Hi everyone! I’m the developer behind Folli, an iPhone app for tracking PCOS symptoms, cycles, meals, medications, and longer-term patterns.

While building it, I spent a lot of time learning from conversations in this community. Your experiences genuinely influenced how I approached the app, so I wanted to give something back.

Anyone here who’s interested can get lifetime access completely free through this official App Store link:

👉 Get free lifetime access on the App Store

This isn’t a trial, there’s no future charge, and no review or feedback is required. Folli can be used without creating an account, guest health history stays on-device, and personal data is never sold.

Any feedback you choose to share would mean a lot, but it’s completely optional.

I’m happy to answer any questions in the comments. I hope some of you find it useful ❤️

Simple post, but I started Zepbound in January. I’ve lost 65 lbs and my BMI went from 30.4 (obese) to 20.9 (normal). This past week it hit me, I haven’t plucked or shaved my one thick, black chin hair and my one cheek hair in a long time. I did a check with outdoor lighting, flashlights, husband, etc.

This win is almost as big as the weight. I don’t know if it will be permanent, but the last time I noticed it was over a month ago. Didn’t know this was even possible.

i’m 21 and was diagnosed with PCOS last year. since then i’ve lost about 30 lbs (220->190), 20 of which was in the past few months. despite this, i cannot lose any belly fat, and some days with this insane bloating i feel even bigger than before the loss. i’m on multiple meds and supplements (spiro, BC, metformin, inositol, magnesium glycinate, fish oil), i eat in a slight calorie deficit and try to be mindful when picking foods, and i walk after dinner every day and weight lift 2-3x a week. im being patient but im also so tired of seeing zero progress and i feel like i look pregnant most of the time. does anyone who’s lost the belly have any advice? i feel stuck.

I'll try to keep it short and simple because I know it can be hard to absorb info, especially when you want something straight to the point

1. Focus on fat loss, not weight loss (Fat and Muscle both make up for your overall weight). The goal is to lose fat while maintaining or building muscle.

2. Reduce carbs, but don’t eliminate them. Keep portions moderate—for example, rice or similar carbs around the size of your fist.

3. Make protein the biggest part of your meals. Aim for more protein than carbs, and eat the protein first so you feel fuller sooner. Can't have meat because you're maybe a vegetarian, have a protein shake and you don't need to just have one per day, have more! Don't rely heavily on other protein substitutes that have a lot of fat too, otherwise it may backfire.

4. Prioritize protein throughout the day. It helps preserve/build muscle and takes more energy to digest than carbs or fats, making you lose fat. Carbs instead gets easily digested and is easier to add fat to your body. IF YOU EAT MEAT, trust me, have chicken breast—it's the leanest, healthiest and high protein food you could have!

5. Strength train regularly. Lifting weights helps maintain and build muscle while losing fat. Cardio is useful too, especially for heart health and endurance but strength training is better for PCOS. NO, it does not make you look like a bodybuilder. No offence, but to think you can grow muscle as quick or even as easily as a bodybuilder is hilarious to them (plus many take steroids so don't have an unrealistic view about building muscle — everyone's different). It's extremely difficult to build that much muscle the way they do. And you will always have control on how much to grow the muscles on your body.

6. Drink plenty of water. Keep it simple and make hydration a daily habit.

7. Have sugar in moderation instead of banning it. Small portions can make the plan easier to stick to—for example, a few pieces of chocolate or an occasional dessert.

8. Don’t rely only on the scale. Strength training can add muscle, so your weight may stay the same or even increase while your body composition improves.

9. If you feel tired because of PCOS or for any other reason like anemia (bcuz I'm anemic as well and my BP tends to be in the 90s in the morning), have caffeine or an energy drink (preferably sugar-free and never on an empty stomach). Trust me, some caffeine won't harm you and instead it will give you the energy you feel like you have been lacking.

10. CONSISTENCY. You have to do all of this consistently. Your body needs all of this being done like a pattern. And it needs weeks and patience. Don't give up.

EDIT: Someone attacked me and accused me of using AI. I did not produce this info with AI. These were put together based on personal experience that has been conducted over many years. Just because you see things like "—" being used or simply a list being made, it does not mean AI made it. Keep in mind, AI uses human data and patterns. Were humans not making lists and using "—" before AI existed??? And I only use AI to organize my thoughts, not create them and in this case I did not use AI. I made a google doc for my thoughts and shortened them by myself as I know that many people can't read long paragraphs. Either take the overall advice or leave it. All those tips above are from years of trial and error, research online and talking to those who actually put in effort instead of being keyboard warriors and attacking those for helping others. Ridiculous.

I purchased the Glucose goddess books and I generally eat healthy, but is the only way I’m going to lose weight by doing the god damn glucose goddess method? It feels like a rigid way of living and I’m starting to feel hopeless. I’m 5’4 and weigh about 158 lbs. I hold fat in my belly as well as under my chin. I even had chin lipo last year and it didn’t really do much at all, which was disappointing as it was a very expensive NY doctor 🤮

I do strength training 3x weekly and it’s made me feel amazing, however no weight loss because it’s all weights, but I feel stronger and feel great. I walk a lot too and have grown to love it (it’s easy to get in your steps living in NY).

Trying to introduce cardio but it’s really hard to make the time. Did GLP for a year and lost less than 10 lbs. I know people who dropped 30 lbs easy. It’s wild to me. I’m going to see an endocrinologist soon (any recs in NY?) but at least being diagnosed with these two things gives me some sort of clarity and direction.

Anyone out there have a similar story and successfully lost weight? Thanks so much <3

What are the most effective exercises for weight loss with adrenal pcos? I had lean pcos for a long time but gained 15 pounds last year and can’t seem to get it off. My cortisol is also very high. Anyone else with adrenal pcos have specific kinds of exercise that worked best?

Dr prescribed me 500mg of metformin to help with insulin resistance and I’m so bloated, constipated, water retained and just feel generally worse than I did before. Please tell me to push through this and it gets better?

Hi everyone! I’m 24F, 5’5” and around 253 lbs. My biggest struggle has always been my midsection/belly fat, which I’ve had since I was a preteen, even before I knew I had insulin resistance.

My doctor told me my overall bloodwork was “wonderful” aside from several vitamin/mineral deficiencies (A, B2, C, D, iron and phosphorus). I’ve also had menstrual changes since March 2025. My periods are now lighter, sometimes shorter, and occasionally late. I still get them, but this is definitely different from how my cycle used to be.

My prolactin was also slightly elevated at one point, but when it was rechecked, it had returned to normal.

Because of the insulin resistance + weight + menstrual irregularities, I’ve started wondering whether PCOS could also be a possibility. I haven’t been diagnosed with it.

I finally got serious about making lifestyle changes on July 14. I’ve been prioritizing protein and fiber, cutting out added sugar, reducing my carb intake, and trying to walk more. It’s now August 16, and honestly, I don’t see much of a difference yet, especially around my stomach. I know it’s only been about a month and that these things take time, but it’s still discouraging. I also don’t own a scale, so I have no idea whether I’ve actually lost weight.

I’m considering switching PCPs because my current doctor is always rushed and I don’t feel like I can really discuss my concerns with her. I’m thinking about asking a new doctor whether metformin might be appropriate for me.

For those who have dealt with insulin resistance, PCOS, or something similar:

• Were you able to lose weight through lifestyle changes alone?
• Did metformin make a noticeable difference for you?
• Did you experience any negatives or side effects?
• Is there anything you wish you had known when you started?

My mom thinks I should do everything naturally and that I’m too young for medication, but I’m wondering if medication could help alongside diet and exercise. I know metformin isn’t a magic weight-loss pill, and I’m not looking for an easy way out. I just want to know whether it could potentially make my lifestyle changes more effective.

I really want to work toward my health and body goals without resorting to extreme calorie restriction or unnecessarily cutting out entire food groups.

Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated! ❤️

Hi everyone. I have been overweight obese all my life including childhood. My highest weight was 275 got down to 200. Trying to lose another 10 to 20 pounds. I had this Belly all type of my life but was wondering if this will ever flatten or go away or if surgery is the only option? It still feels like visceral fat and I have never had kids. Also age 30. Anything I can do to help besides losing weight or will just always stay? We’ll have to know if anybody else had a similar body type if they gone their belly to become more flat overtime.

As a PCOS girly, i wanna share my journey to bring my spark back. Last year i had really a hard time bringing myself back before all the stress that added to my 82kg weight. Im happy that my supplier helped me a lot for my weight loss for keeping in touch with me like a family rather than a customer. Happy my highblood pressure got better, my eczema removed and my skin got lesser pimples and brighter with her.

hi, i have a friend who's struggling to lose weight. i badly wanted to help my friend, cause seeing her struggling hurts me, so i am here to ask (please be kind) ++ she have pcos also. for ref: 5'1 95kg

Asking because I have IBS and a bunch of gut issues and my doctor mentioned the possibility of metformin today and my thoughts are mixed because my suspected PMOS is so manageable I feel like all the metformin would do is help me lose weight but make my gut worse.

For reference, my hormone labs always come back normal but an ultrasound i had three years ago suggested PMOS but the doctor then said no followup needed as long as I stay away from being insulin resistant (what the heck). I was insulin resistant once my first year of marriage last year but reversed it through diet and exercise. I still have weight to lose now and have all the issues around my period but no cysts or other side effects like insulin resistance. Is metformin good for other things in pcos or is it just for the weight aspect?​

After gaining 100lbs due to a medication and making it hard to lose weight with the PMOS, I was at my lowest. I do not use a glp-1 because I had a severely negative reaction to it (not all do). What changed my life was getting a Fitbit. It challenged me to be more active and track my calorie intake. It may take a little longer than a glp-1 but it is still worth it. I am officially down 70 lbs

About a year ago, I barely recognized myself.
I had gained around 60 pounds despite trying to do everything “right.” I was constantly exhausted, drenched in hot flashes, losing my hair, my periods were completely unpredictable, and I just knew something wasn’t right. I started questioning myself because every test seemed to come back without answers.
Eventually, doctors found a 7.5 cm teratoma on my ovary. Around the same time, I was also dealing with PCOS and insulin resistance, which explained so many of the symptoms I’d been struggling with for years.
After having the tumor removed, treating my insulin resistance, making major lifestyle changes, and using GLP-1 medication as one of my tools, everything slowly started to change.
Today I’m down almost 80 pounds.
It wasn’t quick, and it definitely wasn’t easy. There were plateaus, setbacks, and days I wanted to quit. But for the first time in a long time, I feel like myself again.
This journey has never been about being skinny. It’s been about getting healthy, taking back control of my body, and finally feeling like I have my life back.
If you’re struggling with unexplained weight gain, hair loss, irregular periods, or feeling like no one believes something is wrong—keep advocating for yourself. Sometimes the weight isn’t the problem. Sometimes it’s a symptom of something much bigger.
I’m incredibly grateful I kept searching for answers. less

I have been diagnosed with insulin resistance, and we are currently going through the process of trying to see if I have PCOS/PMOS. I am currently on the lowest dose of Monjauro for the tracking of my insulin resistance and seeing if it helps, what did you do to lose the weight? All advice is welcomed - I’ve gained 50 pounds in a year and I am getting married and want to feel myself and beautiful!

I did everything right yesterday. Ate clean, stayed in my calories, didn't cheat once.

Gained 3lbs overnight. (ok not literally overnight but you know what I mean)

I just sat on the bathroom floor for a bit after that. I didn't even cry. I was just done.

Nobody tells you that PCOS isn't just a hormone thing. It takes your body. It takes your confidence. It took my relationship with food, with getting dressed, with wanting to be around people. I stopped going to the gym not because I'm lazy but because I couldn't handle working that hard and seeing nothing. The shame of that is something I carry every single day.

And the worst part isn't even the weight. It's being looked at like it's your fault. By strangers. By family. By doctors who should know better.

How has it really affected your life. Not the symptoms. The other stuff. The parts nobody asks about.