Depo Shot issues

cherrybomb333
cherrybomb333 Posts: 332 Member
edited November 18 in Motivation and Support
Just wondering if anyone else has had issues with weight gain on Depo provera. I started on the shot in January and my weight has gone up around 20 pounds. I've been on an active gym routine, consistently eating clean for the past two months, and I'm still unable to shed any of the weight ive gained. I plan to get off of the shot when my next round is due, but in the meantime any advice/support would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Replies

  • ThickMcRunFast
    ThickMcRunFast Posts: 22,511 Member
    Depo doesn't make you gain weight, but it can make you hungrier (personally I love it and have never had any problems, but BC is an experiment of one for most people). Even if you are 'eating clean', if you are eating at a surplus, you will gain weight.
  • 1966spen
    1966spen Posts: 33 Member
    Been on depo for years. Doesn't make you put on weight. Eating too much makes you put on weight. Managing to lose weight no prob. 21 lbs in just under 6 months
  • Iron_Mommy
    Iron_Mommy Posts: 25 Member
    I've been on depo for 6 months now. About 3 months ago I realized I was gaining rapidly. Then I remembered my doctor telling me that depo might make it hard for some women to know when to stop eating. And then I realized I was binge eating basically all day. It was crazy! I didn't even notice how much more I was eating. That's when I got back on MFP so I could keep track of what I'm eating. I haven't lost much yet, but I'm still hopeful. Now, the crazy random light spotting to heavy bleeding constantly... that's a whole other topic!
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    Ive been on depo for this entire process. Search the forums for threads about birth control and weight gain, you'll find thousands of them.
    Ive never had an issue with depo and lost all my weight with no problem. I once had this talk with my doctor who strongly supports mfp. He said when he hears patients complain about weight gain on depo he asks them to buy a food scale and weigh and measure everything they consume and log it on mfp. He asks them to come back in about six weeks . When they come back, they realize it was about how many calories they're consuming and a shot isnt going to cause weight gain, a calorie surplus causes weight gain. With that being said though, maybe these people are experiencing more cravings that are causing them to want to eat more but it still comes down to the calories consumed. If They are caving into the cravings and eating more then they should, of coarse they'll gain weight. If they ignore the cravings and dont eat more, then they wont.
  • zoeysasha37
    zoeysasha37 Posts: 7,088 Member
    Forgot to add, eating clean has nothing to do with it. Its going to come down to calories in ~calories out
  • madhatter2013
    madhatter2013 Posts: 1,547 Member
    I was on Depo for 8 years then switched to IUD because of the bone loss problem that is associated with Depo. Never had weight problems because of Depo. You're eating too much.
  • discretekim
    discretekim Posts: 314 Member
    I tried this last year and it was the worst choice of my life. I bled the entire three months almost. Had insomnia, and incredible pain whenever I did try to have sex. I don't think it affected my weight. Also it seemed to help my skin more than the pill, but it was not worth it for me.
  • shinisize
    shinisize Posts: 105 Member
    A side effect of hormonal birth control can be PMS-like hunger and cravings. Most women don't even realize how much they are actually eating until they start logging. Sometimes switching to a different BC helps, sometimes it doesn't, it all depends on how your body reacts to the hormones (and there are so many different versions of hormones used and different ratios that it can take some time to find a good fit).
  • jessica22222
    jessica22222 Posts: 374 Member
    I was very hungry all the time the first 5 months. Now I think it's starting to level out. My hunger is under control now. I know the shot doesn't make you gain weight, but the effect of being hungry all the time will. I put on about 10 lbs and now it's starting to come off. Maybe give it some time or start an iud.
  • Stephlamon89
    Stephlamon89 Posts: 31 Member
    I gained 40lbs in the 6 months I was on it. Also bled the whole time and was super hormonal. Ended up pregnant again anyway. Lol. Anyway, I'd never go on it again.
  • rebeccaEsmith
    rebeccaEsmith Posts: 1,136 Member
    Ive been on depo for almost a year now and i have been loosing weight, i don't think its the shot, i thought i was eating right until i seen a specialist on food and wow what a difference it makes im eating more now then ever and still loosing the weight with working out 5 days a week
  • missiontofitness
    missiontofitness Posts: 4,059 Member
    cherrybomb333 wrote: »
    Just wondering if anyone else has had issues with weight gain on Depo provera. I started on the shot in January and my weight has gone up around 20 pounds. I've been on an active gym routine, consistently eating clean for the past two months, and I'm still unable to shed any of the weight ive gained. I plan to get off of the shot when my next round is due, but in the meantime any advice/support would be appreciated.

    Thanks!

    I've been on it several years, transitioning off it soon. Depo cannot cause weight gain directly. It can affect your appetite. I have easily maintained and lost on Depo when tracking my calories. If you aren't losing, you aren't currently in a deficit. I would highly recommend a food scale, and making sure you are using verified entries in the database. An accurate calorie log has made my weight loss progress over the past year possible.
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