Is my weight gain the pills or my fault?
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Is my weight gain the pills or my fault?
| Fri, 11-12-2004 - 2:28pm |
I've been on the pill (Diane) for almost two years now, and I gained weight since then. Too much weight. I don't feel comfortable at all anymore.
I admit that I haven't taken too much care of my body either since I'm on the pill (ate a lot, no sports,...)
I'm sick and tired of it and decided to lose weight. I wanna live healthy again and I wanna treat my body better than that. Besides I wanna look better, too :-)))
My question is: Is it the pill's fault that I gained that much weight? Is it possible the pill might stop me from losing weight? Is there any way around losing weight and staying on the pill or do I really have to quit taking the pill?
One reason why I take the pill is because there's something wrong with my hormones and the pill is supposed to make it better. So I don't really wanna quit taking the pill but I don't wanna be fat either.
HELP!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!

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The pill might be making you have a higher appetite, but you can still exercise and eat healthier. Even if the weight loss is slow, just changing your habits will lead you to better health and feeling and looking better, no matter what the scale says.
Personally, I found that my weight gain WAS due to the pill. After I started taking OTC, I was constantly hungry...and I mean ALL THE TIME. I would eat at least twice as much as I did before I was on BC. I know some might say that eating is my fault and I should have more self control, but it just isn't healthy to not eat when your body tells you it is hungry. I didn't even eat junk food. I would snack on fruit and eat a healthy meal every night, but I still packed on the pounds. I didn't learn until later than an increased appetite is a common side effect of BC. After gaining more than 10 pounds in a matter of a few months, (and when you're 5' 2", that is quite a bit!) I had had enough and started exercising like crazy. I would run for miles and miles practically every day for two months, and I didn't lose a single pound. Finally I couldn't take it anymore and stopped taking my pills. It took me a few months, but I eventually lost all of the excess weight just by my appetite and hormones getting back to normal.
If a little weight gain is the only side effect you're experiencing, and if your doctor wants you to be on BC for health reasons, I would say you should go with another weight loss option, or maybe going on a BC with a lower hormone level. Talk to your doctor and see what she says. Good luck!
I think each pill is different, I am on a stonger one. I know a lot of the newer ones are lower dose and have fewer side effects.
Hope I helped a little...
-Jillian
Melissa
Melissa
Has anyone else gone through this? I have not met anyone that their breast increase in size or that gain weight.
Breast swelling and tenderness are common side effects for the first 2-4 cycles when beginning or switching pills. Weight gain may be too, for some women, although with the exception of Depo studies haven't proven a relationship between BCPs and weight gain. You might want to read the post 'Common pill side effects', in the FAQs. You aren’t alone in experiencing these problems.
You might also want to consider trying NuvaRing (the ring) http://www.nuvaring.com/ NuvaRing is a flexible two inch diameter ring worn in the vagina for three weeks and removed for one for your period and has the lowest dose of estrogen (15mcg) of any method available in the U.S. Most members posting about the ring seem to like it. I hope you find an effective method that works well for you. Let us know how you're doing.
Good luck,
Jill
It may be a combination of things. The pill can increase your appetite, but it's OKAY to not eat when you are hungry! Hunger is based on when and how much you're used to eating, not necessarily your actual caloric need. People who eat a lot don't necessarily NEED more calories than people who eat less, but that's what they're accustomed to. And it also depends on what you use to satisfy that hunger, whether you're eating something easy that has relatively little nutritional value or staying power or if you're choosing foods with a little bit of protein and a little bit of fat and fiber--foods like this will help fill you up and keep you full, foods with fiber especially.
The pill can also cause water retention. In some women on some pills, their kidneys respond to the estrogen in the pill by hanging onto what would normally be excess water. There's nothing you can do to make this weight go away until you stop the pill or switch to a different one.
And in some women, the pill can change how their body responds to insulin, which can make it easier to gain weight. While it's hard to manage, some say that keeping an eye on carbohydrates and sugars can help reduce this kind of weight gain.
A lot of times weight gain that is blamed on the pill is due to lifestyle changes, but there are legitimate reasons for some women gaining weight. If you're doing everything you can and trying really hard (going to the gym and not working your hardest doesn't really count, you know?) and you still can't manage the weight, then I'd say it might be the pill. Talk to your doctor and see if s/he has any recommendations that might help!
Good luck!
Co-cl for Birth Control
Melissa
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