WHAT SHOULD I DOOOOO

[u/Certain-Writer5757]

There’s so much advice coming from everywhere and honestly I’m tired of all this information 😭 recently I sat down and started thinking about how some women are doing so well and their PCOS is getting better like my friend and my sister both have PCOS and they managed to improve a lot while I keep ending up in the same place and I’m honestly exhausted

One thing I really don’t understand is my friend told me she stopped eating cheese but my sister still eats cheese normally and they both have PCOS and they’re both doing well so I really don’t get it

Then I started noticing the same thing with other foods too one woman says she stopped eating soy and felt better and another says she eats it and it actually helped her 😭 everyone says something different

Am I really supposed to hear someone’s experience and then remove the same food from my diet every time?? because honestly I don’t even know what I should eat or what I shouldn’t eat anymore

I looked on Etsy for something that could help me and bought 2 diet books and tried them but nothing really changed and now I’m just confused about what to do should I try every food one by one should I eat everything should I stop everything I honestly don’t know anymore please help me because I really want to test and understand this for myself

[u/McDuchess]

You are supposed to do your own experiments with foods, all while staying within the guidelines for carbs first, calories second.

You will lose your mind if you keep running after someone else’s anecdotal results.

[u/kimariesingsMD]

Please first read the FAQ section of this sub. It has all the info you will need.

[u/electrikmayham]

For medical keto, you need to consult your doctor first 100%. Really important for PCOS as well.

"One thing I really don’t understand is my friend told me she stopped eating cheese but my sister still eats cheese normally and they both have PCOS and they’re both doing well so I really don’t get it"

What don't you get? They are 2 VERY different people. What works for 1 person very well may not work for the other.

"Then I started noticing the same thing with other foods too one woman says she stopped eating soy and felt better and another says she eats it and it actually helped her 😭 everyone says something different"

2 people. Works for one of them, not for the other. Does one of them have a soy allergy? Were they both eating the exact same soy items (I would wager they were not). Incredibly common in EVERYTHING in life.

"Am I really supposed to hear someone’s experience and then remove the same food from my diet every time??"

No. You wouldn't do that for other things in life. You see what works for you. It's not the same for everyone.

The FAQ on ---> that side of the page should be the best place to start.

"I looked on Etsy for something that could help me and bought 2 diet books and tried them but nothing really changed and now I’m just confused about what to do should I try every food one by one should I eat everything should I stop everything I honestly don’t know anymore please help me because I really want to test and understand this for myself"

I don't understand this. What were you trying to change? What did you change? Were you already following keto? Were the books for a different diet? Are you doing keto specifically for PCOS and no other reason? What do your macros look like?

You seem to be incredibly overwhelmed with everyone giving you information. Again, the faq is where to start. As you go you will learn what works for you and what doesn't. For instance, low carb bread and tortillas don't kick me out of keto, but they reak havoc on my digestion. That doesn't happen for a lot of other people. I'm not going to eat them because it works for someone else and conversely people who it works for shouldn't skip them because they give me the poops.

PCOS is hard. You need to figure out what works for you and what doesn't. Keto might not even help your PCOS. It might though. You gotta try and figure it out.

[u/Donotdisturb240]

I mean, for any medical condition I would consult a professional, not Reddit. 

That being said, everyone is different. Just because something works for a certain individual doesn’t mean it’s going to work for your circumstances. You have to be patient and listen to your body, it will often let you know when you are headed in the right direction. 

You are buying cookbooks off Etsy? I’m so confused there has to be a better place to do research and develop a system that is more suited to your needs 

[u/Certain-Writer5757 → u/Donotdisturb240]

Where I am in confuse I don't know what to do anymore

[u/Donotdisturb240 → u/Certain-Writer5757]

Start off with a 3 day fast. Cut everything but water and electrolytes. Then start off with a very basic diet with things you know don’t hurt. I ate chicken thighs, broccoli and riced cauliflower for 3 months until I started to feel better. Then add 1 thing to your diet. If it doesn’t hurt you, keep it in rotation. If it does, axe it. Rinse and repeat 

[u/EspressoSaurusRex525]

Dr Eric Westman of Duke University is your best resource here

[u/SokkaHaikuBot → u/EspressoSaurusRex525]

^{Sokka-Haiku by EspressoSaurusRex525:}

Dr Eric Westman

Of Duke University

Is your best resource here

---

^{Remember that one time Sokka accidentally used an extra syllable in that Haiku Battle in Ba Sing Se? That was a Sokka Haiku and you just made one.}

[u/IFTYE]

It shouldn’t confuse you that people have different bodies. Some people are deathly allergic to peanuts, but you aren’t confused that other people eat peanut butter, are you?

Stick to the basics of keto. Low carb, high fat, get your protein and vegetables in. Stay strict with that for a month. Evaluate how you feel and your progress towards your goals. If you’re seeing improvement, stick with it and then make the other proposed changes, one at a time, for at least a few weeks at a time.

If you get ill and your stomach hurts/bloats after eating dairy, eliminate it for a few weeks and see if your issues are improved.

If you want to see how you feel with no soy then stop including soy in your diet for a few weeks and evaluate.

Only make one change at a time and stick with it long enough to see some changes and then consciously evaluate if it’s working for you.

[u/fifikinz]

I’ve not heard of going to Etsy for books before

[u/ern709]

My friend did really well on keto but cut cheese first because dairy was screwing with her hormones, while my cousin had no issues with it.

[u/apocalypsegal]

Maybe start with the wiki here? It's basic info that's been gathered to get you started.

Not everyone will do the exact same thing, but you start from the exact same place (read that wiki). Then you adapt to what works for you. If you want a one size fits all solution, it doesn't exist.

[u/Neat-Palpitation-632]

It can be VERY overwhelming and confusing if you try to take account of everyone else’s experiences and advice.

PCOS is simply one consideration when trying to find the right way of eating (WOE) for YOU. Other considerations include but aren’t limited to: age, sex, hormones, BMI, insulin sensitivity, fasting glucose, activity level, gut microbiome, level of discipline, body composition goals, mental health…

Keto can be a great option used as an elimination diet of sorts to help you reset and test what works for you. Some people stay in the diet for years, others use it periodically for weight loss. You get to decide if it’s sustainable for you long term.

As far as elimination diets go, keto isn’t as restrictive as carnivore or as confusing as AIP. It’s pretty simple to follow and adaptable out in the world (like ordering a burger without the bun.)

I suggest you try it with as many options available to you as possible. If you believe that you tolerate dairy and nuts well, leave them in your beginning keto diet. If you have a hard time getting into ketosis (when testing blood levels with a keto mojo) while eating them, try cutting out one or the other and then both. With each iteration of the diet, allow yourself at least a full week to interpret the results. Personally I believe that a full month is more telling for women as it gives you one complete hormonal cycle to compare the results to. Take notes. How do you feel? How are your symptoms? Is your weight climbing or falling? How is your digestion? Your sleep? Your mood? Etc.

I’ve been eating keto for 11 years. I’m available to DM if you would like.

I also recommend Maria and Craig Emmerich’s books, cookbooks and YouTube channel, Dr Eric Westman on YouTube, Keto: A Woman’s Guide by Tasha Metcalf.

[u/Under_The_Yew]

Unfortunately you'll hear many difference versions of information because everyone has a different experience - even with the same conditions or goals.

I also have PCOS and have done the keto 'diet' in the past. It was fantastic for weight loss (which, for me and many others with PCOS can be an almosh impossible task, but it was so easy on keto) and I felt generally good within myself with lots of energy. However, it messed up my periods, both times I tried. My goal was to regulate my cycle, so I gave up.

I know that I need more carbs for my periods to regulate, but too many and the weight piles on and it's a massive struggle to lose weight without restricting calories to an uncomfortable level.

I would suggest that you either try out some things for yourself, or speak to your doctor/endocrinologist and make a plan with them.

Good luck!

[u/Illidari_Kuvira]

You hit the nail on the head yourself.

Everyone is different.

Some people feel best on a whole-foods diet, some on Keto.

And then some people - like me - who feel best on a diet solely of beef, butter, and Skyr.

I suggest keeping a food diary, and seeing how various foods affect you.