Birth control and weight loss

Amanda82691
Amanda82691 Posts: 298 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Have any of you ladies lost weight on the birth control pill?? I am on it and have been on it for years since I was 22 for heavy menstral cycles now use it for birth control. I won't do IUD's but I'm concerned that a lot of my weight maybe from the pill. Just curious to hear from you ladies.

Replies

  • SusanMFindlay
    SusanMFindlay Posts: 1,804 Member
    Birth control doesn't make you gain weight directly.

    For some people, birth control increases (in some cases dramatically) their hunger. If you're tracking and the hunger isn't bad enough to make you eat more, you won't gain. If you're one of these people and you're not tracking, it's common to eat more because you're hungrier and, of course, eating more makes you gain weight. I *was* tracking, but the hunger was so bad that I watched myself eat more and gain weight (20 pounds before I leveled out). My horrible doctor had zero sympathy and no interest in switching me to a different pill that wouldn't have the same effect on my appetite. I am no longer with that doctor. (And no longer on the pill for unrelated reasons.)

    (copied myself from another thread)
  • MoveitlikeManda
    MoveitlikeManda Posts: 846 Member
    the pill dont make me gain weight but it does make me retain water which masks actuall weight loss.

    when i have my week break i usually have a big drop on the scales around 2-3 days after my period starts because the water weight comes off and shows my actual weight loss

    even if the pill does make you feel more hungry its your job to track everything you eat and stick to your calorie goal and you WILL loose weight
  • dragon_girl26
    dragon_girl26 Posts: 2,187 Member
    mbaby86 wrote: »
    the pill dont make me gain weight but it does make me retain water which masks actuall weight loss.

    when i have my week break i usually have a big drop on the scales around 2-3 days after my period starts because the water weight comes off and shows my actual weight loss

    even if the pill does make you feel more hungry its your job to track everything you eat and stick to your calorie goal and you WILL loose weight

    This is my experience as well. I've been losing weight and continue to lose taking the pill. As long as you continue to weigh/log your intake diligently and eat at a calorie deficit, the pill won't change your weight loss.
  • yayamom3
    yayamom3 Posts: 939 Member
    I am able to lose weight on the pill. Also, since I switched to the continuous pill and no longer have my period, my results have been even better. The increased hunger and water retention (and also the terrible headaches and cramps) during my PMS are gone, which is a blessing in my weight loss journey.
  • bendis2007
    bendis2007 Posts: 82 Member
    edited September 2016
    Yup, I've been taking the pill for a few years and I've lost over 50 pounds. I agree with the above posters - when I finish my 21 days of pills the weight drops a few pounds for that week before I start up again.
    If you're having trouble maybe switching brands or switching the levels of estrogen and progesterone might help? I know I've been on a few different types over the years and certain pills made me just want chocolate and potato chips all.the.time.
  • Alyssa_Is_LosingIt
    Alyssa_Is_LosingIt Posts: 4,696 Member
    SusanMFindlay wrote: »
    Birth control doesn't make you gain weight directly.

    For some people, birth control increases (in some cases dramatically) their hunger. If you're tracking and the hunger isn't bad enough to make you eat more, you won't gain. If you're one of these people and you're not tracking, it's common to eat more because you're hungrier and, of course, eating more makes you gain weight. I *was* tracking, but the hunger was so bad that I watched myself eat more and gain weight (20 pounds before I leveled out). My horrible doctor had zero sympathy and no interest in switching me to a different pill that wouldn't have the same effect on my appetite. I am no longer with that doctor. (And no longer on the pill for unrelated reasons.)

    (copied myself from another thread)

    This.

    If the hunger gets to be too much for you, you can either talk to your doctor about switching (not all of them affect everyone the same way) or eat at a smaller calorie deficit and maybe eat more fat for satiety. You will lose weight more slowly, but you will still lose weight.

    I have the Mirena IUD and have been on the pill in the past and never had trouble losing or maintaining my weight.
  • laur357
    laur357 Posts: 896 Member
    No problem for me. I do gain or hold on to 1-2 pounds of water weight during my placebo pill week.
  • karliwelhoelter
    karliwelhoelter Posts: 22 Member
    I never had a problem managing my weight when I was on seasonique, a pill. However, I got Mirena inserted in December and I definitely noticed a rather quick 10lb weight gain as well as acne all along my jawline and I'm more fatigued. Different hormones will affect people differently, and in my case the progestin-only method is having some adverse side affects that I'm not too happy about, and don't consider it a fair trade to protect against pregnancy.
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