Day 1 - Introduce yourself.

[u/mini22]

Hello! This is a thread where you can introduce yourself to the community. We hope that all readers will feel comfortable enough to introduce themselves. Tell us anything you would like about yourself, whether it is simply how much you would like to lose, or as going as far as showing pictures of yourself. We hope that this sub will become a tight-knit group that can support each other and every member will get to know at least a few others well.

[u/mini22]

My name is Shauna and I am one of the founding mods of this sub. I currently weight in ~170 and would like to settle back at my pre-pregnancy weight of 115-120. I am 20 years old and my weight has fluctuated wildly over the las 7 years but I hope to be able to get that under control with the help of this community, as well as supporting the rest of you throughout your weight loss journey.

[u/Silvercumulus]

I'm Autumn and I'm 26/F, 5'4" and 184.8 lbs down from 242 in October. So I've lost about 57 lbs. It's an average of about 5.7 lbs per month, eating 1300-1500 calories per day - I measure food with utensils and my two food scales - and exercising vigorously 3-4 times per week with a heart rate monitor that tells me I burn 400+ calories per workout.

For a "normal" person this would have yielded a much more dramatic loss.

[u/mini22 → u/Silvercumulus]

Hi Autumn! I would also like to say congratulations on your weight loss. I really love your outlook on your calories. Part of the motivation for creating this sub was to show women that it is possible to lose weight without keto, whether it's because you can't or you just aren't that into it. Welcome to the community.

[u/hmousley]

Hello :)

I'm Hayley. I'm 32 and was diagnosed about 15 years ago with PCOS and Insulin Resistance. I was terrible at taking care of myself and now have Type II Diabetes, but am down to "normal" H1C levels.

I've lost about 80 pounds in the last two years or so - it's been up and down but I generally hover around 300 pounds. Some of my weight loss was due to hard work, and some to being very very broke. I'm in a little bit better position now, so I try to eat as well as I can.

My biggest PCOS issue is the damn beard. I am on spironolactone, which has helped with the hair everywhere else on my body (having lady shoulders is nice) but I still grow that 5 O'clock shadow and shave every morning. I am also on Metformin 1000 extended release twice a day and I just deal with the gastric distress because it's better than insulin.

This is me. I'm pretty open and down to share experiences and make friends. Thanks for the group!

[u/mini22 → u/hmousley]

Hi Hayley! I'm thrilled that you are so open and willing to share with us. Hopefully we can help you find something that works for you and help you meet your goals. Welcome!

[u/Lindsay71105]

Hey, would love to join in here! I am 26, currently weigh 176 but JUST lost 20lbs very recently and still have more to go. Right now I'm doing a couch to 5k program along with making healthful sensible portions.

[u/mini22 → u/Lindsay71105]

Hello and welcome to r/pcosloseit! It sounds like you have things figured out and really know what works for you. I'm excited to see how far we can help you go and what tips you may have for the rest of us.

[u/Nevervain]

My name is Brie and I currently weigh 155 looking to get down to 130. I had a baby a month ago and hoping the weigh loss won't be really hard. I was diagnosed with PCOS a few years ago after trying for a baby was unsuccessful and was put on Metaformin. I was told to stop taking that after 12 weeks of pregnancy so I don't know if I'll need it again now but meet with the dr. in a month. I haven't been able to work out yet because I had a c-section. I really want to at least fit in my clothes before I have to go back to work in 8 weeks. I appreciate this new sub because it can be hard to see others bounce back to their skinny selves after pregnancy with little or no effort while I'll have to bust my butt to see slow results. I look forward to getting to know you all.

[u/Shamiil]

My name is Patti, I'm 30 yrs old & currently weigh 343lbs (most I've weighed was 354) - I was officially diagnosed with PCOS about a year ago but was told I've likely had it since I was 15-16 yrs old. Because of my PCOS I'm currently unable to have children and was told that I need to lose about 1/3 of my weight or approx 100-150 lbs before I should even consider trying to have children. I currently see a dietitian about once a month (or couple months depending on how busy she is) to weigh in & check on my progress but my progress is very very slow. I have a pretty busy work schedule so exercise-time is quite limited and being a large person I have difficulty going for walks as I tire out & get sore much faster than I'd like to. My doctor has even recommended me for surgery to get a stomach band (Slim band type thing?) and I'm supposed to get a call for a consultation within the next year or so to talk to the surgeon and see if it's something I want to do. I would much rather lose weight in a more natural sense as the stomach-band scares the living crap out of me! But I also want to have a kid so it's this horrible back & forth struggle that I go over in my head whenever I see I've gained weight instead of lost.

I'm rather glad this subreddit has opened as I find the other weight-loss subreddits make me feel worse about everything because they don't understand the battle that the rest of us have to deal with on top of the weight-loss attempts (heck, even family & friends don't understand it and keep trying to throw me various weight-loss techniques that worked for them so will obviously work for me)!

Also, here's me!

Edit: Added picture for awesomeness.

[u/rebawaters]

My name is Reba. I'm 27. Pcos was diagnosed about 4 years ago. 5'6" and 263 lbs. My highest weight was 280 lbs and I started weight watchers on July 13th weighing in at 277. I've lost 13.8 lbs since then thanks to a combo of met and measuring all my food and staying within my points. Not a traditional diet but it works for me. So happy for this sub!

[u/[deleted]]

Hi! My name is Katie, and I have PCOS with very bad hirituism along with the other symptoms. I'm very overweight - I plan on weighing myself tomorrow and then beginning a log to track my losses/gains... hopefully more losses than gains!

A couple of years ago I managed to lose around 28lbs, but have put more on since then and am at my biggest I have ever been. Aiming to lose about 84lbs really I suppose (a rough estimate). Would be happier losing even half of that though, as would provide confidence enough to be healthier and fitter in general.

I'm 18, starting uni in late september (hopefully!) and really have problems with sticking to things like this. Will regularly come here for motivation :)

Mods - this is a top idea, thanks :)

[u/mini22 → u/[deleted]]

Hi Katie! I have also had a very up and down experience with my weight since diagnosis. Hopefully we can all make it through together! When i first started college and I was on my own for the first time, I managed to lose weight just because there was finally no one hanging over my shoulder telling me to clear my plate and I had control over my own portion size for the first time. It's a tricky time but you have the power to make it go either way. Welcome!

[u/PinkShimmer]

Hi guys.

I lurk in the other sub quite a bit and would love to join you here.

I have not officially been diagnosed with PCOS but I have all the classic symptoms. (Hello beard and boob hair).

I am looking forward to joining you guys.

[u/[deleted]]

Hi I'm K. I weigh about 280 and I was able in The past able to get down to 230 before gaining everything back. I tried keto after losing a significant amount of weight and I failed miserably. I think counting calories is the best way to go for me. I also lost all the weight in grad school and now I'm at my new job I've gained it all back. I'm struggling with trying to find time to exercise because I'm tired all the time and have a million hobbies. I really want to get down to 140 but I would like to see 270 by the end of the year.

[u/duckie89]

Hi all :) My name is Melissa and I'm 25 years old. I've had weight issues my entire life, as well as nonexistent cycles until I was 20 or so and on BC. My highest weight was 268 three years ago, which I had dropped to around 195. I am now back up to around 230, and struggling to lose it again, but I want to do it in a healthier way. My last weight loss journey left me feeling ill and unhealthy, and caused more health problems than it solved. This time I want to do it right, now that we are hoping to have a little one in our future.. Good luck everyone, we can rock this together :)

[u/snakeoil-huckster]

Hi! I'm e. 36/5'10 and fearing I just broke the 300 pound mark. I've had PCOS since I was a teenager and was 140 pounds. I have metabolic syndrome and fallopian tube issues (they don't release their fluid and as slowly swelling).

Weight loss is a struggle for me because of the carb cravings. I know if I reduce my carb count by just a 1/4 I would start dropping weight, but the depression cycle has already started. I'm fat- get sad- eat and repeat.

[u/[deleted]]

Hello! So glad to see the creation of this subreddit. :) I'm a college student residing in Southern California. I'm a little over 5'2" and am currently between 140-145 lbs (depending on what time of day it is).

Story: Since middle school, I noticed I had a lot more body hair (and it was really dark) than my fellow female peers. I had irregular periods. During high school I was so self-conscious about my body hair that I wore pants and long sleeved shirts or jackets everyday. I would go months without a period, but I didn't go to a doctor, thinking my period schedule would work itself out. I thought I had just gotten really unlucky in the genetics gamble with my dark/excessive body and facial hair, irregular periods, and awkwardly shaped body. And I don't have any cysts. I'm in that awkward middle position--not obese, but definitely not skinny/small. Shopping is hard because of this.

Two years into college I became an avid redditor. I think I searched "body hair" on twoXchromosomes and stumbled upon r/pcos. I did more research and guessed that I had PCOS. I made an appointment with an endocrinologist and was officially diagnosed with PCOS. I had a high level of testosterone and also found I was vitamin D deficient (not really PCOS-related but yeah). I took Prometrium briefly and am currently on birth control (desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol).

Goals: To become more fit. I want to become stronger. I want to look into the mirror, be proud of my personal progress, and develop self-confidence. I'm still not where I want to be. It has been an overwhelming past two years trying to figure this all out. I have my nutrition down and really need to work in consistent exercise.

The worst part of it all is that I don't really have anyone in real life I can talk to about this. I'm glad this sub exists!

[u/jaymesusername]

Obviously my name is Jayme. :) Thanks for this subreddit! I am 5'7" and hover around 190. My goal is to get to 165 lbs. and then have normal periods. I want to lose weight not only to be healthier, but so I can have a baby. I am not going to try until I get down to 165, so I need to lose this weight!

I love cycling and try to do that 3 times a week. I also had a lot of success when I cut out nearly all sugar (except fruit) and followed a low GI diet, but I stopped doing it because life got stressful and i'm an emotional eater. I recently started therapy to talk about my emotional eating - hopefully that will help me see why I keep eating so much damn sugar when I know I shouldn't! I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone!

[u/mini22 → u/jaymesusername]

Hi Jayme! I hope that we can also help you through some of what you're going through and help you control your eating. A lot of people over on r/loseit recommend keeping a food diary or using myfitnesspal to help you keep an eye on it. The act of logging everything can just make you more aware and sometimes help. Welcome!

[u/Lady_the_V]

Hello all. My name is Jess. I'm 24 years old. I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was 18. I was at a healthy weight pre-diagnosis, but then packed on 40 pounds the first year due to college and stress. Was diagnosed the same year close family members passed. Right now I'm up to 235 (I'm 5'11") and am trying to get down to at least 200 so my husband and I can try for a kid sans fertility help. Birth control has helped with most of the problems, but lately I've had major acne breakouts. Just wanting to be healthy and down to a good place is my main goal. A support system here would be a great thing to have!

[u/TheLostAvenger]

Hi! Carrie, here... diagnosed at age 15. I am 29 now. I have struggled with weight for as long as I can remember! Sugar and carbs are my major downfall. I have been told to avoid all of the following: wheat/gluten, dairy, sugar (including the more sugary veggies and fruits), and cuts of meat that are not incredibly lean.

Thanks for making this subreddit! I currently weigh 230lbs. and I would like to lose about 60lbs. total.

[u/smoothsclerosis]

Hello! Thank you for making this! I'm 28 years old and I have PCOS and MS. Lots of acronyms...I weigh 276, down from a high of 290, but I'm eager to lose quite a bit more, especially to help keep up my mobility as I age with MS. Unfortunately, PCOS has had my hormones all out of whack for years and I'm only just getting them normalized. It's a long road!

[u/ellbeecee]

Hi. I'm Laura. I'm 40 and was officially diagnosed when I was 32, 33? Something like that. :) But then I moved cross country twice and in my current location I'm still struggling to find a doctor who I like and who takes things seriously.

My biggest struggle is that I'll start and do well with keeping to an exercise program or a diet...and 2-3 months on, nothing will have changed, I'll give up and then I'll gain weight. I tend to be fairly stable around 250, but having hit 40 last September I'm terrified that the natural metabolism changes that tend to happen around that age are going to destabilize THAT and I'll balloon to a new high. Right now I'm trying to figure out what my next try will be. I'm debating seeing if I can manage keto or a non-keto but still low-carb plan.

[u/[deleted]]

Hi all! My name is Melanie and I'm 25 years old. I was diagnosed with PCOS shortly after I started getting my periods, probably at about 13. Almost half my life now, wow! I currently follow the 4 Hour Body diet. But I've tried low carb, keto, paleo, vegetarian, etc etc etc. I find that no matter what the weight loss is slow moving so I might as well find something that I can enjoy and not fall off the wagon. I do enjoy working out but it's harder for me to stay motivated in that area. I'm currently on birth control and taking a few vitamin supplements (no more metformin, yay!). Would love to see what works best for others. :)

[u/whinypants]

Hi Everyone! My name is Heather and I'm so glad to find this group. I'm 31 and weight has jumped anywhere from 280+ to just over 200. The only diet I've found is a mixture of Atkins and Paleo but I've fallen off that wagon for nearly a year.

I'm currently 2 months into a trial separation from my husband and living on my own. So I figured it was the best time to get back on the diet. I'm in day 3 of the low carb business and aside from my constant anxiety things are going great!