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Metformin and weight loss
I've been taking 500 mg/day of metformin. Just wondering if any of you have taken this, and if so, have you experienced any weight loss?
I have been suffering with PCOS since I was 11. I have had a weight problem even though I was extremely active. Now I have a desk job and things are even harder. I was desperate and wanted to really understand what PCOS was and how it was impacting my body. Ok, so I have cysts on my overies, extra weight all over my body and a small amount of facial hair on my chin. Oh, and I was not sleeping very well either. To compound it all, My OBGYN found that I had a thyroid issue. I had been checked several times in the past and nothing. Now what am I supposed to do with all of this working against me?? I ended up reading the book Breakthrough by Suzanne Somers. I learned a lot about my body but more importantly, I found a doctor that would actually test for all of the things that were causing my PCOS symptoms.
First thing, my thyroid was damaged by Bromine. I have a hot tub and switched it from chlorine to bromine. I felt really bad every time I got out. I had another friend go through the same thing. I went Hypo and she went Hyperthyroid. STAY AWAY FROM BROMINE!! If you have been in a pool or hot tub and think it may have been bromine and your skin is drier than normal and you are loosing hair please have your thyroid checked.
Second, I found a doctor listed in the back of the Breakthrough book. She tested all of my hormones. PCOS is all about your hormones. I had very low Progesterone levels. Apparently have for all my life. I take 200mcg 21 days of the month. I immediately started feeling better and I sleep like a BABY!
The next thing we tackled together was my estrogen levels. There are 3 types of estrogen. News to me, but they each need to be balanced. One of them was really high. I am now on a natural herb Tumeric/circumin which attracts this estrogen and helps you eliminate the excess. Again feeling much better.
Now my weight. I have been struggling with it forever. We have progressively adjusted my thyroid meds. I am on 137 mcg of T4 and also take 20 mcg of T3. My body does not properly convert the T4 to T3 so we are adding a little to the other side to help. In order to help my body convert the thyroid properly, my doctor wants to try the Metformin. I tried it several years ago and couldn't handle it. I just started again yeaterday taking one in the am for a week and then 2 a day after a week. So far so good. I hope I can tackle this.
Thank you all so much for sharing your own stories. And please educate yourself on what makes your body optimum. I am right there with all of you in that this is very hard. You can do it!! And don't settle for a doctor that does not pay attention to the details. It is the sum of all of the little things that will make you feel better!
First thing, my thyroid was damaged by Bromine. I have a hot tub and switched it from chlorine to bromine. I felt really bad every time I got out. I had another friend go through the same thing. I went Hypo and she went Hyperthyroid. STAY AWAY FROM BROMINE!! If you have been in a pool or hot tub and think it may have been bromine and your skin is drier than normal and you are loosing hair please have your thyroid checked.
Second, I found a doctor listed in the back of the Breakthrough book. She tested all of my hormones. PCOS is all about your hormones. I had very low Progesterone levels. Apparently have for all my life. I take 200mcg 21 days of the month. I immediately started feeling better and I sleep like a BABY!
The next thing we tackled together was my estrogen levels. There are 3 types of estrogen. News to me, but they each need to be balanced. One of them was really high. I am now on a natural herb Tumeric/circumin which attracts this estrogen and helps you eliminate the excess. Again feeling much better.
Now my weight. I have been struggling with it forever. We have progressively adjusted my thyroid meds. I am on 137 mcg of T4 and also take 20 mcg of T3. My body does not properly convert the T4 to T3 so we are adding a little to the other side to help. In order to help my body convert the thyroid properly, my doctor wants to try the Metformin. I tried it several years ago and couldn't handle it. I just started again yeaterday taking one in the am for a week and then 2 a day after a week. So far so good. I hope I can tackle this.
Thank you all so much for sharing your own stories. And please educate yourself on what makes your body optimum. I am right there with all of you in that this is very hard. You can do it!! And don't settle for a doctor that does not pay attention to the details. It is the sum of all of the little things that will make you feel better!
Hi,
Im 22, have tried it at 21 too but didnt actively change my diet as although I wanted weight loss it wasnt that high a priority. This time I am changing and trying to do better - have cut out all fizzy drinks except for one can/glass a week (im proud of this cos its probably 10 years since I went a day without several which is terrible). Have introduced more vegetables (fruit is hard because I have an intolerance to acidic juice and its so sharp after not having it for ages, yes my diet was appalling).
It is hard not to have so many carbs, Ive struggled the last couple of weeks as I have other health problems and when Im 'ill' I just give in which is stupid. And 'ordering in' - Im British and I think youre American, we call this a takeaway - is difficult but only if you dont really want to be healthier and change. There are better options on menus, fish/chicken/turkey being better than pork or beef and brown rice/pasta/bread being the better carbs. You shouldnt cut out treats but limit yourself to once a week for ordering in or twice in some special occassions as long as you portion control: give yourself half a plate veggies, quarter protein and a quarter carbs. Then you can have what you like but lower the negative effects. Plus if you know youre going to do this later then have soup for lunch with either a small bit of wholemeal bread or a couple of crackers or on its own. Protein is a source of slow releasing energy - a good alternative to carbs so if youre not having vegetables at lunch then try to make sure you have at least as much protein as carbs or count fruit as part of the meal not the snack and eat a smaller portion of carbs then finish filling up with an apple and some grapes etc. Snack on raw vegetables and if you like, use dips but check the contents (these are simple to make at home but if youre in dorms i dont think theyre like British ones - you just have like a microwave and fridge right?).
I am struggling because my diet was so bad so the ideal would be a radical change but have only been on Met this time for a month so will try harder and do better.
Hope this helps.
Im 22, have tried it at 21 too but didnt actively change my diet as although I wanted weight loss it wasnt that high a priority. This time I am changing and trying to do better - have cut out all fizzy drinks except for one can/glass a week (im proud of this cos its probably 10 years since I went a day without several which is terrible). Have introduced more vegetables (fruit is hard because I have an intolerance to acidic juice and its so sharp after not having it for ages, yes my diet was appalling).
It is hard not to have so many carbs, Ive struggled the last couple of weeks as I have other health problems and when Im 'ill' I just give in which is stupid. And 'ordering in' - Im British and I think youre American, we call this a takeaway - is difficult but only if you dont really want to be healthier and change. There are better options on menus, fish/chicken/turkey being better than pork or beef and brown rice/pasta/bread being the better carbs. You shouldnt cut out treats but limit yourself to once a week for ordering in or twice in some special occassions as long as you portion control: give yourself half a plate veggies, quarter protein and a quarter carbs. Then you can have what you like but lower the negative effects. Plus if you know youre going to do this later then have soup for lunch with either a small bit of wholemeal bread or a couple of crackers or on its own. Protein is a source of slow releasing energy - a good alternative to carbs so if youre not having vegetables at lunch then try to make sure you have at least as much protein as carbs or count fruit as part of the meal not the snack and eat a smaller portion of carbs then finish filling up with an apple and some grapes etc. Snack on raw vegetables and if you like, use dips but check the contents (these are simple to make at home but if youre in dorms i dont think theyre like British ones - you just have like a microwave and fridge right?).
I am struggling because my diet was so bad so the ideal would be a radical change but have only been on Met this time for a month so will try harder and do better.
Hope this helps.
Hi, I am so relieved after reading this forum. I am 19 years old, have been over 200 lbs since I was 12, have had irregular periods since I started puberty, exercise constantly and never drop a pound, and even when I cut my calorie intake in half I gained weight. I have a huge problem with sugar, eating it, not eating it, I am either extremely hyper and on edge or dizzy and out of it. I finally found a doctor that tested the right thing in my blood and immediately suggested Metformin. I was nervous at first, but now I am really excited to start (I get it in 3 days!). I was nervous after reading about the diet you must go on when you start Met. I live in the dorms and eat in the dining hall and order in with my friends. I am afraid I will go carb crazy after depriving myself. Has anyone else my age tried Metformin? Or am I thinking that it will be harder than it actually is?
Thanks,
Jenn
Thanks,
Jenn
It is so frustrating to read how the weight is just "melting off" some folks. I have been on Metformin now for nearly a month, and on natural desicated thyroid for two weeks. I have the energy to exercise again but I haven't lost even an ounce. I eat around 40 or less grams of carbs per day and usually eat few grains if any at all. I'm glad Metformin is helping some folks. I'm going to keep taking it because I have high fasting glucose, which obviously isn't related to my diet given the fact that I never eat sugar or most carbs(I have SIBO so sugar just makes me sick anyway.) But I suppose there is no hope for me to lose this weight?
Hi im new to the forum and from the UK so had no problems getting on Metaformin at an early age but reading your post i am just curious how its going?
Hi the ideal plate should be half veggies, quarter carbs (brown rice, brown pasta, potato (boiled/baked)) and a quarter protein (fish, turkey, chicken) - ive given examples of the lowest calories and best for you. For lunch you could have a salad or baked potato with some protein (tuna, chicken, tofu etc) or soup with brown bread/crackers if you like something extra, eggs are good proteins but higher in cals so maybe every other morning you could have poached or boiled eggs with brown toast/potatoes. Other breakfast suggestions are porridge with low fat milk and maybe honey or fruit, museli is good, if you plan to have bread later try to stay away from bagels, toast or pasteries in the morning. Protein should be something you have as a main feature in your meals as its a slow releasing energy source though be aware pork and beef can be high in calories. Yogurts are good filling snacks (or a part of a meal like with fruit or ceral for breakfast). Another thing I wasnt aware of when changing my diet is its far better to eat a piece of fruit then drink juice as that is high in sugar and calories and you dont get the nuitrients of the flesh. Hope this helps x
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