Helen Jones – Weight Loss & PCOS Client

"I've managed to lose almost 2 stone and the weight is still coming off! I saw a specialist about my PCOS who was extremely impressed (and surprised) with the weight loss I'd achieved and told me how much I was improving my future health!"

PCOS nutrition

"I have been overweight as long as I can remember. In 2008 I was diagnosed with a condition called Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which affects hormone levels in the body and makes you insulin resistant. Being overweight makes insulin resistance worse and this raises levels of insulin even further. High levels of insulin causes weight gain, producing a vicious cycle. The possible long term health risks: are: diabetes, possible infertility, heart disease and high cholesterol. Weight loss helps lessen these risks, but is very difficult. The doctor who diagnosed me told me I would always battle with weight and would find it extremely difficult to lose any. Great!

I spent a few years trying to cut every gram of fat from my diet with the belief that I would surely lose weight this way. I continued to eat a high carb/low fat diet and never lost any weight. I was running a fair bit too, so it baffled me that my weight didn't change. I knew I would struggle because of the PCOS, but I thought I'd at least lose some!

I started 2011 almost the heaviest I'd ever been and I was determined to lose weight. This was also the year I was to do my first Ironman triathlon, so there was even more 'need' to shed the weight. I'd read lots of things about eating a low carbohydrate diet and eating more protein, so I decided to make this my way of eating. I was still a bit confused about where fat fitted in though – all those years of thinking 'fat is bad' had taken their toll. Friends of mine are clients of Mac-Nutrition nutritionists and had told me how amazing they are. My friends were also cutting out excessive carbohydrate, but eating lots of fat. So I began to follow Mac-Nutrition on Twitter, avidly reading the blogs, I joined the online community on facebook and made use of the wealth of information and advice online. This helped me to shape and refine my nutrition plan. I started eating more red meat, cheese and cream and used carbohydrate as part of training recovery. My favourite change was having a glass of unhomogenised whole milk every night before bed. Delicious!

It wasn't long before the weight started to come off. I've managed to lose almost 2 stone and the weight is still coming off! I saw a specialist about my PCOS who was extremely impressed (and surprised) with the weight loss I'd achieved and told me how much I was improving my future health. He sounded surprised with how I'd done it, so of course I mentioned the Mac-Nutrition phiosophy and website – more doctors/professors should be aware of the latest nutrition research, based on SCIENCE, rather than simply relying on the outdated food pyramid.

So I owe Mac-Nutrition a huge debt of gratitude. All the information written with such passion has helped me to fundamentally change the way I eat. Its helped me lose a substantial amount of weight make positive steps in improving my health. Thank you!"

Helen Jones, Leicestershire