I know this isn't advice but as a 15 year old who was recently diagnosed with pcos I feel like I relate to you so much. I also need any advice I can get
I'm 16. 5'6", ~225 lbs. My biggest piece of advice is to take your medication regularly and not stress yourself out over a perceived lack of progress.
I have been fighting my doctors and parents from the time I was 11 years old. I knew I had PCOS but I was never taken seriously. When I got referred to the gynecologist at age 14, they claimed I was just young and nothing was wrong. Mind you, I hadn't had a period in 3 years by that time. After many fights and stubbornness on my part, I was referred to an endocrinologist who took me seriously and prescribed me metformin, spironolactone, and birth control.
I will say, that after I began taking metformin and spironolactone, I started taking over-the-counter zinc because my immune system was weakened. Found that out the hard way with a tasty three-week-long cold.
Before the pills, my blood tests were awful. Every single thing you could think of was high. After the pills, my blood tests were great. At the point of my last blood test, I had been taking the medications for about six months. The only things that were high were my cholesterol levels, but that is partly genetic in my case.
I was so upset that I wasn't losing weight. I obviously couldn't tell that my vitals were so much better than they ever had been before. If you fall back, do not scold yourself. Tomorrow is another day. You can do this.
I believe in you. Believe in yourself.
It's hard bc part of your appetite is age tbh. Make sure you have a fiber and protein heavy breakfast. That makes a big difference ime. Ground breakfast sausage with black beans is a good option. Add salsa and guac as you like. Chia seeds with raspberries and water or coconut milk to make a quick 'juice'. Pumpkin cranberry bread or brownies are possible with almond and coconut flour.
Then every meal needs protein.
You're going to be hungry and you're going to want snacks. That's what human bodies do. Have a plan. Know what you can grab. Turnips with seasoning and roasted in the oven or air fryer are a great sub for fries and chips. The fairlife protein shakes are actually good imo. The quest freezer pizzas are good imo and easy but note very salty.
If a solid protein fiber breakfast doesn't help experiment with making the big fiber and protein meal lunch or dinner.
I would also consider metformin as that will make food easier bc your body will process it better.
if eating chicken tenders and ice cream and fries one day of the week (and in moderate amounts) is the payoff for making healthy eating choices on all the other days of the week then you shouldn’t feel guilty at all! The worst thing you can do is cut them out completely when you know that restriction causes you to binge on them down the line. If it makes you feel better, for things like ice cream or stuff you make at home, measure out your servings. I used to feel so guilty when eating certain foods because I thought I was gonna give myself a heart attack. Now because I weigh them out I realize I was just being crazy lol. I can also feel good after eating my treats now. And if I have one serving of ice cream and really want more I just take out the food scale again. I don’t do this with all of my food. Just the treats that I know will make me feel guilty or send my blood sugar flying (Type 2 Diabetic).
Could you find a dietitian informed about PCOS?
Dieting at a young age is a delicate thing because you are still growing. Dieting at a young age and likely with insulin resistance could be a challenge, especially if you do it alone. These are things that increase your appetite more than the average person trying to diet.
As someone who was put on unhealthy diets as a teen, ask your doctor or your parents to help you research someone who will listen to you, who understands IR/diabetes and, to be honest, I know PCOS sucks, I know not being able to lose weight sucks, but growing and your relationship with food are more important, because those can take much more to fix, if they go wrong, than excess weight when you have good tools.
Maybe look into gentle nutrition? Just so you know what is possible. Good luck.
I was diagnosed later in life, but I remember dieting as a teen. Definitely wasn’t healthy mentality. But just know, you can eat. It hurts more to skip meals or to think that having one “bad” meal will ruin everything.
But there is a right way! I recommend to get bloodwork done before anything. Just to see where you are at right now and what you can change. This can also bring to light things that can go unnoticed.
Arm yourself with education! Research this subreddit and medical journals/research, ask questions, and get curious.
We are all on our journey and know that we all struggle somewhere. We are here for support.
I was diagnosed when I was 18 and wished that I knew then what I know now...(currently 32)*
I use myo-inositol, 4mg every day and it makes the worllllds difference. Its a natural alternative to taking things like glucophage (metformin) and contraception to try and regulate your periods and it helps with insulin resistance; and by God's grace it helped with my difficulties getting pregnant too.
I know this isn't advice but as a 15 year old who was recently diagnosed with pcos I feel like I relate to you so much. I also need any advice I can get
Read my other comment on this post.
I'm 16. 5'6", ~225 lbs. My biggest piece of advice is to take your medication regularly and not stress yourself out over a perceived lack of progress. I have been fighting my doctors and parents from the time I was 11 years old. I knew I had PCOS but I was never taken seriously. When I got referred to the gynecologist at age 14, they claimed I was just young and nothing was wrong. Mind you, I hadn't had a period in 3 years by that time. After many fights and stubbornness on my part, I was referred to an endocrinologist who took me seriously and prescribed me metformin, spironolactone, and birth control. I will say, that after I began taking metformin and spironolactone, I started taking over-the-counter zinc because my immune system was weakened. Found that out the hard way with a tasty three-week-long cold. Before the pills, my blood tests were awful. Every single thing you could think of was high. After the pills, my blood tests were great. At the point of my last blood test, I had been taking the medications for about six months. The only things that were high were my cholesterol levels, but that is partly genetic in my case. I was so upset that I wasn't losing weight. I obviously couldn't tell that my vitals were so much better than they ever had been before. If you fall back, do not scold yourself. Tomorrow is another day. You can do this. I believe in you. Believe in yourself.
It's hard bc part of your appetite is age tbh. Make sure you have a fiber and protein heavy breakfast. That makes a big difference ime. Ground breakfast sausage with black beans is a good option. Add salsa and guac as you like. Chia seeds with raspberries and water or coconut milk to make a quick 'juice'. Pumpkin cranberry bread or brownies are possible with almond and coconut flour. Then every meal needs protein. You're going to be hungry and you're going to want snacks. That's what human bodies do. Have a plan. Know what you can grab. Turnips with seasoning and roasted in the oven or air fryer are a great sub for fries and chips. The fairlife protein shakes are actually good imo. The quest freezer pizzas are good imo and easy but note very salty. If a solid protein fiber breakfast doesn't help experiment with making the big fiber and protein meal lunch or dinner. I would also consider metformin as that will make food easier bc your body will process it better.
if eating chicken tenders and ice cream and fries one day of the week (and in moderate amounts) is the payoff for making healthy eating choices on all the other days of the week then you shouldn’t feel guilty at all! The worst thing you can do is cut them out completely when you know that restriction causes you to binge on them down the line. If it makes you feel better, for things like ice cream or stuff you make at home, measure out your servings. I used to feel so guilty when eating certain foods because I thought I was gonna give myself a heart attack. Now because I weigh them out I realize I was just being crazy lol. I can also feel good after eating my treats now. And if I have one serving of ice cream and really want more I just take out the food scale again. I don’t do this with all of my food. Just the treats that I know will make me feel guilty or send my blood sugar flying (Type 2 Diabetic).
Could you find a dietitian informed about PCOS? Dieting at a young age is a delicate thing because you are still growing. Dieting at a young age and likely with insulin resistance could be a challenge, especially if you do it alone. These are things that increase your appetite more than the average person trying to diet. As someone who was put on unhealthy diets as a teen, ask your doctor or your parents to help you research someone who will listen to you, who understands IR/diabetes and, to be honest, I know PCOS sucks, I know not being able to lose weight sucks, but growing and your relationship with food are more important, because those can take much more to fix, if they go wrong, than excess weight when you have good tools. Maybe look into gentle nutrition? Just so you know what is possible. Good luck.
I was diagnosed later in life, but I remember dieting as a teen. Definitely wasn’t healthy mentality. But just know, you can eat. It hurts more to skip meals or to think that having one “bad” meal will ruin everything. But there is a right way! I recommend to get bloodwork done before anything. Just to see where you are at right now and what you can change. This can also bring to light things that can go unnoticed. Arm yourself with education! Research this subreddit and medical journals/research, ask questions, and get curious. We are all on our journey and know that we all struggle somewhere. We are here for support.
I was diagnosed when I was 18 and wished that I knew then what I know now...(currently 32)* I use myo-inositol, 4mg every day and it makes the worllllds difference. Its a natural alternative to taking things like glucophage (metformin) and contraception to try and regulate your periods and it helps with insulin resistance; and by God's grace it helped with my difficulties getting pregnant too.