Posts: 682
4/3/11 1:35 A

It's definitely not easy trying to eat healthily and also fit in with other people's routines and eating habits. Good on you for doing what you can to educate yourself about the best options.

There is no way a double whopper or whatever it was is healthier than an egg. Somebody has given you bad advice there. Whilst eggs do contain cholesterol, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Your body needs cholesterol to function, in fact your liver produces plenty of it, no matter what you eat. The important thing is to make sure the eggs are free range as they have a very different nutritional profile to cage eggs. Free range eggs have a much more favourable omega 3 to 6 ratio, so have a more beneficial effect on your body.

The macronutrient that people with PCOS or Insulin Resistance have the most trouble metabolising is carbohydrate. For us, anything with carbohydrate in it needs to be eyed with caution. I don't mean it's off limits, I just mean be aware of it and think through whether it's a good thing for you to eat. Generally low glycaemic index carbohydrates are "healthy" in moderation for us - things like pulses and legumes such as lentils, chickpeas, beans etc. Processed carbohydrate (white anything - bread, flour, rice, pasta, potatoes) are not. Fruit in it's natural state (not canned, juiced etc) is OK for some people in moderation.

The good news is that fresh vegetables are generally cheaper than processed foods, so this could be a good point to discuss with your gram. Meat in itself is not necessarily a bad thing, though beef (preferably grass fed) is better. It has much less omega 6 in relation to omega 3 fatty acids. Too much omega 6 is very inflammatory.

Good luck!!

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4/1/11 7:54 A

I was diagnosed with PCOS + hyperinsulinemia two years ago (but doc thinks I've had it since I was a teenager). I tried every trick in the book to lose weigh - mostly quick fixes. But it was only this year when I really decided to change my lifestyle that things started looking up for me.

It can be tough, but it can be done - and it DOESN'T HAVE TO BE EXPENSIVE. Like they say, WHERE THERE'S A WILL, THERE'S A WAY. It's easy to sometimes want to blame other people and find excuses, but if you can't get professional help right now, then why not get out a pen and paper or start a blog entry and really think about all these excuses and rationalizations you have and maybe you'll see what's stopping you from really being the FABULOUS, FIT, FANTASTIC person you ARE INSIDE RIGHT NOW. :)

I find that getting the RIGHT information and finding out more about PCOS and what you do to treat it is one of your best tools - knowledge and research, baby! There are so many books in the libraries, websites online, support groups like this team and more. It's a lot of info, but when you sort out the true from the wonky stuff, you'll feel so much more confident. For example, that burger vs egg thing... I'm not so sure about that. I eat eggs everyday and my heart is fine - of course there's a more technical explanation for that, but I won't get into that here.

I think it's also really CRUCIAL that you find a diet and fitness plan that works for YOU. Ideally, you'd be eating whole foods, stay away from the processed stuff and try to consume more low GI food. And I know you've got your challenges for this, but I'm sure if you talked it out with your family or took some responsibility for your own nutrition (eg did your own grocery shopping, opt NOT to eat the nasty stuff and prepare a salad for yourself instead), you'll feel so much better about having control in your life.

I wish you the best of luck. And there are people here who are so ready and willing to help you out, so just holla! Take care.

Edited by: QUEENMINA at: 4/1/2011 (07:54)

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3/31/11 4:04 P

I'm a type 2 diabetic on insulin along side the PCOS and I don't see anything actually wrong with what your grams buys (save the sodium part) in general ... there is nothing about being diabetic that you can't have chicken, pork, hamburger or the like. Diabetics can eat anything anyone else can eat, sugar even. Its just a matter of finding the right combo of foods that work for you in the long term.

Maybe going to see a dietition would help you better, giving him/her the list of foods that are gotten that you have no choice in eating and they might be able to help you make a plan that will work for you and help get things going in the right direction.

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Posts: 1,482
3/28/11 11:00 P

Wow, it sounds like you are really frustrated! I'm sorry it's so hard for you. I live alone so I am the only one that buys the groceries and does the cooking, which I have to say has been a blessing in its own way. I wish I could help, but that is a tough situation. Maybe if you sat down and had a talk with your Gramms and offered to help make the shopping list you could get a few fresh things in there. Good luck!

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Posts: 915
3/27/11 2:44 P

Its hard to eat right in this house. My grams buys the groceries so no one really has a say. Since she has moved in our freezer has been full of chicken, pork, and hamburger. She also buys a lot of bacon and boxed foods full of sodium. And yet she is a diabetic. This house is full of meat and carbs and hardly any fresh fruits and veggies.
I found out I had PCOS back in 05 and I was told to go on a diabetic diet to drop the weight. I got a book a couple years ago, The Insulin - Resistance Diet, and I was reading through it and I got a head ache. I get the balanced meal part and thats pretty much it. Today I was reading some things about a vegan diet and it just seems like thats the best type of diet. Plus eating fish for the omega 3s. I still have to watch the carbs with that diet too. Something I found out today is that a double whopper with cheese is somewhat healthier then 1 large egg. Yes the burger has a lot more calories but its lower in cholesterol and is higher is vitamin A, calcium, vitamin C, and iron.
I just dont know what to eat. Im scared the weight wont come off, that things will get worse, everything. Im not working right now so I dont have money to go see someone. Ugh I just hate this.