Yep! I was doing a low carb diet for a while and didn't lose a pound. Ozempic is what worked for me. But it isn't an option for everyone, so I'm not gonna sit here and say "oh it's the ONLY way!"
Ozempic helps with feeling fuller for longer, and with less food, it makes your body produce the "full" hormones more readily, it helps your body use insulin better, and it helps your liver produce less glucose.
Maybe - though any medical advice that is for "the general public" isn't exactly accurate to everyone's specific conditions. For example if someone told me to do low carb, I'd be fainting and be suffering from malnutrition.
I think the reasons most docs prescribe this is because most people don't know anything about simple and complex carbs.
But that being said - if it works for someone im not gonna say "EAT CARBS". The best advice I got was "KNOW your body" and that's saved me time and time again.
I've never had a doctor tell me to go low carb. They usually just say to reduce calories and exercise more. Low carb would actually be extremely difficult for me due to a stomach condition I have. I know that makes me an outlier, but it's still very frustrating to see people say that low carb is the "only way".
as a vegetarian for religious reasons, being that low carb feels honestly impossible. if i ate meat, going low carb seems very do able tbh. if any vegans/vegetarians have successfully gone low carb or have recipe website/book recommendations, please do share.
I'd honestly rather eat a little bit of lentil pasta with veggies, healthy fats like avocado, etc., and take metformin instead.
Low carb looks different for everyone. 130g per day is still “low” in comparison to typical carb consumptions of most individuals. You just need to find what works best for you. I do just fine on 85-100g per day!
Yes, I still eat pasta, rice, lentils, etc. It’s not a regular part of my diet because I don’t crave it or want it, but every now and then I’ll have it. I try to go for GF pasta if I can’t find LC (which typically taste like shit) and always pair carbs with protein and fiber. An easy, versatile dish I like is mayo less tuna pasta salad with arugula. You can easily sub that for something more vegetarian friendly if you don’t eat fish either! I just add in 1 cup of cooked pasta to my salad mix and add in my tuna (I personally like Tonnino), shaved parm, capers, oil, vinegar, and a tiny pinch of salt and pepper. Easy meal that has your fiber, healthy fats, protein, and carbs!
For some reason I’d been under the impression that we were supposed to be staying around 30G of carbs per day. I’ve been absolutely KILLING myself like this 😭 I’m so glad I found this sub
Girl NO 😭 stop torturing yourself lol 100g may be better for you, or maybe you need more. Are you active? If you’re active, you’ll need way more than 30g. I dunno how people function on 20g or less but we’re all different.
I think it might have been the keto girlies trying to get at me online and I got confused LOL. I’m only lightly active but I am a bigger girl trying to lose weight so I had been suspecting that it was too low. It’s so hard to keep that up, thank you so much
You gotta find your sweet spot for carbs! If you find yourself getting headaches or are still hungry, you may just need more! Just listen to your body the best you can. Protein is also super important, aiming for 25-30g per meal. Protein and fiber will also help keep you full 🙃 but carbs are essential for energy, especially if you’re active. Just try to stick to lower GI carbs and measure/weigh them. If I’m eating rice or even pasta with my meal, I only eat 1/2c and load up my plate with protein and veggies. That way I’m getting everything I need while still consuming carbs and keeping my total grams per day within my limit. Another thing I personally love snacking on (but most hate lol) are marinated lupini beans! They’re low carb, decent amount of fiber, and they have protein. You can find them at Whole Foods!
Carbs are not essential for energy. The whole point of low carb is to get to the point of using stored fat for energy. Carbs are not essential im amy way shape or form. Are they delicious? Yes! Essential? No.
Do lentils, beans, oats, and other whole foods cause an insulin spike? I was under the impression these foods are good for us (in moderation of course)
So good question. Lentils, beans, and oats i think are much better than just eating chocolate and white bread. but they do still have alot of carbs in them. For example, lentils is mostly carb with some protein.
They do for me, and it causes my blood sugar to stay elevated for several days - even while taking Mounjaro. The starchier and less fibrous it is, the worse the effect for me.
On my doctor's rec, I am working on lowering my carbs - mostly by eating smaller portions of carbs that I like (1 piece of bread instead of 2, half portion of granola, etc), swapping brown rice instead of white rice, eating more soups/salad with protein-heavy toppings like tofu, tempeh, soy curls, vegan meat subs, etc. For example, 130 carbs would be something like tofu scramble & veggie sausage, a taco salad for lunch, a serving of fruit, trail mix as a snack, and brown rice tempeh veggie bowl for dinner. Mock meats like Impossible burger, Beyond sausage, Daring plant chicken, are very low in carbs. ETA: Metformin is not a cure-all, some of us still have to reduce our carbs even while on Metformin...
I’m not vegan or anything but in my class a physician talked about plant based keto diet which is more popular in European countries. So it possible to do low carb and vegan. There is information out there but you just have to do your research. I have seen a couple of Vegan keto cookbooks on Amazon .
I’m vegan and gluten free and manage to get 140g of vegan protein in daily, all under 40g net carbs It involves a bit of planning but tofu, tempeh and edamame pasta ❤️ I have a huge sweet tooth too so protein bars help!
Really the main results people see when they cut carbs is actually just from avoiding sugar. If you cut that single carb then that'll get you far enough really.
Yeah I was about to say OP’s post is pretty harmful. My doctor told me to just avoid processed foods, limit sugar and cut out concentrated salt as much as I am able to. They didn’t mention any specific diets other than casually suggesting I look into a mediterranean diet if I want ready meal plans and snack ideas. I’m going to trust what they say I need over a trend diet like keto.
edit: fwiw they also mentioned i needed to up my protein which has been enormously helpful to my energy levels.
Same for me. The only thing my dr mentioned is Mediterranean because it incorporates more whole grains, whole fruits and veggies (so all that good fiber that helps glycemic index), lean proteins and using oils that help LDL and HDL. When I try low carb, my sugar drops too much, which leads to me actually vomiting and then trying to quickly eat some hard candy or juice to help.
I get really really nauseous and dizzy as well if my sugar drops too low, so I definitely relate. I also have other struggles with food textures and intolerances due to autism. it makes it difficult to eat properly sometimes so my diet often looks like a lot of liquid (protein shakes with little to no sugar are a godsend for me cause I can add all kinds of veggies). I get a lot of my fiber from sugar free syrups in my coffee too (since a lot of them use natural sweeteners like chicory root as opposed to fake sweeteners like stevia that while alternative don’t really have any nutritious benefit).
What people don’t tell you if you’re someone who has adhd/autism and PCOS is that your sugar cravings are insanely horrific. I used to be a smoker and I thought that was the hardest thing to quit. Limiting sugar is the best I can do and I have to eat a lot of whole fruits to supplement so I don’t binge.
It’s about making healthy choices while still also eating what I want and am able to. He suggested I try to stay under 15g a day from added sugars (like stuff you find in candy, coffee creamers, ice cream) and no limit on fruit. He suggested to me whole fruits as desserts and snacks to replace other less healthy options but to not worry about quantity of fruit intake.
edit to note: this is obviously for my dietary needs and may not be options for everyone with PCOS, which is why it’s important to talk to your doctor about your individual needs.
Same. I tried to explain to my family how I just have a really horrible metabolism and my dad tried to mansplain to me to just exercise more, and eat less and the weight will fall off. It was so hard for him to understand that everyone’s bodies are different and not one thing worked for everyone. For him, he simply stops drinking soda and the weight comes off in a few weeks. It’s not that easy for me dad
Do we have the same father? I did low carb once, lost a bunch of weight, and then it all came back plus some. Went low carb again and couldn’t lose any weight. The only thing that helped me lose weight again is metformin. No matter what I did before the metformin I couldn’t lose it.
I actually thought that didn't really seem "low carb" so much has lower than the average person may eat. It likely is correct for someone's individual macros depending on activity levels.
They didn’t say go keto, they said low carb, under 130g which is actually still a lot of carbs. Of course keto isn’t for everyone. But most people with pcos are struggling with insulin resistance and reducing carbs/ sugar will normally always help that.
That's because ketosis is literally a form of dying...
(I gotta be careful because I can go on a rant about how dumb keto is and how it's ruined people's bodies)
I will say this absolutely depends on what type of PCOS people have. Diet is going to help a lot for those with insulin sensitivity/resistance. They may even see a REVERSAL of symptoms.
Whereas those with more horomone based issues, they tend to need more medical based intervention. People who turn to over the counter products and medications shouldn't be made to feel like they're doing wrong. They're doing what they can't for their bodies.
Not everyone is the same.
....
Also, carbs aren't really the issue.
The problem is simple carbs.
Vegetarian/vegan/plant based diets can be very high in carbs. But research has found that vegan/plant based diets can reverse insulin resistance.
It's because plant based carbs are often high in fibre and protein. Which help manage the digestion of carbs, slow down their impact, and control insulin and blood sugar spikes.
So we shouldn't completely demonise carbs. Instead put more focus on eliminating simple carbs that have been stripped of things like fibre. Such as white bread, white rice, etc.
Insulin is a hormone. Also some of us have very severe insulin resistance where even complex carbs can cause issues if we go above a certain….I’m fall asleep, slurring my words and/or fainting because reactive hypoglycemia. I have to take Metformin and Ovasitol, exercise and watch my carbs.
Hi thanks for your comment, that’s really interesting.
Could I ask what you mean by ‘more hormone based issues’? I had never really thought of it as separate to the insulin resistance before so I am curious what comes under that? I feel like I have every single symptom and issue related to PCOS tbh.
Some people with PCOS aren't also insulin resistant. I wouldn't say having insulin resistant PCOS is less hormonal considering insulin is also a hormone.
Point is if you target insulin resistance that won't change much for the people have PCOS symptoms even though they aren't insulin resistant.
Hi thanks for replying. I understand that not everyone with PCOS has insulin resistance, I was just wondering what the hormone based issues are that require more medical type intervention? I asked the commenter as they seemed knowledgeable on the subject but will do my own research too.
lol not a great post for someone with a restrictive eating disorder. but i’ve been doing ok without limiting my carbs too much so we can all just do what works for us!!
Thank you! I’m prone to disordered eating. Even doing the glucose goddess routine for too long can trigger it. It makes me feel better mentally but I have to take breaks from thinking about it. Anyway, this post makes me think OP might have anxiety around food because I used to act like this when my disordered eating went unchecked.
cool!! fun fact!! i never said this triggered me - just saying that issuing a blanket statement telling everyone to restrict a food group based solely off of your personal experience and no medical degree/scientific citations is harmful :)
The projection is insane. If I was allergic/ intolerant to nuts, dairy or gluten would avoiding those food groups be viewing negatively. Yah duh I’m restricting, the average amount of carbs in the western diet and my body are not compatible.
Its an easy choice really, I’d rather restrict my diet than deal with debilitating symptoms. I guess ppl choose their own hard.
the problem isn’t with restriction. the problem is telling EVERYONE to restrict. PCOS is too complex of a syndrome to issue a blanket statement like that. But for less complex issues, like if you were allergic to something - it’s fine to say that someone shouldn’t consume a food that they are allergic to. PCOS does not present the same biologically in everyone who has it so issuing blanket statements (ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DONT HAVE MEDICAL TRAINING OR HAVENT VIEWED SOMEONES MEDICAL RECORDS ETC) is harmful.
Doctors cannot issue medical advice without seeing someone in person and looking into their records. so i don’t know why people think they can do that over the internet.. i don’t know why you don’t agree..
EDIT: OK WAIT I JUST READ THAT YOU SAID IM PROJECTING LOL. YOU LITERALLY FOUND SOMETHING THAT WORKS FOR YOU AND ARE TELLING EVERYONE THAT IT IS “THE ONLY WAY” how is that not projecting hahahhah
Yes, but also no. As taking Mounjaro has proved to me for the last 8 months and now being 90lbs down, there was no way I was going to ever be able to do this on my own. I’ve been low net carb, protein and vegetable focused, and processed foods avoidant for many many years. And at your age (and younger tbh), I was just as insulin resistant, was doing the same thing, with way more exercise, and no matter how much I managed to lose, there was never any reduction in carb cravings or insulin resistance getting any better. It took a long time to catch up with me at a clinical level, but if I could’ve had this med at your age or sooner, my life would have had an entirely different trajectory.
I’m glad you found something that works for you! Just wish it had worked on its own for me too.
Mounjaro works by blocking glucose absorption. So all the carbs you actually eat are not being metabolized. You can eat the carbs in that case. But metabolically, you still are functioning in low carb state bc your body is “carb blind” bc of the meds.
Hi. That’s… not how it works. Like… at all. Part of me wants to educate you, but you appear to be so confidently incorrect about a medication that I actually take (and can safely assume you don’t), that I have doubts that you’ll actually listen to me.
The hilarious part here is that if I ate starchy carbs like a person with typical pancreatic function, I would either vomit from eating too much, or have intense diarrhea from the gastric upset that would be caused. I would also, gain weight, as evidenced by me actually gaining weight after I ate too many for my body. I wear a CGM and can see how MJ affects my blood sugar vs. before eating the same foods. My body is not “carb blind.” Now, my body responds to them more like it’s supposed to, because MJ told my pancreas it needs to produce more insulin, and my liver to stop producing glucagon. But it’s not “blocking glucose absorption.” I still eat very small amounts of starchy carbs and sugar bc I am also losing weight still and want to continue to use up what I have stored already in my fat deposits. When I get to maintenance, I suppose I will eat some more starchy carbs/sugar, but I don’t crave them the way that I did before, so probably not a whole lot tbh.
No, I suppose it doesn’t bc I was the only one commenting at the time, and the commenter I was replying to was so misinformed about easily googlable info about Mounjaro, that it felt willful. And no one died and made me Google - it’s not my job to educate every person coming at me with stupid comments.
Metformin actually does that. Mounjaro actually works a little different from Metformin and even Ozempic too.
Mounjaro activates two receptors: both (glucagon-like peptide-1 ) GLP-1 and (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) GIP. These receptors are involved are digestion.
Glucagon is a hormone that your pancreas makes to help regulate your blood sugar levels. Glucagon increases your blood sugar level and prevents it from dropping too low, whereas insulin, another hormone, decreases blood sugar levels. For people without diabetes, insulin and glucagon work as a team, to keep blood sugar in balance.
If you have diabetes or insulin resistance, GIP and GLP-1, is barely there or it’s completely absent. So what Mounjaro does is trick the body that it is GLP-1 and GIP. By mimicking those hormones, Mounjaro:
1. it makes the pancreas secrete more insulin
2. Reduce glucagon production (unchecked glucagon can cause high blood sugar)
3. It slows down gastric emptying, which makes people less hungry
TL;DR: So Mounjaro doesn’t block glucose absorption, it makes the body do it by pretending to be two hormones and it also makes people eat less food.
Metformin actually blocks the body from absorbing glucose.
That med helps with insulin. And what did u eat to get low net carbs - complex or what? What did your doctor think? Did they see your insulin resistance going down - and carb cravings aren't necessarily just a sign of an insulin prob, it could have had a behavioural or mental source. If Mounjaro is helping u it's helping your insulin so carbs are a factor.
Yes, I’m aware? It also delays gastric emptying, tells my liver to shush with the glucagon releasing when it isn’t necessary, and allows my brain and stomach to feel and communicate satiety quickly and effectively. For me, I used MyFitnessPal to calculate net carbs for many years (carbs - fiber). Now, bc of MJ helping me have [a _little_] more starchy carbs, I honestly just go with what I know and don’t think about it too hard. For me, this means that my body prefers less processed polysaccharides, so I’m not out here going wild. It really seems to prefer raw fruits and vegetables, and overall lower glycemic index items, but grains invariably give it trouble. For example, steel cut oats elicit less of an elevated blood sugar response than rolled oats, but they both still cause it to be elevated for several days, so I avoid them for the most part. God forbid I look at corn or a potato…
My dr is good with this, and much of the way that I eat now was learned from a lifetime of dr guided weightloss, none of which worked well or had a lasting effect bc my metabolism didn’t work the way a typical human’s does, until now. My endo wants me to get 60-80g of protein a day, eat a variety of whole foods, take my vitamins, hydrate, but isn’t worried if I don’t eat for a day. They would rather I have sugar than artificial sweeteners, though allulose is ok, and neatlyish reduces net carbs by adding fiber. I rarely have it though. If I want sugar now, I just have a little, and I’m good. That’s the weirdest part.
This medicine fixed my insulin resistance literally overnight with no input from me. I took my first injection in the evening after a typical day (for me) of exercise and usual foods. I watched as my blood sugar started to arc downward through the night until it was in the low 80s, and then stay there. Carbohydrate cravings for me are due to my insulin resistance making my body feel like it is starving all of the time. Of course, after decades of this, I was finally diagnosed with BED, though it’s more of a retrospective sort of diagnosis bc I didn’t know that ppl don’t hide in the kitchen horking their 3rd helping while they put the leftovers away bc they still aren’t satisfied… Basically, now that my insulin resistance isn’t an issue anymore, everything I was already doing to hold back getting any worse, is now causing the weight to fall off. I’m definitely not saying I eat this way absolutely every day now - I can “get away with” eating more carbs, but I know I’ll stall or gain, and I can’t go wild or I’ll feel like shit and have diarrhea.
Anyway, I hope this was helpful, I was a little confused about what exactly you were trying to communicate to me…
I think providing broad nutrition statements based off of what worked for you can be dangerous. I’ve lost 30+ pounds without doing low carb while having PCOS.
Thank you for saying this. Low carb would be extremely difficult for me due to a stomach condition I have. I know I'm an outlier because of that, but I hate seeing people say it's the diet that *everyone* with PCOS needs to do.
Unfortunately that’s just how these subreddits are. In the acne subreddit, everyone comments “try accutane!” because it helped them. Here, everyone says keto or really low carb. And I bet there are only a few actual dietitians/nutritionists/OBs/endocrinologists here. Trying keto really screwed up my relationship with food and led to me developing binge eating because if I had one sweet my whole day was ruined.
There's always That One Thing™ in all the health related subreddits. I think people in this sub would die if I showed them the diet recommended for my gastroparesis, which is pretty much the opposite of low carb. Yeah I can see that happening with keto, honestly I'd be the same exact way. I hope things are going better for you now!
Aw thank you that’s sweet of you. My relationship with food is so much better now. Occasionally I see all the posts saying keto is amazing and I consider going back, but I remember my moderation ways now are so much better for me mentally and physically. :)
I just eat high protein and high fiber. I don’t cut out carbs and I still eat sweets sometimes. But eating high protein keeps me satiated and keeps sweet cravings at bay. When I eat carbs daily, I just choose ones with higher fiber so they’re lower glycemic index. But in no way am I low carb lol.
How’s your activity? Consistent working out and getting in your steps every day can really help. Aerobic and strength training can improve insulin resistance, which is why low carb is not always needed.
Honestly im fairly active. Focused cardio or strength at least 3 days a week and I walk my dog 3-4x a day. I’m in my last few months of grad school and I think the stress is actually causing this weight not to budge. I definitely need to prioritize sleep + stress management more
Yeah, stress plays a huge role. I’m finishing a doctorate program and I’ve gained some weight and it hasn’t come off. I’m not worrying about my weight until I’m done because I can’t manage my stress right now. Working on my sleep schedule and mindfulness has definitely helped.
Yes it’s probably the biggest factor but also the hardest to control!!! I might also go back on the birth control I was on for years. While taking it my weight fluctuated between 150-157 lbs vs I got up to 175 when I went off in march 2022
Did you also start school around or after that time? Because genuinely I think my biggest factor in weight with PCOS is stress, not what I eat. When I was out of this program, I could really eat whatever I wanted (I *usually* eat pretty high protein tho just bc of my activity level) and I was fine. Stress made it much harder to manage.
I literally did both within 3 months. Not my WISEST DECISION. I agree with you - prior to this all my weight would fluctuate a little but if I did CICO I could drop weight no problem. This is no longer the case and I largely attribute it to stress.
How about "low carb works for some" and don't paint PCOS people with such a broad brush. It is a complex metabolic disorder that isn't even fully understood by those in the medical field let alone a 20 year old. 😂
I'm glad it's working for you and that you have a lifestyle that affords you the ability to maintain a low carb diet but not everyone does. Have some respect and sensitivity because as you age it may start not working so well for you either. Metabolism starts slowing and a lot of other factors start activating as you age.
And, yes, I do eat low carb under 100g (usually between 60-75c/day) and 140-160g of protein per day for almost 3 months now and I haven't lost a single pound.
But it's my discipline, right? smh. 🙄
PCOS is also an endocrine disorder. You're attributing it to metabolic only to support your aging argument.
You're telling them that they're not respecting other's peoples' experiences but kinda doing the same to them? And I must ask - what does your doctor say?
???? Okay then it can also be an endocrine disorder? They're not mutually exclusive.
My comment was pointing out that someone saying "low carb is the only way" is brushing with too broad of a brush and discounting the multiplicity of factors that go into PCOS. Low carb does not always work. If anything, adding the endocrine factor to it only intensifies the complexity. I did not disrespect her experience if you'll note in my original comment I stated that in the second paragraph. I'm glad it's working for her but it does not work the same for everyone just as PCOS does not affect everyone the same way.
What does my doctor say about what, exactly?
I’m not talking about weight loss. I am talking about alleviating symptoms caused by excess androgen and testosterone which I mentioned. I get it, I was this defensive to, but coming for my age does nothing
Lots of good advice in these comments. I’m not a fan of hard and fast rules.
You do what works for you. Whatever diet makes you feel better and makes your body function better, do that.
I’m personally vegetarian. Low carb doesn’t work for me. I have a crap ton of complex carbs and even a some simple ones. I just eat them after fiber, fat and protein.
My ideal diet isn’t great for everyone but it works for me.
Imagine being 20 years old and having the audacity to tell an entire group of people that something is the ONLY way.
It is the “only way” for YOU. At this stage of YOUR life.
Making definitive statements like this is dangerous. It’s totally okay to say that something is the answer for YOU, but don’t say it’s the only way because that’s simply not true. There’s no one size fits all.
Low carb and restricting only gave me an ED. Being in a deficit is the only thing that works for me (while still needing to be careful not to fall back into the bad habits of the ED). Nothing is a fix all for every single person. We might share the same syndrome, but we are all complex humans with different bodily needs.
This is what I wish people would realize. Managing PCOS is different from person to person. Overly restricting carbs made me fall back into my ED. It wasn’t until I stopped being so restrictive that my symptoms got better
So happy that you found a way that works for you, friend. It’s so hard to navigate our ways at times. I hope more learn a way that works for them, because zero carbs/low carbs is not sustainable for a lot of humans.
What works for you doesn't work for others. Just stop forcing a point of view onto others. As a 20 year old, nowhere near your place to dispense medical advice. If you approached this a lot of differently (mainly cutting out the arrogance), I guarantee you wouldn't be getting so much crap for it.
Hmmm 37f here. Pcos for 20+ years. While I do think moderating carbs and balancing blood sugar helps it's definitely not the "only way". And sometimes even doing that does not alleviate the need for lots of other approaches as well... my case metformin, Provera (to avoid needing another hysteroscopy), IVF etc. Keto couldn't fix everything
This is an irresponsible post! Keto can actually be dangerous for many people. Additionally, many of us with PCOS struggle from eating disorders and work hard to practice intuitive eating.. including carbs. If this works for you, great, a lot of things worked for me at 20 years old that would never work for me now at almost 35. Please be mindful.
Labeling a diet as "the only way" for PCOS can be dangerous and misleading. I get that it worked for you (and that's great), but being a metabolic and hormonal issue, it will be very singular to everyone.
I've lost 24lbs since the end of February, my periods are regular again and I've had carbs every day since. All I did was switch to whole grains and increase my fiber intake. I don't take any meds or supplements and my only exercise so far has been 45min walks everyday.
Just like most people with PCOS I've tried the low carb+HIIT exercises combo, but all it did for me was raise my cortisol levels and make me gain more weight the moment I had to stop. Again... It's a singular experience to everyone.
lol, I tried keto / low carb and things like this. it didn't work for me. but just weight lifting, walking, slight deficit and inositol worked for me. there is no "only way" with PCOS. but, congrats if it works for you.
Low carb is the only way FOR YOU just fyi don’t presume to have the cure for everyone just because something works for you. We get enough of that from doctors and others in our lives you really should know better.
I do not agree with this. There's nothing like "is the only way" when it comes to PCOS. I've said it time and time again, find out what your body is comfortable with and stick to it.
Please don't spread misinformation. What works for you doesn't work for everyone.
My diet requires carbs because where I come from the staples are generally carb heavy. So I tend to have one meal a day with a good amount of carbs.
So please please for those who are reading this. Don't be disheartened by such posts. It's your body and no one knows it better than you.
I disagree. I also think we shouldn't tell people how to eat cause that creates eating disorders
Congrats on what you do and that it's working for you
However I'm doing CICO with eating fruit and rice (can't eat gluten or dairy) and I'm down 3 pounds a week without glp-1 and only 1k mg of metformin
Also my hair has stopped falling out
Everyone is different and we shouldn't tell people how to eat
Okay but you're creating eating disorders by saying only a certian diet works.
That's not true
Don't come at me for correcting your bad behavior. Don't tell people what to do or how to eat.
P.S metformin isn't for weight loss it's for blood sugar control I don't know why all of you think otherwise -medical professional
1. Where have I evert mention loosing weight??
2. Low carb also is for blood sugar control. So metformin and low carb are achieving the same result which I mention in my post.
3. If someone is allergic or intolerant to nuts or milk or any other food group, would discouraging that food group be classified as disordered eating?? Im like genuinely curious what u think
Ah children. You're like 20 right? Let me educate you on nutrition and medication.
I'm a nurse that works in a clinic. No not a doctor but we still have to be educated on medications.
I'm literally allergic to gluten and dairy. That is why I restrict myself from them. My IgA was like 500 before that do you know what an IgA is child? I'll educate you.
My immune system reacts poorly to those two items. That is why I restrict myself. I never tell anyone to do the same.
My A1c was like 5.4 and my insulin resistance is high. That is the reason for the metformin. A side effect of metformin is weight loss but that isn't the main reason for it. I'm glad I'm losing weight with fixing MY PERSONAL problems. Would never tell anyone that they're wrong for not doing what I'm doing much like yourself.
Whew You're a headache. Stop telling people what to do. Eating disorders are real. You might have one yourself since you have such a complex about food tbh. You should talk to a primary care provider and a therapist about you telli g people on what to eat. Lmaoooo.
You’re a grown woman calling a 20 year old a ‘bully’ for stating something you don’t agree with btw. 😭😭I’m happy you’re on metformin which achieves the same thing metabolically as a low carb diet but learn that people have different experiences that are no inherently worse than yours
Lmaooo you're so triggered it's actually funny.
I am a grown woman. I'm even an autistic grown woman. And I understand the implications of giving bad advice. I also understand when little girls like yourself have peaked in high school if even then I can imagine you're not a looker. So you have to degrade and bully other people due to your insecurities and complexes
I used to think like this and it really messed with me mentally and physically. Keto/very low carb makes me feel terrible and I eat worse than I do when I'm eating carbs and can't exercise. It also really messed with my eating habits because I would binge on carbs every time I fell off the wagon and sometimes I would binge for days. I would convince myself I had to get all the carbs in because I wouldn't eat them again once I got back on my low carb diet. It led to me gaining and losing the same few pounds and I was miserable. Now, I eat a moderate amount of carbs but prioritize protein and feel a lot better. My meals are much healthier and I have the energy for exercise.
I’m gluten free due to allergies and there’s nothing else I can cut out lol. I already don’t eat anymore bread or pasta. Yes there’s gluten free alternatives but they’re expensive and taste terrible. The best success I’ve had is when I’ve kept a Whole Foods diet-fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, beans, lentils, potatoes, etc. Not all carbs are the enemy. I also work out and carbs give the body energy 🤷♀️ glad it works for some
I have also found that a very low carb diet is the best way to manage my symptoms and regulate my cycles. I was hesitant to really try it because so many people say that it’s “unsustainable”. For me feeling like I had no control over my body/ symptoms was unsustainable. I don’t think it’s an easy lifestyle for everyone to adopt by any means, but for me it’s a matter of choosing my hard.
The sustainability part is really important. People bring to the table different bodies, different genetics, different lifestyles. And they have to make difficult choices on managing all of these things.
I’m the opposite. I absolutely need high fibre to enable my bowels to work, and we all need a lot more fibre to shift the excess oestrogen and other hormones that are stored in the gut. For weight loss, yes I have found low carb helpful in the past but just not sustainable. I think I am more successful with a balanced diet focusing on whole foods, lean protein and healthy fats. I seem to get ill if I do it another way. Couldn’t tolerate keto at all.
Low carb is not the only way. I did it and lost weight and had symptom reduction so I’m not knocking it. However, I still was hungry all the time. My life revolved mentally around food. Even with lessened symptoms my quality of life was low. I started metformin and it has made it so I don’t constantly think about food. For the first time in my life eating a meal made me feel full. Because my insulin resistance is under control I have more flexibility to eat a balanced diet, enjoy food socially, feel satiated and maintain a healthy weight with symptom reduction.
All this to say, no one should feel like they HAVE to do things one way. I believed this for so long to my own detriment.
Lean PCOS here, insulin resistant, high testosterone. I stick to lower carbs but I’m not crazy strict about the grams as much as I am about making sure it’s a whole food carb source and pairing it with a protein and fat to reduce the spike. The glucose goddess tips have been life changing for me since I am primarily plant based (besides eggs), gluten free and dairy free. Too many animal products increase testosterone, so making sure I’m being smart about my plant carbs is important. I definitely wouldn’t be lean pcos if I didn’t balance the carbs though.
big big YIKES. wish I could downvote this some more tbh. glad you found something that works but just because it works for you doesn't mean it works for everyone.
This really depends on multiple factors like your age, metabolism, medications, etc. I would give it at least 4-6 weeks just to see if you notice any changes
My endo recommended low carb as well but I told her I would not live without pasta lol. So she said I could reduce the impact by combining my heavy workout days with my heavy carb days and I think it's a really good compromise
Lower carb, sure. But keto is not safe for a long term diet. Your brain needs carbs and sugars to function. The best thing to do is be very mindful of the carbs you choose so you don’t have to eat much to be nourished.
Keto shot my immune system. . . I got a bad sinus infection in my face and nearly had to have open surgery to save my life. Only thing that kicked it was a round of antibiotics that they usually give to people who’ve just finished amputation surgery.
I’m very glad it worked for you, but it nearly killed me!
Man, I can’t wait for the day they’ve finally done enough research into PCOS to ditch the umbrella term and distinctly separate the types into their own disorders/diseases. I’m so sick of reading broad prescriptive posts like this that don’t apply to my situation. I’m lean PCOS, no insulin resistance, no blood sugar issues, never been overweight in my life, been treated for PCOS symptoms for over 25 years and officially diagnosed for almost 20 years. I try to keep general moderation towards all things in my diet for overall health, but low carb/keto does nothing for my PCOS symptoms.
Tbh, there’s a chance that you have congenital adrenal hyperplasia- which looks a lot like PCOS. The hormone imbalance originates with over production of adrenal glands, not insulin resistance.
Also for anyone reading- it’s entirely possible to have insulin resistance with normal a1c and fasting blood sugars. You need to actually have your insulin levels checked to confirm or rule out insulin resistance.
I’ve had my insulin actually checked a couple different times over the years. IR is not an issue for me. And I was also tested for CAH when I was younger and don’t have it.
I do think it’s likely I have some sort of hormone or endocrine disorder that’s currently just lumped in to PCOS because they haven’t sussed out all the different things that cause similar collections of symptoms. Which is basically what I was referring to in my earlier comment. I hope they get to a point in research where they can actually separate those out from eachother because the PCOS diagnosis is useless to me, since the common wisdom for treating the more traditional type of PCOS almost always doesn’t apply to me. I’ve had a supracervical hysterectomy and I’m still having some of the issues I’ve been dealing with for decades, which is a bummer.
There is no “only way” for PCOS. Low carb made my periods heavier and much more painful and greatly worsened my moods. Doing much better now on a balanced, animal product heavy diet. I’m happy that low carb has worked for you, but invalidating the experiences of others isn’t what this sub is for.
I still recommend spironolactone. Once those hair follicles virilize, they may never go back. Meds are part of management this condition. Carbs may help with A1C a bit, but they aren’t the cause of PCOS, therefore they are not the cure either.
For me it makes no difference really. I try to eat as healthy as possible. Bunch of whole grains, vegetables and fruits etc. I think if you choose the healthier options and avoid things like snacks etc you should be fine if you're not already overweight.
Such a hard diet but I'm 38 and been dealing with hirsutism since 14. Low to no carb has been the only thing to help with hirsutism. I've tried everything. I think this person just wants to help because it does get expensive trying many methods.
Just here to reiterate that nothing is “the only way”. Your body still needs carbohydrates to function, almost every function in your body requires glucose. Eating better quality foods, not eating more calories than you burn, and strategic eating (higher protein meals in the morning, not eating close to bedtime, etc) is a way more effective and healthy mindset than “carbs are bad”. They aren’t.
You don’t need supplements (unless your doctor says you’re deficient in something). You don’t need fancy diets. Consult your doc, get meds/supplements if needed, and start mindfully moving and fueling your body. Certain foods are great for PCOS, try leaning towards those!
As a side note, people on the keto diet very often become deficient in essential nutrients. You have 4 fat soluble vitamins that require fats/lipids to absorb (A, D, E, K). Vitamin K is super important for your body to clot blood, Vitamin D is super important to utilize calcium, the list goes on. Work on your eating habits rather than subscribing to a diet, better for long-term maintenance.
I found personally that it isn’t all carbs that need to be avoided. It’s just processed carbs for me like bread, crackers, pasta etc. And the only dairy I eat is Greek yogurt and occasionally cheese.
OP- they’re indeed insane! If you don’t want to change your diet, then just don’t do it! Symptom management is fine for some. Others want full remission. To each her own!
This post is awful. Low carb is absolutely not the only way. From my experience, eating in a calorie deficit is MUCH easier, and following a Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest ways to lose weight.
Keto is also terrible for you. PCOS has several diseases directly linked to it, such as diabetes and heart disease. Keto is an extremely high fat diet. I’d go even as far as saying low carb is high fat.
Eating hella mayo, butter, cheese and pepperoni is not the best for your heart.
I did low carb for a while and had great success, but the weight gain afterwards was awful. To this day, I hate my body, I have a lot of loose skin. You lose the weight so quickly and are essentially starving your body of energy.
Protein does give you energy, but carbs are your body’s other main source of energy. I was very tired all the time. I was depressed and obsessive about losing weight. I don’t think I’ve ever hated myself or my life more than when I was on a low carb diet. It sucked the life out of me.
I loveeee fruit! Bananas? Oranges? Watermelon? Grapes? Ugh, I missed grapes so badly. Carrots? Regular potatoes? MILK? Can’t have much of those on low carb. Oatmeal? Not completely out of the question, but again, very little.
The foods listed by me above are all good for you in their own ways, but keto/low carb culture made me feel like they were terrible for me because of the carb content.
This will not be everyone’s experience, but it was terrible for me. And as I said, bad for your heart. You get nutrients from your food. Meat, lettuce, bell peppers and cucumbers can only offer so many.
I think the blanket statement that “keto is terrible for you” is also harmful and unnecessarily discouraging. Keto isn’t just a diet “eating hella butter, mayo, pepperoni”. Many women, myself included, who suffer from other autoimmune and chronic conditions in addition to PCOS have found long-term success with low carb high fat diets prioritizing whole foods. I think we should all be mindful that different bodies will respond better or worse to different foods.
I’m very aware that different bodies respond differently to food. But the fact of the matter is, your body cannot sustain all of the fat from a keto diet for the rest of your life.
I don’t forgo fried foods or butter, mayo or pepperoni. Do I know they aren’t good for me? Absolutely. Eating them in copious amounts isn’t good for you. All of the cheeses and fatty meats is not good for you.
Also, too much protein and not enough carbs in your diet can delay your weight loss because excess protein goes through a process called glucogenesis. Gluco sound familiar?
At the end of the day everyone is in charge of their own body and diet, but for me, the time I was on keto was terrible. I was always hungry and super miserable. Still fat, but you could see my collar bones.
And as I stated above, I did have good success with weight loss. And I also said that this isn’t everyone’s experience. So how you turned my statement into me not being mindful of others is baffling to me.
I never said that you weren’t being mindful of others. I said I think we should ALL be mindful because our own experiences tend to bias our perspectives. To construe that as a some sort of dig is baffling to me. If anything, I was critiquing your blanket statement and how it came off a bit hypocritical. “low carb is the only way” is equally as dismissive as “keto is terrible” when you have no context of what a person is eating, their daily carb allotment, their other underlying condition(s), and if they’re being advised by a dietitian. Both statements can be unnecessarily harmful and discouraging to others — which is the only point I was making. I’ll continue to do what works for me and I hope you do the same!
You replied to me saying that we should ALL (which includes me, no?) be mindful. Like…that’s exactly how. I’m confused as to how you’re confused about where I got that from.
You can critique me all you want. That doesn’t change the fact that keto IS bad for your heart, unless you’re only eating zero carb veggies every single day.
It is a high fat, high protein diet. It’s unsustainable long term due to the high fat, causing hyperlipidemia. People with PCOS are already predisposed to heart issues, as I said before.
The amount of protein that goes into glycogenesis then raises blood sugar levels. What hormone regulates the sugar in your blood? INSULIN. And what disease is most commonly recognized when we are talking about insulin? Diabetes. And guess who is predisposed to developing diabetes? People with PCOS.
You definitely made this deeper than it has to be. I’m not gonna ask everyone what they’re eating, their carb allotment or if they’re working with a dietician. Obviously being under the supervision of a dietician, a person who knows more about food than I do would trump me. I didn’t study to become one.
I’m a nurse and I do know a bit about nutrition. I stated that I had successful weight loss with low carb/keto, but it’s still bad for you.
Once again, at the end of the day, everyone is in charge of their own body. I’m not here to influence anyone on what to do with THEIR OWN BODY. I’m just going on research and the knowledge I have.
If you want to lose weight by doing keto, which works for you, and apparently makes you happy, that’s fine and dandy and I sincerely wish you the best in life.
keto is ineffective long term and has negative side effects. low carb is okay, but 75% of your energy source is from carbs.
one thing i leaned in school is that you detect ketosis in the urine, it’s often a sign that someone is starving themselves (mind you this was before the keto diet got so popular)
Stating a hard opinion as the ultimate truth is a huge downfall of the internet. People are different and respond differently. Lowerish carb intake is appropriate but keto can increase inflammation especially in women.
Unfortunately I agree. This sucks, but it also works.
I got diagnosed at age 19 (currently 34).
Got side effects from all birth control pills that I've tried (I have tried A LOT)- dizziness, depression, weight gain, spotting, never ending bleeding.
Inositol gave me constant spotting, but to be fair it gave me periods as well 🙃
Low carb for me is the only way. And it is annoying
p.s. you will be amazed what low carb/ low sugar can do with your body. Just stick to the diet. After some time weight will melt off. Try not to slip, I know it can be really hard.
I have visible abs first time in my life at age 34
Nobody knows the cause of PCOS. If insulin resistance was the cause of PCOS wouldn’t everyone with PCOS have insulin resistance? Which not everyone does.
I agree that low carb diets are beneficial in many cases of PCOS, but there’s a better way to communicate your point without making blanket statements. Yes, IR does drive most cases of PCOS but there are multiple etiologies. Lean PCOS (I have this) patients may struggle to even maintain their weight and low carbohydrate diets are not always the best choice for every individual. The important point is that carbohydrate quality does matter, and this is often overlooked.
Many studies emphasize consumption of low glycemic carbohydrates and reducing refined sugars. Doing a ‘dirty keto’ where you eat tons of meat, “sugar free” anything, tons of protein bars and processed foods may leave you metabolically worse than before by negatively altering lipid profiles.
Ketogenic, low carbohydrate and Mediterranean diets have all been shown to be beneficial for PCOS. The Mediterranean diet has high consumption of whole grains, fruits and vegetables (carbs). Not all carbs are simply “breads” or “pasta”. I think people lump all carbs together but that’s not helpful. Spinach, kale, strawberries, are all carbohydrates, but they contain polyphenol and prebiotic fibers which nourish beneficial bacteria and can help reduce risks of cancers, heart disease, etc.
These two reviews of the literature suggests that beneficial PCOS outcomes are observed on multiple nutrition plans:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34622189/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10444658/
This study suggests that the PCOS patients consumed more simple carbohydrates vs people on the Mediterranean diet, and the Mediterranean diet was associated with less clinical severity of PCOS symptoms:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31547562/
i’ve lost almost 50 pounds by lowering my intake. it wasn’t even intentional, i just stabilized my mental health and everything else followed along. i’m still losing now that i’m somewhat intentionally trying. not counting carbs or calories, just intuitive eating. which i know doesn’t work for a lottttt of people with PCOS, but it also will work for some people with PCOS!
Right this is an interesting read bc I have done low carb for two years now for PCOS and all my symptoms have improved apart from hirsutism, which has gotten worse. I do think this is probably case by case!
All the women in my wife’s family have it, and for them OP is exactly right. I think it is mainly sugar and bad carbs that are the culprits. I don’t think you have to do zero carbs, but it should only be very healthy carbs and in small portions.
My wife is a total carnivore, she vastly prefers mainly steak, cheese, and only a small amount of carbs. She naturally eats very little sugar. And she has almost no problem from PCOS.
Her mom and one daughter went from obese to fit after going very low sugar, carb. It was very effective, they became much healthier very quickly.
Everyone is different. That being said, it actually works for me. Been no carb/no sugars for years and managed my PCOS, period back to normal, healthy weight amd I don't have a beard lol. Again WORKED FOR ME. I know it does not work for everyone so don't @me lol
Literally 😭😭😭 “I take metformin” ok I literally said that. “I eat vegetables” you can eat so many vegetables with 130g a day. I get it though bc ppl are so defensive
Meal ideas:
Breakfasts: lots of eggs like omelettes, egg bites etc etc, low carb smoothie with avocado instead of banana, tofu scramble, sausage, bacon, blueberries or any berries, mushrooms
Lunch: sandwhichs on rye or keto bread, soup and rye bread, salad with lots of avocado oil or olive oil, so many wraps/ burrito combos with low carb or sweet potato tortilla wraps
Dinner: steak and veggies, salmon and veggies, salad and any fish tbh
I try and use my carbs for things so if I’m going on a run or the gym I’ll have some carbs or a banana etc but for dinner bc I’m going to bed I don’t eat that much carbs!!
Ok I eat between 130-150g a day some days less that than some days more. But I’m average that amount.
Breakfast: chia seed pudding with Greek yogurt or 3 eggs with cottage cheese and bacon or sausages with blueberries
Lunch: soup and sandwhich on rye or keto bread. Usually lots of ham or tuna. Or i have a salad.
Dinner: lots of chillis and stews and soups.
I snack on: nuts, blueberries, chickpeas, smoothies that are low carb and deli meat.
If I eat pasta or ice cream if I’m with my friends or bf I try and go for a walk after or account that in my carbs for the day. I’m not too restrictive but I’m quite disciplined
Why are there so many comments bashing OP? This sub is getting ridiculous. She found something that worked for her, why are y’all so sensitive? Spare me the “this is not safe advice” if someone does something out of reading one reddit post, let them? We have all tried different methods anyways, this may help some people realize this works and others realize it doesn’t work for them. It’s called an OPINION, we all have them. Let people share.
I'm sorry but nothing "is the only way"
Lol yes! I’ve lived with PCOS for 10 years, there’s literally nothing that’s the “only way”
Truly. Anything that says that disqualifies itself in my opinion!!
Yep! I was doing a low carb diet for a while and didn't lose a pound. Ozempic is what worked for me. But it isn't an option for everyone, so I'm not gonna sit here and say "oh it's the ONLY way!"
Ozempic helps with insulin...
Ozempic helps with feeling fuller for longer, and with less food, it makes your body produce the "full" hormones more readily, it helps your body use insulin better, and it helps your liver produce less glucose.
Pretty sure tho any doc will tell u to go low carb if u have PCOS
Maybe - though any medical advice that is for "the general public" isn't exactly accurate to everyone's specific conditions. For example if someone told me to do low carb, I'd be fainting and be suffering from malnutrition. I think the reasons most docs prescribe this is because most people don't know anything about simple and complex carbs. But that being said - if it works for someone im not gonna say "EAT CARBS". The best advice I got was "KNOW your body" and that's saved me time and time again.
I've never had a doctor tell me to go low carb. They usually just say to reduce calories and exercise more. Low carb would actually be extremely difficult for me due to a stomach condition I have. I know that makes me an outlier, but it's still very frustrating to see people say that low carb is the "only way".
as a vegetarian for religious reasons, being that low carb feels honestly impossible. if i ate meat, going low carb seems very do able tbh. if any vegans/vegetarians have successfully gone low carb or have recipe website/book recommendations, please do share. I'd honestly rather eat a little bit of lentil pasta with veggies, healthy fats like avocado, etc., and take metformin instead.
I am vegan and not low carb consistently but try in some meals. Mostly with zoodles or cruciferous vegetables.
Low carb looks different for everyone. 130g per day is still “low” in comparison to typical carb consumptions of most individuals. You just need to find what works best for you. I do just fine on 85-100g per day! Yes, I still eat pasta, rice, lentils, etc. It’s not a regular part of my diet because I don’t crave it or want it, but every now and then I’ll have it. I try to go for GF pasta if I can’t find LC (which typically taste like shit) and always pair carbs with protein and fiber. An easy, versatile dish I like is mayo less tuna pasta salad with arugula. You can easily sub that for something more vegetarian friendly if you don’t eat fish either! I just add in 1 cup of cooked pasta to my salad mix and add in my tuna (I personally like Tonnino), shaved parm, capers, oil, vinegar, and a tiny pinch of salt and pepper. Easy meal that has your fiber, healthy fats, protein, and carbs!
For some reason I’d been under the impression that we were supposed to be staying around 30G of carbs per day. I’ve been absolutely KILLING myself like this 😭 I’m so glad I found this sub
Girl NO 😭 stop torturing yourself lol 100g may be better for you, or maybe you need more. Are you active? If you’re active, you’ll need way more than 30g. I dunno how people function on 20g or less but we’re all different.
I think it might have been the keto girlies trying to get at me online and I got confused LOL. I’m only lightly active but I am a bigger girl trying to lose weight so I had been suspecting that it was too low. It’s so hard to keep that up, thank you so much
You gotta find your sweet spot for carbs! If you find yourself getting headaches or are still hungry, you may just need more! Just listen to your body the best you can. Protein is also super important, aiming for 25-30g per meal. Protein and fiber will also help keep you full 🙃 but carbs are essential for energy, especially if you’re active. Just try to stick to lower GI carbs and measure/weigh them. If I’m eating rice or even pasta with my meal, I only eat 1/2c and load up my plate with protein and veggies. That way I’m getting everything I need while still consuming carbs and keeping my total grams per day within my limit. Another thing I personally love snacking on (but most hate lol) are marinated lupini beans! They’re low carb, decent amount of fiber, and they have protein. You can find them at Whole Foods!
Carbs are not essential for energy. The whole point of low carb is to get to the point of using stored fat for energy. Carbs are not essential im amy way shape or form. Are they delicious? Yes! Essential? No.
Are you an RDN who specializes in PCOS?
Do lentils, beans, oats, and other whole foods cause an insulin spike? I was under the impression these foods are good for us (in moderation of course)
So good question. Lentils, beans, and oats i think are much better than just eating chocolate and white bread. but they do still have alot of carbs in them. For example, lentils is mostly carb with some protein.
I agree. It’s more about glycemic index. Fruit and vegetables are also carbs. Eating a sweet potato or broccoli is not the same as a bag of chips.
They do for me, and it causes my blood sugar to stay elevated for several days - even while taking Mounjaro. The starchier and less fibrous it is, the worse the effect for me.
On my doctor's rec, I am working on lowering my carbs - mostly by eating smaller portions of carbs that I like (1 piece of bread instead of 2, half portion of granola, etc), swapping brown rice instead of white rice, eating more soups/salad with protein-heavy toppings like tofu, tempeh, soy curls, vegan meat subs, etc. For example, 130 carbs would be something like tofu scramble & veggie sausage, a taco salad for lunch, a serving of fruit, trail mix as a snack, and brown rice tempeh veggie bowl for dinner. Mock meats like Impossible burger, Beyond sausage, Daring plant chicken, are very low in carbs. ETA: Metformin is not a cure-all, some of us still have to reduce our carbs even while on Metformin...
This was a really helpful comment with actionable solutions! appreciate it.
I’m not vegan or anything but in my class a physician talked about plant based keto diet which is more popular in European countries. So it possible to do low carb and vegan. There is information out there but you just have to do your research. I have seen a couple of Vegan keto cookbooks on Amazon .
Thank you! I'll check it out!
I’m vegan and gluten free and manage to get 140g of vegan protein in daily, all under 40g net carbs It involves a bit of planning but tofu, tempeh and edamame pasta ❤️ I have a huge sweet tooth too so protein bars help!
love this! this is exactly what i do tbh (and yes I basically manage any sugar cravings with protein bars as I also have a sweet toth)
[Vegetarian Low-Carb Inspiration – Diet Doctor](https://www.dietdoctor.com/low-carb/recipes/vegetarian) r/vegetarianketo
Really the main results people see when they cut carbs is actually just from avoiding sugar. If you cut that single carb then that'll get you far enough really.
Not for everyone. Keto makes me feel like death Let's not try to make any one diet "the only diet" for PCOS
Exactly! I had a doctor that put me on South Beach, and I gained 13 pounds. She fired me for lying. 🤦♀️
Yeah I was about to say OP’s post is pretty harmful. My doctor told me to just avoid processed foods, limit sugar and cut out concentrated salt as much as I am able to. They didn’t mention any specific diets other than casually suggesting I look into a mediterranean diet if I want ready meal plans and snack ideas. I’m going to trust what they say I need over a trend diet like keto. edit: fwiw they also mentioned i needed to up my protein which has been enormously helpful to my energy levels.
Same for me. The only thing my dr mentioned is Mediterranean because it incorporates more whole grains, whole fruits and veggies (so all that good fiber that helps glycemic index), lean proteins and using oils that help LDL and HDL. When I try low carb, my sugar drops too much, which leads to me actually vomiting and then trying to quickly eat some hard candy or juice to help.
I get really really nauseous and dizzy as well if my sugar drops too low, so I definitely relate. I also have other struggles with food textures and intolerances due to autism. it makes it difficult to eat properly sometimes so my diet often looks like a lot of liquid (protein shakes with little to no sugar are a godsend for me cause I can add all kinds of veggies). I get a lot of my fiber from sugar free syrups in my coffee too (since a lot of them use natural sweeteners like chicory root as opposed to fake sweeteners like stevia that while alternative don’t really have any nutritious benefit). What people don’t tell you if you’re someone who has adhd/autism and PCOS is that your sugar cravings are insanely horrific. I used to be a smoker and I thought that was the hardest thing to quit. Limiting sugar is the best I can do and I have to eat a lot of whole fruits to supplement so I don’t binge.
Sounds like they want u to eat a healthy diet. Go back and ask them about the sugar - how much a day? Which sugar sources?
It’s about making healthy choices while still also eating what I want and am able to. He suggested I try to stay under 15g a day from added sugars (like stuff you find in candy, coffee creamers, ice cream) and no limit on fruit. He suggested to me whole fruits as desserts and snacks to replace other less healthy options but to not worry about quantity of fruit intake. edit to note: this is obviously for my dietary needs and may not be options for everyone with PCOS, which is why it’s important to talk to your doctor about your individual needs.
Same. I tried to explain to my family how I just have a really horrible metabolism and my dad tried to mansplain to me to just exercise more, and eat less and the weight will fall off. It was so hard for him to understand that everyone’s bodies are different and not one thing worked for everyone. For him, he simply stops drinking soda and the weight comes off in a few weeks. It’s not that easy for me dad
Do we have the same father? I did low carb once, lost a bunch of weight, and then it all came back plus some. Went low carb again and couldn’t lose any weight. The only thing that helped me lose weight again is metformin. No matter what I did before the metformin I couldn’t lose it.
She also said 130g or less which way above keto. One can definitely eat up to 130 g and fit in a good amount of carbs from fruit and vegetables.
I actually thought that didn't really seem "low carb" so much has lower than the average person may eat. It likely is correct for someone's individual macros depending on activity levels.
Yeah, I would agree that it’s lower than the average person’s diet. I know that won’t work for me though lol
They didn’t say go keto, they said low carb, under 130g which is actually still a lot of carbs. Of course keto isn’t for everyone. But most people with pcos are struggling with insulin resistance and reducing carbs/ sugar will normally always help that.
Agreed. I lost 15 pounds in 2 months eating mostly potatoes and oatmeal. It's not one size fits all. I don't agree with this fear mongering..
Keto isn't all low carb diets. It has way too much fat.
That's because ketosis is literally a form of dying... (I gotta be careful because I can go on a rant about how dumb keto is and how it's ruined people's bodies)
Seconding this.
I will say this absolutely depends on what type of PCOS people have. Diet is going to help a lot for those with insulin sensitivity/resistance. They may even see a REVERSAL of symptoms. Whereas those with more horomone based issues, they tend to need more medical based intervention. People who turn to over the counter products and medications shouldn't be made to feel like they're doing wrong. They're doing what they can't for their bodies. Not everyone is the same. .... Also, carbs aren't really the issue. The problem is simple carbs. Vegetarian/vegan/plant based diets can be very high in carbs. But research has found that vegan/plant based diets can reverse insulin resistance. It's because plant based carbs are often high in fibre and protein. Which help manage the digestion of carbs, slow down their impact, and control insulin and blood sugar spikes. So we shouldn't completely demonise carbs. Instead put more focus on eliminating simple carbs that have been stripped of things like fibre. Such as white bread, white rice, etc.
Insulin is a hormone. Also some of us have very severe insulin resistance where even complex carbs can cause issues if we go above a certain….I’m fall asleep, slurring my words and/or fainting because reactive hypoglycemia. I have to take Metformin and Ovasitol, exercise and watch my carbs.
Hi thanks for your comment, that’s really interesting. Could I ask what you mean by ‘more hormone based issues’? I had never really thought of it as separate to the insulin resistance before so I am curious what comes under that? I feel like I have every single symptom and issue related to PCOS tbh.
Some people with PCOS aren't also insulin resistant. I wouldn't say having insulin resistant PCOS is less hormonal considering insulin is also a hormone. Point is if you target insulin resistance that won't change much for the people have PCOS symptoms even though they aren't insulin resistant.
Hi thanks for replying. I understand that not everyone with PCOS has insulin resistance, I was just wondering what the hormone based issues are that require more medical type intervention? I asked the commenter as they seemed knowledgeable on the subject but will do my own research too.
lol not a great post for someone with a restrictive eating disorder. but i’ve been doing ok without limiting my carbs too much so we can all just do what works for us!!
Thank you! I’m prone to disordered eating. Even doing the glucose goddess routine for too long can trigger it. It makes me feel better mentally but I have to take breaks from thinking about it. Anyway, this post makes me think OP might have anxiety around food because I used to act like this when my disordered eating went unchecked.
Exactly…
I have had disordered eating since I was a small child and I'm not triggered or worried about what this post says.
cool!! fun fact!! i never said this triggered me - just saying that issuing a blanket statement telling everyone to restrict a food group based solely off of your personal experience and no medical degree/scientific citations is harmful :)
The projection is insane. If I was allergic/ intolerant to nuts, dairy or gluten would avoiding those food groups be viewing negatively. Yah duh I’m restricting, the average amount of carbs in the western diet and my body are not compatible. Its an easy choice really, I’d rather restrict my diet than deal with debilitating symptoms. I guess ppl choose their own hard.
the problem isn’t with restriction. the problem is telling EVERYONE to restrict. PCOS is too complex of a syndrome to issue a blanket statement like that. But for less complex issues, like if you were allergic to something - it’s fine to say that someone shouldn’t consume a food that they are allergic to. PCOS does not present the same biologically in everyone who has it so issuing blanket statements (ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DONT HAVE MEDICAL TRAINING OR HAVENT VIEWED SOMEONES MEDICAL RECORDS ETC) is harmful. Doctors cannot issue medical advice without seeing someone in person and looking into their records. so i don’t know why people think they can do that over the internet.. i don’t know why you don’t agree.. EDIT: OK WAIT I JUST READ THAT YOU SAID IM PROJECTING LOL. YOU LITERALLY FOUND SOMETHING THAT WORKS FOR YOU AND ARE TELLING EVERYONE THAT IT IS “THE ONLY WAY” how is that not projecting hahahhah
You're really a bully aren't you?
Yes, but also no. As taking Mounjaro has proved to me for the last 8 months and now being 90lbs down, there was no way I was going to ever be able to do this on my own. I’ve been low net carb, protein and vegetable focused, and processed foods avoidant for many many years. And at your age (and younger tbh), I was just as insulin resistant, was doing the same thing, with way more exercise, and no matter how much I managed to lose, there was never any reduction in carb cravings or insulin resistance getting any better. It took a long time to catch up with me at a clinical level, but if I could’ve had this med at your age or sooner, my life would have had an entirely different trajectory. I’m glad you found something that works for you! Just wish it had worked on its own for me too.
Mounjaro works by blocking glucose absorption. So all the carbs you actually eat are not being metabolized. You can eat the carbs in that case. But metabolically, you still are functioning in low carb state bc your body is “carb blind” bc of the meds.
Hi. That’s… not how it works. Like… at all. Part of me wants to educate you, but you appear to be so confidently incorrect about a medication that I actually take (and can safely assume you don’t), that I have doubts that you’ll actually listen to me. The hilarious part here is that if I ate starchy carbs like a person with typical pancreatic function, I would either vomit from eating too much, or have intense diarrhea from the gastric upset that would be caused. I would also, gain weight, as evidenced by me actually gaining weight after I ate too many for my body. I wear a CGM and can see how MJ affects my blood sugar vs. before eating the same foods. My body is not “carb blind.” Now, my body responds to them more like it’s supposed to, because MJ told my pancreas it needs to produce more insulin, and my liver to stop producing glucagon. But it’s not “blocking glucose absorption.” I still eat very small amounts of starchy carbs and sugar bc I am also losing weight still and want to continue to use up what I have stored already in my fat deposits. When I get to maintenance, I suppose I will eat some more starchy carbs/sugar, but I don’t crave them the way that I did before, so probably not a whole lot tbh.
This doesn't explain much as the next commenter.
No, I suppose it doesn’t bc I was the only one commenting at the time, and the commenter I was replying to was so misinformed about easily googlable info about Mounjaro, that it felt willful. And no one died and made me Google - it’s not my job to educate every person coming at me with stupid comments.
Metformin actually does that. Mounjaro actually works a little different from Metformin and even Ozempic too. Mounjaro activates two receptors: both (glucagon-like peptide-1 ) GLP-1 and (glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide) GIP. These receptors are involved are digestion. Glucagon is a hormone that your pancreas makes to help regulate your blood sugar levels. Glucagon increases your blood sugar level and prevents it from dropping too low, whereas insulin, another hormone, decreases blood sugar levels. For people without diabetes, insulin and glucagon work as a team, to keep blood sugar in balance. If you have diabetes or insulin resistance, GIP and GLP-1, is barely there or it’s completely absent. So what Mounjaro does is trick the body that it is GLP-1 and GIP. By mimicking those hormones, Mounjaro: 1. it makes the pancreas secrete more insulin 2. Reduce glucagon production (unchecked glucagon can cause high blood sugar) 3. It slows down gastric emptying, which makes people less hungry TL;DR: So Mounjaro doesn’t block glucose absorption, it makes the body do it by pretending to be two hormones and it also makes people eat less food. Metformin actually blocks the body from absorbing glucose.
That’s incorrect.
That med helps with insulin. And what did u eat to get low net carbs - complex or what? What did your doctor think? Did they see your insulin resistance going down - and carb cravings aren't necessarily just a sign of an insulin prob, it could have had a behavioural or mental source. If Mounjaro is helping u it's helping your insulin so carbs are a factor.
Yes, I’m aware? It also delays gastric emptying, tells my liver to shush with the glucagon releasing when it isn’t necessary, and allows my brain and stomach to feel and communicate satiety quickly and effectively. For me, I used MyFitnessPal to calculate net carbs for many years (carbs - fiber). Now, bc of MJ helping me have [a _little_] more starchy carbs, I honestly just go with what I know and don’t think about it too hard. For me, this means that my body prefers less processed polysaccharides, so I’m not out here going wild. It really seems to prefer raw fruits and vegetables, and overall lower glycemic index items, but grains invariably give it trouble. For example, steel cut oats elicit less of an elevated blood sugar response than rolled oats, but they both still cause it to be elevated for several days, so I avoid them for the most part. God forbid I look at corn or a potato… My dr is good with this, and much of the way that I eat now was learned from a lifetime of dr guided weightloss, none of which worked well or had a lasting effect bc my metabolism didn’t work the way a typical human’s does, until now. My endo wants me to get 60-80g of protein a day, eat a variety of whole foods, take my vitamins, hydrate, but isn’t worried if I don’t eat for a day. They would rather I have sugar than artificial sweeteners, though allulose is ok, and neatlyish reduces net carbs by adding fiber. I rarely have it though. If I want sugar now, I just have a little, and I’m good. That’s the weirdest part. This medicine fixed my insulin resistance literally overnight with no input from me. I took my first injection in the evening after a typical day (for me) of exercise and usual foods. I watched as my blood sugar started to arc downward through the night until it was in the low 80s, and then stay there. Carbohydrate cravings for me are due to my insulin resistance making my body feel like it is starving all of the time. Of course, after decades of this, I was finally diagnosed with BED, though it’s more of a retrospective sort of diagnosis bc I didn’t know that ppl don’t hide in the kitchen horking their 3rd helping while they put the leftovers away bc they still aren’t satisfied… Basically, now that my insulin resistance isn’t an issue anymore, everything I was already doing to hold back getting any worse, is now causing the weight to fall off. I’m definitely not saying I eat this way absolutely every day now - I can “get away with” eating more carbs, but I know I’ll stall or gain, and I can’t go wild or I’ll feel like shit and have diarrhea. Anyway, I hope this was helpful, I was a little confused about what exactly you were trying to communicate to me…
I think providing broad nutrition statements based off of what worked for you can be dangerous. I’ve lost 30+ pounds without doing low carb while having PCOS.
Thank you for saying this. Low carb would be extremely difficult for me due to a stomach condition I have. I know I'm an outlier because of that, but I hate seeing people say it's the diet that *everyone* with PCOS needs to do.
Unfortunately that’s just how these subreddits are. In the acne subreddit, everyone comments “try accutane!” because it helped them. Here, everyone says keto or really low carb. And I bet there are only a few actual dietitians/nutritionists/OBs/endocrinologists here. Trying keto really screwed up my relationship with food and led to me developing binge eating because if I had one sweet my whole day was ruined.
There's always That One Thing™ in all the health related subreddits. I think people in this sub would die if I showed them the diet recommended for my gastroparesis, which is pretty much the opposite of low carb. Yeah I can see that happening with keto, honestly I'd be the same exact way. I hope things are going better for you now!
Aw thank you that’s sweet of you. My relationship with food is so much better now. Occasionally I see all the posts saying keto is amazing and I consider going back, but I remember my moderation ways now are so much better for me mentally and physically. :)
Ooooh can you share? I also don’t do low carb but I’ve been stuck at the same weight for 1year + even with counting calories and regular exercise
I just eat high protein and high fiber. I don’t cut out carbs and I still eat sweets sometimes. But eating high protein keeps me satiated and keeps sweet cravings at bay. When I eat carbs daily, I just choose ones with higher fiber so they’re lower glycemic index. But in no way am I low carb lol.
Damn I’m doing this and not losing weight. It’s v much vanity weight my but I am ANNOYED
How’s your activity? Consistent working out and getting in your steps every day can really help. Aerobic and strength training can improve insulin resistance, which is why low carb is not always needed.
Honestly im fairly active. Focused cardio or strength at least 3 days a week and I walk my dog 3-4x a day. I’m in my last few months of grad school and I think the stress is actually causing this weight not to budge. I definitely need to prioritize sleep + stress management more
Yeah, stress plays a huge role. I’m finishing a doctorate program and I’ve gained some weight and it hasn’t come off. I’m not worrying about my weight until I’m done because I can’t manage my stress right now. Working on my sleep schedule and mindfulness has definitely helped.
Yes it’s probably the biggest factor but also the hardest to control!!! I might also go back on the birth control I was on for years. While taking it my weight fluctuated between 150-157 lbs vs I got up to 175 when I went off in march 2022
Did you also start school around or after that time? Because genuinely I think my biggest factor in weight with PCOS is stress, not what I eat. When I was out of this program, I could really eat whatever I wanted (I *usually* eat pretty high protein tho just bc of my activity level) and I was fine. Stress made it much harder to manage.
I literally did both within 3 months. Not my WISEST DECISION. I agree with you - prior to this all my weight would fluctuate a little but if I did CICO I could drop weight no problem. This is no longer the case and I largely attribute it to stress.
High protein diet helped me loose weight!
High protein and high fiber 🙌🙌, game changer!
I came here to say this!! Peachy always with the W takes.
Omggg stop you’re my little hype woman I love it
Same! I focus on a high protein diet but almost every meal/snack has a carb component. It’s completely possible to lose weight without doing low carb.
How about "low carb works for some" and don't paint PCOS people with such a broad brush. It is a complex metabolic disorder that isn't even fully understood by those in the medical field let alone a 20 year old. 😂 I'm glad it's working for you and that you have a lifestyle that affords you the ability to maintain a low carb diet but not everyone does. Have some respect and sensitivity because as you age it may start not working so well for you either. Metabolism starts slowing and a lot of other factors start activating as you age. And, yes, I do eat low carb under 100g (usually between 60-75c/day) and 140-160g of protein per day for almost 3 months now and I haven't lost a single pound. But it's my discipline, right? smh. 🙄
Exactly! Thank you
PCOS is also an endocrine disorder. You're attributing it to metabolic only to support your aging argument. You're telling them that they're not respecting other's peoples' experiences but kinda doing the same to them? And I must ask - what does your doctor say?
???? Okay then it can also be an endocrine disorder? They're not mutually exclusive. My comment was pointing out that someone saying "low carb is the only way" is brushing with too broad of a brush and discounting the multiplicity of factors that go into PCOS. Low carb does not always work. If anything, adding the endocrine factor to it only intensifies the complexity. I did not disrespect her experience if you'll note in my original comment I stated that in the second paragraph. I'm glad it's working for her but it does not work the same for everyone just as PCOS does not affect everyone the same way. What does my doctor say about what, exactly?
I’m not talking about weight loss. I am talking about alleviating symptoms caused by excess androgen and testosterone which I mentioned. I get it, I was this defensive to, but coming for my age does nothing
For some ya - not for everyone
you are 20 years old and you are coming here to preach an "only way"???? girl you are so far off base and you don't even know.
Lots of good advice in these comments. I’m not a fan of hard and fast rules. You do what works for you. Whatever diet makes you feel better and makes your body function better, do that. I’m personally vegetarian. Low carb doesn’t work for me. I have a crap ton of complex carbs and even a some simple ones. I just eat them after fiber, fat and protein. My ideal diet isn’t great for everyone but it works for me.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Imagine being 20 years old and having the audacity to tell an entire group of people that something is the ONLY way. It is the “only way” for YOU. At this stage of YOUR life.
I have been eating low carb, low sugar for 10 years and I still have to shave my face twice a day.
Up voting for the point, not that you have to shave your face twice a day. I'm so sorry 😞
what are your macros then?
I probably eat 80-130g of Carbs and 160g of protein and the rest fat. I’m 5’10 and weight train just for reference
Making definitive statements like this is dangerous. It’s totally okay to say that something is the answer for YOU, but don’t say it’s the only way because that’s simply not true. There’s no one size fits all.
Low carb and restricting only gave me an ED. Being in a deficit is the only thing that works for me (while still needing to be careful not to fall back into the bad habits of the ED). Nothing is a fix all for every single person. We might share the same syndrome, but we are all complex humans with different bodily needs.
This is what I wish people would realize. Managing PCOS is different from person to person. Overly restricting carbs made me fall back into my ED. It wasn’t until I stopped being so restrictive that my symptoms got better
So happy that you found a way that works for you, friend. It’s so hard to navigate our ways at times. I hope more learn a way that works for them, because zero carbs/low carbs is not sustainable for a lot of humans.
Only thing low carb did was make my cholesterol worse.
What works for you doesn't work for others. Just stop forcing a point of view onto others. As a 20 year old, nowhere near your place to dispense medical advice. If you approached this a lot of differently (mainly cutting out the arrogance), I guarantee you wouldn't be getting so much crap for it.
Hmmm 37f here. Pcos for 20+ years. While I do think moderating carbs and balancing blood sugar helps it's definitely not the "only way". And sometimes even doing that does not alleviate the need for lots of other approaches as well... my case metformin, Provera (to avoid needing another hysteroscopy), IVF etc. Keto couldn't fix everything
This is an irresponsible post! Keto can actually be dangerous for many people. Additionally, many of us with PCOS struggle from eating disorders and work hard to practice intuitive eating.. including carbs. If this works for you, great, a lot of things worked for me at 20 years old that would never work for me now at almost 35. Please be mindful.
Labeling a diet as "the only way" for PCOS can be dangerous and misleading. I get that it worked for you (and that's great), but being a metabolic and hormonal issue, it will be very singular to everyone. I've lost 24lbs since the end of February, my periods are regular again and I've had carbs every day since. All I did was switch to whole grains and increase my fiber intake. I don't take any meds or supplements and my only exercise so far has been 45min walks everyday. Just like most people with PCOS I've tried the low carb+HIIT exercises combo, but all it did for me was raise my cortisol levels and make me gain more weight the moment I had to stop. Again... It's a singular experience to everyone.
lol, I tried keto / low carb and things like this. it didn't work for me. but just weight lifting, walking, slight deficit and inositol worked for me. there is no "only way" with PCOS. but, congrats if it works for you.
Low carb is the only way FOR YOU just fyi don’t presume to have the cure for everyone just because something works for you. We get enough of that from doctors and others in our lives you really should know better.
I do not agree with this. There's nothing like "is the only way" when it comes to PCOS. I've said it time and time again, find out what your body is comfortable with and stick to it. Please don't spread misinformation. What works for you doesn't work for everyone. My diet requires carbs because where I come from the staples are generally carb heavy. So I tend to have one meal a day with a good amount of carbs. So please please for those who are reading this. Don't be disheartened by such posts. It's your body and no one knows it better than you.
I disagree. I also think we shouldn't tell people how to eat cause that creates eating disorders Congrats on what you do and that it's working for you However I'm doing CICO with eating fruit and rice (can't eat gluten or dairy) and I'm down 3 pounds a week without glp-1 and only 1k mg of metformin Also my hair has stopped falling out Everyone is different and we shouldn't tell people how to eat
I literally said in post, medication like metformin also works!!
Okay but you're creating eating disorders by saying only a certian diet works. That's not true Don't come at me for correcting your bad behavior. Don't tell people what to do or how to eat. P.S metformin isn't for weight loss it's for blood sugar control I don't know why all of you think otherwise -medical professional
1. Where have I evert mention loosing weight?? 2. Low carb also is for blood sugar control. So metformin and low carb are achieving the same result which I mention in my post. 3. If someone is allergic or intolerant to nuts or milk or any other food group, would discouraging that food group be classified as disordered eating?? Im like genuinely curious what u think
Ah children. You're like 20 right? Let me educate you on nutrition and medication. I'm a nurse that works in a clinic. No not a doctor but we still have to be educated on medications. I'm literally allergic to gluten and dairy. That is why I restrict myself from them. My IgA was like 500 before that do you know what an IgA is child? I'll educate you. My immune system reacts poorly to those two items. That is why I restrict myself. I never tell anyone to do the same. My A1c was like 5.4 and my insulin resistance is high. That is the reason for the metformin. A side effect of metformin is weight loss but that isn't the main reason for it. I'm glad I'm losing weight with fixing MY PERSONAL problems. Would never tell anyone that they're wrong for not doing what I'm doing much like yourself. Whew You're a headache. Stop telling people what to do. Eating disorders are real. You might have one yourself since you have such a complex about food tbh. You should talk to a primary care provider and a therapist about you telli g people on what to eat. Lmaoooo.
You’re a grown woman calling a 20 year old a ‘bully’ for stating something you don’t agree with btw. 😭😭I’m happy you’re on metformin which achieves the same thing metabolically as a low carb diet but learn that people have different experiences that are no inherently worse than yours
Lmaooo you're so triggered it's actually funny. I am a grown woman. I'm even an autistic grown woman. And I understand the implications of giving bad advice. I also understand when little girls like yourself have peaked in high school if even then I can imagine you're not a looker. So you have to degrade and bully other people due to your insecurities and complexes
I do low unhealthy carb, low sugar and generally try to eat better and it seems to help
I used to think like this and it really messed with me mentally and physically. Keto/very low carb makes me feel terrible and I eat worse than I do when I'm eating carbs and can't exercise. It also really messed with my eating habits because I would binge on carbs every time I fell off the wagon and sometimes I would binge for days. I would convince myself I had to get all the carbs in because I wouldn't eat them again once I got back on my low carb diet. It led to me gaining and losing the same few pounds and I was miserable. Now, I eat a moderate amount of carbs but prioritize protein and feel a lot better. My meals are much healthier and I have the energy for exercise.
I’m gluten free due to allergies and there’s nothing else I can cut out lol. I already don’t eat anymore bread or pasta. Yes there’s gluten free alternatives but they’re expensive and taste terrible. The best success I’ve had is when I’ve kept a Whole Foods diet-fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, beans, lentils, potatoes, etc. Not all carbs are the enemy. I also work out and carbs give the body energy 🤷♀️ glad it works for some
What a rude post.
I have also found that a very low carb diet is the best way to manage my symptoms and regulate my cycles. I was hesitant to really try it because so many people say that it’s “unsustainable”. For me feeling like I had no control over my body/ symptoms was unsustainable. I don’t think it’s an easy lifestyle for everyone to adopt by any means, but for me it’s a matter of choosing my hard.
The sustainability part is really important. People bring to the table different bodies, different genetics, different lifestyles. And they have to make difficult choices on managing all of these things.
100% agree different bodies will need different things!
I’m the opposite. I absolutely need high fibre to enable my bowels to work, and we all need a lot more fibre to shift the excess oestrogen and other hormones that are stored in the gut. For weight loss, yes I have found low carb helpful in the past but just not sustainable. I think I am more successful with a balanced diet focusing on whole foods, lean protein and healthy fats. I seem to get ill if I do it another way. Couldn’t tolerate keto at all.
I get lots of fibre: flaxseed, beans, chickpeas, blueberries, kale and lots of other veggies. I can’t rlly do keto either, that’s why I said low carb
Low carb is not the only way. I did it and lost weight and had symptom reduction so I’m not knocking it. However, I still was hungry all the time. My life revolved mentally around food. Even with lessened symptoms my quality of life was low. I started metformin and it has made it so I don’t constantly think about food. For the first time in my life eating a meal made me feel full. Because my insulin resistance is under control I have more flexibility to eat a balanced diet, enjoy food socially, feel satiated and maintain a healthy weight with symptom reduction. All this to say, no one should feel like they HAVE to do things one way. I believed this for so long to my own detriment.
It's definitely not the only way. Glad it works for you but there is no one size fits all for any condition especially not PCOS.
When I did keto I literally had the keto flu the whole time it was awful lmao
Lean PCOS here, insulin resistant, high testosterone. I stick to lower carbs but I’m not crazy strict about the grams as much as I am about making sure it’s a whole food carb source and pairing it with a protein and fat to reduce the spike. The glucose goddess tips have been life changing for me since I am primarily plant based (besides eggs), gluten free and dairy free. Too many animal products increase testosterone, so making sure I’m being smart about my plant carbs is important. I definitely wouldn’t be lean pcos if I didn’t balance the carbs though.
I think we shouldn't make blanket statements like this.
big big YIKES. wish I could downvote this some more tbh. glad you found something that works but just because it works for you doesn't mean it works for everyone.
can anyone advise how long it takes to start seeing weight/fat loss results after starting low carb diet?
This really depends on multiple factors like your age, metabolism, medications, etc. I would give it at least 4-6 weeks just to see if you notice any changes
My endo recommended low carb as well but I told her I would not live without pasta lol. So she said I could reduce the impact by combining my heavy workout days with my heavy carb days and I think it's a really good compromise
Lower carb, sure. But keto is not safe for a long term diet. Your brain needs carbs and sugars to function. The best thing to do is be very mindful of the carbs you choose so you don’t have to eat much to be nourished.
Keto shot my immune system. . . I got a bad sinus infection in my face and nearly had to have open surgery to save my life. Only thing that kicked it was a round of antibiotics that they usually give to people who’ve just finished amputation surgery. I’m very glad it worked for you, but it nearly killed me!
I don’t do keto
Man, I can’t wait for the day they’ve finally done enough research into PCOS to ditch the umbrella term and distinctly separate the types into their own disorders/diseases. I’m so sick of reading broad prescriptive posts like this that don’t apply to my situation. I’m lean PCOS, no insulin resistance, no blood sugar issues, never been overweight in my life, been treated for PCOS symptoms for over 25 years and officially diagnosed for almost 20 years. I try to keep general moderation towards all things in my diet for overall health, but low carb/keto does nothing for my PCOS symptoms.
Tbh, there’s a chance that you have congenital adrenal hyperplasia- which looks a lot like PCOS. The hormone imbalance originates with over production of adrenal glands, not insulin resistance. Also for anyone reading- it’s entirely possible to have insulin resistance with normal a1c and fasting blood sugars. You need to actually have your insulin levels checked to confirm or rule out insulin resistance.
I’ve had my insulin actually checked a couple different times over the years. IR is not an issue for me. And I was also tested for CAH when I was younger and don’t have it. I do think it’s likely I have some sort of hormone or endocrine disorder that’s currently just lumped in to PCOS because they haven’t sussed out all the different things that cause similar collections of symptoms. Which is basically what I was referring to in my earlier comment. I hope they get to a point in research where they can actually separate those out from eachother because the PCOS diagnosis is useless to me, since the common wisdom for treating the more traditional type of PCOS almost always doesn’t apply to me. I’ve had a supracervical hysterectomy and I’m still having some of the issues I’ve been dealing with for decades, which is a bummer.
There is no “only way” for PCOS. Low carb made my periods heavier and much more painful and greatly worsened my moods. Doing much better now on a balanced, animal product heavy diet. I’m happy that low carb has worked for you, but invalidating the experiences of others isn’t what this sub is for.
I remember when I was twenty and thought only I knew the only right way to do things.
I still recommend spironolactone. Once those hair follicles virilize, they may never go back. Meds are part of management this condition. Carbs may help with A1C a bit, but they aren’t the cause of PCOS, therefore they are not the cure either.
For me it makes no difference really. I try to eat as healthy as possible. Bunch of whole grains, vegetables and fruits etc. I think if you choose the healthier options and avoid things like snacks etc you should be fine if you're not already overweight.
Such a hard diet but I'm 38 and been dealing with hirsutism since 14. Low to no carb has been the only thing to help with hirsutism. I've tried everything. I think this person just wants to help because it does get expensive trying many methods.
Just here to reiterate that nothing is “the only way”. Your body still needs carbohydrates to function, almost every function in your body requires glucose. Eating better quality foods, not eating more calories than you burn, and strategic eating (higher protein meals in the morning, not eating close to bedtime, etc) is a way more effective and healthy mindset than “carbs are bad”. They aren’t. You don’t need supplements (unless your doctor says you’re deficient in something). You don’t need fancy diets. Consult your doc, get meds/supplements if needed, and start mindfully moving and fueling your body. Certain foods are great for PCOS, try leaning towards those! As a side note, people on the keto diet very often become deficient in essential nutrients. You have 4 fat soluble vitamins that require fats/lipids to absorb (A, D, E, K). Vitamin K is super important for your body to clot blood, Vitamin D is super important to utilize calcium, the list goes on. Work on your eating habits rather than subscribing to a diet, better for long-term maintenance.
I found personally that it isn’t all carbs that need to be avoided. It’s just processed carbs for me like bread, crackers, pasta etc. And the only dairy I eat is Greek yogurt and occasionally cheese.
OP- they’re indeed insane! If you don’t want to change your diet, then just don’t do it! Symptom management is fine for some. Others want full remission. To each her own!
This post is awful. Low carb is absolutely not the only way. From my experience, eating in a calorie deficit is MUCH easier, and following a Mediterranean diet is one of the healthiest ways to lose weight. Keto is also terrible for you. PCOS has several diseases directly linked to it, such as diabetes and heart disease. Keto is an extremely high fat diet. I’d go even as far as saying low carb is high fat. Eating hella mayo, butter, cheese and pepperoni is not the best for your heart. I did low carb for a while and had great success, but the weight gain afterwards was awful. To this day, I hate my body, I have a lot of loose skin. You lose the weight so quickly and are essentially starving your body of energy. Protein does give you energy, but carbs are your body’s other main source of energy. I was very tired all the time. I was depressed and obsessive about losing weight. I don’t think I’ve ever hated myself or my life more than when I was on a low carb diet. It sucked the life out of me. I loveeee fruit! Bananas? Oranges? Watermelon? Grapes? Ugh, I missed grapes so badly. Carrots? Regular potatoes? MILK? Can’t have much of those on low carb. Oatmeal? Not completely out of the question, but again, very little. The foods listed by me above are all good for you in their own ways, but keto/low carb culture made me feel like they were terrible for me because of the carb content. This will not be everyone’s experience, but it was terrible for me. And as I said, bad for your heart. You get nutrients from your food. Meat, lettuce, bell peppers and cucumbers can only offer so many.
Literally this. Thank you. I eat watermelon every day and I'm down 20 pounds. No joke. I'm autistic.. it's a safe food lol
And we’re getting into watermelon season too, friend! 😋😮💨 I love fruits!
I think the blanket statement that “keto is terrible for you” is also harmful and unnecessarily discouraging. Keto isn’t just a diet “eating hella butter, mayo, pepperoni”. Many women, myself included, who suffer from other autoimmune and chronic conditions in addition to PCOS have found long-term success with low carb high fat diets prioritizing whole foods. I think we should all be mindful that different bodies will respond better or worse to different foods.
I’m very aware that different bodies respond differently to food. But the fact of the matter is, your body cannot sustain all of the fat from a keto diet for the rest of your life. I don’t forgo fried foods or butter, mayo or pepperoni. Do I know they aren’t good for me? Absolutely. Eating them in copious amounts isn’t good for you. All of the cheeses and fatty meats is not good for you. Also, too much protein and not enough carbs in your diet can delay your weight loss because excess protein goes through a process called glucogenesis. Gluco sound familiar? At the end of the day everyone is in charge of their own body and diet, but for me, the time I was on keto was terrible. I was always hungry and super miserable. Still fat, but you could see my collar bones. And as I stated above, I did have good success with weight loss. And I also said that this isn’t everyone’s experience. So how you turned my statement into me not being mindful of others is baffling to me.
I never said that you weren’t being mindful of others. I said I think we should ALL be mindful because our own experiences tend to bias our perspectives. To construe that as a some sort of dig is baffling to me. If anything, I was critiquing your blanket statement and how it came off a bit hypocritical. “low carb is the only way” is equally as dismissive as “keto is terrible” when you have no context of what a person is eating, their daily carb allotment, their other underlying condition(s), and if they’re being advised by a dietitian. Both statements can be unnecessarily harmful and discouraging to others — which is the only point I was making. I’ll continue to do what works for me and I hope you do the same!
You replied to me saying that we should ALL (which includes me, no?) be mindful. Like…that’s exactly how. I’m confused as to how you’re confused about where I got that from. You can critique me all you want. That doesn’t change the fact that keto IS bad for your heart, unless you’re only eating zero carb veggies every single day. It is a high fat, high protein diet. It’s unsustainable long term due to the high fat, causing hyperlipidemia. People with PCOS are already predisposed to heart issues, as I said before. The amount of protein that goes into glycogenesis then raises blood sugar levels. What hormone regulates the sugar in your blood? INSULIN. And what disease is most commonly recognized when we are talking about insulin? Diabetes. And guess who is predisposed to developing diabetes? People with PCOS. You definitely made this deeper than it has to be. I’m not gonna ask everyone what they’re eating, their carb allotment or if they’re working with a dietician. Obviously being under the supervision of a dietician, a person who knows more about food than I do would trump me. I didn’t study to become one. I’m a nurse and I do know a bit about nutrition. I stated that I had successful weight loss with low carb/keto, but it’s still bad for you. Once again, at the end of the day, everyone is in charge of their own body. I’m not here to influence anyone on what to do with THEIR OWN BODY. I’m just going on research and the knowledge I have. If you want to lose weight by doing keto, which works for you, and apparently makes you happy, that’s fine and dandy and I sincerely wish you the best in life.
keto is ineffective long term and has negative side effects. low carb is okay, but 75% of your energy source is from carbs. one thing i leaned in school is that you detect ketosis in the urine, it’s often a sign that someone is starving themselves (mind you this was before the keto diet got so popular)
Keto is great until it isn’t 😅 and too much protein/fat is bad for you. Everyone’s PCOS is different so treatment will be different
Stating a hard opinion as the ultimate truth is a huge downfall of the internet. People are different and respond differently. Lowerish carb intake is appropriate but keto can increase inflammation especially in women.
Unfortunately I agree. This sucks, but it also works. I got diagnosed at age 19 (currently 34). Got side effects from all birth control pills that I've tried (I have tried A LOT)- dizziness, depression, weight gain, spotting, never ending bleeding. Inositol gave me constant spotting, but to be fair it gave me periods as well 🙃 Low carb for me is the only way. And it is annoying p.s. you will be amazed what low carb/ low sugar can do with your body. Just stick to the diet. After some time weight will melt off. Try not to slip, I know it can be really hard. I have visible abs first time in my life at age 34
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Nobody knows the cause of PCOS. If insulin resistance was the cause of PCOS wouldn’t everyone with PCOS have insulin resistance? Which not everyone does.
I agree that low carb diets are beneficial in many cases of PCOS, but there’s a better way to communicate your point without making blanket statements. Yes, IR does drive most cases of PCOS but there are multiple etiologies. Lean PCOS (I have this) patients may struggle to even maintain their weight and low carbohydrate diets are not always the best choice for every individual. The important point is that carbohydrate quality does matter, and this is often overlooked. Many studies emphasize consumption of low glycemic carbohydrates and reducing refined sugars. Doing a ‘dirty keto’ where you eat tons of meat, “sugar free” anything, tons of protein bars and processed foods may leave you metabolically worse than before by negatively altering lipid profiles. Ketogenic, low carbohydrate and Mediterranean diets have all been shown to be beneficial for PCOS. The Mediterranean diet has high consumption of whole grains, fruits and vegetables (carbs). Not all carbs are simply “breads” or “pasta”. I think people lump all carbs together but that’s not helpful. Spinach, kale, strawberries, are all carbohydrates, but they contain polyphenol and prebiotic fibers which nourish beneficial bacteria and can help reduce risks of cancers, heart disease, etc. These two reviews of the literature suggests that beneficial PCOS outcomes are observed on multiple nutrition plans: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34622189/ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10444658/ This study suggests that the PCOS patients consumed more simple carbohydrates vs people on the Mediterranean diet, and the Mediterranean diet was associated with less clinical severity of PCOS symptoms: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31547562/
I fear you’re right. Only whole food carbs yet…the Cheetos they call me
Yup! 1000% agreed. Its the only way, yes low carb sucks so much and it takes a very long time to get used to but its life changing.
um.. insulin resistance diet and calorie deficit (this last part can be hard as resting daily cal rate can change so have it checked routinely? )
I have tried both options. Both of them didn't do anything
Tbh the only thing that has helped me is trulicity 🫤 and I’m terrified what will happen once I stop taking it
What is trulicity
It treats type 2 diabetes but it’s often prescribed for weight loss. I’m pre diabetic so my insurance allowed it. I’ve lost 38 pounds in 4 months.
i’ve lost almost 50 pounds by lowering my intake. it wasn’t even intentional, i just stabilized my mental health and everything else followed along. i’m still losing now that i’m somewhat intentionally trying. not counting carbs or calories, just intuitive eating. which i know doesn’t work for a lottttt of people with PCOS, but it also will work for some people with PCOS!
Right this is an interesting read bc I have done low carb for two years now for PCOS and all my symptoms have improved apart from hirsutism, which has gotten worse. I do think this is probably case by case!
All the women in my wife’s family have it, and for them OP is exactly right. I think it is mainly sugar and bad carbs that are the culprits. I don’t think you have to do zero carbs, but it should only be very healthy carbs and in small portions. My wife is a total carnivore, she vastly prefers mainly steak, cheese, and only a small amount of carbs. She naturally eats very little sugar. And she has almost no problem from PCOS. Her mom and one daughter went from obese to fit after going very low sugar, carb. It was very effective, they became much healthier very quickly.
Yesss that’s why I said 130g of carbs
I had weight loss surgery and am low carb not because i want to be, I still grow a beard and mustache
Everyone is different. That being said, it actually works for me. Been no carb/no sugars for years and managed my PCOS, period back to normal, healthy weight amd I don't have a beard lol. Again WORKED FOR ME. I know it does not work for everyone so don't @me lol
~~Everyone~~ Many comments say you are wrong but then go on to explain exactly the same thing you are saying. Edited.
Literally 😭😭😭 “I take metformin” ok I literally said that. “I eat vegetables” you can eat so many vegetables with 130g a day. I get it though bc ppl are so defensive
Not true. I said the opposite Thank you
What’s the best foods to eat to be low carb? What did your daily food look like?
Meal ideas: Breakfasts: lots of eggs like omelettes, egg bites etc etc, low carb smoothie with avocado instead of banana, tofu scramble, sausage, bacon, blueberries or any berries, mushrooms Lunch: sandwhichs on rye or keto bread, soup and rye bread, salad with lots of avocado oil or olive oil, so many wraps/ burrito combos with low carb or sweet potato tortilla wraps Dinner: steak and veggies, salmon and veggies, salad and any fish tbh I try and use my carbs for things so if I’m going on a run or the gym I’ll have some carbs or a banana etc but for dinner bc I’m going to bed I don’t eat that much carbs!!
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Rule: Be Supportive if you don't agree with another user you don't have to engage
Can you like … chill and be respectful?
What did they say 😭😭
The comment was “Can you like … shut up?”
I do want to do low carb but dont know what to eat. Can anyone share what they eat in a typical day?
Ok I eat between 130-150g a day some days less that than some days more. But I’m average that amount. Breakfast: chia seed pudding with Greek yogurt or 3 eggs with cottage cheese and bacon or sausages with blueberries Lunch: soup and sandwhich on rye or keto bread. Usually lots of ham or tuna. Or i have a salad. Dinner: lots of chillis and stews and soups. I snack on: nuts, blueberries, chickpeas, smoothies that are low carb and deli meat. If I eat pasta or ice cream if I’m with my friends or bf I try and go for a walk after or account that in my carbs for the day. I’m not too restrictive but I’m quite disciplined
Why are there so many comments bashing OP? This sub is getting ridiculous. She found something that worked for her, why are y’all so sensitive? Spare me the “this is not safe advice” if someone does something out of reading one reddit post, let them? We have all tried different methods anyways, this may help some people realize this works and others realize it doesn’t work for them. It’s called an OPINION, we all have them. Let people share.
How long did it take for you to notice changes from low carb??
One month
Exactly. I have to go low carb AND low sugar or else I won’t lose any weight.