Seriously?!

Probably the most public case (over here in the UK anyway):

http://lifestyle.aol.co.uk/2011/03/06/michelle-heaton-diet-pills-gave-me-heart-disease/

http://article.wn.com/view/2012/01/09/Diet_pill_use_left_me_with_high_a_risk_pregnancy_Michelle_He/

Food for thought...

I never thought of doing measurements... I just went off birth control and this will be my first cycle all naturale. My eating has been good. Always under 1500 calories. Think I might just lower it down to 1200.

So, it never occurred to you that because you're off birth control you may gain weight as your body is changing back to normal?

Well I gained 10 pounds when I went on BC so going off of it I thought naturally it would come off again.

When I went off BC I gained weight initially but then it came off (I too thought that since I gained when I went on them it would naturally come off when I stopped). I have heard that it can take several months before your body adjusts to being off BC (and having all the hormones out of your system).

Hang in there and eat healthy and exercise.

If you've been on hormonal birth control for a long time, then you aren't used to your body's normal bloat/shed cycles. I bloat very badly right before/during menstruation (sometimes 5-7 lb!) and a little bit right around ovulation (around 2-3 lb). I was on HBC for a number of years and was freaked out by this when I came off of it, especially because at first the bloating was all over the place as my hormones settled into proper rhythm. Last time I went on them, I gained 9 lb in two months. It did take a few more months for those 9 lb to come off. It happens, but it just takes a little time!

A few other things that others have touched on: when you make a lifestyle change, it can take time to show. Starting a new workout routine, or increasing intensity, can cause your body to retain water to heal itself. This is a good thing, even though it shows up on the scale as a gain, because it's all part of the process of getting fitter and healthier. I do highly recommend taking measurements and % body fat, as well as "before" pictures. We often don't notice little changes in definition until we compare before/after pictures, and that can be a huge boost on the weeks when the scale is being a jerk (which will happen from time to time). I haven't seen the scale move much in the past couple months, but my % body fat is dropping and my pics are showing much more definition change than I have noticed with my own eyes!

If you get another month or so in and still aren't noticing many changes, it might be a good idea to get checked out by a doctor. Stress and addiction can both throw hormones out of whack, and it might be worth getting a check up just to make sure everything is settling into place and there are no underlying thyroid problems or anything of that nature.

Good luck!

Thanks to all the people who tried to help rather than reprimand... I will try drinking more water, weighing myself less, taking measurements... this experience is fairly new to me. I appreciate all your support.

To all the people trying to reprimand me for sharing how I feel, go away. You aren't doing anyone any favors. This website is here for support not bullying. I pity you.

girl no problem.... i get crazy all the time! i text my hubby I am so fat I want to cry. Then I go home start exercsing, playing with kids, doing homework, feeding kids & then I am all smiles. lol... it's life.