super frustrated!

laurenpearl01

Within the past year i put on about 15 lbs. and had to go up a pant size. Ive been feeling really down cause Ive had to buy new clothes cause I cant fit into mine anymore. The past two weeks Ive been trying to watch my proportions with my meals and ive been trying to push myself to get on the treadmil. Im not into dieting because i dont want to limit myself with the kind of foods i can or cannot eat, but im willing to cut down how much i actually eat.

2 years ago i started birthcontrol and didnt notice any weight gain at first but im wondering if it finally hit me, because i really hadnt changed my routine a whole lot. would getting off the pill and starting the shot be a good idea?

veritasatori

From what I've heard from friends, the shot leads to more weight gain (and other lovely problems like frequent spotting) than the pill.  I've never been on the shot, though, so this is just hearsay.
I was on the pill for years and put on about 15 pounds over time.  My gynecologist swears up and down that the pill doesn't cause weight gain (based on multiple medical studies), so possibly my weight gain was caused by something else (e.g., getting older -- again, lovely).  I had some other problems with the pill, so I switched to a hormone-free method of birth control and I'm very happy with it.
Long story short:  talk to your gynecologist and see what she says.  Meanwhile, watch portions and exercise more, which you'll have to do in any wise to take care of the weight gain (even if you do switch birth control methods).

Ginabean2011

I'm no Dr but I've also heard that the shot tends to make people gain more weight. I've been on the pill forever and never had weight gain BUT maybe you can talk to your Dr about a lower dose if you are really worried about it. I doubt a side effect would take a year or two to show up.  My honest advice would be to not blame the pill automatically and try to up your exercise and improve your diet and just see how things go. Of course it wouldn't hurt to check with your Dr though just to see about a different Rx.

glam70s

The shot has been shown to cause premature osteoporosis because it decreases your bone density. I took it for years and LOVED it, but eventually my doctor refused to give it to me any more and when we did a bone scan, sure enough, my bones were starting to show danger signs.

The pill only causes weight gain in a very small percentage of cases and it's pretty much always immediate, so that really doesn't sound like the issue here... I think a lot of people rush to blame the pill but very few people are actually affected by it.

msange727

ditto pps - i have also heard that the shot is linked to weight gain and also great difficulty losing it, and the premature osteoporosis thing that glam just mentioned is scary. i started on the pill last year and immediately put on 15lbs; i should add that my gyno told me (because weight gain was a concern of mine) before i started that the pill doesn't necessarily cause weight gain, but it does cause appetite changes. so there you go.

i did start with a rather high-dose pill, and since it caused a bunch of period-related problems, i did end up switching to a lower-dose version. the problems cleared up, and i ended up losing the weight soon after. i can't tell you if that was a cause-effect relationship, but switching to a low-dose pill may be an idea for you.

either way - you're taking the right approach. eating smaller meals more often and upping your activity levels will help. be sure to add some kind of weight-based activity to boost your muscles, because they're a huge part of dropping weight.
good luck! :]

sarahmarieobx

I say, I just stick with the pill since its the oldest method around and least dangerous.

I used the patch in HS but then they stopped perscribing it because it gives you 80% more estrogene than birth control pills. (More risk involved with it too.) I've also heard the shot makes you gain weight, and I don't know much about Nuvaring (but I really hate those commericals!)

Also --- Drink tons of water, the more you drink, the less you will hold onto water weight. Just watch what you eat and excersize, you'll drop those 15lbs soon enough

GOOD LUCK!

sakana1840

here's my issue with the pill

every time i have been on the pill and i have tried to lose weight, i can't.

i don't know why and i have been on basically every pill out there

every time i quit the pill or switch-i have dropped 10 to 15lbs quickly!

my doctor insists it's not the BC, but i swear it is! how is that when i'm on the pill i can't seem to lose weight (or gain a lot)-but when i'm off i do lose the weight?

i don't know, but my doctor says that the pill has different effects on every woman..so you and i may be in the same boat

laurenpearl01

i guess im not sure if its really making me gain weight but most likely making me retain water. and youre probably right that it wouldnt take a year to show up. im just nervous cause i already bought my dress, it is a corset back so i do have some room to work with.

finalgirl

hi!

i'm so sorry to hear you are going through a frustrating time.  weight gains around weddings are stressful---which can help you gain weight!  grrrrr!

talk to your doctor about everything.  i am sure he/she will have some good medical opinions to share.  and everyone here will cheer for you to stay on the healthy track. 

best of luck!