Episode #11: How to Lose Weight With PCOS
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure and privacy policy.
Let me guess, your doctor probably recommended weight loss, but didn’t offer any help on how to actually lose and keep off the weight?
Your doctor is correct that women who lose weight see amazing improvements in their PCOS symptoms but there is a missing link that often keeps women with PCOS from being able to lose the weight.
There is a secret and missing link between struggling to lose weight and long-term success which is exactly what we will be talking about in this episode!
You shouldn’t need a medical degree to understand how your body works!
I have my master’s in Physician Assistant Sciences. I am licensed to diagnose and treat patients and I have treated many patients with PCOS and I also used to think weight loss was a mystery. Since then I discovered the missing link and have assisted hundreds of women in following a lifestyle that helps them lose weight and reverse their PCOS.
This is why I am so excited about this episode so let’s dive in!
Unlike your doctor, I’m not going to tell you that you need to lose weight….
Weight loss isn’t the way to treat PCOS! I go into that in great detail during the episode. But if you want to lose weight I don’t want it to be a mystery for you. But make sure you are doing this for YOU because it is something you want. Otherwise, leave the shoulds behind and enjoy life on your terms.
The PCOS Weight Loss Formula
The way to lose weight is math, right? Eat less calories than you burn and every time that adds up to a pound of fat then you will lose a pound right?
WRONG!
Weight loss all starts by understanding the body fat, PCOS, and hormone connection.
These three things, your genetics, hormones, and body composition play off each other. And if you try to isolate just one such as body fat then while it might work in the short term you will ultimately gain the weight back and probably more.
PCOS Weight Loss Starts with Your Root Cause.
You can take the PCOS root cause quiz to learn more about your current primary root cause here. It is the best place to learn how to balance your hormones. Then follow the weight loss formula discussed in this episode and you’ll be good to go, my friend!
Here’s a glance at this episode…
[00:07]
Let me guess. Your doctor probably recommended weight loss for your PCOS, but didn’t actually tell you how to lose weight and keep it off because I know you’ve tried and it hasn’t worked. Your doctor is correct that women who lose weight have amazing improvement in their PCOS, but there is a missing link to why it’s not working. And that is exactly what we will be discussing in today’s episode of the PCOS Repair Podcast.
[02:34]
I don’t think that you should need a medical degree in order to understand how your body works. And that is why I am so excited about today’s episode.
Women are often telling me that they need to lose weight, or some say that they don’t need to lose weight, they just need to fix their PCOS. Both of these groups of women share a number on the scale to justify the fact that they do or do not need to lose weight.
[05:02]
The way to lose weight is all about the math, right? I mean, eat less calories than you burn, and every time that you eat enough less calories to equal a pound of fat, you’ll lose a pound, right? Wrong.
[06:22]
The best place to start is to take the PCOS root cause quiz because it’s going to help you know where to focus on those couple of things I just mentioned: rebalancing sugar, inflammation, stressing, etc.
[07:30]
Our weight loss philosophy that we want to approach PCOS with is that
- you do it if you want it. You can focus on PCOS hormone health without having the concern of weight loss.
- It’s a lifestyle, not a diet. So we aren’t going on some fad diet or some huge restriction diet. We’re focusing on a healthy lifestyle that isn’t perfect, that’s nonrestrictive, that we do the best that we can at. We get better and better over time. It’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle.
- Forget the perfect.
- We have to lose the weight in our mind before we can lose the weight on the scale.
[11:08]
It really all starts with understanding our current primary root cause, what is our body currently struggling with and what is leading to hormone imbalance in our body. So the first step is to take that PCOS root cause quiz and then begin to address the lifestyle accordingly.
[12:28]
Trying to lose weight as a treatment plan for PCOS is both fruitless and a frustrating endeavor because weight struggles are a symptom of hormone imbalance.
And while it does worsen the downward spiral of PCOS, trying to force that weight loss and starving yourself will only hurt your hormone balance.
Resources & References Mentioned in this episode
Episode #4: PCOS Lifestyle Medicine
Take the PCOS Root cause quiz to learn what your body needs to heal
Results are not guaranteed. Please see Medical Disclaimer for more detail.
Similar Podcasts You Will Enjoy
Episode #178: Why PCOS Symptoms Aren’t Random (And What They’re Actually Telling You)
In this eye-opening episode of the PCOS Repair Podcast, you’ll discover how to reframe the frustrating symptoms of PCOS, irregular cycles, fatigue, inflammation, and more, as valuable messages from your body, not random or broken disruptions. If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but still not seeing results, this conversation will help you make sense of those patterns. By diving into the hormonal communication network behind your symptoms, including insulin, cortisol, and reproductive hormones, you’ll learn how to decode what your body is truly asking for. You’ll explore why common “healthy” strategies like calorie cutting or intense workouts can actually backfire, and how to shift toward a healing path that supports your unique root causes.
Episode #177: Diet vs. Lifestyle: The Real Key to Long-Term PCOS Health
If you’ve ever felt stuck in the cycle of PCOS diets, cutting carbs, counting calories, or chasing the latest “PCOS-friendly” meal plan, this episode is your chance to step back and breathe. In this episode of the PCOS Repair Podcast, you’ll discover why food alone can’t solve your hormone imbalances and what it really takes to create lasting change. This episode breaks down the limitations of diet-only approaches and invites you to embrace a root-cause lifestyle that supports your whole body. From identifying hidden hormonal triggers to creating small, sustainable daily habits, this episode will help you shift out of diet mode and into a lifestyle that heals and empowers. If you’re ready to stop starting over every Monday and instead build rhythms that actually support your PCOS healing, this one’s for you.
Episode #176: Folate & PCOS: Not All Forms Are Equal
In this supplement spotlight, you’ll discover the powerful role folate plays in hormone balance, ovulation, mood, and pregnancy, and why not all forms of folate are created equal. From supporting methylation and reducing inflammation to improving egg quality and fetal development, folate is one of the most important nutrients for women with PCOS. But here’s the kicker: many common supplements contain folic acid, a form your body may not be able to use, especially if you have the common MTHFR gene mutation.
PCOS FERTILITY MEAL GUIDE
What I changed to finally get pregnant after almost 2 years of trying.
What the heck to eat to boost PCOS fertility
It’s not a one size fits all
Sample Meal Plan Included
Plan and Prep Guide Included
Go beyond diet & nourish your hormones to boost fertility
I share the steps I followed in this FREE MEAL GUIDE.
About the Show
Welcome to The PCOS Repair Podcast!
I’m Ashlene Korcek, and each week I’ll be sharing the latest findings on PCOS and how to make practical health changes to your lifestyle to repair your PCOS at the root cause.
If you’re struggling with PCOS, know that you’re not alone. In fact, it’s estimated that one in ten women have PCOS. But the good news is that there is a lot we can do to manage our symptoms and live healthy, happy lives.
So whether you’re looking for tips on nutrition, exercise, supplements, or mental health, you’ll find it all here on The PCOS Repair Podcast. Ready to get started? Hit subscribe now
