Will Metaformin help you lose weight if you have PCOS?

Question

I have PCOS and my husband and I are ttc. I am overweight and I would like and need to lose it asap.

Answer 1

If you eat a healthy diet (for many of us that means low in processed carbohydrates) and exercise regularly, metformin can help you lose weight. Metformin treats the underlying insulin resistance that causes many cases of PCOS, and insulin resistance is often why we can't lose weight easily. Insulin resistance is a state in which the body does not use insulin as efficiently as it should, so the body "thinks" more insulin is needed. The pancreas produces more and more insulin until finally glucose levels are normal, but there are large amounts of excess insulin in the bloodstream. For many of us, this problem is why we have trouble losing weight. Metformin, however, helps the body to use insulin correctly, reducing the amount of insulin produced by the pancreas.

It is thought that the excessive insulin that many of us have also affects the ovaries by causing them to produce too many male hormones. When metformin lowers the amount of insulin produced, this in turn often affects the ovaries of PCOS patients, returning their functioning to a more normal level. That's why many women with PCOS who take metformin are able to ovulate regularly.

I have been on metformin for about two weeks, and I've lost 5 pounds so far. I'm hoping to lose about 60 more. Good luck with your weight loss and ttc! Check out www.soulcysters.net if you haven't already--it's a message board for women with PCOS.

Answer 2

Metformin will help to get the PCO under control so that you can ovulate..but will not really help you lose weight. The best kind of diet for a woman with PCO is a low carb diet. That's your best bet in losing weight and helping control the PCOS.

Answer 3

I too have PCOS and am Insulin Resistant. Unfortunately the two go hand in hand. I also take metformin. And yes it can help you lose weight... BUT unless you also watch your diet and exercise it wont be a dramatic weight loss. My mom also takes it for her IR and she has lost over 20+ lbs in 2 months... but she doesnt have PCOS. And she watches what she eats and has switched to whole grains only etc.

So in a nutshell yes you can, but how much depends on how you handle the weight loss. IE just take the meds only, or watch diet and take meds, or watch diet, take meds and exercise!

Good luck with losing the weight and TTC!

Answer 4

It will depend on what other medications you are currently taking. If you're on any anti-depressants or other medications that cause weight gain, then chances are that the Metaformin will not work for weight loss. Even if it does work, it will be a slow process. Trust me, I have PCOS myself, and was on Metaformin for two years; I didn't lose a pound. But I'm on anti-depressants and mood stabilizers for my bipolar disorder, so we knew that any weight loss would be slow in occuring. My husband and I are still trying to conceive, and the thing that has been working best for me in my struggle to lose weight has been a diabetic-type diet and exercise (my favourite is belly dancing). Best of luck to you and your husband.

Answer 5

Become an expert in what exactly you’re doing. Learn how and why things work and you’ll have faith that they're going to. Check out a podcast referred to as Cut The Fat, and focus on it when you’re exercising.

Answer 6

Become an expert in what exactly you’re doing. Learn how and why things work after which it you’ll have faith that they may. Check out a podcast called Cut The Fat, and hear it when you’re exercising.

Answer 7

Diabetes is usually treated through a combination of diet (low sugar), exercise and medications/insulin. Read here https://tr.im/qmAPs
Milder cases can be controlled with just diet an/or exercise while more severe cases require meds or insulin as well.

Answer 8

It’s Friday brunch time and you just can’t stop going back for seconds. But hang on! Stop for just a minute and suck on an additional strong mint. The flavour can put you off that 3rd plate of chicken korma/roast beef/sushi medley.

Answer 9

Man up. Studies show that women binge on food more than men and, when food choices are emotional, it’s a recipe for disaster. Instead, eat very little amounts when you’re hungry, certainly not when you’re bored or disappointed, and once a week go out with the girls for beer along with pizza – you’ve earned the item.

Answer 10

If you eat when you’re stressed, try munching on pumpkin as well as sunflower seeds. You’ll need for you to chew more, which will dissipate several of that energy, but without putting calories.