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Have PCOS And Overweight. Suggest Diet And Measures To Overcome This Problem?

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Posted on Tue, 6 Aug 2013
Question: Hi

I am not able to manage my problem of PCO-Poly cystic ovarian.

I am not able to manage my weight please suggest best vegeterian diet plan and excercise regime.

I have plans to get married in near future please suggest best possible way out to avoid medications.
doctor
Answered by Meenakshi Attrey (13 hours later)
Hi XXXXXXX

Thank You for posting the query.

High body weight is often associated with the condition of PCOD. PCOD, as you would know is the result of hormonal imbalance. The increase in weight is also partly associated with this imbalance in the hormone levels. By reducing weight you can correct the symptoms to a certain extent. But at the same time, losing weight with PCOD would not be easy if the diet and physical activities are not taken seriously.
Your BMI, as per the given height and weight is 29.4 Kg/m2. The average healthy weight loss for a month is maximum 4 Kg. therefore your aim should be to reduce approximately 14 – 18 Kg. in next 34 – 36 weeks.
It’s advisable that you keep patience and allow your body to adjust to the changes so that the weight loss is permanent and non-reversible, without causing any kind of deficiencies.

To help overcome the problem of weight. You may consider the following guidelines:

•     Reduce the total calorie intake: pay attention to the complex and insoluble fibers (found in whole grains, fruits and vegetables). Theses do not provide any calories but add bulk to the diet, making you feel full while consuming lesser calories. Including the simple carbohydrates like sugar, juices, ice-cream etc. would increase the total calorie intake hence adding extra kilograms to your weight.
•     Prefer the unsaturated fats, like vegetable oils and its preparations. The saturated fats have a higher calorific value and are not good for the heart also. Thus, you are required to completely avoid pure ghee, cream, full cream milk, processed cheese, butter, margarine etc.
•     Avoid the full cream dairy products like cream, white butter and also the full cream milk. Low fat dairy should be preferred and if possible include the soy milk and its products in your diet.
•     Include a variety vegetables in the daily diet. The fiber XXXXXXX vegetables like, spinach, cauliflower, cabbage, beetroot etc. should be regularly taken. Fruits are also equally important, but avoid the carbohydrate XXXXXXX fruits like Mango, Banana, Grapes, Custard XXXXXXX Sapota, Custard XXXXXXX Avocado and Watermelon. These fruits add more calories to the diet.
•     Increase the fluid intake. Consuming approximately 2.5 to 3 liter of water every day would help you manage the weight. You may include fluids like sugarless lemon juice, tender coconut water, fresh soups and green tea. Green tea is XXXXXXX in antioxidants which improves metabolism.
•     Limit the intake of caffeine. Excess of tea and coffee are not advisable. Exchange these drinks with the healthier drinks like soup and barley water. Avoid the carbonated beverages.
•     Too much refined foods like refined flour and strained fruit juices lack the essential fiber and are XXXXXXX in calories. These foods are not allowed while aiming at weight loss. Make sure that you include rice only once in a day, preferably for lunch.
•     Including the foods like whole grains, beans, pulses, chickpea, and kidney beans is advisable as these are XXXXXXX in proteins. Getting the proteins from plant sources is advisable.
•     Being a vegetarian, you should make sure that your protein requirements are sufficiently met. For achieving this, include at least 2 portions of the protein XXXXXXX foods in your diet.
•     It’s advisable that you also keep a check on the foods that contain additives and preservatives. Reduce the consumption of packed savories and other foods like cookies and bakery items.
•     Never skip meals. Rather have small and frequent meals. Emphasize on the breakfast, never skip it and aim at a light dinner. You may include a glass of skimmed buttermilk to your dinner. And make sure that your meals have plenty of salads and whole grains.

Here is your sample plan:

Early Morning:
Green tea (sugar less) – 1 glass

Breakfast: Non fried preparations like:
Whole wheat bread without butter – 2 slices
Vegetable poha/ Dalia/ Sevian/ upma - 1 cup
Idli 2pc. With Sāmbhar – 1 cup
Cornflakes with skimmed milk (less sugar) – 1 cup
Stuffed chapatti (2 no.) with dry vegetable – 1 katori

Mid-Morning:
Fruits (avoid the carbohydrate XXXXXXX fruits like mango, sapota, grapes, banana, custard XXXXXXX and watermelon also avoid fruit juices and fruit milk shakes).

Lunch:
2 chapatti + sabji 1 katori + boiled brown rice ½ katori + dal – 1 katori + salad 1 katori + 1 glass thin butter milk or 1 katori skimmed curd.
Evening Snacks:

Tea / Coffee (less or no sugar) + high fiber bis. OR Sprouts / roasted channa 1 katori

Dinner:
2 chapatti + vegetable 1 katori + skimmed buttermilk 1 glass + salad 1 katori.

Make healthy lifestyle changes, apart from diet a balanced physical activity routine also helps you in achieving the weight loss target. Brisk walk for 45 minutes at least 5 times a week gives good weight loss results. Other forms of activities like playing badminton or swimming are also effective. Focus on the localized body fat, especially around the waist and thigh. Try sit-ups, squats and abdominal crunches to shed the localized fat. Practice deep breathing exercises to boost the metabolism

Hope this would help.

Meenakhsi

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Shanthi.E
doctor
Answered by
Meenakshi
Meenakshi Attrey

Dietitian & Nutritionist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 228 Questions

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Have PCOS And Overweight. Suggest Diet And Measures To Overcome This Problem?

Hi XXXXXXX

Thank You for posting the query.

High body weight is often associated with the condition of PCOD. PCOD, as you would know is the result of hormonal imbalance. The increase in weight is also partly associated with this imbalance in the hormone levels. By reducing weight you can correct the symptoms to a certain extent. But at the same time, losing weight with PCOD would not be easy if the diet and physical activities are not taken seriously.
Your BMI, as per the given height and weight is 29.4 Kg/m2. The average healthy weight loss for a month is maximum 4 Kg. therefore your aim should be to reduce approximately 14 – 18 Kg. in next 34 – 36 weeks.
It’s advisable that you keep patience and allow your body to adjust to the changes so that the weight loss is permanent and non-reversible, without causing any kind of deficiencies.

To help overcome the problem of weight. You may consider the following guidelines:

•     Reduce the total calorie intake: pay attention to the complex and insoluble fibers (found in whole grains, fruits and vegetables). Theses do not provide any calories but add bulk to the diet, making you feel full while consuming lesser calories. Including the simple carbohydrates like sugar, juices, ice-cream etc. would increase the total calorie intake hence adding extra kilograms to your weight.
•     Prefer the unsaturated fats, like vegetable oils and its preparations. The saturated fats have a higher calorific value and are not good for the heart also. Thus, you are required to completely avoid pure ghee, cream, full cream milk, processed cheese, butter, margarine etc.
•     Avoid the full cream dairy products like cream, white butter and also the full cream milk. Low fat dairy should be preferred and if possible include the soy milk and its products in your diet.
•     Include a variety vegetables in the daily diet. The fiber XXXXXXX vegetables like, spinach, cauliflower, cabbage, beetroot etc. should be regularly taken. Fruits are also equally important, but avoid the carbohydrate XXXXXXX fruits like Mango, Banana, Grapes, Custard XXXXXXX Sapota, Custard XXXXXXX Avocado and Watermelon. These fruits add more calories to the diet.
•     Increase the fluid intake. Consuming approximately 2.5 to 3 liter of water every day would help you manage the weight. You may include fluids like sugarless lemon juice, tender coconut water, fresh soups and green tea. Green tea is XXXXXXX in antioxidants which improves metabolism.
•     Limit the intake of caffeine. Excess of tea and coffee are not advisable. Exchange these drinks with the healthier drinks like soup and barley water. Avoid the carbonated beverages.
•     Too much refined foods like refined flour and strained fruit juices lack the essential fiber and are XXXXXXX in calories. These foods are not allowed while aiming at weight loss. Make sure that you include rice only once in a day, preferably for lunch.
•     Including the foods like whole grains, beans, pulses, chickpea, and kidney beans is advisable as these are XXXXXXX in proteins. Getting the proteins from plant sources is advisable.
•     Being a vegetarian, you should make sure that your protein requirements are sufficiently met. For achieving this, include at least 2 portions of the protein XXXXXXX foods in your diet.
•     It’s advisable that you also keep a check on the foods that contain additives and preservatives. Reduce the consumption of packed savories and other foods like cookies and bakery items.
•     Never skip meals. Rather have small and frequent meals. Emphasize on the breakfast, never skip it and aim at a light dinner. You may include a glass of skimmed buttermilk to your dinner. And make sure that your meals have plenty of salads and whole grains.

Here is your sample plan:

Early Morning:
Green tea (sugar less) – 1 glass

Breakfast: Non fried preparations like:
Whole wheat bread without butter – 2 slices
Vegetable poha/ Dalia/ Sevian/ upma - 1 cup
Idli 2pc. With Sāmbhar – 1 cup
Cornflakes with skimmed milk (less sugar) – 1 cup
Stuffed chapatti (2 no.) with dry vegetable – 1 katori

Mid-Morning:
Fruits (avoid the carbohydrate XXXXXXX fruits like mango, sapota, grapes, banana, custard XXXXXXX and watermelon also avoid fruit juices and fruit milk shakes).

Lunch:
2 chapatti + sabji 1 katori + boiled brown rice ½ katori + dal – 1 katori + salad 1 katori + 1 glass thin butter milk or 1 katori skimmed curd.
Evening Snacks:

Tea / Coffee (less or no sugar) + high fiber bis. OR Sprouts / roasted channa 1 katori

Dinner:
2 chapatti + vegetable 1 katori + skimmed buttermilk 1 glass + salad 1 katori.

Make healthy lifestyle changes, apart from diet a balanced physical activity routine also helps you in achieving the weight loss target. Brisk walk for 45 minutes at least 5 times a week gives good weight loss results. Other forms of activities like playing badminton or swimming are also effective. Focus on the localized body fat, especially around the waist and thigh. Try sit-ups, squats and abdominal crunches to shed the localized fat. Practice deep breathing exercises to boost the metabolism

Hope this would help.

Meenakhsi