Has anybody lost weight whilst taking metformin?

Question

Just wondering....i have pcos and also being tested for type 2 diabeties which i get the results for in a week, doc suggested metfromin to help in both areas. Has it helped you and if so how??

Answer 1

Yes, it helped in conjunction with

a) a specific diet which avoided all refined carbohydrates. Metformin mainly helps with the insulin metabolism, and has to work harder if a high  refined carb diet is continued.

b) exercise - walking is the absolute best exercise for this condition. Better than running.

There are specific foods which can aid in women's health such as flaxseed oil on your breakfast, foods high in omega 3 & 6, only consuming carbs which are complex and unrefined.

There is also a light therapy which anyone can do at home which involves sleeping at night with the lights on for a certain amount of time.

It was some years ago that I did all of this and I'm a bit shady about all the details, but I hit the net and looked into reasons for my pcos condition. I know it sounds amazing but I believe I cured myself of the condition through not only taking the metformin, but also through diet and counselling.

The reason pcos is a syndrome and not a disease is because they don't fully understand it's causes or cures. Some believe there are psychological reasons for a change in a woman's hormonal makeup. Higher than normal levels of androgen can be caused by a girl or woman feeling inferior due to their s*x. The brain triggers the production of androgen hormone to reduce the physical signs of feminity and to make a person look more gender neutral. This in turn disrupts a woman's monthly cycle this can lead to pcos.

This is not the only reason though.... My ob/gyn believes women with pcos are natures way of ensuring the survival of the species. His theory is that in times of plenty, a pcos is naturally plump and has unreliable periods - if at all. BUT, the pcos woman comes into her own in times of famine - when all the skinny women's menstrual cycle ceases to function and they become infertile, the pcos woman regains a regular cycle and it is these women who are able to reproduce. There are times in history where it is documented that this has happened - an anomoly in nature.

Anyway - I have three kids, and had no trouble concieving at all. No IVF, no hormone treatment, no adoption. They are all naturally conceived, healthy little things. I truly think the hard work I put in to resolving my hormonal issues were the reason for my good health now.

The secret is:

If you're normal weight to overweight - you're infertile.

If you lose weight to just under your normal weight (still healthy though) - you give yourself a greater chance of being fertile.

Diet is important to get right to handle the pcos and to avoid diabetes.

Hope this helps!