my food addiction, my sugar and carb addiction in the past and I knew this time it wasn’t even that. But they didn’t want to hear it.

Eventually I decided to fight for bariatric surgery. I wasn’t sure it would happen but it did. And while I feel like I will never be able to eat normal calories and by normal I mean even 800 calories. I. Grateful for the tool, I do the best I can to keep carbs and sugar down, and mainly I track my weight daily, and what I eat, calories and Protein so I get at least 50 some days 60 grams of protein. I feel like too much and it just turns to glucose and pcos is glucose intolerance. My calories are 300-400 a day. Averaging in the middle. Some days less than others. My weight has gone down slowly but surely. But it still scares me. Especially with my chronic illness getting worse. And now I had surgery to remove my last ovary and remove what endometriosis the doctor could find and ended up with another chronic condition diagnosis in the process.

Not all calories are the same. I think some part of me is worried I won’t continue to lose with regular foods. Seeing as how I was eating healthy and gaining before. But for now I just get the protein I need and take it one day at a time.

I too have Endo and i am so sorry for what you have gone through, bec it blows. How long have you been on just 300-400 calories? That seems excessively low and do you mind me asking, what do you eat to get up to 60 grams of protein when you can consume so few calories? I had no idea protein turns to glucose? I swear i learn more on these boards than i ever did from ANY of my Drs ever...

7 hours ago, Serengirl said:

This is all really informative actually and I like the cold hard facts so thank you but this is the first time ever i have heard that Protein Shakes were making you gain weight? How? You mean Like Premier Protein type shakes that have 1 gram of sugar? Im an occasional pescatarian but mostly vegetarian bec I dont ever eat meat so i rely on shakes to get in all of my protein but i am fascinated by the fact that shakes can make you gain. did you test your blood sugar after drinking them? how did you discover this? Its hard enough for me to get in protein but god if i cant have at least one shake a day I am boned. Theres only so many eggs a girl can eat.

Whey protein isolate is very insulinogenic. Although blood sugar may go down after drinking a wp drink, it's going down because we've dumped a crap ton of insulin on it. Now, when you have PCOS, we already are insulin resistance to begin with and so we dump maybe 10X as much insulin in response to the wp meal which results in? Weight loss slowing, stalls, or gains.

My gains were influenced primarily as a result of fluid, not true weight. But I had the frustrating response of starving myself and seeing a subsequent gain or lack of loss.

Yes, excess anything causes weight gain. Even fat.

Here is a very helpful article that explains it very well. The doctor is a noted nephrologist and fasting specialist. He deals in metabolic medicine. His name is Dr. Jason Fung.

https://idmprogram.com/insulin-index/

Edited October 20, 20196 yr by FluffyChix

7 hours ago, Serengirl said:

I too have Endo and i am so sorry for what you have gone through, bec it blows. How long have you been on just 300-400 calories? That seems excessively low and do you mind me asking, what do you eat to get up to 60 grams of protein when you can consume so few calories? I had no idea protein turns to glucose? I swear i learn more on these boards than i ever did from ANY of my Drs ever...

I find I keep my protein around 50 grams but up to 60 and every so often a little more. Usually by accident. ive been doing average 340 but it can range 290-440 depending on the day. What I have to eat or plan to eat. I’m struggling with foods and consistencies and textures and swallowing issues.

i guess here are some examples:

1. PEScience peanut butter cookie protein powder = 120 calories, 24 grams protein

TwoGood vanilla yogurt 5.3 o = 80 calories, 12 grams protein

friendship whipped cottage cheese 4 oz = 90 calories, 16 grams protein

Total 290 calories, 52 grams protein

sometimes I also have good culture cottage cheese 5.3 oz 110 calories, 19 grams protein. I usually have the protein powder with ripple milk (4 ounces is 4 grams protein) but I’ve been mixing it in TwoGood yogurt.

2. Koia cinnamon horchata rtd (plant based) = 190 calories, 18 grams protein

two soft boiled eggs = 140 calories, 12 grams protein

BariatricPal grapefruit flavor protein juice = 80 calories, 15 grams protein

total = 410 calories, 45 grams protein

sometimes I have BariatricPal creamy chicken pasta mixed with a packet of beef broth soup for 30 grams of protein and 210 calories

I might have a protein shot which is 60 calories, 15 grams protein

just a few examples. And My surgery was April 29th. I know I’m not normal. I’m doing the best I can. maybe I’m not a good example. I’m not perfect, I have very little energy to plan out meals. I tend to not have lunch. My fatigue is not related to calories, it’s a chronic illness. The more exertion the more fatigue. I cope however I can.

thank you @FluffyChix you Always provide excellent information. I probably should stop commenting since my way isn’t the norm.

My weight loss has always been slow, and then stopped. I found out after surgery I had a thyroid problem. I have lost 120, but now it's crept up a little. (Very very very little, but that's enough to not want to risk it. I'm trying to get back into working out again, would like to lose weight before my wedding) I'm 4 years out. I have all sorts of hormonal issues, but it has been worth it for me.

5 hours ago, Darktowerdream said:

I find I keep my protein around 50 grams but up to 60 and every so often a little more. Usually by accident. ive been doing average 340 but it can range 290-440 depending on the day. What I have to eat or plan to eat. I’m struggling with foods and consistencies and textures and swallowing issues.

i guess here are some examples:

1. PEScience Peanut Butter cookie Protein Powder = 120 calories, 24 grams protein

TwoGood vanilla yogurt 5.3 o = 80 calories, 12 grams protein

friendship whipped cottage cheese 4 oz = 90 calories, 16 grams protein

Total 290 calories, 52 grams protein

sometimes I also have good culture cottage cheese 5.3 oz 110 calories, 19 grams protein. I usually have the protein powder with ripple milk (4 ounces is 4 grams protein) but I’ve been mixing it in TwoGood yogurt.

2. Koia cinnamon horchata rtd (plant based) = 190 calories, 18 grams protein

two soft boiled eggs = 140 calories, 12 grams protein

BariatricPal grapefruit flavor protein juice = 80 calories, 15 grams protein

total = 410 calories, 45 grams protein

sometimes I have BariatricPal creamy chicken Pasta mixed with a packet of beef broth Soup for 30 grams of protein and 210 calories

I might have a protein shot which is 60 calories, 15 grams protein

just a few examples. And My surgery was April 29th. I know I’m not normal. I’m doing the best I can. maybe I’m not a good example. I’m not perfect, I have very little energy to plan out meals. I tend to not have lunch. My fatigue is not related to calories, it’s a chronic illness. The more exertion the more fatigue. I cope however I can.

thank you @FluffyChix you Always provide excellent information. I probably should stop commenting since my way isn’t the norm.

I think No one is the norm since everyones body is different and i think we can all learn from each other, so I for one love your feedback. I do hope you start to feel better soon and that maybe the weightloss will help your chronic illness? is that a possibility? I always like seeing what other people eat because honestly i get ideas for things to eat since i am so restricted (i dont eat meat) and picky in what i can eat.

18 minutes ago, kelliecakes said:

My weight loss has always been slow, and then stopped. I found out after surgery I had a thyroid problem. I have lost 120, but now it's crept up a little. (Very very very little, but that's enough to not want to risk it. I'm trying to get back into working out again, would like to lose weight before my wedding) I'm 4 years out. I have all sorts of hormonal issues, but it has been worth it for me.

120 is amazing congrats.

19 hours ago, Darktowerdream said:

Struggled most of my life with chronic illness and many medical conditions. Of these I was diagnosed with late onset congenital adrenal hyperplasia, pcos, and eventually endometriosis. My body fights against me every step of the way. I initially lost weight cutting carbs, sugar to below 20 net carbs and also cutting calories. While this did work in the first go around I couldn’t maintain as well as I wished. Despite every effort. It doesn’t help that I am unable to exercise. But at some point despite eating 800 calories, counting carbs, being strict about little to no sugar, etc. my weight skyrocketed and I sought out help but doctors didn’t want to hear it. They assumed it was my fault, my eating habits. I fought my food addiction, my sugar and carb addiction in the past and I knew this time it wasn’t even that. But they didn’t want to hear it.

Eventually I decided to fight for bariatric surgery. I wasn’t sure it would happen but it did. And while I feel like I will never be able to eat normal calories and by normal I mean even 800 calories. I. Grateful for the tool, I do the best I can to keep carbs and sugar down, and mainly I track my weight daily, and what I eat, calories and Protein so I get at least 50 some days 60 grams of protein. I feel like too much and it just turns to glucose and pcos is glucose intolerance. My calories are 300-400 a day. Averaging in the middle. Some days less than others. My weight has gone down slowly but surely. But it still scares me. Especially with my chronic illness getting worse. And now I had surgery to remove my last ovary and remove what endometriosis the doctor could find and ended up with another chronic condition diagnosis in the process.

Not all calories are the same. I think some part of me is worried I won’t continue to lose with regular foods. Seeing as how I was eating healthy and gaining before. But for now I just get the protein I need and take it one day at a time.

Dark- wait so with the PCOS do you think you might be getting too much protein past 50 or 60g?? I've not researched that angle of it, the insulin resistance & protein. I've been shooting for 65g of protein daily, maybe that's too much for me. Hmm.

50 minutes ago, JanJan19 said:

Dark- wait so with the PCOS do you think you might be getting too much protein past 50 or 60g?? I've not researched that angle of it, the insulin resistance & protein. I've been shooting for 65g of protein daily, maybe that's too much for me. Hmm.

I found weight stalls if I consistently went too high over 50-60 I usually get average 50 grams of protein but some days a little more or less than others. I did some research. I had studied nutrition and holistic health in the past but so much changes. There is new research on protein and how there are many misconceptions about how much we need. assumption that it’s best to consume protein before exercise yet I’ve read that it’s best at rest for muscle recovery. Fat seems to fuel better than protein.

It’s my personal opinion that the bariatric protein requirements are very high. Also the type of protein makes a difference. It’s assumed 100% whey protein isolate is best but I find a blend of isolate and casein best.

I still feel like I know nothing and when. I hit roadblocks I do my best to find a way past it. For example when I lost weight in the past with strict low carb and calorie counting I wanted to add more vegetables, yet my weight crept up with that simple change.

2 hours ago, Serengirl said:

I think No one is the norm since everyones body is different and i think we can all learn from each other, so I for one love your feedback. I do hope you start to feel better soon and that maybe the weightloss will help your chronic illness? is that a possibility? I always like seeing what other people eat because honestly i get ideas for things to eat since i am so restricted (i dont eat meat) and picky in what i can eat.

I was writing a response and it disappeared. For a long time I’ve wanted to eat less meat and add in vegetarian protein. But for some reason whenever I try adding vegetables my weight goes up. I lost a lot of weight before but as I wanted to add in vegetarian foods and vegetables my weight crept up. I still don’t know what happened that I needed up on the road back to square one and over 200lbs. at some point I want to try vegetarian protein but with various food allergies I have to be careful.

I know that losing weight won’t help my chronic illness, at least not my main medical condition I’ve had since I was a child. But I also know that any burden I can take off my body, by treating what offshoot medical conditions I can or by being a healthy weight, will at least ease some of the burden on my body. Less of me to carry around so I can move around a little easier. Especially as my health declines in ways I can’t control or stop. It’s just exhausting constantly battling my weight. And that the things that makes a normal person better, actually makes me worse (ie. Exercise)

I can’t remember what I meant to say in my response. But when I can I buy BariatricPal protein, like in soups. I recently got their pancake and it’s pretty good, 100 calories and 15 grams protein. What gets my weight going down isn’t always consistent. But then my weight tends to crawl and stall for two weeks then go down.

I was worried my last surgery would cause gain but thankfully it didn’t. It’s slow going now and I find myself struggling to change to regular foods and add soft vegetables.

Im basically 3 months out and lost 46lbs with PCOS. I have read if you eat too little that can also affect your weight loss because you're basically starving your body so its going to hold on to what it's getting. My docs want me to strive for 800-1000 calories a day and no more then 25-30g of carbs per meal and thats 5-6 meals a day so like 150g of carbs a day allowed. I know I usually hit the 800-1000 calories a day, but don't hit the carbs mark I probably get like 50 carbs a day. I would try upping your calorie/carbs intake and see if it helps drop some lbs.

23 hours ago, Darktowerdream said:

It’s my personal opinion that the bariatric protein requirements are very high. Also the type of protein makes a difference. It’s assumed 100% whey protein isolate is best but I find a blend of isolate and casein best.

I have found this to be true for me. The isolate hits my blood stream way too fast, causing a bigger insulin spike. The blend of concentrate to isolate is slower acting and doesn't appear to give the same kind of blood sugar disregulation.

I too think your experience is valuable. We are all outliers.

I'm so sad your journey is so tough. Keep doing it. One day at a time!!! I promise, progress does add up.

I'm 8.5 months out at this point and am crawling along at a snail's pace.

At my 6 month follow up the NP said I was doing so great, and only had 10 lbs to go - I said that I really had about 20 lbs to go, but you know how they formulate it differently to have as many success stories as possible. 70% of excess weight rather than healthy BMI. But whatever, I told her my personal goal was 128 not 138.

I asked for guidance on how much I should be eating as I was aware of less restriction and more hunger - she told me 600 cals a day until I go back at the 1 year mark. That seemed extreme to me, but I did it for a while. I'm a compulsive tracker - have 8 years worth of tracking on MFP. Daily, I track weight, calories, protein, water, carbs, fat, steps, exercise, bowel movements, menstruation, ovulation. The scale didn't move on 600 and I gained a little. And my energy was terrible, my skin awful, and I began having more food cravings.

Honestly - and I am a PCOS weirdo, and none of us are in any way typical at all, and I am not saying anyone else should do this - I only see consistent downward movement on the scale when I up my calories to 1100-1200 and up my carbs to 100g. It is terrifying to me to eat more carbs, but for now I'm going with it. My stats, graphs, and charts show a real correlation that I don't think is coincidence. I am well used to being disciplined - I think as PCOSers we all are - so I will stay on this protocol for a while and if it stops working, it won't be hard for me to go lower again.

I avoided coming on here for a while as I felt like I was a fraud or a cheat or I would be admonished for not doing things the "right" way - but I know my body and I'm honest with myself about what I put into it, so for right now this is what is working for me, and me alone.

I don't think it helps that it is the last 20 lbs I am trying to lose, and everyone always says they just don't want to budge.

(I am also a vegetarian BTW - have been since I was 6 - and I don't have any trouble getting plenty of protein from food. I haven't had to have protein shakes since 6 weeks out. I do a lot of dairy though: FF cottage cheese, FF Greek yoghurt, light babybel cheeses.)

Hey! I have pcos and tbh my weight loss a month out has been very very slow. I lost a lot during the liquid diet but not too much after. Told once I get in the gym it’ll be better. Hope that helps

6 hours ago, Boldilocks said:

I'm 8.5 months out at this point and am crawling along at a snail's pace.

At my 6 month follow up the NP said I was doing so great, and only had 10 lbs to go - I said that I really had about 20 lbs to go, but you know how they formulate it differently to have as many success stories as possible. 70% of excess weight rather than healthy BMI. But whatever, I told her my personal goal was 128 not 138.

I asked for guidance on how much I should be eating as I was aware of less restriction and more hunger - she told me 600 cals a day until I go back at the 1 year mark. That seemed extreme to me, but I did it for a while. I'm a compulsive tracker - have 8 years worth of tracking on MFP. Daily, I track weight, calories, Protein, Water, carbs, fat, steps, exercise, bowel movements, menstruation, ovulation. The scale didn't move on 600 and I gained a little. And my energy was terrible, my skin awful, and I began having more food cravings.

Honestly - and I am a PCOS weirdo, and none of us are in any way typical at all, and I am not saying anyone else should do this - I only see consistent downward movement on the scale when I up my calories to 1100-1200 and up my carbs to 100g. It is terrifying to me to eat more carbs, but for now I'm going with it. My stats, graphs, and charts show a real correlation that I don't think is coincidence. I am well used to being disciplined - I think as PCOSers we all are - so I will stay on this protocol for a while and if it stops working, it won't be hard for me to go lower again.

I avoided coming on here for a while as I felt like I was a fraud or a cheat or I would be admonished for not doing things the "right" way - but I know my body and I'm honest with myself about what I put into it, so for right now this is what is working for me, and me alone.

I don't think it helps that it is the last 20 lbs I am trying to lose, and everyone always says they just don't want to budge.

(I am also a vegetarian BTW - have been since I was 6 - and I don't have any trouble getting plenty of protein from food. I haven't had to have Protein Shakes since 6 weeks out. I do a lot of dairy though: FF cottage cheese, FF Greek yoghurt, light babybel cheeses.)

Hey Boldi! I'm always afraid to comment for fear of admonishment as well. Whomp whomp. It sounds like you've figured out what works for you & that's awesome. I've found as well sometimes not every single thing the doctor says is good for us individually. Like mine said no need to weigh food at this point, eat just until I'm full. Like... uh no. I can absolutely do this in a restaurant just fine. But on a day to day basis at home? I still want/need to weigh & measure to keep myself from increasing portions.

-- I want to hug this comment---
I avoided coming on here for a while as I felt like I was a fraud or a cheat or I would be admonished for not doing things the "right" way - but I know my body and I'm honest with myself about what I put into it, so for right now this is what is working for me, and me alone.