I never thought I would, I've been a vegetarian for six years now... but here I am, questioning it.
Not the beliefs behind it, or my dislike for the taste of meat, but rather how it may be affecting my body... or rather my fertility.
I feel that I am enabling my PCOS. I eat more carbs than I should be, in order to compensate for my protein deficiency. I eat an excess amount of soy products sometimes in order to compensate for my protein deficiency as well. While the verdict is out on how soy affects fertility, if at all, do I really want to risk it? Also, I barely get enough protein some days... and on other days, I don't get enough at all. What could a protein deficiency be doing to me? Also, I am very deficient in my fat intake. Odd, I know. But I never, ever, get enough daily fat consumption. That can't be good, right?
Since I have been a vegetarian I have gained at least 80 pounds.
I was losing and maintaining a decent weight when I ate a diet consisting of primarily vegtables with very little white meat. I also got periods every few months... and as my vegetarian diet continued and the weight started piling on, I stopped having periods all together.
As much as I abhor the idea of eating meat again... I have begun to really consider it.
I do not have the ability to create an edible vegetarian diet with all the nutrients that I need. Yes, I have lived this far... but how has it been affecting me? Is it making things worse?
I don't know what to think or do. I am going to talk to both my doctors about it, but I doubt I will get any real insight. Vegetarians get pregnant and carry just fine all the time... I know this. But I worry, especially in conjunction with my PCOS, about it's affects on me specifically.
I don't know if this makes any sense...
I don't want to question my beliefs... and I feel like I'm grasping at straws here.
But, I really can not help but wonder.
Even my wonderful fellow vegetarian husband has begun questioning our current diet with me.
He does not want to change it either, but feels that if it would help, that we should go for it.
I guess I'll just see what the doctor says, and keep soul searching.
9 comments:
That's a really tough situation to be in. PCOS can be a tough b*tch to manage and it really can react badly to a high carb diet. Also, as someone who has PCOS, it makes you much more insulin resistant and a high carb diet is not what one recommends when dealing with insulin resistance. I know it sounds weird, but given that you have PCOS with its insulin resistance, you could ask your doc to give you a referral to a dietician who specializes in diabetes. I know the diseases aren't the same but the insulin resistance is and a dietician might be able to help you work out a vegetarian diet that is more PCOS friendly.
Sorry if this comes across as assivice. I just don't like it when I see my friends hurting.
The referral sounds like a good idea. A dietician can help you work through it (many know about PCOS too) without intaking meat, perhaps.
I am personally steering clear of Soy. Sure it's inclusive how it affects IF, but I don't want to mess with it. (and boy there's a lot of food with soy in it)
xo
Yes, my vegetarianism also led me to some scary metabolic places. I can no longer do it; I just would feel awful and be eating nonstop (not to mention the weight).
I'm sorry you're having to deal with this.
Also, I don't mean to offer assvice as I don't have PCOS, but it involves cysts, right? Just asking because I used to take a supplement that contained a large amount of soy. I told my RE about it when we first started treating, and she said it was fine. Well, after several cycles and softball sized cysts that wouldn't go away, I did a bunch of research on soy and took it upon myself to stop the supplements, and the cysts resolved themselves. I'm sure it was just a coincidence, and I'm sure PCOS is a different beast altogether! but I thought I'd share.
I'm proud of you for going back to the drawing table on this, even though I know it must be hard to do so.
It's a very interesting question and I would say discuss it with the doctors and then perhaps spend a few months eating meat and see what comes of it. If nothing changes then at least you know it's not a problem and you can go back to your normal diet if it does change then at least you know.
This is interesting and I am curious to see what advice your doctor will give you. I never thought about it before.
I'm sorry. I think Kristin has some good advice to see a dietician. I know there are probably options out there where you could maintain a vegetarian diet and get the appropriate amounts of nutrients/protien/fat. Good luck, my friend. I am rooting for you.
I have no advice I'm afraid. I'm sorry you are having to consider this option. I will tell you that I can't eat soy. It messes my hormones up big time. It's just horrible for me. But I know a lot of people swear by it. I think you are right in that you have to look into what is right for your body. We all react in different ways to the same exact things.
I went back to meat and as much as I HATE it, it is working. My weight is dropping steadily and my period comes more or less on time.
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