Living with PCOS: Part Two Weight and Body Image
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As I mentioned in part one living with PCOS can be so hard. Today I am talking about issues with my weight and body image.
It's a topic I've wanted to write about for awhile but I've been putting it off. Basically I am overweight and hate it! That's my feelings on it as I am sure that there are many people who are overweight and are comfortable. Being overweight for me is something I'm just not comfortable with I feel that people are judging me on a daily basis on what I wear and eat.
My body hasn't always been like it is now I have been slim which was only for a short brief while, before having Blake when I lost 6 stone on slimming world. But most of my life I've been a size 18-20 and at my biggest as size 24. That makes me feel totally self conscious and in general I'm not an bubbly chatty person anyway.
Losing weight when I have PCOS is hard work. I've had to ignore cravings for sweet foods and eat salads which I hate. I've had to try and ignore feeling hungry as I've eaten a lot and couldn't possibly really be hungry still. Over the years since my diagnosis I've read a lot of books and articles and learnt a lot about having the condition and I'm sure that there is so much I still don't know.
Here are some facts I've learnt regarding PCOS and the issue of weight:
-With PCOS you can have insulin resistance which means that your body needs more insulin than normal to deal with sugar in your blood stream.
- Women with PCOS have been found to have a lower metabolic rate.
- Research has shown that women with PCOS do not feel as full and as satisfied after meals than women who don't have the condition.
With all that aside I'm sure you could maybe understand why the comment in the photo below "If you really wanted to lose weight you could" makes me so frustrated as the people who has said it to me, are ones that don't have the condition or even know much about it.
Most days I look in the mirror and feel like crying as I am not happy with how I look.
I find shopping for myself extremely hard as I see nearly everything I wear makes me look and feel fat. When I look at clothing I worry people will see what size I pick up and be secretly laughing,I worry that what I'm wearing makes me look bigger than I am.
When I'm eating I worry that people are staring at me and secretly laughing inside. When I look in the mirror I see someone who needs to lose a lot of weight, someone who's hair is wispy and not thick and long as I want it to be, someone who has excess hair on my body that I have to remove constantly.
I am trying to eat healthily and get the weight off but the scales just are fluctuating and I'm not actually loosing weight at all. It doesn't help that I also have thyroid condition which also makes losing weight a battle.
It's easy to say keep trying, you'll get there eventually etc but it's not that easy.
37 comments
I'm so sorry that you feel like this. I don't have pcos myself but have close family members who do and so I really understand what you're talking about. It's great that you are writing about it to educate people and stop people assuming things that aren't true.
ReplyDeleteI have PCOS too and the weight struggle is the hardest thing. I think you look great for what it's worth :) x
ReplyDeleteI have PCOS too and the weight struggle is the hardest thing. I think you look great for what it's worth :) x
ReplyDeleteIt is hard being overweight (I have mostly been overweight) and it was only when I hit my 40's I started to not care about what people thought. You have nothing to feel self concious about x
ReplyDeleteLosing weight can be a struggle at the best of times, let alone when you've got PCOS and thyroid problems. Try not to be so hard on yourself lovely, you're doing the best you can! xx
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. Losing weight with PCOS is hard work. I have always struggles with this.
ReplyDeleteIt must be so hard when people judge you and say oh but it's easy to lose weight if you want to but they don't understand how hard it can be x
ReplyDeleteI know a couple of people who have PCOS and I hate seeing how much they suffer. Just know that you're beautiful and so strong!
ReplyDeleteI can imagine that it's not easy but I'm glad that you seem to have a positive attitude towards it ;)
ReplyDeleteI can not imagine what you are going through :( Remember you are doing great x
ReplyDeleteOh lovely - it sounds like living with PCOS is tough - well done for writing about it xx
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine what a struggle it is for you.
ReplyDeleteBut like Dean said at least you are staying positive x
It must be very frustrating and the only time I never struggled to lose weight was when I tried thinking slimmer. It stops the sugary cravings so may be worth a try x
ReplyDeleteThe losing of weight always seems to be the main issue, my two friends who also have PCOS would totally agree with you x
ReplyDeleteOh lovely!!! I've never even heard of PCOS before, I think it's so good you've written about it to raise awareness. It must be so hard when you really want to look different. x
ReplyDeleteWow this is a deep post. Good to see you are staying postive.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing your experience - living with PCOS sounds really hard - it's amazing you have the courage to share with others, but it's amazing as you'll help so many!
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Well done for talking about PCOS and telling everyone what's it's really like. I don't think there's enough awareness of it.
ReplyDeleteWe think you look great X My mummy's overweight and always hungry, but she's happy. She's trying to rock a vintage look and finds that smart tailoring can do your confidence a world of good. Don't be too hard on yourself Hun xx
ReplyDeleteSorry your feeling like this but good thing your staying positive X
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry that you have to live with PCOS. For what it's worth I think you look fab, but I can totally sympathise with it being hard to lose weight.
ReplyDeleteThankyou for sharing such an honest post - I know a lot of people who suffer with PCOS and it's great that people are sharing their experiences. x
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that you are feeling this way. I know that body image is important for our confidence, I can't even imagine how hard it must be to try to love weight but not succeed to to an illness. Have you maybe tried talking to a personal trainer? They might be able to help you with exercises that burn more calories that just going to the gym. xx
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing worse than feeling down about weight issues. Positive thinking and support make all the difference
ReplyDelete:( stay positive and don't let the negative comments get to you. all that matters is that you are trying despite the struggle.
ReplyDeleteMy family has a thyroid condition so I feel your pain there. I'm currently in the position of looking in the mirror and being unhappy with how I look, the main thing is to try and stay positive!
ReplyDeleteI have a few friends that are going through the same struggles. It's so hard, especially one of my friend that is completely infertile because of it.
ReplyDeleteI too suffer from PCOS having been diagnosed over 15 years ago when I was a teenager. It is so hard and I have battled for years to loose weight and learn to love myself lumps and all.
ReplyDeleteThis must be such a hard thing to deal with. Don't let the negativity get to you, although that can be hard sometimes.
ReplyDeleteI know it must be so hard, but try to stay positive :) you're so brave to share your story and I'm sure its a big help to others x
ReplyDeleteWeight loss when you have PCOS is difficult, but I do know a few people who have been very successful. So, there is always hope :)
ReplyDeleteLosing weight is always so hard!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry you feel this way. It must be so frustrating. Keep as postive as you can be x
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine how hard it can be I am not overweighed but my mum was and she was getting really frustrated at times. She couldn't lose it.
ReplyDeleteI too am a sufferer and have found trying to lose any weight without doing something drastic, virtually impossible. My metabolic rate is so low that it's hard to burn anything off. I am now at a stage in my life where I have learnt to be happy in myself and try not to worry about it. Took me 20 years but I am getting there xx
ReplyDeleteI can empathise with how you feel about your body, and it must be so frustrating to have the challenge of an illness in the mix too. Don't give up though, I'm sure you will work through both the issues
ReplyDeleteLosing weight is HARD work. Let alone if you have a medical condition that makes it even more difficult. So hats off to your my lovely for persevering. I always try to remember that small changes add up to big results in the end. xxxx
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