How to lose weight with the Depo shot

jdavis7622

I've been on the Depo shot for 2 years now. I've managed to gain 35 pounds. Any tips on how to jumpstart losing weight? I'm sure it will take time.

misskarne

You're not a car, you don't need a jump start.

It's all calories in/calories out. Weigh, measure, and log. Plan meals if you have to. I'm on the depo shot too, and losing weight, because I'm keeping an eye on my calories.

tayusuki

The main thing it does is make you more hungry. Focus on fluids, and low calorie snacks if you're a volume eater.

Also if you haven't already, try out different macros to see what satiates you the best! It seems to vary from person to person. Doing so should help with appetite control as well.

Eat_Sleep_Squat

misskarne wrote: »

You're not a car, you don't need a jump start.

It's all calories in/calories out. Weigh, measure, and log. Plan meals if you have to. I'm on the depo shot too, and losing weight, because I'm keeping an eye on my calories.

This. I'm also on the depo and have no problem losing. Count calories, stay at a deficit and keep your water intake up.

murp4069

Have you considered an alternative to depo? If you feel as though you have significant increased hunger on it, perhaps another option will work better for you. Otherwise, keep in mind that depo itself doesn't cause weight gain, just that some people experience increased hunger and water retention while on it.

And yes, weight loss will take time, but there is nothing you can do to jump start it. You just have to start and go one day at a time.

Muscleflex79

the same way one would lose when they are not on depo - through a sustained calorie deficit.

asheffield13

Jdavis, I completely know where you're coming from! I just stopped taking the depo shot last month (technically, I just never got my last shot that was due a couple weeks ago). I have been on multiple types of birth control (spanning from Ortho tri cyclin to Mirena IUD)---never had one weight gain side effect. I have been taking the depo shot only since June and have gained 10 pounds. I work out 4-5 days per week (3 days are always weight lifting) and am health conscience with food. In other words, I didn't change a thing in my routine. As soon as I realized I was gaining this weight due to the depo, I immediately made the decision to stop the injections. I am wondering how long system will take to regulate back to normal, and when I will start seeing this abnormal weight gain go away! Let's keep each other posted!!

asheffield13

And by the way, the only way to lose weight would be to stop your depo injections!

clo239

I was on depo shot for years, got off it to have a baby... went back on it while in excellent fit condition and gained weight regardless to activity and diet. Took about 6-8 months for my hormones to adjust to the shot again and then the weight cane back off. I did a lot of research and found if you switch birth control it can actually get worse rather than better so I stuck it out. No problems now

misskarne

asheffield13 wrote: »

And by the way, the only way to lose weight would be to stop your depo injections!

No, it's not. Please don't spread lies.

I didn't gain weight because of the depo, I gained weight because I ate too much. I'm not losing weight in spite of the depo; I'm losing weight because I have a calorie deficit.

asheffield13

Girl, I've been there done that with different methods of BC. Many (thousands) of women are going through unexplained weight gain caused directly from the depo shot. Added to that now are studies that are now being conducted. Every woman reacts differently, plain and simple. Just because you haven't gained weight, doesn't make it any less real for another woman.

yirara

asheffield13 wrote: »

Girl, I've been there done that with different methods of BC. Many (thousands) of women are going through unexplained weight gain caused directly from the depo shot. Added to that now are studies that are now being conducted. Every woman reacts differently, plain and simple. Just because you haven't gained weight, doesn't make it any less real for another woman.

Can you link to any studies? What is the process of gaining weight on depo? If food gets stored as fat it's not used to still hunger and nourish the body. Thus how does it work?

tiffanyx7

I got the depo shot in March 17, I gained 40lbs! I totally think the depo contributed towards my weight gain. I decided NOT to go back for my latest shot, I'm working on getting it out of my system whilst controlling what I eat then when I have reached my goal weight I will consider a different method of contraception.

okohjacinda

My best friend and roommate is naturally thin and gained 30lbs on the depo shot and she eats exactly the same way she did when she was thin and has the same activity level.

She may lose 5 to 8 every now and then when she's really not eating much, but for the most part her weight stays around 160ish now. She went from always being around 132lbs to 162lbs like almost overnight and granted she's still in the normal bmi range at 5'10 but she still doesn't like that a shot can make you gain that much weight and you have the same eating habits as before. I'm a little baffled myself and it makes me wonder slightly about CICO.

cristie

I gained 30 lbs on Depo as well. I feel like it’s all in my stomach where I’ve never gained before. I’ve always had a flat stomach and I feel like now it’s all there. I don’t eat any red meat, never have and don’t feel like I’m eating any differently. Not saying that i eat 100% healthy, i don’t, but no differently than Pre Depo.

KarenSmith2018

I have been on DEPO for about 3 years now. I can relate to the increased hunger, though for me it normally goes away after a couple of days. I've not gained weight unexpectedly and I have managed to lean out successfully while still on the injection. It may impact feelings of hunger etc but thats where mind over matter comes in and you learn to control your calorie intake. You cannot balloon up 40lbs without over eating enough to gain 40lbs.

asheffield13

It baffles me that women can be so nasty to one another. These threads are not meant for women to spout rude comments to one another. But rather, for women who are truly experiencing REAL issues seeking other women going through the same thing. You cannot tell a stranger that they are not experiencing something... How do you know?

All I know, is that I am an athletic woman who works out consistently and eats a healthy consistent diet. And over a 7 month period of time experienced a 10 pound weight gain doing nothing differently... Except taking the depo shot.

ccrdragon

asheffield13 wrote: »

It baffles me that women can be so nasty to one another. These threads are not meant for women to spout rude comments to one another. But rather, for women who are truly experiencing REAL issues seeking other women going through the same thing. You cannot tell a stranger that they are not experiencing something... How do you know?

All I know, is that I am an athletic woman who works out consistently and eats a healthy consistent diet. And over a 7 month period of time experienced a 10 pound weight gain doing nothing differently... Except taking the depo shot.

It is possible that the shot caused a change in the number of calories that your body burns during the day (caused a slight lowering of your metabolism). Or you could just be eating an extra snack every couple of days - unless you are accurately tracking the calories that you eat and the calories that you expend, you really don't know if you are doing anything 'differently'.

What is not possible is that the shot will allow your body to manufacture energy (i.e. store more fat) unless you are eating more food or moving less to provide the calories that are being stored as fat.

Rebecca0224

asheffield13 wrote: »

It baffles me that women can be so nasty to one another. These threads are not meant for women to spout rude comments to one another. But rather, for women who are truly experiencing REAL issues seeking other women going through the same thing. You cannot tell a stranger that they are not experiencing something... How do you know?

All I know, is that I am an athletic woman who works out consistently and eats a healthy consistent diet. And over a 7 month period of time experienced a 10 pound weight gain doing nothing differently... Except taking the depo shot.

How many calories are you eating while you gained this weight? If weight was gained without excess calories it would only be water weight, if you have excessive water weight you should see your doctor.

There is also a possibility that the shot could cause your non exercise activities to decrease without you noticing.