Ladies Only-Birth Control PREVENTING losing weight?
aimeemarie150
Posts: 354 Member
Hey. I'm taking the pill, and I find that on the one "off" week each month I'm dropping more weight than when I'm on the pill. I noticed this change as soon as I started taking it. I was losing steadily, but then when I started the B.C. it stopped, and I haven't changed my eating habits. (For those out there who say eating less is the solution.) I'm sticking to my normal calories between 1300-1500 each day, and I exercise. Has anyone else experienced this problem? I'm curious if the pill causes some type of water retention, but I wouldn't imagine I would retain that much water over the course of 3 weeks.
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it probably does hinder it at bit....but just imagine what a pregnancy would do to your weight loss goals...:laugh: :laugh:
I have heard that you actually burn more calories the week of your period though, so it could be this. Also, most of us tend to bloat and retain more water right before our periods, which might make it seem like you're losing more, when your body is simply letting go of excess water once you start.0 -
You will hear all kinds of responses on this topic because everyone seems to be affected by the pills differently. However, speaking only for myself, when I got put on Yaz for perimenopause issues, I very rapidly gained weight even with no changes to my diet or exercise plan, and could NOT get it off no matter how diligent I was - and I had not been overweight before and had happily maintained my healthy weight for 40 years. After 6 years on the pills I decided 6 months ago to quit them, and have slowly lost 15 pounds. Still have 20 to go to get back to where I was before being on the pills, though.
*sits back to wait for the hateful comments about how I clearly wasn't tracking my food properly, etc. etc. etc.*0 -
I took Yaz, and several other types of BCP over the years, and it never affected my weight loss or made me gain. Are you saying you've only been on it for three weeks? If so, I think you need to give it a little more time.0
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I've been on the pill for almost 2 years and I've been able to lose weight while on it. I found the only time it really affected my weight was when I first started to take it. After that it's been all good.0
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Anyone take the shot? I'm considering getting the depo shot and everyone I know always gains at least 10 lbs on it! My sister gained 15... ugh.0
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Anyone take the shot? I'm considering getting the depo shot and everyone I know always gains at least 10 lbs on it! My sister gained 15... ugh.
I would definitely look into the side effects of the depo shot before starting it, and not only for weight loss reasons. While there are many women that use that form of birth control and are content with it, I have heard many horrible stories, including infertility and emergency hysterectomies. These stories are from people I know personally, so I know they are legitimate. If you go that route, I hope it works well for you. I was on it for about 6 months. While I was not tracking my weight at that time, so I cannot remember how it directly affected that aspect of my life, it through my hormones WAYYYY out of whack, and I had to quit it quickly thereafter.
To the OP, I recently went back to the pill after 4-ish years using the NuvaRing. I have not noticed any significant change to my weight loss, although it may be slightly slower. I also have not noticed any extra weight gain from water retention or anything like that in correlation with beginning the pill. I am Microgestrin Fe 1/20. I wish you luck in finding what works best for you!0 -
No. I've been on b.c. for about 6 months, and it's consistent where I don't lose (or maybe a pound) during 3 weeks, then lose about 3 or 4 during the T.O.M.0
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Hey OP, same thing happens to me! I have very limited weight lose three weeks of the month and then , bam! 5 lbs down. I always thought of it as my body wanting to hold on to energy stores just in case a baby was going to happen and then felt free to let it go once it was certain there would be no baby and that my weight loss was more designed around my menstrual cycle...not so much the pill effecting it per se. Lol, weird, I know! I have had a few friends who have gained weight on the pill and other who have had no effect.0
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Im glad im not alone! It just gets frustrating sometimes when you go so long without a loss even whem you eat at a deficit and exercise. Every little bit counts though!0
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Hey. I'm taking the pill, and I find that on the one "off" week each month I'm dropping more weight than when I'm on the pill. I noticed this change as soon as I started taking it. I was losing steadily, but then when I started the B.C. it stopped, and I haven't changed my eating habits. (For those out there who say eating less is the solution.) I'm sticking to my normal calories between 1300-1500 each day, and I exercise. Has anyone else experienced this problem? I'm curious if the pill causes some type of water retention, but I wouldn't imagine I would retain that much water over the course of 3 weeks.
I also lose more weight during my off week of my birth control every 3 months (I take Seasonique) than I do at other times. I've been on birth control for 12 years now and have wondered if it is what causes me to hold onto weight.0 -
I'm on nuva ring, The same thing happens to me every month too, my off week I always seem to lose more lbs. I take that as a week to really stick to my diet really well (no cheating) and try for an extra work out.0
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Anyone take the shot? I'm considering getting the depo shot and everyone I know always gains at least 10 lbs on it! My sister gained 15... ugh.
I would definitely look into the side effects of the depo shot before starting it, and not only for weight loss reasons. While there are many women that use that form of birth control and are content with it, I have heard many horrible stories, including infertility and emergency hysterectomies. These stories are from people I know personally, so I know they are legitimate. If you go that route, I hope it works well for you. I was on it for about 6 months. While I was not tracking my weight at that time, so I cannot remember how it directly affected that aspect of my life, it through my hormones WAYYYY out of whack, and I had to quit it quickly thereafter.
To the OP, I recently went back to the pill after 4-ish years using the NuvaRing. I have not noticed any significant change to my weight loss, although it may be slightly slower. I also have not noticed any extra weight gain from water retention or anything like that in correlation with beginning the pill. I am Microgestrin Fe 1/20. I wish you luck in finding what works best for you!
No offense but there would be no reason for emergency hysterectomies or infertility due to depo...ever it's a shot in the butt...
an IUD maybe...if it perforated the uterine wall...but those are rare.
I have used depo for over 10 years..took a break for an IUD for 7 years back on depo it's great.
I have lost most of my weight on depo.
As for the BC pill water retention is not real weight. BC pills or any other form does not magically create fat from nothing.0 -
on the one "off" week each month I'm dropping more weight than when I'm on the pill.
This probably has nothing to do with being on the pill. The "off" week is also the week you have your period. Whether I am on or off the pill, this happens to me, as I tend to retain water in the weeks before menstruation, so any fat loss is not noticeable until after I have my period and the weight drops. Like I said, on or off the pill I can work my butt off and lose nothing all month, then drop 5 lbs on day 3 of my period and keep it off.
That being said, I know a bunch of people who have gained weight just from using hormonal birth control. If that's the case, talk with your doctor and try another pill. As my doctor has told me, finding the right birth control is not an exact science, and you may need to try various levels of horomones to find something that suits you.0 -
It IS most definitely possible to gain weight on any kind of birth control method involving hormones. take it from someone who in '05, was on yasmin for 6 months and i literally blew up 50# during that time. i am convinced that had i remained on it to this day, id be on my way to 400, maybe even 500#, maybe even dead from sheer weight stress on my heart. you should definitely give it a little time, maybe two months, and if it still happens, talk to your doc about other options0
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It IS most definitely possible to gain weight on any kind of birth control method involving hormones. take it from someone who in '05, was on yasmin for 6 months and i literally blew up 50# during that time. i am convinced that had i remained on it to this day, id be on my way to 400, maybe even 500#, maybe even dead from sheer weight stress on my heart. you should definitely give it a little time, maybe two months, and if it still happens, talk to your doc about other options
It is possible to gain weight yes but hormonal BC does not create the calorie surplus. BC pills, the shot etc may increase your appetite...not hunger.
any weight gained while on BC is purely from a calorie surplus....0 -
Anyone take the shot? I'm considering getting the depo shot and everyone I know always gains at least 10 lbs on it! My sister gained 15... ugh.
I would definitely look into the side effects of the depo shot before starting it, and not only for weight loss reasons. While there are many women that use that form of birth control and are content with it, I have heard many horrible stories, including infertility and emergency hysterectomies. These stories are from people I know personally, so I know they are legitimate. If you go that route, I hope it works well for you. I was on it for about 6 months. While I was not tracking my weight at that time, so I cannot remember how it directly affected that aspect of my life, it through my hormones WAYYYY out of whack, and I had to quit it quickly thereafter.
To the OP, I recently went back to the pill after 4-ish years using the NuvaRing. I have not noticed any significant change to my weight loss, although it may be slightly slower. I also have not noticed any extra weight gain from water retention or anything like that in correlation with beginning the pill. I am Microgestrin Fe 1/20. I wish you luck in finding what works best for you!
No offense but there would be no reason for emergency hysterectomies or infertility due to depo...ever it's a shot in the butt...
an IUD maybe...if it perforated the uterine wall...but those are rare.
I have used depo for over 10 years..took a break for an IUD for 7 years back on depo it's great.
I have lost most of my weight on depo.
As for the BC pill water retention is not real weight. BC pills or any other form does not magically create fat from nothing.
Both me and my sister turned into raging b1tches on the depo shot. I felt awful for the entire three months. It's tough because you can't stop it!
My favorite thing to use was the ortho evra patch. kept acne clear and no negative side effects for me. The only downfall was hiding it someplace during beach season.0 -
Anyone take the shot? I'm considering getting the depo shot and everyone I know always gains at least 10 lbs on it! My sister gained 15... ugh.
I had the depo in January this year. I've lost 35 lbs since then so it certainly didn't effect me that way. Everyone is different and their body will react a different way. Plus its human nature to talk about (or post on the internet about) bad experiences rather than good so you are likely to hear the bad / extreme rather than the good / normal.0 -
Appetite is hunger, if your appetite is bigger you're going to be hungry more, therefore you eat more0
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Finding the right type of birth control for you - effective, convenient, etc. is important and for most people it takes a bit of trail and error. If this method is working for you I would stick with it. As women we have period and hormone issues that lead to weird weight fluctuations so I wouldn't concentrate on week to week but the fact that from month to month you are losing weight. If it is nothing one week and quite a bit in the next it will all work out in the wash.0
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Anyone take the shot? I'm considering getting the depo shot and everyone I know always gains at least 10 lbs on it! My sister gained 15... ugh.
I would definitely look into the side effects of the depo shot before starting it, and not only for weight loss reasons. While there are many women that use that form of birth control and are content with it, I have heard many horrible stories, including infertility and emergency hysterectomies. These stories are from people I know personally, so I know they are legitimate. If you go that route, I hope it works well for you. I was on it for about 6 months. While I was not tracking my weight at that time, so I cannot remember how it directly affected that aspect of my life, it through my hormones WAYYYY out of whack, and I had to quit it quickly thereafter.
To the OP, I recently went back to the pill after 4-ish years using the NuvaRing. I have not noticed any significant change to my weight loss, although it may be slightly slower. I also have not noticed any extra weight gain from water retention or anything like that in correlation with beginning the pill. I am Microgestrin Fe 1/20. I wish you luck in finding what works best for you!
No offense but there would be no reason for emergency hysterectomies or infertility due to depo...ever it's a shot in the butt...
an IUD maybe...if it perforated the uterine wall...but those are rare.
I have used depo for over 10 years..took a break for an IUD for 7 years back on depo it's great.
I have lost most of my weight on depo.
As for the BC pill water retention is not real weight. BC pills or any other form does not magically create fat from nothing.
Both me and my sister turned into raging b1tches on the depo shot. I felt awful for the entire three months. It's tough because you can't stop it!
As to the patch issue, wear it in your bra, since we don't have hair on our chests like guys
My favorite thing to use was the ortho evra patch. kept acne clear and no negative side effects for me. The only downfall was hiding it someplace during beach season.0 -
Appetite is hunger, if your appetite is bigger you're going to be hungry more, therefore you eat more
No appetite <> hunger
Appetite is the desire for specific foods which is totally psychological
Hunger is the need for any food which is totally physcial..
For example increased appetite may make you crave starchy sweet carbs like peacan tarts...
Hunger means it doesn't matter you just need food...and almost anything will do.0 -
Looks like that kitty could use some help with its weight too0
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Looks like that kitty could use some help with its weight too
?0 -
I have heard that you actually burn more calories the week of your period though, so it could be this. Also, most of us tend to bloat and retain more water right before our periods, which might make it seem like you're losing more, when your body is simply letting go of excess water once you start.
I have never heard anything about the metabolism burning faster during one's period, but if that's accurate then I agree with this post: water retention and then water release + faster metabolism = seemingly rapid weight loss.
BC effects everyone differently, two of the potential side effects of Yaz BC listed on the online drug index (http://www.rxlist.com/yaz-side-effects-drug-center.htm) are "changes in weight or appetite" and "weight gain." I've been on yaz for about 5 years now (with a three month break last summer) and I've noticed that I weigh about 5-8 pounds more than I did when I was not on it (even with exercise), though that could just be because my metabolism slowed from high school through college. Further, I started a diet and exercise regimen during my three month gap and I was shocked how quickly the pounds dropped off.
Yaz is also a very strong BC pill (it's always the same high concentration of hormone), if yours is designed to vary in hormone concentration based on where you are in your cycle, it probably has a much less significant impact on your body.
That said, I doubt a few days off the pill for your period are enough to see a noticeable change. I'm guessing it's as written above - probably more water weight than anything. If one or two of the pounds actually stay off after your period ends, perhaps some of it is due to rapid period-stage metabolism or perhaps it's due to being off the BC for a few days.
EDIT: To the person who said BC makes you retain water and therefore any loss of weight after going off it is not "real" weight: birth control tricks your body into thinking it's pregnant - pregnant bodies tend to build fat faster/more easily than non-pregnant bodies. It's not necessarily all water weight.0 -
I don't believe the issue is with the location of the shot. But yes, there are concerns with DEPO and other hormonal BC.Anyone take the shot? I'm considering getting the depo shot and everyone I know always gains at least 10 lbs on it! My sister gained 15... ugh.
I would definitely look into the side effects of the depo shot before starting it, and not only for weight loss reasons. While there are many women that use that form of birth control and are content with it, I have heard many horrible stories, including infertility and emergency hysterectomies. These stories are from people I know personally, so I know they are legitimate. If you go that route, I hope it works well for you. I was on it for about 6 months. While I was not tracking my weight at that time, so I cannot remember how it directly affected that aspect of my life, it through my hormones WAYYYY out of whack, and I had to quit it quickly thereafter.
To the OP, I recently went back to the pill after 4-ish years using the NuvaRing. I have not noticed any significant change to my weight loss, although it may be slightly slower. I also have not noticed any extra weight gain from water retention or anything like that in correlation with beginning the pill. I am Microgestrin Fe 1/20. I wish you luck in finding what works best for you!
No offense but there would be no reason for emergency hysterectomies or infertility due to depo...ever it's a shot in the butt...
an IUD maybe...if it perforated the uterine wall...but those are rare.
I have used depo for over 10 years..took a break for an IUD for 7 years back on depo it's great.
I have lost most of my weight on depo.
As for the BC pill water retention is not real weight. BC pills or any other form does not magically create fat from nothing.0 -
For me lately it seem that yes, it does, but I'm on one of those pills that you take for three months straight and only get your period at the end of the three months. My body is fighting the pills I think because no matter what I do I can't lose a pound during the three months of the active pills.0
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I don't believe the issue is with the location of the shot. But yes, there are concerns with DEPO and other hormonal BC.Anyone take the shot? I'm considering getting the depo shot and everyone I know always gains at least 10 lbs on it! My sister gained 15... ugh.
I would definitely look into the side effects of the depo shot before starting it, and not only for weight loss reasons. While there are many women that use that form of birth control and are content with it, I have heard many horrible stories, including infertility and emergency hysterectomies. These stories are from people I know personally, so I know they are legitimate. If you go that route, I hope it works well for you. I was on it for about 6 months. While I was not tracking my weight at that time, so I cannot remember how it directly affected that aspect of my life, it through my hormones WAYYYY out of whack, and I had to quit it quickly thereafter.
To the OP, I recently went back to the pill after 4-ish years using the NuvaRing. I have not noticed any significant change to my weight loss, although it may be slightly slower. I also have not noticed any extra weight gain from water retention or anything like that in correlation with beginning the pill. I am Microgestrin Fe 1/20. I wish you luck in finding what works best for you!
No offense but there would be no reason for emergency hysterectomies or infertility due to depo...ever it's a shot in the butt...
an IUD maybe...if it perforated the uterine wall...but those are rare.
I have used depo for over 10 years..took a break for an IUD for 7 years back on depo it's great.
I have lost most of my weight on depo.
As for the BC pill water retention is not real weight. BC pills or any other form does not magically create fat from nothing.
Agreed with the concerns but IUD's are known for issues such as infertility etc..not depo.
I know that depos main concern is the bone density in young women esp between the ages of 14-20...even in older woman like me however I did have a bone scan done and there were no issues what so ever.
Along with other things that can happen from any form of hormone treatment which include for menopause etc all have their risks...but again I personally (and this is based on information from speicalist because I personally have issues with BC, fertility etc) and they are family so I trust that they wouldn't give me bad info Depo, Mirena and other forms of hormonal BC do not cause excess weight gain...ie 50-100lbs...
As for the emergency surgery etc I did speak with my aunt ob/gyn and in her entire career she has never heard of such a thing and she lives in a major centre and has been a doctor for a long time and keeps current as she is also a professor at a medical school....IUD's on the other hand..yup happens more frequently than she would like to see...0 -
Weight gain is a side effect of any birth control. I'm currently on the Nuva Ring because it's a lower dose of hormones (although they're slightly different from the hormones used in other BCs), and the dosage stays consistent throughout the 3 weeks I have it in. I've been on ortho tri-cyclen lo, ortho tri-cyclen, ortho cyclen (briefly; it made me more depressed than others), Yasmin, and the Nuva Ring. I like the Nuva Ring because I don't have to worry about taking a pill every day, but I've noticed that my weight has varied across all of these birth controls. I'm about 10 pounds heavier with the Nuva Ring, and I'm working on trying to lose that, but I feel like every time I put a new ring in, I have to readjust to hormones and cravings that they cause. At one point, I finally got below 130, but I'm premenstrual now and back up to 133. I've begun to keep track of my weight every week, and I'm hypothesizing that my weight will always fluctuate by about 3 pounds in either direction. It does seem much harder to lose weight now, but that could be an effect of aging and a slowed metabolism and/or the hormones in my current BC method. You may want to talk to a medical professional about the possibility of getting birth control that has a lower dosage of hormones. I'm beginning to think about getting a Paragard, because it's completely hormone free and lasts for up to 10 years. Either way, it's your choice; just do what you think is best for your body.0
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A coworker was on depo for 3 years and she's recently gained about 15 pounds....because she's 5 months pregnant despite getting her injections on timeAnyone take the shot? I'm considering getting the depo shot and everyone I know always gains at least 10 lbs on it! My sister gained 15... ugh.
Just remember that they are now finding that depo loses it's effectiveness after a couple of years.0 -
Everyone will of course react differently but hormonal contraceptives can cause water retention, they can mess with your thyroid and they also make it harder to build muscle. There are enough hormone-free options out there that are just as safe or even safer so if you're suffering from side effects, there's no reason why you should have to keep suffering.
Oh, and btw: Hormonal contraceptives do NOT make your body think you're pregnant. They put you continuously in the second, post-ovulation part of a natural cycle (the luteal phase).0
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