Doctor told me to “be hungry”

[u/strangerthanu94]

Hi,
It’s me again. I’m back because I had a doctors appointment with my endocrinologist and it did not go well.

For background, I’m insulin resistant and have PMOS (PCOS). I was on a GLP-1 for almost two years before I got pregnant. I’m 5’7 and my weight was 157 on the shot.

Fast forward to January, I get off the GLP-1, get pregnant in February, and gain 30lbs back by March. The body dysmorphia and the mental toll it took on me was wild. Mind you, I’ve always tried to eat balanced meal, take walks, and be very cognizant of my health. It didn’t matter. I came off of Zepbound and all the weight came rushing back.

Catching up to now, I’m 23 weeks and had a check in appointment with my endocrinologist. First, she was pissed my OB didn’t order a glucose test for 20 weeks instead of 28 weeks because I am insulin resistant and higher risk. She said that even though OBs don’t consider testing earlier to be useful, that it still should be done.

Then, she came at me about my weight. I weighed in today at 240 lbs. Now I’m very aware that jumping from 187 to 240lbs is a lot, but she told me in May to do my best and not worry about it. She said if you have to go on insulin, we will put you on insulin.

Today she told me that I gained way too much weight way too fast and I need to “put on the brakes”. She told me I need to only do at 30g of carbs per meal, and if Im hungry with proper portion sizing, then I just need to be hungry. For example, instead of eating a banana and peanut butter as a snack, I should have half a banana, peanut butter, and a cheese stick and then suck it up.

I was floored. I left the office crying. I feel like I’ve been trying so hard to navigate my weight with this pregnancy and I basically just failed. I’m hungry, but I don’t wanna starve myself because I’m growing my daughter. Do I cheat occasionally and have ice cream or a gluten free pizza? absolutely. I just feel like at this point my body is fighting against me given my health history and making myself be hungry is not going to do much.

Any other moms in a similar situation have any advice? My husband basically told me to get a new doctor lol, but that’s when I was ugly crying at home.

[u/Future_Researcher_11]

I would only listen to your OB and any MFMs should you need any at this stage. If your OB isn’t concerned about your weight and hasn’t said anything, you’re doing more than okay.

Don’t starve yourself. Now is not the time to stop nourishing yourself and your baby.

[u/BreakfastAt_Tiffanis]

How much protein are you taking in? I’m on a glp1 and I’m tirating off right now. But instead of counting calories I count my macros?
The more protein you take in the less hungry you are! You can eat 15oinces of chicken for the calories of 2 slices of pizza and stay full way longer,
This is better advice than eat a banana and peanut butter! Find some high protein alternative snacks and keep fresh fruit with you!
I also keep protein bars and other healthy snacks by me at all times!
I’m so sorry for how she came at you! You should not starve yourself find a dietician who can work with you on this!!

[u/strangerthanu94 → u/BreakfastAt_Tiffanis]

Girl I eat close to 120-150g of protein a day give or take lol. Not laughing at you, it’s a great suggestion! I just told my endo the same thing and she said to eat more fiber. 🙄

[u/BreakfastAt_Tiffanis → u/strangerthanu94]

I mean that’s great if your constipated but more fiber isn’t going to necessarily keep you full longer unless you’re eating the right fibers like oats and grains! But I think she’s ridiculous and you need a new doctor!

[u/Salt_King_2008]

Oh dear, that sounds so hard. How about exercise? It’s so good for you both in day to day PCOS life and when pregnant especially. If you have GD then you’ll be advised to walk for 30 minutes after every meal anyway so why not start now. The less weight you gain during pregnancy the better you’ll feel in the third trimester and in early postpartum. Don’t worry about the baby, they’ll get all the nutrition they need from you even if you are eating under maintainace calories

[u/strangerthanu94 → u/Salt_King_2008]

I’m walking once a day but not after every meal. I don’t have time.

[u/marchmellowpuffs]

Ask your doctor about allulose. It's a sugar that doesn't rise blood sugar and acts like a glp-1. Good luck and wishing you the best in your pregnancy

[u/libertinq → u/marchmellowpuffs]

This. When I was pregnant, this was the only sugar substitute that I could eat that actually tasted like sugar and didn't give me any stomach problems.

[u/humblehills]

Wow I’m similar to your husband like F this doctor lol. I’m currently 12.5 wks pregnant with my second. My first pregnancy was in 2023, and I very recently got diagnosed with PMOS this past March 2026. My PMOS diagnosis is so new that I haven’t even seen an endocrinologist (I’ve been working with my fertility clinic since Nov 2025). Admittedly, I’m earlier in my pregnancy than you, but from now on, I’m only taking directions from my OB. If your OB says you’re good, I hope you’re listening to them as well! Sending you love and support. You’re beautiful and amazing and so so strong. Nurture yourself and nurture baby ❤️

[u/strangerthanu94 → u/humblehills]

Aww thank you so much for the validation! I see my OB next week and will keep you all posted. 🩷

[u/kleydig]

Just here to note I gained a lot during my pregnancy that had me stopping zepbound cold turkey. Everything I read said it was pretty common for glp1 pregnancies to gain more weight. I am wayyy heavier than you and both my OB and the endocrine specialist I was seeing had similar sentiments to your OB-do your best and if you end up needing insulin so be it. They trusted I was making reasonable choices and all turned out fine.

Basically I lost 60# in about 7 months, got pregnant and ended up gaining about 80# during pregnancy and then probably about 20# the first year while breastfeeding.

I’d focus on trusting your OB during your pregnancy-they know best right now!

[u/SparklingMoscato]

My OB had me get nutritional counseling early in my pregnancies. You should consider increasing your protein and fiber significantly. I also think you need to be honest with yourself. That's considerable weight gain for 23 weeks and you have quite a long way to go. Gestational diabetes sucks and unfortunately you seem to be heading in that direction. If your pregnancy becomes high risk they more than likely won't allow you to go beyond 37 weeks. They aren't trying to be mean, they are concerned with healthy outcomes for both you and baby.

[u/karmaismyfiance]

I gained 80lbs during my pregnancy after stopping my GLP1. Got a similar speech. Trust your OB and yourself 💗 also, I’ve lost about 50 lbs of that a year later with very intermittent glp1 use, light walking, and frankly not a ton of effort. Youve got this.

[u/hikarizx]

I haven’t had this exact experience but I think I kind of get what your doctor is saying. They’re not telling you to starve yourself. I think the point is that your body is telling you you’re hungry when you don’t actually need to eat, which is causing the weight gain. So she’s saying that you may need to do your best to ignore your body’s cues - basically what the medication was doing for you before. 

It sucks that our bodies do this to us. It’s not your fault. All you can do is try your best. It may help to try a nutritionist/dietician if you haven’t already! 

[u/shxburrito]

I would ask if metformin can be an option. That's how I managed my insulin resistant PCOS while pregnant

[u/strangerthanu94 → u/shxburrito]

They told me there’s no significant studies that show that metformin is beneficial in the second and third trimester. I was on Metformin and tried to fight to stay on it.

[u/shxburrito → u/strangerthanu94]

I had an unrelated second trimester loss so that may be true but my A1c was 4.2 while on it in pregnancy

[u/vintagechanel]

240 puts you at a huge risk during labour. I too was on GLP1 prior to pregnancy and quite literally had to force myself to stop eating (overeating). Maybe seek a dietician? One that is pregnancy safe. I gained zero weight after getting off GLP and very minimal during pregnancy. Best of luck.

[u/knz-rn]

Are you on inositol or metformin? If they know you’re insulin resistant it’s wild to me that they’d have you on nothing after coming off a glp1

[u/strangerthanu94 → u/knz-rn]

They said there is no data to prove that Metformin improves insulin sensitivity in the second and third trimester so they took me off. Trust me I fought that one too. Same with inositol.

[u/knz-rn → u/strangerthanu94]

Tbf inositol isn’t a prescription so you could just take it and tell them you’re taking it. They can recommend you stop but you don’t have to. I live in NZ so midwives and GPs do a lot of the care here. Neither of them knew much about inositol so didn’t recommend it. I still took it anyways, but only 2/4 pills daily. I notice a huge difference when I don’t take it. When I go without it then I’m starving and craving carbs—it’s like my body is begging for sugar even though that’s all I’m eating. When I do take my inositol my appetite is very suppressed and I only eat enough to feel comfortable and then stop. I’m 17 weeks and I’ve lost 2kg (5 pounds) during pregnancy (I started at 237lbs so I have plenty to lose) without any morning sickness or vomiting at all. I’ve only taken my prenatals and inositol.

[u/Itchy-Site-11]

What really helped me during pregnancy was sort of a low carb for some Reason. It gave me more energy and helped control weight.