Losing while on birth control

I gained a ton of weight on Yaz. Some, but not all, of that weight just FELL off afterwards without me consciously changing anything. A few years later on Apri I was able to slowwwwwwllllyyyyy lose some weight (and I don't blame the pill for the slow loss.) Just switched to Aviane (due to other Apri side effects) and it remains to be seen how I will do on it. Now, my doctor told me that weightloss is one of the listed side effects of Aviane which I found very discouraging. However, when I gained tons of weight on Yaz it was indirectly from the pill- Yaz gave me intense anxiety and mild depression (shockingly common on this particular pill). Both of these conditions turned me from a routine jogger to a sedentary and miserable person. Additionally, it gave me an INTENSE appetite- I was SO hungry all the time and I just KEPT ON EATING! About a month after I'd been off it (and was on no pill) I had my normal, pretty average appetite. I hate to say it but the roughly 30 pounds I put on in 6 months on Yaz is the weight I am still trying to get off. For the rest of college I lived an unhealthy college lifestyle and slowly LOST from my maximum Yaz weight.

So to answer your question, the pill absolutely can effect weight, but I believe it is usually "indirectly" because messing with pregnancy hormones can really screw with your appetite.

And to those criticizing use of the pill, please don't. Its a very personal medical choice and you shouldn't judge why someone might choose to be on it.

Oddly enough I made an appointment with a nutritionist because I have found myself in the same situation. I've gained 30lbs since starting taking the pills (over a period of 6 years). The pills aren't ENTIRELY to blame as my food intake was a bit much over the same amount of time. OR I wasn't eating enough and the fat was just stored..

I didn't gain any weight like I had until I went on the pill. I was always over weight, but never like this. In high school and up until my boyfriend I got together I maintained my with between 180-190 then after I had started the pill, before I knew it I gained over 50 lbs.

Just spotted this. My weight went up too after meeting my other half. Yes, it coincided with going on the pill but it also coincided with me getting happy, cooking lots of lovely food for him, serving myself the same size portions as him, eating out more, less partying and dancing with friends etc etc. In the last few weeks I've started cooking more healthily for both of us and make a point of giving myself a third less than I give him. 7lbs down in 7 weeks, so I must be doing something right

Yes--the weight problems can be dealt with but the health problems that come with artificially jacking up your hormones are still there.

It's not an option for me to come off the pill. I'm on it due to a hormonal imbalance (back-to-back Cerazette to stop my periods, otherwise I have them for three weeks out of every four - I've had every test under the sun, was prescribed it by a gynae and had the choice of the pill or a hysterectomy). I'll take the risks of being on the pill over constant anaemia, mood swings and ill health any day of the week. And the fact that I am completely in control of whether or not I get pregnant is a nice bonus!

Sorry if you took it personally, I think there are lots of reasons why someone might be on the pill. It is something that a woman needs to decide for herself, weighing the risks vs. the benefits. What bothers me is that I don't think the pharmaceutical companies are being entirely honest with women about the risks. It is well known that they suppress negative data from their clinical trials.

No worries

I didn't gain any weight like I had until I went on the pill. I was always over weight, but never like this. In high school and up until my boyfriend I got together I maintained my with between 180-190 then after I had started the pill, before I knew it I gained over 50 lbs.

Just spotted this. My weight went up too after meeting my other half. Yes, it coincided with going on the pill but it also coincided with me getting happy, cooking lots of lovely food for him, serving myself the same size portions as him, eating out more, less partying and dancing with friends etc etc. In the last few weeks I've started cooking more healthily for both of us and make a point of giving myself a third less than I give him. 7lbs down in 7 weeks, so I must be doing something right

This^!
It is so easy to get "comfortable" while in a relationship.

I've truly never had trouble losing weight while on the pill. I've had trouble with weight-gain when I was off for a few months though. Maybe time to change what pill you're on.

I gained a ton of weight on Yaz. Some, but not all, of that weight just FELL off afterwards without me consciously changing anything. A few years later on Apri I was able to slowwwwwwllllyyyyy lose some weight (and I don't blame the pill for the slow loss.) Just switched to Aviane (due to other Apri side effects) and it remains to be seen how I will do on it. Now, my doctor told me that weightloss is one of the listed side effects of Aviane which I found very discouraging. However, when I gained tons of weight on Yaz it was indirectly from the pill- Yaz gave me intense anxiety and mild depression (shockingly common on this particular pill). Both of these conditions turned me from a routine jogger to a sedentary and miserable person. Additionally, it gave me an INTENSE appetite- I was SO hungry all the time and I just KEPT ON EATING! About a month after I'd been off it (and was on no pill) I had my normal, pretty average appetite. I hate to say it but the roughly 30 pounds I put on in 6 months on Yaz is the weight I am still trying to get off. For the rest of college I lived an unhealthy college lifestyle and slowly LOST from my maximum Yaz weight.

So to answer your question, the pill absolutely can effect weight, but I believe it is usually "indirectly" because messing with pregnancy hormones can really screw with your appetite.

And to those criticizing use of the pill, please don't. Its a very personal medical choice and you shouldn't judge why someone might choose to be on it.

Thanks for not letting my be the only one who feels like that. I've changed my pill a few times, but it's all the same.

You're definitely not the only one! Make sure you voice those problems to your doctor (and make sure your doctor knows what they're talking about....the person who first prescribed me Yaz was a dermatologist and not an OBGYN and when I did see an OBGYN she was much more helpful.) Good luck!!

I actually am just the opposite, When I am on the pill I don't get cravings and I'm a lot less hungry than off of it! I've been off and on it several times, when I'm on it I loose around 15 lbs, each time I came off it I gained the 15 lbs and then some! I get a lot more cravings now to, but I've chose to stay off it because I feel it's a healthier choice for my body. I just need to learn not to be hungry all the time!

I gained when I went on the pill, only because my hormones went crazy and I craved junk all the time. Swapped pills and no problems, lost most of my weight while on birth control

Currently on the pill and have lost 7lbs (half a stone) since the new year... I don't think the pill can actually cause weight gain or make any harder to lose weight. If anything, its the hormone changes that will make you feel a bit binge-y but there are ways to tackle that like drinking lots of water or going for a walk if you feel like you will binge on food.
Good luck!

When I was on the shot I gained so much weight! The pills I haven't had as much trouble but I know they can be hard to lose weight while on them. It's a side effect. I have been single a long time so I quit taking them for now. Just stay motivated and working hard. You may have just hit a plateau and it's not really the medicine. If you want help staying motivated and/or want to chat add me as a friend Good luck!