Stopping birth control and weight gain.

a feel I am so familiar with all the stories on here. I have put on roughly a stone in a few months... Pleaseplease please did anyone find anything that helped?? I've read that it can be down to estrogen dominance and therefore you can get things that increase progesterone therefore balancing it out, has anyone ever tried any of this?

Sigh.. Thank god that I am not alone. I started taking birth control pills when I was 16. When I was 21 I joined the Army remained on the pill for the first month of Basic Training, then due to the annoyances of getting to medical for a renewal on my pills, I decided to stop taking them. I did in fact gain weight while I was in Basic and AIT. 10lbs to be exact. I went in at 155lbs with only 18% body fat and came out 165lbs 25% body fat. I didn't think that was too bad and I blamed it on all the food we had to cram down 3 times a day and possible muscle gain from the constant work outs we got. All that aside. I went back on Birth control pills when I finially got out of AIT and I lost the extra weight going back to 155. Shortly after that, I had to stop taking them as I wanted to start a family with my husband. Of course it is natural for a woman to gain weight while pregnant. I did in fact gained 20+lbs while pregnant. After I had my daughter, my weight only dropped 5lbs. I was not able to breast feed. So, after trying for a few months to produce, I gave up decided to go back on birth control pills as I NEVER want to be pregnant again. (sorry gals, I hated being pregnant and don't want anymore kids). I lost 15 pounds in a few months after going back on the pill. YEEA I was staying at 165lbs and I felt and looked great. Now remember, I had to work out all the time in order to keep up with my physical training demands of the US Army. In 2010 my mother convinced me that I needed to stop taking the pill. That it was not good for me to be on them for long periods of time. My daughter was 2 1/2yrs old by then. I took her advise and stopped taking the pill. I GAINED WAY TOO MUCH WEIGHT! When I stopped taking them, I gained 15lbs in one month! 180lbs is very noticeable on someone who is only 5'2". It only got worse. I upped my workout. Nothing to my prevail. soon I was at 185lbs.. Passing height and weight in the army became difficult as I was red flagged for it several times. I was able to get off the flag a couple of times mainly because I would dehydrate myself in order to lose that extra 2" that was holding me back from passing. Sigh. IT is now 11-2012 and I weigh 200lbs and I cant get it off. Nothing has changed in my routine. Except for getting my child off to kindergarten and I am finally done with my contract with the Army. I still work out, still go to my job, ect... you get it. I feel like absolute c**p and my skin is dry and itchy, I don't even recognize the person I look at in the mirror anymore. Sex life has gone down, energy is fading, my medical issue with my hip is worse with the added weight.. I feel like I just can't win. So, today, have an appointment with my doctor. I'm going back on the pill. IF anything just to see if it will help aide me in losing something. *ripping hair out* I must try. I am also going to talk to my doctor about possibly getting my thyroid levels looked at. At 28 years old, I shouldn't feel like this.

I went back on bc three days ago.  I plan to stick with my same diet and exercise regime (which is stringent).  I will let you know if I have negative or positive results.  fingers crossed!

I tried something that worked!!

When I went off birthcontrol after being on for 20 years,  I immediately put on 5 lbs in 3 days!  I was also having intense headaches and tender breasts...basically my body was responding to having to regulate its own hormones after years of being on birthcontrol.  It was like my whole body was PMSing to the extreme. 

I knew the immediate weight gain had to be water retention, so the first thing I did was to try to reduce the water gain/bloating.

  1. I started drinking a TON OF WATER (I mean constantly, every day, as much as I could possibly drink) 

2.  I eliminated salty foods, alcohol and reduced my caffeine consumption. 

After about 2 weeks, my bloating and water gain came down (hooray)! and after I had a regular period all is back to normal. 

In fact, I feel GREAT being off the hormones... but I was REALLY worried about the gain, especially after reading everyone's experience here...I thought I might be doomed to forever feel like a baloon.

My advice?  DRINK WATER.. lot's and lot's of it.  I swear this made a huge difference for me!  Also, be sure you're getting enough Potassium.   Potassium regulates water in our cells and can force you to bloat if you're deficient (especially if you drink any amount of alcohol). 

There is a light at the end of your tunnel... help your body to do what it needs now that its off the hormones.  :)If thing don't change after a few months, (or after you get one or two regular periods) than I would consult a physician.

Good Luck, ladies!  It got better for me, I hope it get's better for you too.

I just wanted to post a quick reply because I was on this forum 2 weeks ago searching for answers. I experienced many of these same issues including the rapid weight gain and mostly in the tummy region. I work out religiously and follow a plant based diet, so this was very concerning to me. I was 3 weeks off the pill when I started to get worried and was checking this page. Since that time, my hormones seem to have regulated and my little flabby tummy is gone. I did follow the advice of another poster on a different forum saying to cut back on salt and caffeine and eat more potassium. She also recommended cutting back on alcohol consumption, but I'm not giving up my wine. I took all of that advice except on decreasing alcohol consumption, and my body is looking much better. Good Luck ladies!

Oh thank goodness ladies!  I was going out of my mind trying to figure out what the problem was!  I started taking the pill when I was 16 because my hair was falling out and I went to an endocrinologist who put my on the pill.  I have switched among several brands but recently landed on Loefstrin-Lo.  I didn't get a period for three months so I thought something was wrong and I also gained some weight. I decided to get off the pill entirely but in the past month I have gained ten pounds!  I work out with a personal trainers and run 3-4 hours a week.  I have been counting calories but I have not lost a single ounce, I feel bloated and my clothes don't fit.  I thought that it was because I just turned 30 and it's my metabolism but that does not explain my body's inability to put on muscle either (despite lifting weights 2 times a week).  I thought skipping a period was bad, gaining weight for no reason and not enjoying the fruits of your labor is ten times worse!  I am getting back on the pill immediately!

I tried going back on bc and it only changed 2 lbs. Eating 5 meals a day with TONS of protein *80-90 is what helped me. I saw an endocronologist and he put me on a high protein diet called Optifast ( i think you can mimic this without paying for the product by eating tons of protein and low fat in 5 meals a day 3 hours apart)It was also really important to drink A TON of water. I am 29 years old as well and work out 5 days a week. Its hard mentally, hang in there! Hope this helps!

I have the same problem! I lost weight on the pill! And felt really good. However, after going off the pill 5 months ago, I have put on 10lbs and that's 5lbs over my pre-pill weight! My pants don't fit! It's all around my stomach and hips. I exercise 4-5 times a week and eat well. But can't lose an ounce! It's depressing.

I took the pill for about 13 months... When I discontinued the pill I weighed around 140, within about 3 months I gained 11 lbs and was around 151. After drinking plenty of water, moderately exercising 4-5 times a weak, and being heal conscious of what I was eating I have lost 3-4 lbs in about three weeks. So my weight is currently around 148. My initial panic has now calmed down, (don't forget stress and depression can cause your body to store more fat so try to stay positive!) and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel... very far away, and its going to take a LOT of hard work... But I'm going to do it. And I'll update you all when I do!

Water Water Water. and some Patience.

-Hopeful Hero

Did you eventually loose the weight? I stopped taking Yasmin 1.5 months ago and have gained 10lbs. I took workout everyday and eat very healthy (vegan, no processed food and I make my own food), but also I haven't changed my diet. I had my bloodwook come back ok. Very frustrating!!!

I stopped taking the pill when I was 51; I'd been on it since I was 20! I, too, have put on about 5 lbs. I went to my internist for a physical and everything checks out. He says going off the pill should not make me gain weight and there has to be something else! I think I will make an appointment with my gyno!

I've been searching on the internet trying to find answers. I don't know how many women have posted that they've gained weight after coming of the pill esp yasmin. We all can't be wrong! Good luck with you appt. I started taking Thyrosence and Estrosence hoping that these begin to balance my hormones.

I don't think doctors are really aware of this. I am 48 and the only reason I went off of it is because I was a smoker, and had to at 35. It wasnt until recently that I started connecting the dots of going off the pill.

I am 25 years old and have been on the pill for 9 years I recently stopped for the second time in 2 years the first time I stopped I gained 12 lbs so I went to the doctor and they said it was strange and not a side affect from stopping the pill, mind you I work out regularly and eat very healthy, to satisfy my theory I started birth control again and lost the weight within 2 weeks, I stopped again because I joined the army and gained 10 lbs again I've been working very hard to keep my weight from increasing. Side affects are different for everyone, some are unlucky and gain weight and some loss weight.

I went off BCP after over 30 years, just because of all I have read about how BAD they are, even though doctor's recommended not to well....it was the biggest mistake of my life!!! I have gained 20 lbs in 8 weeks and all PURE FAT!!!! I have NO muscle tone anymore ( actually had very low body fat before) As well, my once (yes beautiful, if I may say) and thick hair is thin, and so brittle it breaks with the wind! My skin is getting very slack and for the first time in my life, I have dark circles and bags under my eyes!!! And i have NO, and I mean NO libido!!! And now due to all these wonderful side effects, I have been thrown into a DEEP depression!!!! The ONLY change I have made was stopping birth control - ironically, I am living "healthier" now than before ALL this began. I have NEVER had a weight problem, or ANY of these other side effects!!!

I am going back on the BCP this month, there is NO reason I shouldn't. All these side effects far outweigh any "POSSIBLE" ones that can occur from taking them!

To anyone reading and you are on the fence - don't stop your BCP it is a NIGHTMARE that can ruin your life!!!!!!!