On Birth Control and Having A Difficult Time

What birth control are you currently taking? I am on mirana and i still have been successful in losing weight. Diet and exercise are really the only way to lose weight and keep it off. You should see your diet as a lifestyle change not so much as a way to lose weight... Not sure of yoru current size; however, if you try to keep around 1200 calories a day you should lose between 1.5-2lbs a week.

I've been on Depo for years and don't see any effect in my weight loss, although my GYN asks me every time I see her if I'm noticing any weight gain. Sounds like it must impact some people and cause problems with weight loss/gain!

Taking birth control doesn't make you gain weight-- weight gain is strictly calories in vs calories expended. As long as you are following your allotment of calories and have a deficit though exercise, you should be losing weight regardless of taking BC.

I'm so sorry to disagree with you, but one of the first things my doctor told me when going on birth control was I may gain weight,especially at first. Since I was warned, I made sure to watch what I was eating, but it does affect your body greatly depending on what type of birth control your on and the dosage you get.

As for my advice, make sure you're getting plenty of Vitamin D and eat more protien. It keeps you fuller longer, and if you feel as though you're hungry between meals, eat 4-5 small meals through out the day. Just stay as close to 1200 calories as you can and make sure to exercise 4-5 times a week!

Are there any other women out there on Birth Control [namely Depo] that are having a difficult time losing weight? If so, what have you done to make your weightloss successful?

I gained 60 lbs just because of depo. It IS a fact that some people CAN gain weight due to this birth control shot. It is in fact the most prominent side effect of it, and the doctor should have warned you about it.

The doc did tell me I could expect weight gain, I just didn't know how much. (I gained the extra 60 lbs without any change in lifestyle - except eating more due to increased appetite.) I tried losing weight by exercising regularly and changing my eating habits, but my weight loss wasn't significant enough. Once I stopped using it, I dropped the weight and an additional 40 lbs on top of the 60. (Obviously the weight didn't magically go away, and I had to eat a healthy diet and exercise on a regular basis.) In addition, there are other aspects to consider of depo shot, but I prefer not to talk those aspects of my body on a public forum.

Everybody reacts differently to it, so I would say try other options if depo doesn't work for you.

You may want to read this: http://www.monheit.com/depo-provera/side_effects.asp

I am using the Implanon birth control implant right now. I have not had any trouble loosing weight while using it.

*Just a side note. Be very careful with the Depo. I was on it for 3 years. I loved it. However my primary care Dr as well as my GYN said that it can cause bone loss after several years of use. So watch it with it. It can also cause problems getting pregnant after coming off of it. I did not get a period untill I was off of it for 8 months & then I was not even regular.

As said above, no BC does not directly make you gain weight. It is the side effects of taking it, ie increased appetite and therefore eating more because you feel hungry that is the cause of weight gain. Don't be so cruel, it was an honest question and it deserved a supportive answer, thats why most people are here, for support. With that said, being concious of said side effects can help you. Try going for a banana when you feel hungry as they are filling and will help curb that appetite. Increase water intake, make sure you are eating most of your calories not wasting them on drinks (ie soda, sweet tea, Juice). Try drinking a glass of water before a meal and during the meal as well. These simple tricks will go a long way if you let them. Good luck on your journey.

Are there any other women out there on Birth Control [namely Depo] that are having a difficult time losing weight? If so, what have you done to make your weightloss successful?

I gained 60 lbs just because of depo. It IS a fact that some people CAN gain weight due to this birth control shot. It is in fact the most prominent side effect of it, and the doctor should have warned you about it.

The doc did tell me I could expect weight gain, I just didn't know how much. (I gained the extra 60 lbs without any change in lifestyle - except eating more due to increased appetite.) I tried losing weight by exercising regularly and changing my eating habits, but my weight loss wasn't significant enough. Once I stopped using it, I dropped the weight and an additional 40 lbs on top of the 60. (Obviously the weight didn't magically go away, and I had to eat a healthy diet and exercise on a regular basis.) In addition, there are other aspects to consider of depo shot, but I prefer not to talk those aspects of my body on a public forum.

Everybody reacts differently to it, so I would say try other options if depo doesn't work for you.

You may want to read this: http://www.monheit.com/depo-provera/side_effects.asp

I haven't read the other responses, but in college I went on the depo shot and the doctor told me it is a misconception that women gain weight because of the shot, they gain weight because the depo shot makes them hungry so they tend to eat more and that makes them gain weight. Which makes sense to me, I did gain weight while on the shot but I was eating more.

depo can make some people gain weight. just switch to the pill.. to see if it makes a difference. I know it's less convenient.

I got off the pill, and I am having a much easier time losing weight without it.

It does make you hungry. Who in their right mind doesn't eat when they are hungry? Yes, you can reach for something healthy when you are hungry, but for a petite woman such as myself, it only takes 100-200 calories over to start putting on weight. I was a healthy weight when I started taking them, and I didn't know or care that it might make me hungry, but after about a decade of this nonsense, I realized what was going on and I wanted to get off of them.

I am now hoping to get an IUD, but I have to wait for my period to get one inserted since I've never had kids. Unfortunately, I haven't had a period in two months, so I have a doctor's appointment today. I know I'm not pregnant, because I've been very careful not to have sex since getting off of the pill, but man, this celibacy thing gets old real fast. Otherwise, I feel fantastic, the weight is coming off, and eating right is much easier to do.

I was on that and gained 40 pounds then got off of it and bleed for 8 months straight! I would get off that get on the pill or something else! It's bad stuff!

I can't take Depo. My doctor tried me out on a pill that was about the same to see how I did and I was a mess. My hormones were all over the place. They can make you gain weight. I would suggest when it is up to try a lower dose pill. I know it is something you have to take all the time but it won't have the effects of Depo. That is just my experience.

My sister gained on Depo.

Just keep moving and you can overcome the effects you are feeling. You can do this.