Is anyone else having trouble losing weight on the birth control shot???

I've only had one shot and i'm never getting another one. It's making it so hard for me to lose weight. Has anyone else had this problem or have successfully lost weight while on it? I need help!

*Edit*

I guess I should clear some things up. It's not causing me to gain weight. But I've been doing weight watchers and exercising almost everyday and the scale barely moves. In 7 weeks I've only lost about 4 pounds which isn't all that bad since it's not gaining but before I had the shot I would lose that in 2 weeks. I know the shot is supposed to give you cravings but I haven't had any so it's not like I'm shoving food down my face every chance I get.

lose weight on it ha! It was a helping hand to my gaining 30lbs during the year and a half I was on it.

See that's what I've been reading on blogs and forums. And I asked my doctor and of course she says it's not the shot that's making them gain weight. I think that's bull crap cause although I haven't gained any weight I can't lose any either! It's so frustrating!

I haven't gained weight on it and I have been on it for a couple years now.  I did have problems losing weight, but I think that was my fault.  After I stopped overeating and really started working out, I did lose weight.  But I have heard that you can gain about 10 pounds on birth control pills and from the shot, and I suppose everyone is different in the way they will affect you.  I think that your doctor is wrong, because when I decided to get the shot, my doctor warned me that I could gain on it.  I don't remember her saying anything about not being able to lose though.   Good luck!

i've been on depo shot for 2 years (this time around) and just started calorie counting almost a year ago. since mid June '08 i have lost 35 pounds. and that was just by counting calories. the last 10 pounds are proving to be a bit more difficult and i feel like i'm going to have to get serious about exercising, but i think that's how it goes for most everyone. honestly i do not feel like any of the weight i gained could be directly linked to any birth control (i've been on and off pills from about 16 until about 32. and am on my second round of depo, took a break to have another kid) my problem was that i just had no clue about portions before CC.

good luck hope you see the scale move soon!

depo stimulates the area in your brain that makes you feel hungry. Weight gain is a side effect of this drug and many people gain weight on it. Try and decide if you really are hungry or if its just the drugs talking! Im on lupron and i've gained about 15 pounds that im trying to work off now.

im not on the shot but im on the pill, its horrible. im absolutely tired and lethargic all time and my apetite is huge because of it. I always feel like im starving. i hate having to take the pill

I've been doing weight watchers and I workout almost everyday still the scale doesn't move. I guess it's just the way my body reacts to. I think I'm just going to have to go back to the pill cause it didn't have this effect on me.

i was going to take the depo shot but i decided not to. i was on the pill for 3 months just to regulate my period and although i read a whole bunch of forums and chats where they said that this particular birth control pill made them gain weight and have terrible mood swings and depression, it didnt have ANY of that effect on me. it changed nothing. actually, its been a week since ive been off any birth control and i actually feel worse! i'm way more tired than i was before, it's totally weird. everybodys body is different and so many women blame the birth control for making them gain weight, but its not the birth control thats stuffing food in your face. if you stick to your routine and continue to eat healthy i'm sure you won't gain any weight. there could be so many different factors for why the scale isnt moving, water retention, or maybe a plateau.. either way, good luck! :)

I lost 20 lbs when I was on it last year, I'd been on it for several years.

You gain a lot more weight being pregnant then you do on birth control!!

lol I bet!

I gained 45 pounds in the last 3 years and just realised i was on the pill for exactly those 3 years!!! Could have something to do with it...

Grew about 4 inches in that time so that must have been a factor too!

One friend warned me before I took the DEPO (birth control shot) that I would have cravings, just like we do before our period (before we were on birth control) except the cravings will last for longer days and be more frequently through out the month.  I've noticed that when I crave something I usually wouldn't crave, I know I shouldn't eat it or if I do give in, and I'm not satisfied, I know I should stop or replace the craving with something healthy.  It's not easy, but it will make a huge difference.

Forgot to add something else I was on the DEPO for 3yrs, but was very active the last two years I was on it, loosing 15 lbs.  I just had a baby 4 months ago, and I'm back on the DEPO.

I've been on Depo for more than 10 years without a break, and I don't think it's made a difference.  My doctor told me that it may make you gain 1-2 lbs a year and anything more is the cookie jar or beer keg.  When I was preparing for my wedding 5 years ago, I actually lost 10 lbs fairly easily while I was on it.  Even if it does give you more cravings, you need to stick to your calories and not give in to those cravings. 

You guys should definitely talk to your doctors about the Nuva Ring.  It is awesome.  The hormones can (not everyone has side effects, just like any other medication) make you feel like crap (tired, achy, bitchy, moody, weight gain, etc) which they did me- for 14 years.  This is because you have to  cyclethe hormones through your body before they reach the vagina, just like they would if you were pregnant (do the side effects sound familiar?).  The Nuva Ring is inserted into the vagina so the hormones are delivered right where you want them and they do not have to travel through your whole body first.  Plus, because they are absorbed right where you need them they can use a smaller dose of hormone and it be as effective.  I know at first it sounds weird but you can't feel it and it is pretty secure up there.  It fits very much like the feminine hygiene cup, Instead, but is smaller.  If you have trouble inserting it you can just take a tampon out of the applicator, stick the ring in the applicator, and put it in just like a tampon, although to get it out you just have to reach up there and get it which might gross some people out.  I love it and I dont' think I would ever go back to the pill.  The only problem I have is remembering to take it out and put a new one in once a month.  At least taking the pill every day can become a routine. 

Good luck! 

DEPO=POISON Was on depo for 9 months....gained 30 ibs...that was 2003.  Many serious attempts to lose it with little success.  Also, lost fertility, lost periods, gained body hair .... that crap is poison, anyone who is even slightly over weight is nuts to touch it....

Hi,

I have been on the depo provera for 4 years now. Due to some severe migraines it is the only type of birthcontrol that I can take that won't make me have strokes. When my doctor talked to me about going on the depo provera I was scared, because I had a few friends that were on it and gain weight and I really didn't wanted to gain weight, but again it was the only type of birthcontrol that would not make me have strokes and would help lower the frequency of my migraines so I basicly had no choice. Due to a high lever of estrogene, I had about 1 to 2 migraines a week. Anyways so I told my doctor about my concerns and he told me this great advise. Yes without a dought the depo provera is going to make you feel hungry but it will not make you gain weight, because you are in control of what you eat and not the depo. You have a choice. When you get hungry it's what you are going to chose to eat that is going to make the difference. If you pick an apple over a chocolate bar you will not gain weight but if you chose to eat chocolate bars and chips, chances are that you will gain weight. He also sat with me and talked about eating healthy.

Like I said I have been on it for 4 years and I never notice a big weight gain. I always stayed between 110-115 lbs for those 4 years.

I hope this is helpfull! Aslo make sure that you take enough calcium as the depo provera is hard on the bones.

Good luck!