When will I finally Lose the Weight After Depo Provera?

Just a little more "anecdata" which I know isn't scientific proof at all. I was on depo about 20 years ago and saw a definite weight gain with no change to my normal activity. I don't remember if I was eating more, but it was unusual enough that I complained to my gyno who offered to stop the shots. I liked the ease of it and just kept taking it, I guess for about 3 years until I was married and ready to try to have a baby. Over the course of that time I gained about 45-50 pounds.

Here I am 20 years later FINALLY getting that weight off. So I might be able to attribute the *gain* to the shot, but I can only attribute the *maintenance* of the gain to my lack of control over my eating and activity. Because once I got off the shot I swore I would never use depo or the pill again. Thankfully after you've had one baby they let you get an IUD and that didn't seem to affect my weight at all.

I want to put in a word on the good side for Depo here. Depo does not work equally for everyone, and it's effects differ dramatically between users. I was on Depo for 2 years in high school and was going to the gym everyday, sometimes twice a day. I never gained a pound on it. I switched to the pill for a year, gained 15 pounds, and so switched back. However, when I got back on depo, I went off to college, where I was carb loading 2 or 3 times a day and spending hours sitting in front of my computer working. I have gained 30 pounds in about a year and a half.

Did depo cause this gain? no. Did it contribute to it by slowing my metabolism slightly? Yes. If you intend to get on Depo it is ESSENTIAL that you bump up your exercise and cut down your carbs. There are pros and cons to every form of birth control.

You know I was kind of thinking of doing the same post...Heres my story

My youngest was born 3/16/11 and I was put on the depo and was on it for almost for 2 years til last year a year ago 1/2/13 and all of last year I was still gaining weight. At first no I wasnt eating less and wasnt truly being too active besides for my job. But for a while I was eating fast food alot of lunch basically from Feb '13 til July '13....End of June I joined a 30 day challenge group on FB for the abs and started to eat healthier for lunch and dinner and heck even started to eat breakfast. I went on vacation end of July and didnt do much of anything for my weight til Sept of '13....I couldnt believe that I was still gaining weight { I thought I was eating at a deficit}. Joined this sight still gained topping out at 192. I realized I was getting alot of "empty calories" with my drinks from my coffee creamer to my wine in take. I cut back on alot of I normally drink and eat. Basically cut out virtually all sodas, only drink 3-4 tablespoons of creamer now instead of the usual 4-6 ozs of it. Drink about 10 ozs of wine 2xs or less a week now instead of my nightly 20zs or more. So to say that it took me over 9 months of coming off of the depo and eating at a deficit now I am finally losing weight

From what I've read, Depo is more likely to make you gain weight if you start off thin. So if you're heavy when you take it, you're less likely to gain weight. This is thought to be because they don't adjust the dosage based on weight, so a smaller person gets a more concentrated dose of the hormones.

Good luck. I have a friend who was on Depo for years. I know she struggled to lose weight. Not sure if it was the Depo or not. Google search it though, there's lots of information, including studies.

From what I've read, Depo is more likely to make you gain weight if you start off thin. So if you're heavy when you take it, you're less likely to gain weight. This is thought to be because they don't adjust the dosage based on weight, so a smaller person gets a more concentrated dose of the hormones.

Good luck. I have a friend who was on Depo for years. I know she struggled to lose weight. Not sure if it was the Depo or not. Google search it though, there's lots of information, including studies.

Not necessarily a friend of mine whos a little shorter then I am was on it longer then I am and never gained any weight. She basically stayed at 130-135 lbs

I have been on Depo since August of 2011 and have lost 50+ lbs. It isn't the Depo that makes you gain weight, unless you already had a weight issue to begin with. Your doctor should have explained that to you. I still get the shot and am still losing weight.

In some women (I am one) progesterone only birth control can help facilitate weight gain... I figured this out for myself, when I gained back all my pregnancy weight (which was only 11 pounds) after being on the mini-pill (which is progesterone only just as the Depo shot is) while breastfeeding and eating right. I had all the same side effects on the mini-pill (weight gain and week long light periods every two weeks) as I did on the shot. I have been on the patch for years and have never had the massive increase in weight... When I first started on Depo, I was 127 within 3 months I was 155... I didn't eat THAT much and I walked everywhere...

I was on the shot for a little over a year. I gained about 25 lbs. I had my last shot in August 2010 and it wasn't until January of 2011 that I was able to feel like things were back in balance and was able to workout, eat right and ended up losing 65lbs. Everyone's body is different so it may take you longer/shorter for your body to get right. Just keep at it and keep working out and eating right and it will start to show. :flowerforyou:

Omg girls I must tell you the depo was the worst thing ever!!!! Ok so I got pregnant had my baby and immediately started working out , got on the shot and struggled losing all my baby weight a year goes by and still no results I was dieting hard core running and exercising like crazy . I said f this im going on the birth control pills the mild ones ok literally a month goes by and I had lost 10 pounds . No exaggeration what so ever do not go on that depo shot not worth it!

Maybe wait till 3 months after your shot and continue your exercise routine, maybe at that days it will kick it in, coz i start having them last year and try to lose weight but that didn't happen after 3 to 4 months and after those months I did lose weight slowly but surely. then gained some of it last holiday, and try to get back on track. I think I am doing it well so, I don't know if I'm just lucky that I don't gained because of the shot but because of my own wanting to eat like a pig. lol and oh please take vitamin c while in Depo

I read so many posts about the opinion Depo does not cause weight gain...I have to say I don't agree. I started Depo 5 months ago, first of all I had a period for 4 of those 5 months, I have gained 30 pounds. I have ALWAYS been thin, 120 - 125 pounds all my life - Im 40 now. No matter how I exercised or ate Ive always stayed within 5 pounds of my ideal weight. Being on Depo, not changing my diet or exercise routine I gained 15 pounds right away, than seeing I was gaining I cut my calories by 400 a day, I started working out and absolutely NOTHING happened but 15 more pounds! I keep expanding...mostly on my belly. I have always had a rock hard belly 24 - 26" waist, now its 36"!! The only thing that could be causing this is the Depo. My doctor warned me about weight gain, he said I would feel like eating all the time but should restrain myself. I have restrained myself, I have cut out carbs, sugars, I eat only lean meats and veggies and yogurt. I stay under 1000 calories a day and I walk 10 - 18 miles a week and do Yoga. Before Depo I did not exercise and averaged 1200 - 2000 calories a day. So please explain to me why this is happening? If Depo is not doing it what is?

After losing just about 20lbs and maintaining my weight loss for over 1.5 years from 146.5lbs to 127-129lbs (since I fluctuate so much), I switched from the pill to Depo on March 21st (after a pregnancy scare) since then have put on 7lbs as well as constant bleeding and spotting; I have always been regular. I am so disheartened over this weight gain, as I worked my butt off to lose the weight after having kids. I continue to lead a healthy lifestyle with healthy eating. I am due for my second shot but I think I am going to switch and go back on the pill, I really do NOT want to gain anymore weight back.

I've been on depo for 10 years, and I've experienced every side effect known for this drug.....low to no sex drive, weight gain, weight loss, hermone inbalance, early menopause symptoms, low testosterone, low estrogen, my body hair even stop growing. ...Ive had it all! When I first tried it I gained 20lbs within 6 months. I was a college dancer, very active and I was a very healthy eater. My doc failed to tell me that I was going to gain weight....I hated it! While on the shot I couldn't get the weight off any kind of way. When I took breaks in between the shot I danced, exercised, ate the right the foods and worked out...and it fell right off! I then stopped using the shot and the weight kept slowly fell off. At that time I couldnt believe that a drug could make me gain weight since I controlled what I ate, how much I ate and how often I exercised, wow was I wrong! A few years later when I got in a serious relationship I went back on the shot.....amazingly this time I LOST weight, it was great. My new OBGYN told me that many women experience weight loss when they get back on the shot after cleansing their system of the shot for a few years. So unfortunately you risk the chance of either losing/maintaining your weight or gaining UNCONTROABLE weight as my doc explained......I gave the shot a rest for 3 years and enjoyed my new skinny then went back on for the third time thinking I would have the same weight loss experience! I am still very active, work out on a regular basis, I eat right and so far I have put on 40lbs within 2 yrs on the shot, again I have no idea what to do with weight! I've tried everything. ...Nutrisystem, Hydroxicut, prescription diet pills so far the weight is SLOWLY......very, very slowly falling off. I've never had a problem losing or maintaining my healthy weight.....so this time I'm done for good, Im sure like before the weight will fall off after 3 months of no depo in my system. ...I won't be doing depo ever again!

When i was on Depo I maintained my weight and actually feel on the lighter side of my normal weight. 165lbs-170lbs. Once off of Depo and onto an oral contraceptive I gained 25lbs in six months. I feel that it may have been hormones from the shot but now that I've been off it since November I've had no issues.

I'm 22 I tried to depo once about 3 months ago. It should be currently wearing off. I'm going to let it wear off because although I had gotten thicker before the shot I did notice that my appetite grew after getting the shot. I started getting cravings for fast foods. I'm never going on it again. The idea was to not get pregnant after the shot and now people are asking me if i am pregnant. People are assuming because of my weight that I am pregnant. I am going to stick with condoms for now

Currently using depo...since October 2013...prior to that Mirena for 7 years..prior to that Depo for 10 years....note ticker below.