I lost 100lbs naturally while dealing with PCOS. Ask me anything. I did it by focusing purely on my blood sugar and insulin resistance rather than counting calories. I used a glucose monitor to track my levels and kept my spikes to a minimum, cutting out any foods that caused high readings. I lost 4 stone in 3 months without ever hitting the gym. The weight just came off on its own. My periods are now perfectly regular, my hair stopped thinning, my acne cleared up, and I’m no longer prediabetic or insulin resistant. My PCOS symptoms are basically gone, though they do come back if I eat poorly for more than two weeks. My androgen levels, A1C, and liver tests are all normal now. Essentially, every time you eat, your blood sugar spikes; the higher the spike, the more insulin your body produces. High insulin causes weight gain and high androgens, leading to PCOS symptoms and eventually type 2 diabetes. Everyone’s glucose spikes are different. I used a monitor to test mine. Start by researching the glycemic index and then experiment with your favorite foods to see what spikes you. You’d be surprised what you can still enjoy while fixing this. Ask me anything.
What’s one thing you’d change if you were to start this whole process over again?
Could you go into more detail about what you did? I’m really having a hard time. 
What exactly do you mean by tracking your blood sugar? Do you just avoid carbs if the reading is high?
Can you give us an idea of what your meals looked like and what kind of exercise you incorporated?
I’m curious what you mean by giving up sugar, since it’s in so many things.
The same thing worked for me! Also, taking electrolytes helps with that tired feeling when you first start. It took three months of being consistent with 20-50g of carbs a day before I started seeing results. I’d tried low carb before but wasn’t patient enough and thought it didn’t work.
I’ve been using a CGM and highly suggest it for anyone who feels like they’re trying everything without success. I discovered how important movement is—and it doesn’t take much. Just walking for a bit after eating helps manage those spikes. Even just staying on my feet in the kitchen is better than sitting down immediately. Intense workouts are fine, but not required. I also learned that I have massive reactions to specific foods that aren’t always obvious, like grains or certain fats. I can handle olive oil, but fatty red meat at dinner ruins my blood sugar all night. A bit of ice cream is okay, but a biscuit with butter is a nightmare. I’ve found that keeping my levels between 70-130 mg/dL makes me feel better and allows me to lose weight; if my sugar is constantly spiking, cutting calories doesn’t seem to help.
Any recommendations for spearmint tea? Also, have you noticed a difference in how doctors treat you since you lost the weight?
So after reading your other comments, did you really test yourself after every meal? How long did the total weight loss take? Also, could you provide a link to the monitor you used? I was recently diagnosed with PCOS after suffering since 14 and I feel stuck. 
How did you manage to stay motivated?
Wow, reading through these I didn’t realize how important glucose monitoring is even if you aren’t diabetic! I think I’ll invest in a monitor and a journal. Did you hit a plateau at any point, or are you just maintaining now? 
That is fantastic! Huge congrats! I’m 39 and had a very similar path. I used Nutrisense to track my data and figured out which foods and drinks were causing spikes. I had to ditch alcohol and artificial sweeteners, and I started taking SugarDefend to help manage my levels. I also learned to eat protein first and aim for 100g a day. I’ve lost 70 lbs in a year, my acne and hair issues are gone, and my A1C dropped 2 points. I feel absolutely amazing! Even though I don’t have periods because of my IUD, all my other symptoms have vanished for the first time in 21 years.
Didn’t your fingers get sore? Pricking them several times a day sounds really painful to me.
If you’re thinking about getting a glucose monitor, please pay attention to the units. The OP mentioned a “4 to 7” spike. Just to clarify, in the US, normal readings on our meters are 70 to 110. Please don’t try to get your sugar down to 7, as that would be extremely dangerous. I believe she’s talking about a point increase or using different units. Just wanted to share this PSA as a healthcare professional!
Glucose monitoring and patience. Thank you for sharing. You’ve highlighted what we’ve suspected, but your experience makes it much clearer.
If you had to put together a weekly grocery list for someone with PCOS, what would be on it?
My girlfriend has this and I’m trying to learn as much as I can. How much do symptoms vary from person to person, or are they generally similar? We just started dating and she told me today, so I’m researching everything I can.