I have had indicators of PCOS since puberty, which was several decades ago. I have gained weight steadily ever since. In a recent Dr visit, an ultrasound showed my ovaries enlarged - and that, along with the fact that I have every-single-symptom (significant weight gain, male pattern weight gain, thinning hair, acne, skin tags, hirsutism, infertility - I know, sexy) of PCOS made me realize that I didn't just suspect I had it, but I actually have it and it needs to be managed.

Not everyone's body is the same. People handle foods differently. It is very discouraging for people to just tell you to eat less and move more - when that repeatedly fails. I read an article that described women with PCOS as having significantly fewer receptors for insulin at the cellular level than typical individuals. That means every carb I eat will most likely end up as fat, whereas in a typical person it would be burned for energy.

So I am trying medication and significant changes in my diet. I read that 90-95% of people who lose significant amounts of weight put it right back on, with additional weight gain. That made me want to stand in front of a bus. It said the main indicator for success was slow weight loss. 1-2 pounds a week. That's painstaking.

It's hard to stay motivated at a pound per week. But I want to be attractive for my new husband. I want to avoid becoming diabetic. I want to be healthy for my daughter, and for me. I want this to be long term.

All I really want is for my weight and my dress size to start with 1.