Mirena and weight gain

AEcklar813
AEcklar813 Posts: 184 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hey everyone!

I am not new to weight loss at all. Been at this 3 years and I lost 110lbs before getting pregnant with baby number 2. Since his birth (he will be 11 months old tomorrow) I decided to use Mirena for birth control and I have since then, gained like 17 lbs. Anyone else experience this type of weight gain with it?

I know that with birth control you can gain 5 lbs or so but it seems like I just CAN NOT lose weight. No matter what. I exercise 5 days a week mostly doing p90x3, Combat, slim in 6, 21 day fix, etc. I am fairly active. I am a SAHM to 2 beautiful kids, I am always cleaning the house, going for walks, pushing swings, playing in the sprinkler etc. My food during the week days is fantastic, on the weekends I splurge a bit but here lately have been reeling it in a lot. I drink water, no soda, no lemonades etc. This is driving me crazy.

Replies

  • tkcasta
    tkcasta Posts: 405 Member
    You say you splurge a bit, you are probably eating more than you think. I would be super diligent about weighing your food. Otherwise mirena is just progesterone, so I don't think you would have the same weight gain as you might with an estrogen.
  • buzybev
    buzybev Posts: 199 Member
    Are you weighing/measuring all of the foods/liquids that you consume?
  • maz504
    maz504 Posts: 450
    It's great you're getting a lot of activity in, but losing weight depends on how much you eat. Weigh all your solid foods on a food scale in grams, measure all your liquids with measuring cups/spoons, and log everything that goes in your mouth. It may seem overwhelming especially with two little ones at home but I promise you get in the habit so quickly that after a few days it doesn't take more than a few seconds out of your day.
  • aelphabawest
    aelphabawest Posts: 173 Member
    Weight gain is actually not a side effect of Mirena - I mean, talk to your doctor, of course, but it's not listed as a side effect meaning that there isn't a critical mass of people who experience that as a side effect. A quick google search confirms this - an advantage listed is "not causing weight gain."
  • AEcklar813
    AEcklar813 Posts: 184 Member
    Thanks everyone. Definitely being more mindful of weekend eating for sure here on out. I do measure everything I eat with measuring cups, weight, spoons, etc. I really think the weekend eating does it but it seems like it doesn't come off as easily as it used to. Guess my body has just changed a bit since my pregnancy.
  • munky_do
    munky_do Posts: 40 Member
    Just my own personal experience, I have had a mirena in for 7 years, had no problems with weight. It does sound like you're maybe taking in more calories than you think you are (I'm also a "splurger", but those splurges tend to happen more days than not when I actually pay attention). Also what other people have said about pregnancy could be part of it.
  • Sabine_Stroehm
    Sabine_Stroehm Posts: 19,263 Member
    My experience: because I'd gained weight on BCP, when I got Mirena I started logging my calories (on fit day.com), just to be sure. I was exercising and being very careful with my eating and YES, I gained weight. Most of it was water weight, which came off not long after having the Mirena removed. But yes. The scale went up, and stayed up as long as the Mirena was in me. To me, the Mirena felt like being in a constant state of PMS. Bloated, fat fingers, tight wedding ring, bigger boobs. BLECH.

    I had the Mirena removed, and finally said NO HORMONAL BC for me. Ever. There ARE other options.

    ETA: yes, I know Mirena says it's "local" and not "systemic". I do not believe that is always the case. I got migraines. I got acne. I got bloated. My boobs grew. I gained weight. Those are not "local" side effects.
  • munky_do
    munky_do Posts: 40 Member
    My experience: because I'd gained weight on BCP, when I got Mirena I started logging my calories (on fit day.com), just to be sure. I was exercising and being very careful with my eating and YES, I gained weight. Most of it was water weight, which came off not long after having the Mirena removed. But yes. The scale went up, and stayed up as long as the Mirena was in me. To me, the Mirena felt like being in a constant state of PMS. Bloated, fat fingers, tight wedding ring, bigger boobs. BLECH.

    I had the Mirena removed, and finally said NO HORMONAL BC for me. Ever. There ARE other options.

    ETA: yes, I know Mirena says it's "local" and not "systemic". I do not believe that is always the case. I got migraines. I got acne. I got bloated. My boobs grew. I gained weight. Those are not "local" side effects.

    You're right, everyone reacts differently to the same dose of hormones. I think I have an easier time with side effects like that because I'm 5'9" so a bigger build in general. Even BCPs weren't really a problem other than forgetting to take them.

Categories