Can't lose anything thanks to Depo Provera!!!

Beckilovespizza

I have been on depo for about 6 years. In the first 5 years, I gained 50ish pounds, but that is a bit misleading because I NEEDED to gain about 20 of those. 5'9 and 120lbs is way too small, with no muscle, fat, or curves to speak of. I started to blame depo when I continued to gain, but when I started using MFP, I aimed for 1lb/wk loss and hit 1.1 over a long period of time. The calories mapped exactly to what I lost and gained. My hunger could very well have been affected, but I'm not really sure.

I was late to get to my shot by a month or so a while ago (I was overseas), and it did seem like I lost a little definition in my abs, and my boobs got just a little bigger when I got the shot again. Anyone else notice something minor like this?

I noticed a slight ab definition too when I was late for my shot. Unfortunately it doesn't make my boobs any bigger! Shame for me lol

SidsMom80

When I was on that, my doctors actually told me it in and of itself won't make you gain weight, at least not any more than any other birth control. It actually just increases your appetite which leads to over-eating and that's what causes the gain.

Your doctors are either liars or idiots.

Wow!! Everyone is different. It's a POSSIBLE side effect. I was on Depo for many years, and I lost alot of weight while I was on it, and I gain weight on it, then I'd lose again. My problem was me, not the BC.

To the OP: Talk to your doctor if you're concerned, and maybe look into another option.

Italiano7

Everyone is different. When I was on Depo Provera I gained weight. My dr even told me it was a side effect. I switched to Mirena and finally lost weight. Try switching birth control methods and you may notice a weight loss. Good luck

meadowsmummy

Everyone is different. When I was on Depo Provera I gained weight. My dr even told me it was a side effect. I switched to Mirena and finally lost weight. Try switching birth control methods and you may notice a weight loss. Good luck

I am switching from Depo to Mirena once i get into my Gyno - period wise for you was it the same?

LorinaLynn

I've read many times (don't ask me to find the sources now, please) that Depo is one of the few forms of BC that definitely does cause weight gain in many women.

The first time I was on it, I gained a little at first, but didn't much care, until "a little" became about 30 pounds. I'm not attributing ALL of that to the depo, because my weight wasn't a priority at the time and I ate like crap.

I went off it for a while, and started up again last fall. No problems at all with the first injection, but right after the second, my weight jumped about 5 pounds. I was logging and exercising the whole time. Third shot, another 5 pounds. I'm not terribly upset with the weight gain - my clothes still fit - but I don't want that trend to continue, so it's condoms for now.

csheltra26

I maintained a healthy weight for years on the pill. Switched to the depo shot for convienience and gained 15lbs in a month. Had other terrible side effects and decided not to get the next shot. Went back on the pill and dropped the weight with no effort. Hormones can do all sorts of things to your body. To the people who say "it's not the birth control" think about this: Birth control alters your hormones to trick your body into thinking it's pregnant. Some women gain a significant amount of weight during pregnancy before their baby even weighs a pound. And they're not gaining pure body fat due to overeating. Blood volume increases, breast tissue increases. It's all hormones and how your body reacts to them. Everyone is different and what happens to some may not happen to others. That doesn't negate anyone's personal experience.

Thank you so much! This is soooo true! So many people are insinuating I'm overeating or something but I'm not! I eat 1100 calories (fish, chicken, rice) and am exercising 1-3 hours a day. Obviously I'm doing everything right and the only change is the Depo. I'm not getting a period, either!

If you're still not getting a period then the depo is still in your system. I've known women who were on the depo and it took 1-2 years for their hormones to even out after being on it.

If you are exercising 1-3 hours per day and eating only 1100 calories, you may potentially have a negative calorie intake on some days. And even onthe days you don't have a negative calorie intake, you are are seriously undereating. So similar to an anorexic not getting their period because they aren't feeding their bodies, I'm concerned this may be the same thing you are experiencing. You need to adjust your calories to fit with your activity so you are eating more. You have slowed down your metabolism to a crawl and that is why you can't lose weight.

stangirl1995

A cancer specialist told myself and my sister that the Depo shot is one of the worst things a woman can put into her body. We both stopped getting the shot immediately and I have been able to lose and maintain much easier.

shadus

The first thing to ensure is that your intake and expended are correct.

Do you have a food scale and do you weigh ALL of your food? Do you log your drinks that have calories? Are you logging EVERYTHING. Are you using a HRM or the estimates for exercise on MFP? In my experience, nutritional info on the back of bags, underestimate portions by weight and MFP overestimates calories burnt typically.

(eg: bag of potatos lists a potato as 150g, none in bag less than 190g)

familylovr1990

I was on the depo for over a year after my son was born and I gained a substantial amount of weight. I would suggest not to take it. I also had the Mirena(IUD) but it felt bad and unnatural. I am off all birth control and is feeling much better even though my husband isn't as happy as I am to be off it. I have been dieting for 2 weeks and lost weight and that is keeping me going. Try to find something hormone free if you can.

Helloitsdan

I maintained a healthy weight for years on the pill. Switched to the depo shot for convienience and gained 15lbs in a month. Had other terrible side effects and decided not to get the next shot. Went back on the pill and dropped the weight with no effort. Hormones can do all sorts of things to your body. To the people who say "it's not the birth control" think about this: Birth control alters your hormones to trick your body into thinking it's pregnant. Some women gain a significant amount of weight during pregnancy before their baby even weighs a pound. And they're not gaining pure body fat due to overeating. Blood volume increases, breast tissue increases. It's all hormones and how your body reacts to them. Everyone is different and what happens to some may not happen to others. That doesn't negate anyone's personal experience.

Thank you so much! This is soooo true! So many people are insinuating I'm overeating or something but I'm not! I eat 1100 calories (fish, chicken, rice) and am exercising 1-3 hours a day. Obviously I'm doing everything right and the only change is the Depo. I'm not getting a period, either!

If you're still not getting a period then the depo is still in your system. I've known women who were on the depo and it took 1-2 years for their hormones to even out after being on it.

If you are exercising 1-3 hours per day and eating only 1100 calories, you may potentially have a negative calorie intake on some days. And even onthe days you don't have a negative calorie intake, you are are seriously undereating. So similar to an anorexic not getting their period because they aren't feeding their bodies, I'm concerned this may be the same thing you are experiencing. You need to adjust your calories to fit with your activity so you are eating more. You have slowed down your metabolism to a crawl and that is why you can't lose weight.

To add to this, in 3rd world countries where famine is prevalent, women have fewer to no menstrual cycles and birth rate is lower.
On a genetic level its the same in women who work hard and eat too little, causing cortisol elevation (the bodies fight or flight mechanism.
So on a genetic level, why would your body allow you to have children in a fight or flight situation?

Also once she adapts to the current caloric intake and plateaus, the only way to lose fat would:
1) reverse diet out of the deficit to calculated TDEE, possibly gaining back several pounds in a rebound effect.
Then cut calories later after adapting to the higher caloric intake.
Or
2) lower caloric intake more.
The second choice would see cardiac issues as well as higher muscular atrophy due to the body attempting to maintain what little energy it has, in adipose tissue.

Again i'll offer to help OP figure out her numbers and a training frequency that works.
However, it only looks like shes looking for someone to say its okay to do what shes doing.

Pretty sad IMO.