Fat and depressed but stuck

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m 33 and fat. I’ve been fat since my mid-late 20s when I was diagnosed with PCOS. Overnight, it seemed, I blew up. My boyfriend of 5 years dumped me because of it (I don’t really blame him). This whole scenario crushed me (I still don’t think I’m over it) because I was always known as the pretty girl. My entire life. Girls were jealous of me. All the boys wanted to date me. Suddenly, all the girls made fun of me and all the boys ignored me. I felt invisible. To make matters worse, I started growing facial hair (that’s a whole other post).

I’m 5’8” and was 170 lbs im high school. I blew up to 270 at my heaviest. I’m currently at 225. I have such a hopeless outlook. I feel like “I’m fat, I have PCOS, I’ll always be fat, there’s no use in trying”. How do I get out of this mindset? I have a daughter now. I want to be healthy for her, myself, and my family and show her that I can achieve my goals. I don’t even know where to start. Do I need some sort of therapy?

Sending hugs. If it makes you feel comforted, I am your age (31) and am also 5’8 and got to 270 at my heaviest. I am on a weight loss journey and am now in my 230s with a ways to go. You are not alone! You’ve already lost almost 50 lbs, you’re nearly half way back to your high school weight. You can do this!! Therapy will help. Don’t lose hope.

[Anonymous]

If you can afford it or get it covered, definitely try Ozempic/Wegovy or mounjorno. It doesn’t work for everyone and it has side effects, but if it does work for you it’s like a miracle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Simple solution worked for me: eat less. I did it by intermittent fasting 14 hrs/day. You get used to it prettty quiclkly.

Oh, and from a man's perspective (since I am one), a positive outlook on life will go a long way to making you attractive to men.

You’re a man, you do not understand female weight loss or PCOS. Sit down.

[Anonymous]

F w/PCOS, intermittent fasting can be very helpful for PCOS, not just weight loss but also reducing or reversing symptoms.

https://www.amazon.com/PCOS-Plan-Prevent-Polycystic-Syndrome/dp/1771644605
My library had a copy. The authors also have a YT talk re: PCOS and Fung himself has many fasting yvideos, and his team does a podcast, The Fasting Method that often mentions PCOS.

These articles may be helpful

https://www.tuitnutrition.com/2019/06/pcos.html

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/polycystic-ovary-syndrome-pill-not-remedy/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PCOS is so misunderstood. None of this is your fault or about your character in any way. It’s a medical condition that can only be addressed with:

1. Serious lifestyle changes. Only listen to two people about how to do this: Fiona McCollough in Toronto and PCOS Nutritionist from NZ. Seriously do not take other advice because it’s usually wrong. I’ve met brilliant internists, endos and even functional medicine thyroid specialists and THEY DONT UNDERSTAND PCOS! they can’t even read the labs. They don’t know how to test for early insulin resistance. List goes on and on.

The gist of it is: get a cgm and flatten your line as much as possible via fasting and carb control; weight train 3x per week and avoid sleep disruptions by whatever means necessary (might be zero caffeine or real circadian interventions). Get a local doc to do all the testing Fiona needs and have her interpret the labs and advise you on supplementation, inflammation, thyroid etc. If you have a child this is incredibly hard but it is possible. Treat it like you would a chemo regimen.

2. bariatric surgery. I don’t know much about this but it’s what the older women in my PCOS-afflicted family have finally done. So far the results are good. (Ozempic could also be a great option but none of us have tried it)

I was also beautiful and now am overweight with hair loss and all the rest of it. But using the strategies in #1 I’m not obese and not on any meds. I conceived and carried two children naturally. Just hoping I can hold on because every day is a challenge

The poster here gave you good advice. PCOS is a complex condition. I am a "thin" PCOS but i have been aware of my condition forever and i watch my Glycemic index like a hawk. I educated myself a lot on insuline resistance, links to cravings and weight gain etc.. I eat a very healthy no processed food very low carb full of veggies and good protein diet. It has been work to figure out what to eat, undertsanding the glycemic index and glycemic load of foods, but very very rewarding in terms of weight AND energy.

Find someone who REALLY knows about PCOS. other weight loss strategies may not work for you.

[Anonymous]

I’m on Mounjaro and don’t have PCOS but I’m in a group with many who do have it and have been very successful at losing weight and regulating body functions with medications like Mounjaro, Ozempic and Wegovy.

Issues like weight gain, inflammation, hirsutism, and irregular cycles have improved for them.

I would look into medication options before bariatric surgery.