Weight loss with birth control advice, 30lb gain.

I agree with talking to your doctor and getting blood work done. Maybe the b/c pills caused some sort of hormonal imbalance.

Sadly, for some of us ladies, the pill (and the therewith associated hormones) leads to an increase in appetite.

The first time I went on the pill, I gained about 20kg. I wasn't tracking my intake but I assume (with hindsight) that I was simply eating more to try and slay that ravenous dragon in the pit of my stomach. It's been a while, so I don't remember exactly how I felt, but it's the feeling I have right now. My GP ended up performing every test under the sun as a 20kg gain in less than a year was rather worrisome to him (oddly enough, for my gynecologist it was statistically not relevant). He found nothing even after repeated testing.

This time around, I'm maintaining (I started again in December). I'm still white knuckling the increased appetite somewhat but I haven't gained a gram since starting (well went up 3kg over Christmas/New Years but that's finally gone again). Sadly, I have little choice on whether I take the hormones or not and the added appetite/feeling of hunger is simple something I'm going to have to deal with within the limits of my maintenance calories (the alternatives would make me fully infertile and I'm too young yet for any doctor with half a wit to even consider that).

I'll start gently cutting again once I feel I have better control over myself but it's a daily struggle since I'm not eating to my appetite. Where I not tracking my intake, I probably wouldn't notice (a bit more chocolate here, an added serving of lunch there, just one more fruit than really necessary...) as I would simply assume I'm hungry and eat something. It sneaks up on you.

Do get a check up at the doctor. But please don't be disappointed if he finds nothing and realize that your mind can seriously trick you into eating more than you think if you're not tracking.

Keep doing what you're doing and eventually (slowly and gradually) your body will release that fat reserve it's talked itself into acquiring again. But it does take persistence and consistency over a prolonged time. What your body achieved in 6 months might take upwards of a year to undo as hormones can really really really suck.

Op, nowhere in your first post do you mention how many calories you're eating?

are you weighing and measuring everything?

Progesterone pill can cause weight gain it says on leaflet
Hormone medication can make it harder to lose weight
Years ago I lost weight easily but after 40 on birth control its harder doing similar as I did years ago
We are all different no one can possibly know how a medication can effect each individual

I've been on Loestrine 24, and right now I'm on a progesterone (megace/megesterol), and I've been lucky enough that even with increased hunger, I've been able to lose weight and from going straight from one of the other.

If you've been careful about your foods, logging accurately down to even weighing your food, etc. (your diary isn't open to the public to determine or ask about anything specifically), then I'd talk to your doctor and explain your concerns, see what tests they can run to see if it is a hormonal imbalance, or perhaps a different issue that has come up if they're looking specifically for a problem (or if they were already covered by the tests you have had ran) or just if they have any recommendations specifically for you.

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There's nothing the pill does that causes magical weight gain. When weight is listed as a side effect it is usually because of an increase in appetite causing people to eat more without realising. Or sometimes they do realise.
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Aside from messing with hormones and changing what the body wants to do organically. Hormones are everything...they control everything within our bodies including how our bodies respond to nutrients ...all signals sent to the brain to hold/ release, feel hunger etc etc (you get my point) are all controlled with hormones. So yes taking something that directly effects hormones can for sure effect some in some pretty wacky ways and even "not understood" ways!

Pale_Green wrote: »

I gained 40 in 6 months when I first went on Birth Control. For "some" women the pill is the devil. And anyone that tells you different is a Man or is just plain lucky to not have had the body chemistry to have that horrible effect. I went off, and over the years tried different ones..nuva ring was the only one that didn't cause my brain to stroke out (seriously went nuts on all pill form) and I didn't gain weight on it. BUT!!...I started to get unnerving sharp pains behind my knee caps...scared me so I stopped that too. Now I just am careful with the husband.

Careful does not prevent pregnancy. I'm assuming you and your husband are at a point in your lives where you are prepared for a surprise pregnancy. If so, a congratulations are in your future. If you are not wanting to become pregnant at this time you need to be on a reliable form of birth control. Talk to your doctor. If you feel hormonal birth control gives you problems there are options without hormones. Also, it is important to note that pregnancy is a huge contributor to weight gain, much more so than birth control.

Pale_Green wrote: »

Aside from messing with hormones and changing what the body wants to do organically. Hormones are everything...they control everything within our bodies including how our bodies respond to nutrients ...all signals sent to the brain to hold/ release, feel hunger etc etc (you get my point) are all controlled with hormones. So yes taking something that directly effects hormones can for sure effect some in some pretty wacky ways and even "not understood" ways!

Well, yes, but the only way it can actually affect fat stores is good old fashioned (a) appetite or (b) metabolic effects making you burn less.

(b) is going to be pretty limited in scope and you can get round it by being more active (barring an actual metabolic disorder, which needs to be treated first).

My hunch is that most of the weight gain is due to (a). Increased appetite doesn't just make you feel hunger, it will also make portions look smaller and (in my experience) make you more forgetful of what you have eaten. That's more than enough to cause weight gain.

If course, then there is (c) water weight, which will go loopy and confuse the issue completely, as you can't see clearly how much fat you have gained or lost.