2 Months on PCOS System

[Stephanie]

I have been taking the PCOS System for about 2 months now - just started my 3rd box. I accidentally skipped one week (due to vacation) and have missed a few pills a couple of times (mostly been pretty consistent).

I was just diagnosed in January w/ PCOS. I've had a weight problem for years and all the docs ever told me was to lose weight. DUH! I'm 28 years old - 5'5 260 lbs. I don't eat alot. I get about 1000 calories a day and I exercise for at least 1 hour a day 5-6 days a week. I admit that I need to cut back the carbs but what else? All I do is gain weight or stay the same. I've been eating 1000 to 1200 calories a day since January and can't shed not 1 lb!!! I'm so far beyond frustrated that I can't think straight.

Since I've been on this system I've lost and gained the same 5 lbs back several times. They only thing I can say is at least I lost the 5 lbs before gaining it back instead of only gaining or staying the same. I'm not going to give up on the system yet - I'm still committed to it but I just don't know what else to do.

My real dilemma is I want to get pregnant. I just had my period last month but have yet to ovulate. I just don't think it's going to happen. I don't know if any doctor will do invitro with me being so over weight and I guess I just need some answer as to whether I should just keep going or give up and adopt. I just feel so hopeless.

I guess my questions are:

what else can I do to try and lose the weight?
should I wait and see if eventually I can get pregnant naturally?
would a doctor do invitro given my weight?

Thanks for listening to my whine!! lol

[drheather]

Originally Posted by Stephanie

I have been taking the PCOS System for about 2 months now - just started my 3rd box. I accidentally skipped one week (due to vacation) and have missed a few pills a couple of times (mostly been pretty consistent).

I was just diagnosed in January w/ PCOS. I've had a weight problem for years and all the docs ever told me was to lose weight. DUH! I'm 28 years old - 5'5 260 lbs. I don't eat alot. I get about 1000 calories a day and I exercise for at least 1 hour a day 5-6 days a week. I admit that I need to cut back the carbs but what else? All I do is gain weight or stay the same. I've been eating 1000 to 1200 calories a day since January and can't shed not 1 lb!!! I'm so far beyond frustrated that I can't think straight.

Since I've been on this system I've lost and gained the same 5 lbs back several times. They only thing I can say is at least I lost the 5 lbs before gaining it back instead of only gaining or staying the same. I'm not going to give up on the system yet - I'm still committed to it but I just don't know what else to do.

My real dilemma is I want to get pregnant. I just had my period last month but have yet to ovulate. I just don't think it's going to happen. I don't know if any doctor will do invitro with me being so over weight and I guess I just need some answer as to whether I should just keep going or give up and adopt. I just feel so hopeless.

I guess my questions are:

what else can I do to try and lose the weight?
should I wait and see if eventually I can get pregnant naturally?
would a doctor do invitro given my weight?

Thanks for listening to my whine!! lol

Hello,

Thanks for writing in. I am glad to hear that you are using the PCOS System. I understand how frustrating this is. But I would say, do not give up. We have a new group starting at Insulite, it is called "Talking PCOS: Stay Strong" It is a group support and information call that features customer coaches - women who have been successful in learning how to manage their PCOS - chatting, taking questions, offering information, and support to other women with PCOS. The call is every Tuesday at 8pm EDT. Here’s the call-in number: 712-432-0111 (U.S.) Access Code: 1053033 #. This may be a great option for you.

I think you are doing some really great things to support your weight loss. However, 1000 calories may be a little low and can may slow your metabolism.

As you know, when it comes to PCOS, reducing carbs is going to be very important. This is where you may see some more changes in your weight. I have recommended a website to see where you are at currently with carbs, www.fitday.com. It is free and will help you to get an idea and then from there, start to reduce by 5-10% a week.

The exercise you are doing is great, so keep it up.

The choice to use fertility treatments is up to you. That is not something I can advise on. Your reproductive endocrinologist would be the best person to ask what steps they will consider.

I am hopeful that you will start to see more changes on the System. As you know, it is not process that is quick but more slow and steady.

Have you seen any other changes since you started? Energy, changes in cycle, mood, etc.?

Please let me know how I can help. Oh, you are not whining and I am happy to help in any way that I can.

[Stephanie]

Hi Doc! Thanks for taking an interest!

So, you think I should add more calories? Maybe around 1400 a day? I did go to fitday and signed up and told it what I wanted to lose and it suggested about 1400 a day.

How many carbs should I have a day? I'm the type that can quit cold turkey but I just don't know where exactly I should be carb count wise each day.

Also, I'm taking the pills - about 90% of the time (working on not forgetting any) and here's how I'm taking them:

Insulx - w/ Breakfast & Lunch
Rejuvenx - w/ Breakfast & Lunch
Glucx - 9 am & 5 pm
PCOS+ - 11 am & 3 pm

Is this the correct times & order to take this in?

When I first started taking the pills I had headache's but those have gone away.

Also, I have trouble going to sleep - it takes a long time to drift off - that seems to be getting a little better though.

Everything else seems to be the same - energy, mood, etc.

I got off of Metformin around the beginning of Sept since I was having problems with the medication - it just didn't agree with me - even when I only took 2 a day. The last period I had was at the end of Sept but I think that was mainly the Metformin that caused the period. I didn't ovulate after that period and haven't had one since.

Other than that, I guess I'm just plugging away - trying not to this of this as a "diet" because then I "crave" everything bad for me! LOL

Thanks for listening!

[drheather]

Originally Posted by Stephanie

Hi Doc! Thanks for taking an interest!

So, you think I should add more calories? Maybe around 1400 a day? I did go to fitday and signed up and told it what I wanted to lose and it suggested about 1400 a day.

How many carbs should I have a day? I'm the type that can quit cold turkey but I just don't know where exactly I should be carb count wise each day.

Also, I'm taking the pills - about 90% of the time (working on not forgetting any) and here's how I'm taking them:

Insulx - w/ Breakfast & Lunch
Rejuvenx - w/ Breakfast & Lunch
Glucx - 9 am & 5 pm
PCOS+ - 11 am & 3 pm

Is this the correct times & order to take this in?

When I first started taking the pills I had headache's but those have gone away.

Also, I have trouble going to sleep - it takes a long time to drift off - that seems to be getting a little better though.

Everything else seems to be the same - energy, mood, etc.

I got off of Metformin around the beginning of Sept since I was having problems with the medication - it just didn't agree with me - even when I only took 2 a day. The last period I had was at the end of Sept but I think that was mainly the Metformin that caused the period. I didn't ovulate after that period and haven't had one since.

Other than that, I guess I'm just plugging away - trying not to this of this as a "diet" because then I "crave" everything bad for me! LOL

Thanks for listening!

Hello,

Yes, I think increasing the calories to between 1200-1400 a day. The carbs per day should be between 60-80 grams a day from all sources. You really want your carbs to come from vegetables and some fruit and limited grains. The Insulite Guide will have much more info on reducing carbs and the nutrition guidelines. Have you had a chance to go through it? Did you get a chance to enter food intake into the fitday site and see how many carbs you are currently eating?

The schedule you are following is just fine. It is a little different than the one we recommend but it is just as good.

- 1/2 hour before breakfast: PCOS + - 2 caps
- With breakfast: InsulX - 2 caps and RejuvenX - 2 caps
- Between breakfast and lunch: GlucX - 3 caps
- With Lunch: InsulX - 2 caps and RejuvenX - 2 caps
- Between lunch and dinner: PCOS + - 2 caps
- After dinner/before bed: GlucX - 3 caps

Has anything else changed that may be impacting your sleep? Have you had this happen since only beginning the System? I am not sure why this would happen? What time are you taking the second dose of the InsulX?

Also, you are doing great with exercise, so keep it up.

Please let me know, I want to be sure we do what we can to get you moving in the right direction to support your goals.

I look forward to hearing back.

[Stephanie]

I'm going to change my schedule to the one you recommend. I want to make sure I'm doing everything right. I did look through the Insulite Guide but I guess not thorough enough because I didn't see the part about the 60-80 grams a day & the schedule for taking the pills. I'm going to find it and re-read it.

Have you heard of Dreamfields Pasta? They recommend it for Diabetics since it's only 5 digestible carbs. Is that ok? If this is OK then I know for me at least it will be alot easier to conform.

I'm having trouble with the vegetables - I did enter what I've been eating into fitday and I'm around 50-60 grams but I'm having a hard time eating a lot of vegetables. I've been doing V8 and I'm planning on trying to hide vegetables in whatever I'm cooking but so far not so good with the veggie thing. I know it's in my head but after a few bites I start getting nauseous.

Nothing else has changed that I know of that might be impacting my sleep. I can't rememeber exactly when it started but it was pretty close to when I started this system. I take the last dose of Insulx with lunch. It's getting better though.

Thanks!

[drheather]

Originally Posted by Stephanie

I'm going to change my schedule to the one you recommend. I want to make sure I'm doing everything right. I did look through the Insulite Guide but I guess not thorough enough because I didn't see the part about the 60-80 grams a day & the schedule for taking the pills. I'm going to find it and re-read it.

Have you heard of Dreamfields Pasta? They recommend it for Diabetics since it's only 5 digestible carbs. Is that ok? If this is OK then I know for me at least it will be alot easier to conform.

I'm having trouble with the vegetables - I did enter what I've been eating into fitday and I'm around 50-60 grams but I'm having a hard time eating a lot of vegetables. I've been doing V8 and I'm planning on trying to hide vegetables in whatever I'm cooking but so far not so good with the veggie thing. I know it's in my head but after a few bites I start getting nauseous.

Nothing else has changed that I know of that might be impacting my sleep. I can't rememeber exactly when it started but it was pretty close to when I started this system. I take the last dose of Insulx with lunch. It's getting better though.

Thanks!

Hi Stephanie,

It sounds like you are already at the target carb intake. Just be sure that you are eating enough calories and variety of foods.

I am not familiar with Dreamfields pasta. I looked on their site and they did not elaborate on what process makes the carbs less digestible. So, I really can't comment. I did find some information where some people monitoring glucose levels did find that the some people experienced a spike in glucose.

As far as vegetables go, are there a couple you can be sure to add in daily that you like? Using V8 is fine but we would like to see your food choices to include veggies, they are high in nutrients and fiber, etc. Is it that you just don't like many vegetables? Is it better if they are raw or cooked?

Will you keep me posted? I want to be sure we are doing everything we can to support you.

[Stephanie]

Hey Doc! I went and bought a glucose meter so I could see if the pasta would cause a spike and I took my blood before I ate dinner @ about 6:30 pm - it was at 86 - I waited 1 1/2 and took it again and it went to 94 - I then drank a coke and waited 30 min and it went to 118. Since I didn't get that much of a hike after I ate the pasta does that mean it's ok? Is it not just about carbs but about the glucose spike also?

I bought a couple of low carb cookbooks and I've started trying those.

I hate all vegetables - raw, cooked, steamed, etc. I'm trying to find ways to hide them in meals but it hasn't worked out that well yet. I've kinda been going through a rebellion phase and eating/drinking anything & everything that I want so I know in my head that I've got to stop, I just haven't been able to get back to being good just yet.

Thanks for your interest!

[drheather]

Originally Posted by Stephanie

Hey Doc! I went and bought a glucose meter so I could see if the pasta would cause a spike and I took my blood before I ate dinner @ about 6:30 pm - it was at 86 - I waited 1 1/2 and took it again and it went to 94 - I then drank a coke and waited 30 min and it went to 118. Since I didn't get that much of a hike after I ate the pasta does that mean it's ok? Is it not just about carbs but about the glucose spike also?

I bought a couple of low carb cookbooks and I've started trying those.

I hate all vegetables - raw, cooked, steamed, etc. I'm trying to find ways to hide them in meals but it hasn't worked out that well yet. I've kinda been going through a rebellion phase and eating/drinking anything & everything that I want so I know in my head that I've got to stop, I just haven't been able to get back to being good just yet.

Thanks for your interest!

Hi Stephanie,

Carbs are the focus and even though you may not see a increase in glucose, we can see this in insulin first and later with glucose. You want your carbs to be about 60-80 grams a day from all sources.

Pastas, rice, breads, sweets, etc should be very limited.

It is difficult if you do not like any vegetables. These should be the basis of your diet, with lean protein and healthy fats. I encourage you try some of the recipes and remember that these changes are to reduce your symptoms and prevent risks associated with having PCOS. But you also know that you need to make some changes and you do have to be the one to make that decision. So, take small steps and if you do not follow perfectly, just get right back to it.

Please keep me posted on how you are doing.