Are you on the Pill and do you have good muscle tone?

SunshineAndLove
SunshineAndLove Posts: 194 Member
in Motivation and Support
Hi, just wondering if you think being on the contraceptive pill effects your body fat content? If you have successfully lost weight and been on the pill and have also managed to develop muscle tone please could you post a picture? I really think it effects the way your muscle develops but I could be wrong.

Thanks!

Replies

  • kirstyfromscotland
    kirstyfromscotland Posts: 555 Member
    bump.....interesting! im get the depo jab and have been on the pill, have lost weight and started to see results with my muscles but i fell off the wagon! now im back to lots of exercise and eating better. :0)
  • cazemc
    cazemc Posts: 1
    I was on the pill for a long time didnt notice anything then switched to the implant and promptly put on 2 stone was continually hungry.
    So i had it taken back out after about 1 year and went back on the pill and my weight just dropped off by 3 stone (still about 1 stone over what i would like it to be) it was instant. I'm not sure about muscle tone though
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    I've been on the pill the whole time I was losing/maintaining weight.. and I've had no issues.
    I also strength train, and have had no issues with strength or muscle tone.

    Muscle tone comes from working out the muscles/making them tighter, and losing fat so that you can see said muscles. How the pill affects that, is beyond me.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    I am currently working on reducing my bodyfat, and i am starting to get some definition to my muscles, and i have been on the pill for 11 years...

    have u got any links to how the pill effects muscle tone?
  • shelbyfrootcake
    shelbyfrootcake Posts: 965 Member
    Yes, I'm on the pill. Have been for 15 of the last 17 years. No, I don't have good muscle tone, but that's because I'm lazy and have only just started exercising. My body fat is about 23%.
  • manda1978
    manda1978 Posts: 525 Member
    Yes I'm on the pill. I have pretty good muscle tone (flabby thigh excluded lol) and I have lost weight on it. A Dr told me that the pill will not cause you to gain weight, overeating will!
  • SunshineAndLove
    SunshineAndLove Posts: 194 Member
    Yes, I'm on the pill. Have been for 15 of the last 17 years. No, I don't have good muscle tone, but that's because I'm lazy and have only just started exercising. My body fat is about 23%.

    Yep, that's me, lazy! Think that is probably the actual problem...
  • auntdeedee87
    auntdeedee87 Posts: 706 Member
    Earlier this year I was on the actual pill, and have been on NuvaRing for about 4 months now--

    My muscle tone in my legs is ridiculous (not arrogant, just shocked they belong to me most days) and I haven't noticed any difficulty.
  • SunshineAndLove
    SunshineAndLove Posts: 194 Member
    Earlier this year I was on the actual pill, and have been on NuvaRing for about 4 months now--

    My muscle tone in my legs is ridiculous (not arrogant, just shocked they belong to me most days) and I haven't noticed any difficulty.

    Wow, I'd be interested to know what exercises you do?
  • ToughTulip
    ToughTulip Posts: 1,118 Member
    Yup! I lost all my weight while on birth control. Take a look at my pics if you would like, I am defined :D
  • Yanicka1
    Yanicka1 Posts: 4,564 Member
    You are thinking of this study?

    http://www.emaxhealth.com/1020/4/30522/women-using-birth-control-pill-develop-less-muscle-mass.html

    According to a new study, women who use birth control pills have less of a chance at developing muscle mass from resistance training. The study is the first to examine the effects of oral contraceptive hormone use and muscle gain.

    Oral contraceptive use was associated with higher cortisol levels among women age 18-31 during an exercise training program The pill was also shown to lower levels of anabolic hormones, necessary for building muscle among the women studied.

    Scientists from Texas A&M and University of Pittsburgh studied 73 women who engaged in 10-week whole-body resistance exercise training program. Two groups were assigned: one group consisting of 34 women who used the pill and a comparison group of 39 women who did not use contraceptive hormones. Both groups were instructed to eat more than the recommended daily requirement of protein to facilitate muscle gain.

    The women exercised three times a week. Researchers compared women on the pill to those not taking oral contraceptives. They found significant differences in lean mass gains, but not in strength or muscle response between the two groups.

    When the three week training ended the women who used birth control pills had lower levels of DHEA a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal gland. Women who used birth control pills developed sixty percent less muscle than women not on the pill.

    The researchers write “We were surprised at the magnitude of differences in muscle gains between the two groups, with the non-OC [oral contraceptive] women gaining more than 60% greater muscle mass than their OC counterpart.”

    Women who use birth control pills had significantly lower levels of anabolic hormones throughout the study period. perhaps explaining why women who use birth control pills develop less muscle. The scientists say more research is needed to explain the reasons behind the results.

    http://www.the-aps.org/press/releases/09/16.htm
  • Krizzle4Rizzle
    Krizzle4Rizzle Posts: 2,704 Member
    You are thinking of this study?

    http://www.emaxhealth.com/1020/4/30522/women-using-birth-control-pill-develop-less-muscle-mass.html

    According to a new study, women who use birth control pills have less of a chance at developing muscle mass from resistance training. The study is the first to examine the effects of oral contraceptive hormone use and muscle gain.

    Oral contraceptive use was associated with higher cortisol levels among women age 18-31 during an exercise training program The pill was also shown to lower levels of anabolic hormones, necessary for building muscle among the women studied.

    Scientists from Texas A&M and University of Pittsburgh studied 73 women who engaged in 10-week whole-body resistance exercise training program. Two groups were assigned: one group consisting of 34 women who used the pill and a comparison group of 39 women who did not use contraceptive hormones. Both groups were instructed to eat more than the recommended daily requirement of protein to facilitate muscle gain.

    The women exercised three times a week. Researchers compared women on the pill to those not taking oral contraceptives. They found significant differences in lean mass gains, but not in strength or muscle response between the two groups.

    When the three week training ended the women who used birth control pills had lower levels of DHEA a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal gland. Women who used birth control pills developed sixty percent less muscle than women not on the pill.

    The researchers write “We were surprised at the magnitude of differences in muscle gains between the two groups, with the non-OC [oral contraceptive] women gaining more than 60% greater muscle mass than their OC counterpart.”

    Women who use birth control pills had significantly lower levels of anabolic hormones throughout the study period. perhaps explaining why women who use birth control pills develop less muscle. The scientists say more research is needed to explain the reasons behind the results.

    http://www.the-aps.org/press/releases/09/16.htm

    Well..that sucks..
  • auntdeedee87
    auntdeedee87 Posts: 706 Member
    Earlier this year I was on the actual pill, and have been on NuvaRing for about 4 months now--

    My muscle tone in my legs is ridiculous (not arrogant, just shocked they belong to me most days) and I haven't noticed any difficulty.

    Wow, I'd be interested to know what exercises you do?

    I do squats and leg lifts.

    And the elliptical about an hour a day.

    And I usually bike about thirty miles a week.
  • SunshineAndLove
    SunshineAndLove Posts: 194 Member
    You are thinking of this study?

    http://www.emaxhealth.com/1020/4/30522/women-using-birth-control-pill-develop-less-muscle-mass.html

    According to a new study, women who use birth control pills have less of a chance at developing muscle mass from resistance training. The study is the first to examine the effects of oral contraceptive hormone use and muscle gain.

    Oral contraceptive use was associated with higher cortisol levels among women age 18-31 during an exercise training program The pill was also shown to lower levels of anabolic hormones, necessary for building muscle among the women studied.

    Scientists from Texas A&M and University of Pittsburgh studied 73 women who engaged in 10-week whole-body resistance exercise training program. Two groups were assigned: one group consisting of 34 women who used the pill and a comparison group of 39 women who did not use contraceptive hormones. Both groups were instructed to eat more than the recommended daily requirement of protein to facilitate muscle gain.

    The women exercised three times a week. Researchers compared women on the pill to those not taking oral contraceptives. They found significant differences in lean mass gains, but not in strength or muscle response between the two groups.

    When the three week training ended the women who used birth control pills had lower levels of DHEA a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal gland. Women who used birth control pills developed sixty percent less muscle than women not on the pill.

    The researchers write “We were surprised at the magnitude of differences in muscle gains between the two groups, with the non-OC [oral contraceptive] women gaining more than 60% greater muscle mass than their OC counterpart.”

    Women who use birth control pills had significantly lower levels of anabolic hormones throughout the study period. perhaps explaining why women who use birth control pills develop less muscle. The scientists say more research is needed to explain the reasons behind the results.

    http://www.the-aps.org/press/releases/09/16.htm

    Wow, I wasn't but that is really interesting and almost proves my theory!
  • dad106
    dad106 Posts: 4,868 Member
    You are thinking of this study?

    http://www.emaxhealth.com/1020/4/30522/women-using-birth-control-pill-develop-less-muscle-mass.html

    According to a new study, women who use birth control pills have less of a chance at developing muscle mass from resistance training. The study is the first to examine the effects of oral contraceptive hormone use and muscle gain.

    Oral contraceptive use was associated with higher cortisol levels among women age 18-31 during an exercise training program The pill was also shown to lower levels of anabolic hormones, necessary for building muscle among the women studied.

    Scientists from Texas A&M and University of Pittsburgh studied 73 women who engaged in 10-week whole-body resistance exercise training program. Two groups were assigned: one group consisting of 34 women who used the pill and a comparison group of 39 women who did not use contraceptive hormones. Both groups were instructed to eat more than the recommended daily requirement of protein to facilitate muscle gain.

    The women exercised three times a week. Researchers compared women on the pill to those not taking oral contraceptives. They found significant differences in lean mass gains, but not in strength or muscle response between the two groups.

    When the three week training ended the women who used birth control pills had lower levels of DHEA a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal gland. Women who used birth control pills developed sixty percent less muscle than women not on the pill.

    The researchers write “We were surprised at the magnitude of differences in muscle gains between the two groups, with the non-OC [oral contraceptive] women gaining more than 60% greater muscle mass than their OC counterpart.”

    Women who use birth control pills had significantly lower levels of anabolic hormones throughout the study period. perhaps explaining why women who use birth control pills develop less muscle. The scientists say more research is needed to explain the reasons behind the results.

    http://www.the-aps.org/press/releases/09/16.htm

    This study is crap.

    All it says is that they were instructed to eat more protein... and it doesn't say how many calories they were eating. Protein helps in building muscle, but it's not all that you need.

    If you are eating in a deficit, then you won't gain muscle mass.. pill or no pill. If you are eating in a surplus, then you should gain muscle mass... pill or not.
  • HMVOL7409
    HMVOL7409 Posts: 1,588 Member
    You are thinking of this study?

    http://www.emaxhealth.com/1020/4/30522/women-using-birth-control-pill-develop-less-muscle-mass.html

    According to a new study, women who use birth control pills have less of a chance at developing muscle mass from resistance training. The study is the first to examine the effects of oral contraceptive hormone use and muscle gain.

    Oral contraceptive use was associated with higher cortisol levels among women age 18-31 during an exercise training program The pill was also shown to lower levels of anabolic hormones, necessary for building muscle among the women studied.

    Scientists from Texas A&M and University of Pittsburgh studied 73 women who engaged in 10-week whole-body resistance exercise training program. Two groups were assigned: one group consisting of 34 women who used the pill and a comparison group of 39 women who did not use contraceptive hormones. Both groups were instructed to eat more than the recommended daily requirement of protein to facilitate muscle gain.

    The women exercised three times a week. Researchers compared women on the pill to those not taking oral contraceptives. They found significant differences in lean mass gains, but not in strength or muscle response between the two groups.

    When the three week training ended the women who used birth control pills had lower levels of DHEA a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal gland. Women who used birth control pills developed sixty percent less muscle than women not on the pill.

    The researchers write “We were surprised at the magnitude of differences in muscle gains between the two groups, with the non-OC [oral contraceptive] women gaining more than 60% greater muscle mass than their OC counterpart.”

    Women who use birth control pills had significantly lower levels of anabolic hormones throughout the study period. perhaps explaining why women who use birth control pills develop less muscle. The scientists say more research is needed to explain the reasons behind the results.

    http://www.the-aps.org/press/releases/09/16.htm

    This study is crap.

    All it says is that they were instructed to eat more protein... and it doesn't say how many calories they were eating. Protein helps in building muscle, but it's not all that you need.

    If you are eating in a deficit, then you won't gain muscle mass.. pill or no pill. If you are eating in a surplus, then you should gain muscle mass... pill or not.

    ^^^ This. I'm sorry but birth control does not prevent you from gaining muscle or losing BF. I have been on BC since I was 17 and when I was 23 competed in a figure comp with plenty of muscle. Even now at 32 and getting back on BC after being off it for 2 years trying to get pregnant I dropped from 24-25% BF down to 17% in 6 mths and I feel I'm nicely built. Pics are on my profile. Personally I feel this is just another excuse that many, not saying you OP, use.

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