How to Avoid Weight Gain While Using Birth Control Pills
Scientific studies indicate that hormonal birth control doesn't directly cause weight gain, according to MayoClinic.com 1. Still, many women who use it do gain weight -- particularly in their hips, thighs and breasts. This could be a result of hormones that increase hunger, lead to water retention and plump up your existing fat cells.
Use an online calorie counter like the one available at MayoClinic.com or MyPlate, to get an estimate of the number of calories you need to take in each day to avoid gaining weight.
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Write down the total number of calories in everything you eat each day and input the information on a calorie calculator app. Keep your calorie count at or below the number of calories required to maintain your weight.
Keep plenty of healthy snacks on hand, such as fresh fruit and vegetables and low-fat dairy products, to help you adjust to your increased appetite.
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Get plenty of exercise to burn calories, control appetite and reduce water weight. Try to exercise at least 30 minutes most days of the week.
Increase your fluid intake to help prevent water retention caused by hormonal changes. Reduce your sodium intake to 1,500 mg or less each day to further help reduce and prevent water weight gain.
Talk to your doctor about other forms of birth control if you have trouble controlling weight gain even with a healthy diet and exercise plan.
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References
- MayoClinic.com; Birth control pill FAQ: Benefits, risks and choices; May 21, 2011
- Jääskeläinen A, Schwab U, Kolehmainen M, Pikola J, Jarvelin MR, Laitinen J. Associations of meal frequency and breakfast with obesity and metabolic syndrome traits in adolescents of Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986. Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis 2013; 23:1002. DOI:10.1016/j.numecd.2012.07.006
- Katzmarzyk PT, Church TS, Craig CL, Bouchard C. Sitting time and mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2009; 41:998. DOI:10.1249/MSS.0b013e3181930355
- Spiegel K, Tasali E, Penev P, Van Cauter E. Brief communication: Sleep curtailment in healthy young men is associated with decreased leptin levels, elevated ghrelin levels, and increased hunger and appetite. Ann Intern Med 2004; 141:846. DOI:10.7326/0003-4819-141-11-200412070-00008
- Leslie WS, Koshy PR, Mackenzie M, et al. Changes in body weight and food choice in those attempting smoking cessation: a cluster randomised controlled trial. BMC Public Health 2012; 12:389. DOI:10.1186/1471-2458-12-389
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A Jill-of-all-trades, Lillian Downey is a certified Responsible Sexuality Educator, certified clinical phlebotomist and a certified non-profit administrator. She's also written extensively on gardening and cooking. She also authors blogs on nail art blog and women's self esteem.