I was taking a quick glance at the site stats and was suprised that people actually reached this blog through "Googling"! Guess what is the most frequent search phrase? "Celebrities with PCOS", and hit this page " The PCOS experience-celebrity vs non celebrity?", where I listed some of the celebrities rumoured to have PCOS (e.g: Posh Spice, Jules Oliver and the one-time Hear'Say star Kym Marsh)
What were you thinking when you Googled for "celebrities with PCOS"? What were you trying to find out?
And how does knowing Posh Spice have PCOS help us?
I am still trying to figure out . Still trying. It is a mixed feeling. I could not helped thinking "poor woman" when the media focused on her zits. Ahh, Posh gets bad acne, even when she has access to the best skin care? How about her crazy dieting? I do wonder sometimes, id having PCOS contributed to her obsession about weight? Lose weight, and you will have less symptoms and be fertile again? Lose weight? Lose weight? Perhaps like us, she is still thinking "let me lose 5% of my body weight, and let those zits disappear". Or " gosh, I am already symptomatic. If I gain a bit of weight, will it be worse?"
I know I know. We wish someone to speak up and yell, hey, I have PCOS! But how do you be brave and stop being selfish and yell "Hey I have PCOS"? I have read in some boards where people wish these celebs would speak up. If even ordinary folks like us feel being put under the "spot light" by others, imagine what it is like for a celebrity? It will take a brave woman to admit it. Like fibromyalgia (syndrome), restless leg syndrome , the medics are still unsure about the existence of the "disease", and that is why they call it a "syndrome". Until we get that "syndrome" removed, it will just be another syndrome? A pseudo condition. perhaps a condition created for pharma companies to sell some drugs to some fat, hairy and lazy women.
29April2009
Answers to your questions: (??)
Yes, celebrities also have PCOS
They do have kids: Victoria Beckham
They can be slim, but may adhere to some crazy diets: VB's rumoured diets
Other posts about celebrities & PCOS
What were you thinking when you Googled for "celebrities with PCOS"? What were you trying to find out?
- Do celebrities actually have PCOS? Can the beautiful (mostly) and skinny (mostly) people out there have PCOS too?
- Who are the ones with PCOS? Are they "fat" like us? Are they skinny?
- Are they fertile? Do they have kids?
And how does knowing Posh Spice have PCOS help us?
I am still trying to figure out . Still trying. It is a mixed feeling. I could not helped thinking "poor woman" when the media focused on her zits. Ahh, Posh gets bad acne, even when she has access to the best skin care? How about her crazy dieting? I do wonder sometimes, id having PCOS contributed to her obsession about weight? Lose weight, and you will have less symptoms and be fertile again? Lose weight? Lose weight? Perhaps like us, she is still thinking "let me lose 5% of my body weight, and let those zits disappear". Or " gosh, I am already symptomatic. If I gain a bit of weight, will it be worse?"
I know I know. We wish someone to speak up and yell, hey, I have PCOS! But how do you be brave and stop being selfish and yell "Hey I have PCOS"? I have read in some boards where people wish these celebs would speak up. If even ordinary folks like us feel being put under the "spot light" by others, imagine what it is like for a celebrity? It will take a brave woman to admit it. Like fibromyalgia (syndrome), restless leg syndrome , the medics are still unsure about the existence of the "disease", and that is why they call it a "syndrome". Until we get that "syndrome" removed, it will just be another syndrome? A pseudo condition. perhaps a condition created for pharma companies to sell some drugs to some fat, hairy and lazy women.
29April2009
Answers to your questions: (??)
Yes, celebrities also have PCOS
They do have kids: Victoria Beckham
They can be slim, but may adhere to some crazy diets: VB's rumoured diets
Other posts about celebrities & PCOS
54 comments:
I am so sick of people like Posh Spice being held up as the EXAMPLE of PCOS as if there's something wrong with all of us for having it.
I was diagnosed in 1966 and this disease has ravaged most of my life. I finally have children after 12 years of treatment but right after I put on 100lbs -- and I wasn't eating!! Only my endocrinologist believed me.
This blog is so wonderfully named because PCOS really is a thief and a criminal.
Hi Barbara,
Agree!Everyone is different. It is super annoying when people (esp health care professionals) use Posj as an example.
I am confident that I would lose weight much faster if I do not have to work, and can engage nutritionists, personal trainers blah blah blah just to exercise and watch the figure, and eat only the most nutritious food. But not everyone is Posh, and even Posh struggles here and there despite having access to all those things we don't.
We do what we can, and I believe we still can choose to think happy thoughts :)
I'm so sick of people blaming their weight on PCOS. Sure... it might be EASIER to put on the weight, but if you really focus and actually try to loose it, it will work just fine! I'm living proof. I stopped drinking the sodas and sugar and all the carbs I was, and there ya go. Period started... weight started falling off fast. So give me a break. Common sense shows that the reason your PCOS are so bad is because you are over weight. You aren't over weight because of PCOS! Wake up! Like I finally did girls...
Christina,
It is true that some people with PCOS can lose weight by following the diet you are describing. As a physician, however, I have to tell you that it depends on the severity of the PCOS. Some women with PCOS didn't know they had the syndrome and tried to lose weight with conventional low-fat diets (which generally speaking are higher in carbs.) Without getting into a long, drawn out explanation, this usually means they are addicted to sugar/carbs--- much as you would think of any other type of addiction. It is something that can be overcome but is more difficult for some than others. I am glad to hear that you have overcome yours but please don't discourage others by blaming them for their weight gain or failure to lose weight.
Christina,
I have been diagnosed with PCOS since 2005 and I never once blamed PCOS for my weight, I think you should have a little sympathy for people who don't understand what they are going through since you are so perfect just keep making women who suffer with PCOS feel worse about it, why don't you try loosing a couple of babies over it and then tell me how perfect you are. Evidently you are self centered bitch who thinks they are so perfect because you got your period on time. Hooray for you!
I was just diagnosed with PCOS and I hardly have any of symptoms that are listed. I am 5'6" and weigh 138lbs and my doc still told me to lose about 5-10lbs. I do not have a facial hair really and I lose hair but I am not balding. I do not ovulate and I have acne. We have to accept that everyone is different and we have to make a consciouse effore to deal with and take control of the symptoms that we do have. At least if I know that Victoria Beckham has it and can take control of it than so can I.
Hi there,
Thanks for your comments to this post about celebrities with PCOS.
Perhaps we should think whether it is fair and sensible to set a standard of what is "normal" and what is not for women with PCOS?
PCOS - polycystic ovarian syndrome, is a syndrome. That is what it is. It is a collection of signs and symptoms, and different women may experience different symptoms of PCOS. On the more extreme end, you probably have everything "listed". I have almost everything now. Does that make me the "perfect" PCOS woman? Are you going to aim to have all my symptoms to be properly PCOS-ed? I did not have all these symptoms last time....
My weight was normal when my periods became irregular. Within two years, my weight crept up really quickly and weight control became a big struggle. Christina, just because you could do it, it does not mean others can achieve the same results doing exactly as you did. Before I had PCOS, I had put on weight when i had injuries etc, but those go off with "sensible diets" and exercise. I am not kidding or finding excuses when I say I find it hard now. I don't deny that I am faultless. It is just more difficult - you have to be even more disciplined and watch what you eat. I have to keep on reducing my intake and keep on increasing my exercise and watch for the "occasional slip-ups". There are more cravings to fight. It is not an impossible job, but it is a big struggle. It is like climbing up a slippery slope - you have to hang on and keep moving or you will go straight down. See what I mean?
Even when my periods were irregular, my scans showed all the cysts and I ballooned; I still did not have the hair problem. I only began to notice more hair growth some time after that, but my doctors would still dismiss them simply because many other "normal" women are more hairy that I was. If you look at my older posts, you might see it somewhere - I remember writing down my frustrations. They would not do anything for me, even when it was a problem for me, and people around me noticed it. It was really embarrassing for me and I felt really uncomfortable in front of hubby. Against the standards of "normality" - I was "normal".
And now, as other symptoms become more prominent, my facial hair seems to lessen, or at least grow more slowly(I don know why!). At its peak, I had to shave my "mustache" every week. Now, i can do it once a month (yay!!). However, i begin to have more skin tags! Sigh...
It is never that straight forward or easy, you see? Just focus on what are the problems you have, and try to tackle it as best as you can. Every one is different. PCOS is already hard on us, so lets not make it even harder than necessary (emotionally). Get inspired by others - yes! Despairing about "why can't I" - No!
Christina i was pretty offended by your comment. Im was 15, (16 now) when i was told i had PCOS and my weight has afected me for a couple of years now also i get facial hair which is pretty shit. i am due to start treatment to get that sorted soon. I have been on so many diets it is unreal and nothig seems to work, and you may not blame PCOS for your weight but to be honest i do as i dont eat half as much as my friends and there all likee stck insects. I think your comment wont have just affected me but many other woman out there. I dont care how much weight you have lost or that your periods on time..who really cares excepts for you.
Ever since I was diagnosed with PCOS 2 years ago all I get is lose weight lose weight! I can't, I have struggled with weight loss since I was 12. I became anorexic at 13 because the only way that I could stay slim was through not eating.
I have tried so many diets, done so many exercise routines and never have I lost over 7lbs without gaining even more after. I never understood why my weight fluctuated so much. Why was I the fat one? While my friends were eating enough for 4 people and not putting weight on? It's awful! It makes everything so much worse, your life revolves around food from the moment you wake up til when you go to sleep. You try and try, and every time you visit the doctors they tell you to lose weight.
Yes, there are some people that can lose weight. And there's the rest of us, the vast majority of us who try so, so hard and give up because nothing changes.
So, here's to us that will keep trying to lose weight. It's been 10 years for me, but I guess I'll just have to hang on in there. Let's hope that one day, there will be something that can really help us. Or maybe one day a big busty celeb can hold her hands up and say "I've tried, and it's hard to lose weight when you have PCOS." It is never spoken about, it's only recently I've seen an ad campaign in a magazine. Just once.
Good luck all you other ladies out there. We gonna need it :)
Hi!
I have been to a gynaecologist who thinks I may have PCOS. My BMI is at the higher end of normal so i'm not that heavy and I can lose the weight when I want to, I'm not hairy either, and the only irregularities in my hormones was that my estrogen was a bit low. My periods are very irregular. I'm wondering, is it possible that I don't have PCOS since I have such few symptoms? How difficult is it for people with the syndrome to naturally conceive?
Thanks,
Alice
Get surgury, get a lapband, lipo or tummy tuck ect or ovarian drill.
and eat only fruit, veg, nuts, home made soup and fish.
only drink water and tea
avoid processed, junk, sugary foods, cakes and alcohol like the plague
excersize everyday without fail
sleep
only do things that make you happy
look on the bright side of life
if you are doing this and it still fails to work then it is your destiny to be overweight.
First of all Christina you are just a full blown b.i.t.c.h, i hate to say it but you are!
PCOS is not a joke, infact it comes with alot of grief and misery, and could also possibly cause our death for some. I have had this syndrome for over 10 years now. I have the full symptoms of PCOS i just at the moment do not have the infertility problems, as i had my first child, but the problems have changed and i may not get to have my second child now in a couple of years as i havent had a period since i was pregnant so that has been over 4 years now. You have no sympathy for any of us, how would you like it if you had people commenting that you have dark hairs on your face, or your nipples are hairy, or people laughing at you because your tummy is so big unlike the rest of your body!! We cannot get rid of PCOS,unlike you who can get rid of your weight, i have tried loosing weight since i was 11 years old!!! It would not go, i even overdosed numerous times on weight loss pills, tried all the weight loss pills on the shelves, worked out at the gym 6-8 hours a day, and when i did all that hard hours at the gym, i only lost 1kg in 2 months from that! So dont start with us that we can loose weight, because the doctor HAS told me that it will be really difficult for me to loose weight because of PCOS so not to expect alot of weightloss. And i hate hearing people say just remove your ovaries and uterus, because we want children!! I am only 21 and i have started getting worse facial/body hair, on my lip on my face they are thick black and nasty, and so embarassing, my tummy looks like its 3 months pregnant, i have hair in places of my body that is embarassing and i have to deal with weekly! i have severe depression, every couple of days i get severe pains in my ovaries, i struggle so hard to loose weight why other comment and make fun of me and so much more plus im told im at very high risk of soon getting diabetes, with all of this PCOS i have o negative blood type, so my whole system is messed up. So woohooo that you got your period, shove it in your face, because some of us just wish to have a period, or have children, or just feel normal and loose weight normally like others.
Thanks for shoving all your disrespectful crap into our faces Christina.
Do me a favour and before you open your big mouth look into PCOS and understand what it actually is all about, because i can tell you dont know jack ass about it!
http://www.managingpcos.org.au/content/view/13/26/ here is the website now go do your researching into it then come and apologize for your selfish behaviour.
Samantha
First of all Christina you are just a full blown b.i.t.c.h, i hate to say it but you are!
PCOS is not a joke, infact it comes with alot of grief and misery, and could also possibly cause our death for some. I have had this syndrome for over 10 years now. I have the full symptoms of PCOS i just at the moment do not have the infertility problems, as i had my first child, but the problems have changed and i may not get to have my second child now in a couple of years as i havent had a period since i was pregnant so that has been over 4 years now. You have no sympathy for any of us, how would you like it if you had people commenting that you have dark hairs on your face, or your nipples are hairy, or people laughing at you because your tummy is so big unlike the rest of your body!! We cannot get rid of PCOS,unlike you who can get rid of your weight, i have tried loosing weight since i was 11 years old!!! It would not go, i even overdosed numerous times on weight loss pills, tried all the weight loss pills on the shelves, worked out at the gym 6-8 hours a day, and when i did all that hard hours at the gym, i only lost 1kg in 2 months from that! So dont start with us that we can loose weight, because the doctor HAS told me that it will be really difficult for me to loose weight because of PCOS so not to expect alot of weightloss. And i hate hearing people say just remove your ovaries and uterus, because we want children!! I am only 21 and i have started getting worse facial/body hair, on my lip on my face they are thick black and nasty, and so embarassing, my tummy looks like its 3 months pregnant, i have hair in places of my body that is embarassing and i have to deal with weekly! i have severe depression, every couple of days i get severe pains in my ovaries, i struggle so hard to loose weight why other comment and make fun of me and so much more plus im told im at very high risk of soon getting diabetes, with all of this PCOS i have o negative blood type, so my whole system is messed up. So woohooo that you got your period, shove it in your face, because some of us just wish to have a period, or have children, or just feel normal and loose weight normally like others.
Thanks for shoving all your disrespectful crap into our faces Christina.
Do me a favour and before you open your big mouth look into PCOS and understand what it actually is all about, because i can tell you dont know jack ass about it!
http://www.managingpcos.org.au/content/view/13/26/ here is the website now go do your researching into it then come and apologize for your selfish behaviour.
Samantha
First of all Christina you are just a full blown b.i.t.c.h, i hate to say it but you are!
PCOS is not a joke, infact it comes with alot of grief and misery, and could also possibly cause our death for some. I have had this syndrome for over 10 years now. I have the full symptoms of PCOS i just at the moment do not have the infertility problems, as i had my first child, but the problems have changed and i may not get to have my second child now in a couple of years as i havent had a period since i was pregnant so that has been over 4 years now. You have no sympathy for any of us, how would you like it if you had people commenting that you have dark hairs on your face, or your nipples are hairy, or people laughing at you because your tummy is so big unlike the rest of your body!! We cannot get rid of PCOS,unlike you who can get rid of your weight, i have tried loosing weight since i was 11 years old!!! It would not go, i even overdosed numerous times on weight loss pills, tried all the weight loss pills on the shelves, worked out at the gym 6-8 hours a day, and when i did all that hard hours at the gym, i only lost 1kg in 2 months from that! So dont start with us that we can loose weight, because the doctor HAS told me that it will be really difficult for me to loose weight because of PCOS so not to expect alot of weightloss. And i hate hearing people say just remove your ovaries and uterus, because we want children!! I am only 21 and i have started getting worse facial/body hair, on my lip on my face they are thick black and nasty, and so embarassing, my tummy looks like its 3 months pregnant, i have hair in places of my body that is embarassing and i have to deal with weekly! i have severe depression, every couple of days i get severe pains in my ovaries, i struggle so hard to loose weight why other comment and make fun of me and so much more plus im told im at very high risk of soon getting diabetes, with all of this PCOS i have o negative blood type, so my whole system is messed up. So woohooo that you got your period, shove it in your face, because some of us just wish to have a period, or have children, or just feel normal and loose weight normally like others.
Thanks for shoving all your disrespectful crap into our faces Christina.
Do me a favour and before you open your big mouth look into PCOS and understand what it actually is all about, because i can tell you dont know jack ass about it!
http://www.managingpcos.org.au/content/view/13/26/ here is the website now go do your researching into it then come and apologize for your selfish behaviour.
Samantha
Christina,
I AGREE WITH YOU!
Obesity is constantly being blamed on other medical issues. I've head people fabricate long elaborate stories about why they are overweight and get caught out in their lies. Obesity is a serious issue in the United States that cannot be blamed on other issues.
Sure, PCOS can cause weight gain, but an unbalanced diet with no exercise can have the same effect.
And to everyone else "sick" of hearing Victoria Beckham as an example---
It is VERY hypocritical to say how poor of an example she is, considering she is a HUMAN BEING LIVING WITH PCOS. Not one of us is alike, but we are all living with PCOS. The important factor is that she is HEALTHY and living a normal life with PCOS. So, can the only examples of celebrities living with PCOS be overweight? If that was the case, I'm sure we would all be hearing how stereotypical it is to use an overweight celebrity as an example.
The whole point is that there is NOT one type of person with PCOS. Some are small, some are large -- as the saying goes, you cannot judge a book by its cover. There is not one human being who "looks" like they have PCOS..... DIVERSITY PEOPLE!
I also was diagnosed with PCOS after I had my first child. I was always a heavy girl and my weight fluctuated. I had never heard of PCOS growing up so I always thought I was just abnormal. I was able to concieve on my own with my first child but was on metformin to conceive my other two. PCOS is a horrible thing to have, it strips you of everything womanly. I also had a very hard time losing weight so I got the gastric bypass. My doctor said it would be very hard for me to lose weight on my own because of the PCOS so he reffered me for the surgery. Now 115 pounds lighter, I am able to exercise and keep my weight steady. With the surgery you don;t eat as many carbs and most of your PCOS symptoms go in remission.
My wish is that there would be more PCOS awarnness out there so others could know about it and help woman with it to understand how serious it is. It can cause diabetes, heart disease and cancer. It would be nice to see the celebrities who have make a stand and help educate the public.
OMG! "never talk about things you have no clue about, or else you\re just a gossiper!" SYNDROMES are used generally for conditions in which there are multiple signs and symptoms originating from one exact disorders, PCOS is a diseased fully studied by many professional scientist and there we have diagnostic criteria yield by ADA! yeah, actually it's a real disease ma'am!
if you want I can send you a pdf showing every detail about the disease!
NEVER PREJUDGE STUFFS, THINK TWICE
"merci pour ton attentiion"
Hadi
I was a normal sized kid, and started gaining weight at about 13. I was diagnosed with PCOS at 15 and put on metformin - thanks to that I have been able to maintain my weight (I am now 23), but even when I used to go to the gym constantly, I never lost weight.
As long as I maintain my weight, I'm happy. But every person's case is different; I was lucky to be diagnosed so early. People should stop being a bitch to each other.
Ladies, have some compassion for each other. I too battle with PCOS. I've had it ever since I was a little girl. Now I'm 30 years old and dealing with it on an entirely different level. Weight has always been an issue for me, but compared to some other PCOS sufferers, I may be considered thin. This doesn't make my anguish with this condition any different then someone else. I know that I have to be so vigilant with what I put in my mouth every single second of the day, because one little slip up and I may put on 2 sometimes 3lbs overnight. I've worked really hard at becoming an active runner and still I'm in constant threat of putting on as much as 5lbs in a week! Even though I'm slightly over the ideal weight for my frame, I continually grow copious amounts of hair on my breasts, face and lower back. I battle with acne, mood swings, abdominal pain, hair loss, skin tags... you name it. I feel the deepest amount of empathy for anyone who has been diagnosed or given the label of PCOS. Everyone, regardless of PCOS or not, can afford to be more mindful of their own health in their lives. No, PCOS is not an excuse to stop trying, but sometimes there are times when you try so hard that it feels just hopeless, because we've tried so hard. Harder then many others. The 'Feeling' of PCOS is something we can all relate to and we should try to understand that it's a delicate condition that effects all of its sufferers differently.
i am 19 years old and was told i had pcos at 15, i was never reeally thin but not over weight untill i was around 13 and then i started gaining weight and not because of what i was eating or not exersising, because i was on a full deit and working out from about 3 till 7 every day playing soccer and cheerleading and my weight was increasing rapidly with out any conrol i started high school at about 110 lbs. and now after graduating i am now 233 thats rediculousss! and i meann ive been taking metformin but it seems my body just dosnt take, so please what is there to do im sick of throwing up and not eating i jsut want to be happy and healtyy!!
i was 15 when i was diagnosed with pcos, but suffered from the age of 8 years old with irregular periods and severe pain etc,although un like most women i was lucky as i didnt struggle with my weight too bad, but my sister does as she has pcos too. I have had many differenet treatments but they really don't do much for me sadly. I have had around 7 cyst ruptures and lost a baby all due to the pcos. Sometimes i really feel like it rules my life as i suffer severly with pain from it, and i am sure there are other women who feel the same way, but we all have to some how carry on. On a brighter note my sister is now pregnant, it took 2 years but she did it without help, so that makes me hopeful for me and other women out there with pcos or endometriosis :)
Victoria Beckham can have kids, I have never ever been able to hold a pregnancy beyond a few weeks. Even when slim i am thick set and manly in build, PCOS has robbed me of womanhood as I am sterile, I have facial and body hair and don't really have a very feminine shape as I have never dipped in at the waist or had curvy hips and have a thick, manly neck, when I hit age 11 i grew very tall, i also grew a moustache and in the 70s no one did a thing, i never develpoed feminine curves ( just a big bust)i became anorexic in my teens as my build depressed me, i am now 44 and over weight and suffer badly with hot flushes and heat intolerance. I didn't get periods til I was 15.
I was officially diagnosed about 3 years ago at the age of 30 with pain so severe from a ruptured cyst I went to the ER, they admitted me and they nearly had to remove one of my ovaries. I had no idea that I had PCOS or ovarian cysts.
I have struggled with my weight my entire life even though I have never been severely overweight, roughly 20 lbs is the most I've ever put on. The problem is, those of us with PCOS DO NOT live a normal life once we lose weight. We still have to pluck dark coarse hairs from our chins and breasts and other not so feminine areas. The pimples do not magically stop completely when you are at a healthy weight.
I am very lucky to have a regular period, but unlucky in the way that each month I develop SEVERAL follicles that never mature, which leave me in so much pain before my period that I can't leave the house for hours (sometimes days).
I have been traumatized from sex, I'm afraid of intercourse because it can sometimes be so painful afterward, that I need a visit to the ER for some Morphine. This has happened 3 times. And I'm not talking about crazy wild out-of-control sex, I'm talking about slow, easy going because I'm scared it will hurt-sex. I wish I could have crazy wild sex.
I have had failed relationships because my libido has dropped off the face, all because I am infertile.
Maintaining a healthy weight IS much more difficult for women with PCOS. Most of you reading this already know, but I feel like I need to defend us from those who don't understand. I can have a small bowl of ice cream and literally gain 10 lbs overnight. How is that normal? How is that my fault? Having PCOS and maintaining a healthy weight is next to impossible. There is a hefty price to pay for the smallest indulgences.
So for those of you who have decided that being overweight is our fault, I challenge you to talk to an endocrinologist. People in our society have a tendency to blame the victim. Well I won't stand for it. I did nothing to deserve this disease, I didn't create it, nor did I get it because I ate donuts and cheeseburgers, and I AM suffering from it. I'm dealing with it as best I can. My diagnosis gave me relief, only in that I understand now that YES I AM DIFFERENT FROM OTHER WOMEN. Life really IS more difficult for me, and no it's not just my imagination.
Ladies reading this thread looking for comfort, just know that there are many of us out there suffering. All we can do is keep trying our best. And it would be wise to ignore the comments from the less-than-empathetic. They just simply can not understand what they do not know.
V interesting thread. All women suffering from PCOS have my deepest sympathy. Many comments here make me feel I should stop feeling so sorry for myself.
As to why I did the search for famous people with PCOS, I was just looking for a bit of comfort, knowing famous celebs get it too.
I don't have a weight problem but have the large tummy, skin tags, moodiness (big time - I used to wonder what was wrong with me until I realised it comes with the PCOS package), thin hair and spots (at the age of 44 - delightful...not). The latter has been getting me down recently. I've been trying Dermalogica products which don't seem to help plus am on a range of supplements (minerals/vitamins) which aren't helping either. Has anyone any suggestions/tips?
I guess I searched celebs with PCOS for some comfort. I kind of hoped there might be a celeb that had spoken about their experience. I wanted to see if they have children.
At 23 and having being diagnosed only 18 months ago I am still coming to terms with it, I am still looking for answers. I am not overweight, but I worry about my weight. Spots and hair are an ongoing struggle and they get me down. I often wonder whether I will be able to get pregnant.
I wish everyone the best with their own pcos.
PCOS is a syndrome. It's an imbalance which follows your body continually trying to adapt to a pathological environment.
If you look at the underlying driver for many women, it's insulin resistance. This results from too much refined food and drink, stress, lack of sleep, lack of exercise, toxicity.
We do not have faulty genes (less then 5% of dis-eases can be attributed to genetics - see Dr Bruce Lipton's work).
We are not destined to suffer from dis-ease! We are destined to be well.
If you want to know more about PCOS, go to www.facebook.com/ConquerYourPCOS Below my profile picture you will see a link for a FREE PCOS special report. Please read it.
P.S.
I was diagnosed with PCOS at the age of 17. I used to be overweight, I used to have excessive hair, I used to have acne and hot flushes and dizziness. I used to...
Get tested for insulin resistance, don't eat junk foods like mcdonalds, and walk as much as you can. I have pcos and after going on metformin and a healthier diet (no sugars, breads, dairy, hamburgers, etc), and walking more I lost over 35 pounds in a couple months! I have severe pcos with body hair, slow metabolism, male fat distribution, etc. and am able to stay around 130 pounds. The secret is eating less, eating healthier food (veggies, fruits, nuts, walking instead of driving everywhere, and getting some medication for the insulin resistance. People ask me how I do it and that's what I tell them. Most of the people in my area are obese and many look like they have pcos or metabolic syndrome, it's an epidemic. Junk food is like an addicting drug unfortunately and hard to withdraw from, but it can be done!
I left the comment above, and it was more directed to those who are obese. I do have sympathy for all women with pcos because I know what it's like. Unfortunately, I still have the fatigue, facial hair, pcos body shape but being obese would only compound my problems so I try to not gain weight. Victoria Beckham makes her living by being in front of the camera so that is her incentive to stay very thin. It's obvious she has the pcos body type even though very thin and I'm sure if she put on any weight it would go to her waist, upper body and face and look a lot worse.
I can relate to the lady above that eating just a small amount of food like ice cream or a donut makes us put on a lot of weight. We do have to eat much less than the average person to stay at the same weight.
Has anyone thought that pcos may be an intersex condition in some of us, possibly caused by endocrine disruptors in the environment, such as herbicides, BPA in plastics and can linings, etc.? I wonder this because I am the only one in my family with PCOS, so it is not a hereditary condition in my case.
Christina,
That is so unfair to say that. I've worked out all my life, I am a professional boxer, I have a black belt in 7 different martial arts, and I've always been into running. Until I hit my Junior year in high school is when the weight came out of no where. I've always been a little on the heavy side, but not huge by any means. But when I started my senior year I put on 20 pounds out of no where, with out changing my ex cerise, I was still competing in martial arts competitions. I started college and put on even MORE weight out of no where and ended up at 200 pounds. I went to a doctor in a new area where I was living to see what was going on and she tested me for PCOS. I've always had a dark neck and acne and people said it was because i was chubby. She clarified that not all fat people have dark necks and that I am showing insulin resistance which contributes to my body not being able to keep a healthy weight as easy as a normal person can. She put me on metformin and with weight watchers it is finally coming off. SO DONT SAY THINGS YOU DONT KNOW ABOUT BECAUSE EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT. EVERYONE'S PCOS IS DIFFERENT.
I do believe Kate Gosselin has PCOS
Many thanks to everyone who have left comments on my blog. I just want to say that your words have kept me going in my plan to lose weight.
I am pleased to hear success stories, and I agree that it takes a lot of determination and discipline to get there. However, everyone is different! What might work for one person, might not work for others.
Not everyone became fat by sitting on their sofa with a tub of ice-cream and packets of crisps!
I was bullied because of polycystic ovary syndrome. Everyone thought I shaved when I just had really bad facial hair. Because I'm from a asian background people find shaving for women a terrible thing. Plus I never did shave, which was why I tried to stick up for myself. A guy in college described me as a man dressed up as a woman. It was a horrible thing to say, and to be honest with you my friends didn't even stick up for me. I am also overweight. I have tried so many ways of losing weight but nothing seems to be working. I manages to lose abit but then suddenly I cudnt lose anymore weight for some reason. A lot of people blazed me because I was overweight. I developed depression, anxiety disorder alongside other personal problems. I was harrassed and bullied and people in college use to follow me around and shout disgusting things calling me a whore and slag. It started of as a rumor but then it graduly became worse as they wouldn't let go of the topic.
I was diagnosed with PCOS at age 12.
hate the amount of pain I had to go and am still going through. Had laser treatment on my face and a big improvement for defo! I've lost most of the hair, only afew little thin hairs are visible! I'm happier for sure...was on Dianette for anti-androgen but the side effects were terrible, thought I was going to die, so I got taken off dianette and am looking for an alternative to help with PCOS along with daily exercise. Its a shame how PCOS can affect weight so much. I gained so much weirght ever since I had it! Oh well I'm still trying.....
Granted admitting that you have PCOS might shed more light on the disease and may make normal women with PCOS feel better; however, these celebrities are "normal" women too. They too have insecurities and therefore probably do not want to go around telling everyone about there condition. I hardly think we can blame them, and cite them as not being courageous enough--when most women with PCOS don't exhibit their diagnosis with everyone either. Furthermore having PCOS is a medical concern that celebrities have the right to keep to themselves without being termed as "lacking courage".That said, it would be nice to see more celebrities admitting to the disease--so as to make normal women feel better and know that they are not alone. However if a celebrity would like to keep their PCOS to themselves I completely understand their viewpoint. They do not hold any obligation to tell everyone.
Thanks for this post.
I have recently been diagnosed with PCOS at 25, and let me tell you, it's been a massive struggle for me.
Victoria Beckham isn't being held up as THE example of PCOS, surely you can see that even though she has it, she has managed to successfully have (how many now, 4?) kids, and maintain a fab figure despite what many other women encounter. We don't all have access to a personal trainer, but it is possible with the right management I suppose, it depends on your biological makeup. Some women are just not meant to be size 0.
Believe it or not, my PCOS actually manifested itself AFTER I had my first (and now only) child, and I was within my normal BMI, I was quite slim, and then I gained about 90 lbs very quickly.
So comments such as "People can't blame PCOS for their weight gain..." perhaps YOU can't blame your weight issues on your PCOS... but even the Drs agree with me that my weight has become unmanageable due to it.
And I'm on a recommended diet AND go to the gym to do classes every day, and see NO results AT ALL. Seriously, I've been going for 2 months now. I'm not medicated yet, and the endo will hopefully give me some when I see him next.
PCOS affects everyone differently, what it might be for you, might not be how it is for a large portion of other women, and I find it short sighted and arrogant that you judge others because we are not the same as you.
Christina I don't know how you can say that not everyone with pcos is like you its not easy to lose weight. Im 13 and have been diagnosed with PCOS before I found out I had it I tried everything to lose weight and nothing happened im so sick of people like you mabey you should wake up! and stop thinking you know everything about everyone.
In response to the blogger's comment that perhaps Victoria Beckham diets because she's afraid of her PCOS getting worse, it's likely the other way around; her dieting has likely caused or exacerbated her PCOS. Women who go through cycles of binging and purging/fasting/dieting are much more likely to develop PCOS. Some of the comments are from very overweight women who claim that they don't eat much. The reality is that it is physically impossible to gain fat without a calorie surplus. Women who weigh 200+ lbs are either (a) slightly overeating all of the time, or (b) undereating much of the time and binging periodically. Any woman with PCOS should classify a meal that contains more than 40 g of carbs as a "carb binge." And even 40g of carbs is too much for many women with PCOS. Avoiding foods that are very high on the insulin index, and thus cause insulin spikes (including bananas, milk, yogurt, bread, baked beans, jelly beans, and pastries or cookies) is also important for women with PCOS, as is exercising regulary and getting adequate sleep. The good news is that once your insulin levels (and in my case, prediabetes) are under control, the urge to binge/overeat carbs subsides.
I'm a 20 year old girl with PCOS, I was diagnosed at the age of 15. I've struggled with it for a long time. I'm still on the road to controlling the symptoms. I've finally been able to lose some weight! I've gone from 220 lbs to 198. My goal is to reach about 180, which is in the target range for ladies of my height--5'10.
I know that everybody's different, but I want to offer my personal solution in the hopes that it helps others like me. What's been working for me is low-carb intake coupled with exercise. I think one of the biggest problems for me was finding exercises I liked doing. I do Zumba and love it! When working out is fun, it's easier to get into. Before I knew it, the weight was coming off.
Granted, if I do slip up and indulge in some carbs, I can gain about 2 lbs overnight, which is discouraging. When I get any cravings for carbs, I drink tea without sugar instead. It's more flavorful and satisfying than water for me, and takes care of my craving.
Now if only I could find something to take care of my facial hair, other than a razor. XD
I am 25 and waiting to be diagnosed with PCOS...it's pretty obvious that I have it tho. I always had problems with my weight and erratic periods since I was 16, but managed to fall pregnant very quickly with my daughter at 22. O how things change. I wacked on 5 stone and three years later it IS NOT coming off. I am sick to death of salads, I honestly cannot justify my weight with what I eat. I am fed up, I feel like a man. I am obsessed with checking for hairs on my face and arms. So so miserable
I was normal in weight until I turned 19 years old. I was married at the time and thought I was gaining weight because I have taken the depoprovera shot. It is now 2012 and im 28. I was just diagnosed with PCOS a few days ago after they took blood work and found out I was on the borderline of becoming a pre diabetic. The dr gave me information on the syndrome and there were 9 signs and symptoms of the syndrome, which I have 7 of them. She said her ideal treatment for me would be to put me on all Metformin, birth control pills, and to exercise. I did get a membership at a gym the other day and she put me on Metformin but she was not able to put me on birth control pills because I have a history of migraines and putting me on the pill increases my risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Now, I take the Metformin, exercise regularly and I changed my eating habits (which is really hard because I am an extremely picky eater.)
Hi ive been reading lots of the comments and i never though i would share something about my self on a blog. I have pcos i think ive had it since i was younger but the er dr diagnosed me in dec 2011 with it. it made a lot of since i always had facial hair which i was made fun of in school for years eragular periods ect... since dec ive been taking metformin 500mlg twice a day oh yes that same day they tell me im diabetic but ive always tryed talking to my pc and he isnt much help anyways may 2012 was the last time i had a period and i dont understand why its not "normal" for me to stop that long we are in nov 2012 and still nothing and my dr says it normal and im ok when i feel like its not i feel like im low income they dont want to help me some thing just doesnt feel right.
I tend not to leave a responѕe, howеver I brоwsed a fеw of the commentѕ here "Who are the celebrities with PCOS?".
I actually do have a couρle of questіons for you if it's allright. Is it simply me or do a few of these comments look like they are left by brain dead individuals? :-P And, if you are posting at other places, I would like to follow everything fresh you have to post. Could you make a list of every one of your public sites like your twitter feed, Facebook page or linkedin profile?
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PCOS is a medical condition. All of you idiots who say otherwise need to research medical accounts. It starts in the womb beginning with the pituitary gland. This gland never works correctly and reaks havock on your endochrin system always. The pituitary gland does not send the right signals to the ovaries to generate the right hormones. It stimulates huge amounts of estrogen which in turn causes weight gain. It's a very complicated disease and each woman has different levels of how it affects her body. I guess it's just easier to blame people who are fat by accusing them of being lazy gluttons. I am not fat and I have severe PCOS. But I am miserable. I can eat no more,than 800 calories a day or I will gain 10 pounds in 1 week. I excercise constantly but I do not have a normal way of eating. So unless you do your research shut the fuck up.
Hi everyone,
Most of these comments are about people struggling with weight .. and I want to say that it must be horrible. I was diagnosed with PCOS this summer and its been a struggle for me to come to terms with it. I am 22 and have had my period since i was 12 but have maybe had about 10 periods in the time frame while not being on birth control (which regulate my periods) . The weird thing is I was actually diagnosed with PCOS this summer when i rapidly dropped weight. I have always been thing (with the exception of my first year in college .. and even then i was still average weight .. but this summer i was under 100 pounds and developed horrible acne all over my face. it really happened in a matter of a week. Anyway i'm back on the pill and using another cream for the acne too and its helped a lot (although now im covered in scars). I definitely have some facial hair and also on my nipples (but because I am very fair and blonde its not too bad, horrible mood swings that I was actually starting to wonder if i was bipolar, and my hair really thinned out too. I'm just wondering from other peoples experience if i will develop weight issues in the future or do some women with PCOS just luck out with that .. and if my facial hair will continue to worsen?
What an awful thing to say Christina.
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I could not refrain from commenting. Well written!
In regard to non hereditary PCOS, I was diagnosed when I was 15 with no diagnosed family history. I was told it was due to over-training myself in swimming during development (at the time I also experienced severe anaemia from mineral rejection and stunted growth in my legs, which was probably a good thing, since I'm so tall already haha). So yeah, it's possible.
One thing I would like to say about the auther - it would be nice one day to not feel alienated by being a slim person with PCOS. For example, "Are they 'fat' like us?" and similar phrasing seems to riddle this website, just once it would be nice not to be judged for being skinny (metformin actually made me gain weight initially but then I returned to an 8). I'm trying not to make this a criticism since the author might not be aware of the effect of her language on an otherwise very interesting post. But please take into consideration some of you who constantly have a go at "skinny people" (yes only a few) but I think the hardest part of PCOS for me was not having an online community in which I could feel a part of.
Let me say though, I have to eat ~4000 calories /day to maintain my weight. If this does not seem like a horrible thing to you then yes, you have a problem with lifestyle and cannot blame the PCOS. If you recognize how time consuming and annoying this is (I have a food coma after every meal!) then you can blame the condition, but please keep going with all your amazing stories, they are so inspiring to others, you work so hard!
Oh and on a side note this incredibly long (trying not to be) rant, "the thief of womanhood" is wrong, you are as much of a woman as you feel so stop letting this thing get a hold of your - it does not define you!
Christina,
I am 14 and was just recently diagnosed with PCOS. Your comment is really offensive. I was at a healthy weight for the longest time and for some reason (I have always had the same eating habits throughout my life, nothing had changed) I started gaining weight. In fact I gained about 20-30 pounds in the period of 6 months. I had tried and tried to lose weight but nothing worked. Girls and women with PCOS are different, our bodies work differently than others because of this syndrome. Just cutting back on certain things may help but it isn't going to cure us just fyi. So yeah I am overweight because of PCOS, I don't need you or anyone else telling me to "Wake up". You obviously need to "wake up" because you definitely don't know what the hell you are talking about.
I actually found it really reassuring to see 'skinny' Victoria Beckham with PCOS- I was diagnosed about four years ago at 15 and the only symptoms I had were erratic periods and a bit of darker facial hair. Trying to find out about the syndrome and hearing about all these symptoms that I have never encountered was actually quite worrying, it felt like I didn't really have anyone who shared any experiences with me (even my own mum who, despite being naturally slim, has had a very different experience with PCOS than I). I'm naturally slim and have never had an issue with my weight (I fully understand that weight loss can be of great help to some ladies with PCOS in controlling some symptoms but I'm in healthy weight range and still experience erratic periods, weight loss or gain wouldn't really be healthy for me).
I definitely feel for women who struggle with losing weight due to PCOS (and I wish them the best in their endeavour for a healthy weight)but seeing someone who is also outside the norm is really bloody reassuring!!
(and this is partly unrelated but I agree with the anonymous swimmer above, sometimes you can feel a bit alienated for being slim. At 5'11 and just under 10st I often get negative comments about something I can't really help. I would never say anything negative to a woman who finds it difficult to lose weight due to PCOS but it appears to be the norm to slag slimmer people- though I'd like to say that I wasn't referring to anyone I've heard of on this website!)
Sorry about the novella there, its just something I've wanted to get off my chest for a while!
I wish you all the best! x
I was told in my early 30s following an ultra sound that despite having been diagnosed with PCOS at age 19 that I have "outgrown it" by my doctor and that there were no signs of any cysts. I had gone to establish whether I would be able to get pregnant or have difficulty in conceiving and was told "see you when you get pregnant..!"
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