Quit birth control, gaining weight!

katykins13

This is very frustrating. I was on birth control for about 6 straight years. I loved my birth control. I had NO side effects.

9 weeks ago I quit birth control as we would like to start ttc in July. My period has not returned and I'm up 10lbs and climbing! I eat no more than 1600 calories a day, healthy stuff. I workout. I've changed nothing about my lifestyle except for quitting birth control. I normally maintain my weight easily. Now if I even look at chocolate I go up a pound.

I started Vitex and my skin is absolutely glowing. But I no longer fit in any of my jeans.

This is mainly a vent. I'm a long time lurker and ecstatic about staying the ttc process. Not so excited to put on weight without being pregnant though.

-T-

You are understandably frustrated! The first time I went off bc I had all sorts of funky body stuff going on. Crazy long cycles, horrible headaches, twinges and bloating. Chalk it up to hormones.
Good luck on getting everything regular!

Jags8

Hey just wanted to chime in to say that I was off bc for 2 months at the beginning of the year, and I gained 8 pounds. I also didn't change a single thing except going off bc. I've been back on bc now for 3 weeks, and I haven't dropped any of the weight yet.

katykins13

Thanks for chiming in ladies! I keep hoping I'll have some miracle period and magically drop 5lbs. jags why did you decide to get back on? I hope it works on stabilizing things for you!

I was really emotional the first month off and my skin was weird. Now I'm just slightly chunky. Hormones are crazy! I keep telling myself that in 6 months I will be back to normal.

divinemsbee

I don't know much about going off birth control (I've been off 5 years and don't remember any weight changes), but I'd talk to your doctor before going on something like Vitex. It could very well be lengthening your cycles or may have something to do with your weight gain. It can really screw up even further what's already screwy from going off BC. I've heard some horror stories about it on the TTGP board and definitely wouldn't take it, at least unless I had talked to my doc about it. It can really mess up your body regulating itself.

Jags8

@katykins13 I was only off bc due to insurance reasons (we just used condoms instead). We aren't quite ready to start a family, so I am happy to be back on hormonal bc.

ALHickok1

I was on BC for quite some time and I have no issues maintaining or losing when I tried. When I removed the BC from the equation my weight jumped and it's not coming off as easily. It sucks, but it seems to be the norm.