Is my weight gain the pills or my fault?

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-06-2004
Is my weight gain the pills or my fault?
12
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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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-11-2004
Fri, 11-12-2004 - 2:42pm
I think your answer is in this line: "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,...)"

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.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-23-2004
Fri, 11-12-2004 - 4:38pm
First of all, if you were prescribed birth control for a medical reason, you shouldn't get off of it! Definitely talk to your doctor before you even consider that.

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!

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-29-2003
Fri, 11-12-2004 - 9:33pm
For me, I feel the pill did make me gain weight. I stopped the pill in August of 2003 and immediately, and I mean immediatley, lost 5-10lbs. Since then, I have lost 35 lbs. I am exercising and watching what I eat(but I dont deny myself anything-I just dont need 5 pieces of pizza! ect.) more than when I was on the pill but I feel the pill sapped my energy and increased my appetite. I no longer crave sweet stuff(though I still love them!) and I have sooo much more energy! I think the pill affected my metabolism. This is just me.
iVillage Member
Registered: 10-14-2004
Sat, 11-13-2004 - 10:21am
I've been on the pill for 8 years and gained 15 lbs since then, last year I took a month off and also lost 5lbs in a matter of a week. So I don't know 'how much' of that weight gain was me vs the pill, but obviously some of it was pill related. Once I started the pill again, the 5lbs went right back.

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

Avatar for rthrbswmng
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2003
Sat, 11-13-2004 - 10:21am
I actually attribute most of my weight gain to the pill. No matter what I do, I CAN'T shed the extra weight. I've tried increased exercise, increased water intake, cut back on portions, cut out sweets, ect. and nothing has worked . I'm also thinking of getting off the pill as I have no reason to use it after yesterday :( I would talk to your doctor since you say you are on the pill for special reasons. He/She might have a better answer. Good luck with your decsion! Let us know how it goes

Melissa

Melissa

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-04-2004
Sun, 11-14-2004 - 5:36pm
I started Alesse which is the lowest dosage of hormones for the pill in early Sept. I stopped the pill today. I weighed 107ish for awhile, and now 2 months later I weigh 120! that is a lot to gain in that short amount of time!!! And my breast have gone from a C cup to a large D and I'm only 5'3! I HATE THE PILL!!! I have tried every pill i think, and i quit after a few months because I can't find the right one. Every time my breast get bigg and sore, and my appetite increases A LOT, and I have no energy. I quit, the pill is just not for me.

Has anyone else gone through this? I have not met anyone that their breast increase in size or that gain weight.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-30-2003
Sun, 11-14-2004 - 6:45pm
Hi mindylutt, welcome!

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

    

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Mon, 11-15-2004 - 7:32am
I agree with a few things I've read here in this thread....

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!

Judie
Co-cl for Birth Control
Judie Cl for Birth Control 
Avatar for rthrbswmng
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-29-2003
Mon, 11-15-2004 - 9:41am
Yes I've had both. I went from an A cup up to a B cup and probably put on 15 pounds since I started the pill a little over a year ago. Good luck! Remember your not alone!

Melissa

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-06-2004
Tue, 11-16-2004 - 2:33am
Thanks everybody for all your responses, I'll talk to my gyno about it and then we'll see what's up. Thanks for all the support!

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