I don't want to get too far off from the OP's question. Everyone has a unique body so what works for one person may not work for another. Some people get super into counting calories, those being consumed and those burned (though, interestingly, rarely those going out), and that's great if it's working for them. Other's, like myself, don't count anything and eat as much as they want of high quality, whole foods and have stable appropriate weights. Before anyone jumps on genetics as a reason, yes genetics can affect a person's tendencies but possibly a lot less than people think. For myself, my older blood relatives are almost all overweight/obese/diabetic. Plus there is mounting evidence that epigenetics plays a huge role in metabolic processes. What one eats, and other lifestyle factors, determines what genes are switched on or off and thus what one's genetic expression is.
I wanted to post my advice because it is contrary to a lot of what people are told and it's important that people know that there are a multiple schools of thought (and thanks to AnanonymousGuy for doing the same). For the OP, I would advise not repeating what hasn't worked in the past and try something new. There's no better choice you can make in life than to invest in your health and support your loved ones in doing the same.
Now because I know my advice may sound somewhat odd I want to respond to some of the criticisms, hopefully without anyone feeling attacked or offended. My views are based on the best research I have come across, if anyone has views that differ it doesn't mean that we need to frame things as right/wrong. The human body is incredibly complex and there is so much we still do not know. The truth may ultimately incorporate a lot of people's different views but explain the contexts under which they are true.
Actually, I find that organic vegetables do have calorie burning qualities, and it's not magic, it's just chemistry. Many people in the US don't eat enough vegetables (though to be fair, vegetables are also largely grown in nutrient depleted soils) and thus are deprived of several nutrients needed to metabolize the rest of the food they're eating. Diets high in refined foods tend to deplete magnesium and chromium, among others. Both of these minerals are critical in processing sugars/carbohydrates. Lack of magnesium has been shown to increase insulin resistance; supplementing with magnesium has been shown to increase insulin sensitivity. Thus a diet high in magnesium rich vegetables (like leafy greens) given to a depleted individual will facilitate more glucose moving into the cells and being used for energy instead of being converted into fat (ie, increased metabolism).
Salmon and avocados are both great foods to be eating. So is the much-maligned butter. By eating butter from pasture-raised, hormone-free, antibiotic-free cows you get: all of the fat soluble vitamins (A, D3, E, K1, K2), healthy fats (lauric acid, conjugated linoleic acid, omega-3's, medium-chain triglycerides), and some minerals.
We are absolutely in agreement that society focuses on treating symptoms and not the root of the problem. But then how does one know if the root is physiological or psychological (assuming those are even a useful distinction for treatment)? You might be surprised how many psychological demons (for example, bulimia and other obsessive food thoughts) can be vanquished with some 5-HTP.
Which brings me back to my original point. In this country people overwhelmingly believe that people are fat because they're lazy when in reality they may be lazy because they're fat. For the OP, it sounds like his wife has a brain that's in a starvation state thus putting on excessive weight from meals and not being interested in exercise. Also, based on the symptoms provided I suspect his wife has chronically low serotonin levels. I would predict for this individual that calorie restriction will be problematic, as will getting her to exercise more than just a little bit. But no one has to take my word for it...
Anyway, now I'm off to the gym. My apologies for the lengthy post.
Leafy greens are so important. The first thing I thought of when reading the OP is green juice. I am a little restrictive about my fats though, no butter for me
I have PSOS. If I eat anything out of the specific foods I am used to, I either get sick or bloated. I know what it's like to gain seven in a week while having a crazy period and to lose most of it days later
OP, there is a lot in this thread that worked for me, like eating whole foods, somewhat paleo, avoiding gluten, calorie counting, and exercising. I tried losing on my own for a while but nothing worked, not even the above mentioned tools. I read about Blueprint Cleanse and thought at that point, I had nothing to lose. I did it the first time in July. Three days before starting, weaned myself to vegan to prepare for the cleanse, it arrived the day before starting, the evening of the last day had a colonic, and after the cleanse slowly introduced foods within my health plan over the days after. The result was the easiest period of my life as in no pain or misery, my skin was clearer, I had zero cravings for caffeine, no interest in carbs, sweetener tasted too sweet after, my palate was reset, and I lost ten pounds that week, it stayed off. After the cleanse it was easy to lose weight. I continue to do the cleanse monthly, usually order when they have promos. It sounds expensive with the cleanse plus colonic but it works. There are always naysayers about Blueprint Cleanse saying you can juice at home yourself but they pack twenty pounds of hydraulic pressed organic produce into each day of juices
I still drink green juice between the cleanse. I use some food combining rules when eating, especially- fruit alone or not at all and in the am only(helps digestion). My calories are about 1400 - 1450 a day. Working to alkalize my system so it is more efficient. Everything I consume has a purpose and the OP's partner has PCOS, she is going to have to be as conscious about her intake as anyone else trying to balance their weight while dealing with the extra nonsense
This is what I have, you can show her to have an idea- cup of hot water with lemon first thing in the am; about a half hour later have a shot of apple cider vinegar(the organic kind with clouds) in a glass of water because it is harsh alone, take my vitamins(B12, viviscal, multi for women, and a couple others but none repeat ingredients), also have an apple at this time; couple hours later have McCann's oatmeal(one of the few gluten free) with Blue Diamond unsweetened almond milk(no GMOs like Silk), a hard boiled grain fed cage free egg(ok if cholesterol levels are good, ask the Mayo Clinic), coffee with a little almond milk, 1tsp agave between the oatmeal and coffee(does not spike insulin), and a tsp of cinnamon between coffee and oatmeal(cinnamon helps regulate insulin but if she does not like it cinnamon pill); mid morning snack a Greek yogurt, prefer Chobani fat free; lunch 5oz free range organic chicken breast, salad with one tomato half cucumber bowl of kale seasoned with Italian Mrs Dash lemon tbsp of balsamic vinegar 1/2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; afternoon snack is an ounce of almond and a hand full of carrot slices; dinner is 5oz of that chicken with a cup and half of spinach with garlic and 1/2 tbsp olive oil. I ration 1/2 tsp of Himalayan salt a day, tastes better and has minerals. Drink half weight in water between drinking water, hot water with lemon, room temperature water with lemon and cayanne, that one coffees a day, and green tea. I might have a piece dark chocolate when out but do not buy for home. I also switch up chicken with sustainable fish. If I eat out it is sashimi and salad or plain cooked fish with salad. It sounds like an expense, maybe the first food shopping but weekly it is about sixty since I check for sales
Exercise is cardio five times a week, alternate between weights and classes after, also do skin brushing, sometimes sauna
It sounds like a pain in the ass to do from the outside. I can not stress enough that the cleanse helped. My irl LPSG friends also have seen the difference in my overall health from this. It is better she nips it in the bud now before it gets worse. She is going to feel and look so much better when she knows how to manage
