Lovelyish

Have you ever thought of just counting your calories? If birth control is increasing your appetite you might have to write down what you eat, which is a good habit to get into anyway.

also maybe its the pill? which ones cause you to gain weight?

Stay on the pill and start exercising.

I gained 30 lbs on the pill. Believe me, I went from 140 to 170 within 2 years.  You just sort of have to get over it if you don’t want to be sick. If someone teases you for being “chubby” just say its due to medical complications. Believe me, it’s a hell of a lot better than being in pain. You have to pick your battles with your body….

To me passing college > weight gain

@HeLLo_Bianca@xanga - Exercising doesn’t always help…. I exercise for an hour 3-5 times a week and I still stay the same weight. It really depends on the person….

There has to be some birth control pill you can take that doesn’t make you gain weight. I have many friends who are on various types that haven’t had a problem… I would keep trying pills until I found one that works. I definitely know how you feel though. I’ve never been on birth control before, but I take pills for my mental disorders and one pill I was on made me gain about 30 pounds. It crushed me, and yes, made my eating disorder way worse. I don’t think I’ve ever hated myself so much in my life. (And, I’m STILL trying to lose the weight from it). I quickly got off that pill and tried something else. I wouldn’t give up yet…

@Ashley Nicole Anders@facebook - Yeah, I’ve been on a diet for 2 years. I eat healthy and it’s rare I eat over 1,100 calories per day. There’s no other reason because it was the same exact diet that caused me to lose 20 lbs before I was on the pill. Don’t judge my situation because doctors even say it’s the pill including the gyno….

I think there has got to be a 3rd option somewhere, which may solve your problem all together. Do you know if your doctors actually investigated the cause of the heavy periods (have they told you the cause? have you got a second opinion?), or have they simply given you the “band-aid fix” with the pill? If the pill is the only solution, you may have to adjust your lifestyle, so you don’t gain weight. I’m sure its possible to do without an eating disorder etc. Then again, being slightly chubby ain’t too bad either.

Try the patch and exercise. I’m about to go back on it because of irregular periods.

@Ashley Nicole Anders@facebook - I exercise 3-5 days a week for an hour and i hardly eat. I take 2 dance classes. I have no appetite as it is from my other medicines that I have to take and I get sick from anything fried and greasy. I hardly eat crap because my mom’s on a diet so I eat whatever she eats. So please don’t fucking judge me or my weight and my issues k? It’s from the pill. Doctors say so and since I started the brand name stuff I lost 10 lbs but still it’s not much compared to my old weight.

PS that’s how many calories I’m supposed to have for my height, weight and age….

if you’re not happy with the pill, switch! I had to change my pill multiple times before I found something that suited me well. First pill caused MAJOR nausea and some weight gain. that was ortho evra, then got switched to ortho tri-cyclin Lo, for the lesser amount of hormones…still made me too nauseous! so I tried yasmin….that made me so depressed, all I thought about was suicide, honestly. so I tried the nuvaring, but it just wasn’t my thing… So finally, I’m on the generic for Yaz, which is Gianvi. I get minimal nausea every now and then, no more major headaches like I used to get with the other pills, and it controls my period…and my PCOS.

There is no limit to the different pills you can try with different hormonal percentages. Find one that helps with the least amount of side effects. I don’t recommend the pill though. VERY high amount of hormones…and if you’re sensitive to that, you’ll feel very sick. but….as I said, it doesn’t hurt to try!

Maybe try the copper IUD. 

I would recommend trying other pills with different hormones. Having anemia, which menstruating that much will definitely cause, is much worse then gaining a few pounds but at the same time you should be able to find a medication that agrees with your body chemistry.

I didn’t gain any weight on my pill

@sugarandlemonade@xanga - maybe because you’re only exercising for an hour… I wouldn’t expect to lose weight if I’m only exercising for an hour 3-5 days a week. Just a thought

Ugh, I’m in the same boat. 

@P0RCELA1N_D0LL@xanga - haha yeah that seems to make it feel better for about ten seconds… then I get these horrible cramps… it sucks

@HeLLo_Bianca@xanga - Dear, that’s what doctors recommend. My boyfriend’s in his last school of physical therapy school and he said that’s good. That’s what he has to do for his class  

@sugarandlemonade@xanga - Uhhuh. Good luck losing weight by barely exercising.

@HeLLo_Bianca@xanga - My boyfriend’s a last year PT major and he’s clearly stated exercising more than 3-5 hours a week could be dangerous for your body. You’re not supposed to do that and if you do more than that, it’s obsessive and could reach the point of an eating disorder. So unless you have an ED or a problem like that, you shouldn’t be exercising more than 3-5 hours per week.

Gaining three pounds in a week isn’t necessarily something to worry about.  It is normal for weight to fluctuate a bit, depending on how much water and food you’ve consumed, and if you’ve had a bowel movement or not.  You also might be gaining water weight; in which case, you should cut down on your sodium and carb intake.  A low-carb diet can help you drop a good amount (perhaps 10 pounds) of water weight in the first month.

@sugarandlemonade@xanga -  Working out 2 hours 5 days a week isn’t obsessive. And if you expect to lose any weight one hour of exercise a few days a week isn’t going to achieve much. Also, exercising can be dangerous period. You just need to know your limits.

I completely understand what you are going through. I am taking the pill so that I can actually go to work while on my period.  However, it has not come without its side effects.

I too have gained weight, about 15 pounds.  The pill can increase your appetite, so you have to keep it in check.  I have also noticed that cutting out soda and drinking more water has helped.  It has taken me awhile to find a BCP that fits me.  I was having issues with the pill messing with my body chemistry and I was getting a lot of vaginal infections.  I switched pills to a lower dosage of hormones, and it did the trick. 

I wish you luck.  I know for me, I’d rather the side effects.  I hope you decide what is best for you!

@HeLLo_Bianca@xanga - Yes and that’s what the DOCTOR told me to do. You’re not my doctor and you shouldn’t be telling me what to do. End of story. Get over yourself hun and quit telling me what is right.

You look unhealthy as it is in your picture….

I gained 50+ pounds in a year when I switched birth controls. I still haven’t made that decision.

@sugarandlemonade@xanga - Please do not tell people to get over themselves and to stop “telling you what is right” and then personally attack the way they look. They are simply providing you with some help and not one of them has been rude to you so why would you start?

OP, try another brand if this doesn’t work out? :/ For the time being, just watch what you eat very very carefully so that if you do change, you won’t have to lose all that weight!

@pikaaa - Weight is really touchy to me and I provided my opinion. I get attacked for it and I’m quite sick of people telling me opposite of what my doctor said.

@sugarandlemonade@xanga - Understandable, just don’t let ‘em bother you then!

Thats why I get the shot.

The pill makes you gain weight and the shot doesnt.

Just ask your doctor about it(:

xoxxo

@sugarandlemonade@xanga -  When did I tell you what to do? All I’m saying is barely any exercise will not do much for weight loss. And you can tell I’m unhealthy by looking at a close up shot of my face?!? Veryyyy interesting assumption hahaha.

@HeLLo_Bianca@xanga - Okay, I don’t have an opinion here and was just reading through but, how the heck do you have time for 2 hours of exercise 5 days a week?! HOLY CRAP. The last time I tried to diet I had school, work, band, and tennis practice after school and could barely fit in the 45 mins every 4-5 days that my nutritionist recommended. I’d have to be superwoman to find 2 hours to dedicated to exercise. That’s just amazing haha.

@sassypenguin@xanga - I did it when I only took one class. My work schedule is basically 11-3:30 every day and the gym is next to my job so I would go straight there. Plus I was trying to lose 30 pounds. I lost 20 in 2 months though But I didnt have much of a social life haha.

@sassypenguin@xanga - I did it when I only took one class. My work schedule is basically 11-3:30 every day and the gym is next to my job so I would go straight there. Plus I was trying to lose 30 pounds. I lost 20 in 2 months though But I didnt have much of a social life haha.

@HeLLo_Bianca@xanga - wow! good job:). I believe I have medical issues with weight loss just because ANY exercise would work if you started at completely sedimentary. Obviously, that is just an opinion at this point, even though many would call it an excuse. Apparently I didn’t lose weight because I wasn’t eating enough. Even though that makes no sense to me, all the doctors told me I was eating too little calories.

@sassypenguin@xanga -  Aww I’m sorry. If you’re still trying to lose weight I hope you find something that works for you. I downloaded an app called My Fitness Pal and it helped me a lot.

I don’t know if this was mentioned in the comments but I had the same issues with most BC pills… turns out I have endometriosis. Ask your doc about that. A lot of women with such bad periods have endometriosis.

I think you should try another pill, or maybe a different birth control method.  

A little weight gain at the beginning is totally natural – try not to worry. Your body is just adjusting to the fresh dose of hormones – and they always say to give it three months or so to give your body adequate time to adjust to the changes. However, if you’re not happy, talk to your GP! Ask to change brands or alternatively, see what other form of birth control could work for you (the shot, the implant or the patch, or even the coil) – the pill isn’t the only option, and you certainly don’t have to keep taking it if you’re not happy with the side effects – good luck!

What kind of birth control pills do you use?  There’s got to be another option.  I had a bad experience with Depo Provera shots (meaning I bled consistently for three months until I changed my bc method), but I’ve heard of people who did wonderfully with it.  Perhaps you should try different methods before resigning yourself to having to use the pill.  Every woman’s body is different, so it only makes sense that every woman finds the right method.  Depo shots lighten your period after a while, by the way (well, they didn’t with me, but they do for many women).

Also, if you doctor ‘waved you off’ then I would suggest finding a different one.  That’s not right.

Yeah…experiment with birth controls until you find one you like.  The pain of the period is less easily taken care of than the weight gain.  Just watch what you are eating, exercise it out, and you can maintain the weight you want.  Thats how fat people get not fat, and thats how you can keep from getting the fat.

when i had my birth control pill when i deployed overseas, i got my normal 28 day cycle, but i also picked up the hormones from all the other females….i was on my period pretty much the whole tour. 

i gained so much flippin’ weight from taking birth control pills.. and i kept having to switch ‘cuz the first one i was taking was yasmin and it wasn’t safe blah blah and the next one i had to take the generic version then they stop carrying that so i had to take another one… it was just ridiculous.. and i’ve been binge eating.. it messed up my eating habits.. i didn’t start noticing this until maybe 2 years into taking it… i hate it.. so now i have to work twice as hard to stay in shape … 

@sugarandlemonade@xanga - I agree with you
@HeLLo_Bianca@xanga - most doctors / dietitians recommends at least* 30min of exercise ever day.
1hr of exercise every day is ideal.
Or work out 2hr every other day allows your muscle to relax and rebuild itself from all the wears and tears.
Some people just cant lose weight despite exercising & eating healthy.
Instead they exercise to maintain their weight.
I dont gain a lotda weight despite not exercising and eating mcD every week.  I gain 1-2lb a year

As for OP: I would try other birth control pills.

For me personally I’m a bit iffy about taking the pill because I’ve heard numerous stories about it – the good & the bad
Some people break out while on the pill / while others their acne cleared out
Some gain weight while other gain big boobs

add exercise and diet to your routine and its fine. i’ve been on the pill for 3 years and haven’t gained much weight (well if you don’t count the relationship weight from our honeymoon phase)… i’ve lost some actually!

There is a thing called exercise. Everyone gains a little weight from birth control, but they can usually get rid of it if they exercise. Seriously 25 pounds sounds like you did nothing to try and keep weight off.

There are other options out there to try and 

balance out your hormones. Birth control isn’t fixing anything, all it does is mask the underlying problem.If your periods are THAT intense, you should look into natural alternatives. There are herbal tincturesthat work wonders on periods like that. Not to mention your diet. The way we eat can make a huge difference in a hormonal imbalance.Birth control isn’t as safe as doctors like you to think.

Like a few other people have said, try different types of pills or IUDs to find what works best for you.  There are PLENTY of options out there!  It might also be a good idea to get a second opinion from a different gyno.  Maybe they have an option yours hasn’t thought of.  

From a medical student’s perspective: Get a new doctor! If you’re this sensitive to the pill, you’re going to have to try something else! Maybe NuvaRing or a low dose hormone pill. I don’t know what you’re on now, but have they tried low dose Yaz or Yasmin? Or even Seasonique…a lot of people that are sensitive to BC are fine on that…Otherwise, the implant, shots or patches may be a better method for you….Definitely get a second opinion, these aren’t you’re only two options!

you should stay on the pill. i know what it’s like to be bed ridden because you’re a PMS-ing homicidal maniac in pain…i’m actually thinking about starting the pills next sunday. my doctor said that weight gain/loss is normal when you’re on the pill, it just takes getting accustomed to. you know, gauging what you’re consuming and whatnot. Ashley’s right tho. I’ve been exercising regularly, about an hour 5-6 days a week and staying hydrated. it’s helped a ton! hope you find the best option. 

I’m in the same boat…. TAKE THE PILLS… TO BE HONEST stop complaining b/c you’ll feeel worst having the flu like periods rather than caring about ppl’s opinions. FUCK THEM. Why does their opinion of you matter.?.! NO ONES WORDS DEFINE YOU.!and guess what, you can work out.! if you stay active then your periods will be lighter, shorter, and waay lesss painful whether you take pills or not. That is a fact. cheer up girl.!

there are other BC options than the pill, eg the depo shot, etc. etc. talk about THOSE w/ your gyno! 

There are other methods like taking shots every three months, or a IUD. You don’t have to take pills if they are bothering you so much.Also, there are many types of pills, you could also trying switching. It’s same with medication. There is so many different types that it’s easy to switch and find one right for you.

@phuck_diz_shiz@xanga - I know that’s what they recommend.  @sugarandlemonade@xanga - said she works out for one hour 3-5 days a week and it’s not helping her lose weight.  I simply told her if she worked out more she would probably see a difference.  That’s cool that you have a high metabolism.  I wish I did :p  I had a hard time losing weight so I went to the gym 5 days a week for at least 2 hours.  I definitely rested in between and took advantage of my gym’s Jacuzzi and also did a lot of swimming.  It didn’t take a toll on my body.  I knew my limits, I definitely think that’s important to know.  I’ve stopped working out because I err got drunk and injured my knee.  I know for sure if I went back to my 2 hour workout routines I would seriously screw up my knee even more. 

@Hinase@xanga - I’m on the Depo shot and it definitely made me gain weight at first but I didn’t gain anything after the first few months.  I’m still on it and my weight did change but that was from being lazy.

My best advice would be to keep switching birth controls until you find one that completely works with your body and doesn’t make you gain weight. Coming from someone who has been on five different birth controls, switching from one to the other all for varying reasons, yes to put it simply it is a pain in the ass.

I too started taking birth control for my period and let me tell you, once you find one that works for you its worth all the trouble. Its the worst thing in the world to dread your period like that. Hope you find something that works for you. 

@HeLLo_Bianca@xanga - I see. My cousin was on the shot for a few months then switched to bc. I’m not sure if she gained weight, but it’s understandable. I just never gained any weight from taking bc. 

@Hinase@xanga -  Yeah the side effects are definitely different for everybody. I’ve been thinking about switching to a pill form of bc but the shot is so convenient!

I generally believe in keeping things as natural as possible, but severe menstruation can be horribly debilitating (having to leave work early because you bled through a heavy tampon in an hour, or when you cramp so badly that you can barely move, barely think, etc. … it can be bad for school, work, and relationships) and even hazardous to your health (anemia, for example). There are SO many different types of birth control out there, that you should be able to find one that works for you. The first change I would try is that if you’re on one that has varying levels of hormones from week to week, try one that has the same level for all active pills for the month.
Maybe it’s not the pill directly that is causing the weight gain. Are you eating differently or exercising less while on it? Identifying and correcting problems in your lifestyle could combat that. But be HEALTHY about it. You also have to not take it to the extreme (eating disorders).
What worked best for me wasn’t starving myself or killing myself on a treadmill. It was when I STOPPED worrying about the numbers or appearances. It was a desire to be healthy. My mentality also changed to a point where I was happy about eating healthier foods, because I wasn’t denying myself anything, so I didn’t become resentful; I still ate pizza (my favorite food), but I ate it in moderation.  I used a little less cheese and dressings on things, and went for smaller (but still reasonable) portions. I quit overeating, and stopped boredom-eating.

@HeLLo_Bianca@xanga - Yeah it is. 

1/2 words: NuvaRing

The same thing happened to me, when i stopped taking the pill i went on the implant. I haven’t gained any weight since then and get regular periods. x

I had the same problem as you, though I went straight for the Implanon as I knew I would forget to take the pill.

It was a while after that that I started having sex, but the Implant lasts 3 years and my periods stopped completely. Like you mine were really irregular. The implanon stopped them completely for just over 2 years. I thought – this is great, I had no bleeding, felt great, and I think in those 2 years I gained about 2 pounds in total.

Then it started wearing off, so I changed to the pill.

Jesus Christ! I went mental, crying all the time, getting really agressive, gaining weight. I tried 3 different types of pill and gave up. I now have the hormonal coil.

The hormonal coil lasts for up to 5 years, and aside from the first 4 days where I felt like I’d died, I have had no proper bleeding (spotting for the first 2 months), no crazy, out of control mood swings (just the regular crazy ones) and I haven’t had a problem yet (1 year into it).

N.B
I just wanted to say, weight gain is not just a number – being overweight causes health problems, social problems, self esteem problems and can affect your whole life.

Any type of birth control will cause some weight gain; they all have hormones. There’s really no way to avoid weight gain, but you can try to prevent it. Just keep up a regular exercise routine… and also try and change your diet if you’re gaining that much weight. Trying to eat less carbs, so I’ve heard, has really helped a lot of people lose weight. It doesn’t mean cutting it out completely, it just means eating less carbs and more healthy foods such as vegetables, fruits, and proteins.

As for exercising… I have no idea why someone would say exercising for more than five hours a week is obsessive. People who are athletic most likely work out way more than just one hour a day, and it doesn’t have to be solid cardio since lifting weights also counts as exercise. “Obsessive” exercising associated with an eating disorder is more like working out for hours and hours at a time, not hours and hours per week.

I’d say focus on your body image before you even attempt to lose weight. If you just keep telling yourself that you hate your body and that you’re fat or whatever, no matter how much you lose you’ll be unhappy. There are also other BC options, like IUDs and Implanon (implant for your arm).

You don’t gain weight from most birth controls. That’s what my gyno told me. If you gain weight it could be because the hormones are making you feel more hungry… so you eat more. Which is your own fault, not your birth controls.

I would say be patient with the new BCP you are on now. Your excercise routine and diet is quite healthy for a person of your height so don’t worry about your physical acitvity.  People’s body’s react differently to every medication and if the brand stuff has been able to prevent further weight gain that’s a good indication that the chemistry of the pill works better with your body’s chemistry than the other BCP. The science behind medicine is not a cure all. Pills are made to treat a condition or it’s symptoms to as many people as possible so therefore most pills are made for a GENERAL public. If 100 women were put on trial for a pill and 60 percent of them had no sever side effects the pill will go into production with a warning label of the side effects of the other 40 women it didn’t work that well on.(Given that their side effects didn’t kill anybody) SO this means that for many pills it will not work smoothly for a large portion of women. You just have to keep trying other formulas until one fits for you. But it seems the brand one is better than the previous one was. Just keep doing your thing, girl.

Loestrin is a good birth control along with it’s friend Lo Loestrin.  Loestrin didn’t make me gain any weight, and that was the first birth control I ever took, I’m in my late 20′s.  But exercise is also helpful, even taking medications.  And I’d say to be mindful of what you are eating and craving.  I didn’t gain any weight with the Loestrin.  In fact, I exercised every other day when I first started taking it and lost about 10 lbs in a month.  I had to switch because I kept spotting.  Lo Loestrin helped but these birth controls are very sensitive if you do not take them at the exact same time every day…  That stinks but having a better control over your period is wonderful!…  *I am not big on birth control but I had heavy periods for about a week and was very moody. 

I’d stay on the pill, adjust my diet and exercise more.  Good luck!  Sorry you are experiencing this.  Also, continue to talk with your Dr. as there are several birth control options out there. 

Try looking for other b/c options, or excersise and eat as healthy as possible.  I’d definitely talk to a therapist, they might be able to help you figure out why a 3 lb weight gain affects you so much, and give you tips how to deal with the weight gain.

Or start having sex, it’ll take your mind off it.  lol

Birth control pills do not cause weight gain, that’s a myth.

If you’re concerned about the weight, why not exercise or change your eating habits? I’d much rather have a little weight gain then terrible periods. I went on birth control at a young age for that very reason.

I was put on Apri (or Reclipsen… same thing but one is generic and that’s the one I take) because I’m overweight and that one doesn’t cause weight gain. It’s worked really well for me. Check it out, but also check out other pills (you might have to try a lot to find one that works for you!).

the first bc I was on was a medium dosage and it made me feel like I was always hungry so of course I gained weight. It also gave me bad insomnia. My issue was my periods made me loose too much blood and iron and I’d faint every month, not to mention cramps that made you curl up into a ball. But anyway, I pretty much bitched out my doctor and told her the bc she put me on made me bipolar and fat and she put me on a low dosage. It’s perfect. I’ve actually lost weight (surprisingly), my periods are light and I don’t faint anymore. Maybe the levels of estrongen/progesteron is just too much or too little for you. Talk to your doctor about getting a bc that better fits your body. I take Junel Fe right now. 

Honey, the same thing happened to me, except instead of periods I couldn’t even bear, it was steady leaking every day of the month. I would literally have my period for months at a time. No cramping, no headaches, just that frequent leak and sometimes just old blood. I didn’t get help until my sophomore year, and I got my period around… 8th grade-freshman year? But yeah. I gained weight on the pill, and I’m still on it. It’s making my period regular and now I’m feeling the pain (literally, just started the beginning of last year, to feel the pain of a regular period.)

My advice? Suck it up and work it off. I’m 200+ and I’m trying to work it off, but as anyone can tell you, it’s hard. Life’s like that. You’ll gain some, you’ll lose some, but don’t make it seem like being a little overweight is the worst thing that could ever possibly happen. Just the thought of people who feel that way offends the crap out of me. >_<

@sugarandlemonade@xanga - I’m sorry to say but you’re not attacked for you’re opinion. You’re “attacked” because you’re being incredibly rude. “Don’t fucking judge me”? “Get over yourself”? Sorry to say, but you brought this onto yourself o_o

@CrystalisLeaves@xanga - I didn’t even say anything to these people in the first place. They took it upon their selves to say something to me. 

@sugarandlemonade@xanga - In their defense, they were just trying to help. 

@CrystalisLeaves@xanga - It doesn’t help though and people need to learn that. Weight is touchy and you don’t have to get on their backs about it especially if it’s a stranger.

@sugarandlemonade@xanga - Well, they don’t know that. I mean, I get it, but not everybody does. It’s like, if EVERYONE on the internet tried to offer you advice about it, would you bite off all their heads?

I took Alesse for about a year because I had irregular periods and for acne purposes. I didn’t gain any weight from it. I feel like I had a larger appetite during the first month, but that went away afterwards. I’m not sure how effective it is though, because my periods are only regular when I’m on the pill. When I come off the pill, my periods are irregular again. I decided to stay off the pill because I don’t want my body to become dependent on it.

Not everybody needs the hormones that birth control puts into your body. As one girl said, try the copper IUD because it does not release any hormones and will lessen your period. On the other hand you could also try Mirena…because copper..is a little…well…ugghh its just not meant to go into your body. However Mirena releases hormones. So its up to you.

Go with the second option. Combat the weight gain with exercise and making sure your diet is pristine. My pill makes me have a lot more issues with gaining weight as well but a good aerobic program has helped me to maintain my weight at least. If I ate correctly I’d probably start losing weight again. I know it must be hard with your past issues with food but this sounds like the only way you’ll be able to have a life and do what you need during your period. Maybe you could talk to your doctor about another pill that works similarly (since this one sounds like it does fine minus the weight issue) but that has a lesser chance of weight gain if you really can’t get over the small weight gain?