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

laurawilfong
laurawilfong Posts: 45
in Motivation and Support
I have been dieting since February, trying to get healthy and feel better. I exercise every single day and my scale never once moves from 174 pounds. I am eating right, drinking nothing but water (oh how I miss my Pepsi!!) but I feel as though it's all for naught because the scale never moves past 174 pounds. According to myfitnesspal, I should weight 154 pounds by now with the diet and exercise, but nothing. I am still at 174. Anyone have any insights?? Thanks!
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Replies

  • BoomstickChick
    BoomstickChick Posts: 428 Member
    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.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Change your birth control.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    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.
  • cweaver1981
    cweaver1981 Posts: 76 Member
    I recently went on birth control pills and I am finding it much harder to lose weight too. It seems like I am fighting for every pound. I found that sometimes I was eating more than I did before I was on the pill. Once I realized what I was doing I starting being more careful about logging my food so I didn't go over my calories, because I am sure I did before without knowing. I also started stregnth training consistently within the last two weeks so I think the combination just has me all messed up. I hope you figure something out that will work for you.
  • Babygi6003
    Babygi6003 Posts: 356 Member
    I am having the same problem, I am switching birth control next month when my next shot is due
  • cweaver1981
    cweaver1981 Posts: 76 Member
    I forgot to add that my friend recently starting getting the Depo shot and her doctor specifically told her that weight gain can be a side effect. If you are really unhappy with not being able to drop the weight maybe you can switch to a different birth control method.
  • iNkedFiTmama
    iNkedFiTmama Posts: 277 Member
    I've heard that about depo :\ I hate BC sooo much. I'm on it myself only b/c 3 is our max kids and I'm not getting pregnant again lol..I can't wait to be birth control free some day.
  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    Heh, switch to Explanon.

    I'm kidding, don't. They jab this stick in your arm and it hurts for weeks, makes you insane, and it makes you gain even more than depo. I was on depo for several years. It does make you fat. My advice? Just stop having sex, or just date women.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    I've heard that about depo :\ I hate BC sooo much. I'm on it myself only b/c 3 is our max kids and I'm not getting pregnant again lol..I can't wait to be birth control free some day.
    Tubal or vasectomy?
  • kristen6022
    kristen6022 Posts: 1,923 Member
    Open your diary and we can see what you might be doing that you can't see...

    Birth control has been known to cause an increase in weight - I can guarentee a 10 pound gain with the pill (but I still chose to be on it since it makes me feel so much better). My doctor just said I either deal with it or get off it and feel like crap for 2 weeks a month.

    Talk to your doctor and see if there's anything they suggest that would help?
  • demitraknows
    demitraknows Posts: 82 Member
    I was on it for 4 years and it made me gain weight. Your body feels as if you are pregnant and bloating all of the time and my hormones were everywhere. It messed me up pretty bad. Everyone is different and it works for some and some it doesnt. Overall it is very effective in preventing pregnancy, but the side effects for me were not good, Good luck.
  • StarChanger
    StarChanger Posts: 605 Member
    My advice? Just stop having sex, or just date women.

    :drinker: :bigsmile: This made me LoL.
  • mustang289
    mustang289 Posts: 299 Member
    Food and water cause weight gain. Water weight is just easier to shed.

    Lack of food causes weight loss.

    If you are not losing, you somehow you are consuming too much. You are maintaining what you already have.
  • CrankMeUp
    CrankMeUp Posts: 2,860 Member
    Do you own a food scale and log everything?


    and would you please open your food diary?:smile:
  • Cindy873
    Cindy873 Posts: 1,165
    I gained 25 pounds on Depo. I couldn't lose it until I went off of it. My advice is to switch birth control.
  • da_bears10089
    da_bears10089 Posts: 1,791 Member
    I was on Depo before. My doctor also said that it doesn't cause weight gain but does tend to increase your appetite so you need to be more conscious of what you are eating. I had good luck with it for the most part, but the last time i had received my shot it sent me into a massive depression. Once that ran it's course, i never went back. I have since then gotten a tubal after having my last baby so no worries about excess horomones.

    ETA: your diary is also closed, so we can't see what you are eating. Are you measuring all of your food or just guessing?
  • leesyc81
    leesyc81 Posts: 52 Member
    Maybe if u wasn't dieting etc you may be a lot heavier now, so that's a plus that you haven't gained since Feb I guess. I was on depo and my weight shot up within the 6 months I was on it by 2 stone. I constantly looked heavily pregnant too as I kept getting a belly bloat! The coil is a better choice in my opinion. Don't stop doing what your doing as its better to stay the same rather than gain. Maybe lower carb intake and increase protein if u want to alter diet, I find lower carbs works best for me. Good luck
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Food and water cause weight gain. Water weight is just easier to shed.

    Lack of food causes weight loss.

    If you are not losing, you somehow you are consuming too much. You are maintaining what you already have.
    I'm guessing you have never been on any kind of hormonal birth control, so you probably have no idea what you're talking about.

    Just sayin'.
  • HopeDaleen930
    HopeDaleen930 Posts: 39
    I'm on depo and have successfully lost 32 pounds. I only just had my second shot, but I did switch from the pill. Good luck hun.
  • mustang289
    mustang289 Posts: 299 Member
    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.

    So other than increasing appetite, does birth control add extra calories to everything you eat?
  • Viveyp21
    Viveyp21 Posts: 65 Member
    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.

    Actually my doctor said the same thing. When I first got on it I actually lost weight because I used to not eat when playing sports and it increased my metabolism. Weight gain is a side effect because of the increase in appetite.
  • WhitneySheree88
    WhitneySheree88 Posts: 222 Member
    I gained 40 pounds on the depo shot the first time I was on it. I was a very active 17 year old girl then and I didn't change anything I was eating, no more, no less and I still gained, I couldn't lose the weight until I quit using it. Switch your birth control if your not happy with it, I had to.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    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.

    So other than increasing appetite, does birth control add extra calories to everything you eat?
    *sigh*

    Really. I don't need a strike today. Go away.
  • BrawlerBella
    BrawlerBella Posts: 400 Member
    I am sorry for your issue with Depo but that its not the case with me. I was not on BC when I gained weight. I've been on DP for 4.5 years and have lost all my extra weight and am now on maintenance mode. 1. Evaluate your intake look for culprits like salt. 2. Are you using an HRM to have a more accurate calorie burn? 3. How are your workouts? Try shocking your body with a different kind of workout. Best of luck.
  • auroranflash
    auroranflash Posts: 3,569 Member
    I'm on depo and have successfully lost 32 pounds. I only just had my second shot, but I did switch from the pill. Good luck hun.

    Heheheheh.... wait until month 9.
  • MelsAuntie
    MelsAuntie Posts: 2,833 Member
    I've heard that about depo :\ I hate BC sooo much. I'm on it myself only b/c 3 is our max kids and I'm not getting pregnant again lol..I can't wait to be birth control free some day.



    Vasectomy. That's what we did the week after we married, no more problems.
  • TonicSapphire
    TonicSapphire Posts: 24
    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.

    This is the truth. I can't tell you what you are doing wrong, but I would get a food scale, weigh everything that goes into your mouth, and record your calories faithfully. Do this for four weeks, then reevaluate your progress.

    Sure, there are medications that may cause your body to hold onto weight. You just have to work harder and smarter than other people. Blaming your meds is making excuses for not working at it hard enough. You can do it!
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    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.

    Actually my doctor said the same thing. When I first got on it I actually lost weight because I used to not eat when playing sports and it increased my metabolism. Weight gain is a side effect because of the increase in appetite.
    Let me make this simple: A known side effect of Depo Provera, which 40% of women experience, is weight gain due DIRECTLY to the shot itself and not tied to overeating or a bigger appetite.

    This is documented and well known. Any doctor who says otherwise has not educated him or herself on the drug being administered and I would find a new doctor. I had this same experience with Mirena. My doctor insisted it did not affect weight. Yet after losing 30 pounds and maintaining that loss for several years, without decreasing my activity level or increasing my calories, I gained 25 pounds and no matter what I did (I even tried eating 500 calories a day for three weeks), I could not lose an ounce. I started asking around and found many, many women had the exact same experience I had.

    Lucky for you, you were in the 60%.
  • MercenaryNoetic26
    MercenaryNoetic26 Posts: 2,747 Member
    I'm on a birth control strike. Making the man strap on condoms. The sex is still great and I don't have to take a bunch of bull**** *kitten* hormones.
  • vinylscratch
    vinylscratch Posts: 218 Member
    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.

    Actually my doctor said the same thing. When I first got on it I actually lost weight because I used to not eat when playing sports and it increased my metabolism. Weight gain is a side effect because of the increase in appetite.
    Let me make this simple: A known side effect of Depo Provera, which 40% of women experience, is weight gain due DIRECTLY to the shot itself and not tied to overeating or a bigger appetite.

    This is documented and well known. Any doctor who says this has no educated him or herself on the drug being administered and I would find a new doctor. I had this same exoerience with Mirena. My doctor insisted it did not affect weight. Yet after losing 30 pounds and maintaining that loss for several years, without decreasing my activity level or increasing my calories, I gained 25 pounds and no matter what I did (I even tried eating 500 calories a day for three weeks), I could not lose an ounce.

    Lucky for you, you were in the 60%.

    This! And men (unless they're certified doctors) have no place in this thread trying to tell her she isn't "working hard enough" because birth control messes you up in ways you'll never understand. Hormones regulate a lot in a woman's body and yes, it is possible for your body to gain and retain weight regardless of your diet when your hormones think you're pregnant and are prepping you for what your body assumes to be childbirth.

    Me, I can't take birth control because it makes me gain insane amounts of weight. SSRIs will do that to you too. It's proven. I agree with the above advice to do it religiously for 4 weeks and bring the results to your doctor.. for me, I had to stop birth control altogether. But the right partner won't mind ;)

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