Losing weight after Depo

Colliewobble_2

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of losing weight after coming off the Depo injections.

Been on it for about eight years - was really pleased with the jab apart from the weight gain - about 2.5 stones:eek:. Some of that I expect is a slightly more sedentary lifestyle and aging (sadly!). However over the past few months I've been dieting like crazy and exercising like a madwoman and nothing seems to be budging.

GP has recommended I give the shot a break - so I'm just after people's experiences (hopefully positive!!) of whether you found it easier once you had stopped the shot.

PLEEEAASE reassure me it starts to come off!! Otherwise I might just as well sit on the sofa eating cake

chunkychocky

I found it just as easy to lose weight whilst on Depo as not on it, however I couldn't lose weight no matter what I tried until I followed a specific diet. I had tried sensible eating and exercise and it did nothing, and it turned out I was seriously underestimating the calories/fat in some things. I copied the Weight Watchers diet from someone and the weight started to fall off despite me eating more than I had been when just trying to be sensible. I'm sure any scientific diet would have had the same result.

Good luck!

SandC

I have gained weight and lost weight all whilst being on depo. I don't think that has anything to do with the injection and everything to do with my lifestyle and choices.

I would give it a shot because at the very least if you find that you are still struggling then you will know it's not the depo.

As with the above poster, most of my weight loss has been through exercise but you have to do a hell of a lot to lose any lbs and not expect things to happen quickly. Combined with reduced calorie diet it should take the half the time. To lose 1lb of fat you need to burn up 3,500 calories. So if you are eating 'normally' at around 2000 calories for your average lady you will need to be doing some quite intense exercise 7 times per week (500 cals per session). So combined with losing 500 cals per day (through diet) and 3/4 exercise sessions every week (every week!) you can lose 1-2 lb.

piglet74

i have been on and off (mostly on!) depo for 17 years, currently back on it over 3 years, and i have just lost over 6 stone in a year

i think it was just an excuse for me...eg "of course im overweight, i am on depo"...but when i got up off my a$$ and tried to shift the weight, even the depo didnt stop me,

Gloomendoom

piglet74 wrote: »

i have been on and off (mostly on!) depo for 17 years, currently back on it over 3 years, and i have just lost over 6 stone in a year

i think it was just an excuse for me...eg "of course im overweight, i am on depo"...but when i got up off my a$$ and tried to shift the weight, even the depo didnt stop me,

I'm sure a lot of people use the depo as as convenient scapegoat for their weight gain. I suspect that it doesn't automatically make you fatter but it can stimulate your appetite. It is then up to you to control the urge to overeat.

Mrs G was on the depo for years and got slimmer over the period.

SandC

Yes I also gave up smoking then lost weight. That's another excuse often used...

Person_one

Gloomendoom wrote: »

I'm sure a lot of people use the depo as as convenient scapegoat for their weight gain. I suspect that it doesn't automatically make you fatter but it can stimulate your appetite. It is then up to you to control the urge to overeat.

Mrs G was on the depo for years and got slimmer over the period.

I've gained and lost weight both on and off Depo. While it did in the end boil down to what I ate and how much I exercised it is very definitely easier to gain and harder to lose while I'm on it! I wouldn't call it an excuse, I'd call it a hindrance.

Unfortunately the key is just to turn up your willpower and be incredibly strict with yourself, which isn't much fun but it gets the weight off.

Colliewobble_2

Thanks all for your responses.

I must admit I can understand why I've put a bit of weight on - but maybe not why I've put quite so much on!

And I'd love to know why it's not shifting - I'm doing high intensity exercise classes four times a week and really cutting back on the food - compiling food diaries and not eating snacks or cakes or whatnot.

I guess if it's take eight years to put on it's not going to come off overnight :-)

caeler

I took a break after gaining weight whilst being on Depo. I don't think I gained the weight because of depo but it didn't help when I was trying to lose. Once I got the right diet the weight fell off (I went with Atkins). I'm back on the depo and just controlling my weight by diet. It is creeping back on but I think that is due to overeating rather than the depo!

Gloomendoom

Most (all?) of these hormonal contraceptives work by fooling the body into thinking it is already pregnant so there is a natural urge to eat more. A pregnant woman needs an extra 200-300 calories a day on top of her normal intake. If you are not pregnant and succumb to the urge to eat, you are going to gain roughly a pound every fortnight. Eeek!

SandC

Colliewobble wrote: »

Thanks all for your responses.

I must admit I can understand why I've put a bit of weight on - but maybe not why I've put quite so much on!

And I'd love to know why it's not shifting - I'm doing high intensity exercise classes four times a week and really cutting back on the food - compiling food diaries and not eating snacks or cakes or whatnot.

I guess if it's take eight years to put on it's not going to come off overnight :-)

Yes, do be kind to yourself colliewobble. That's 35lbs over 96 months - not even 1/2lb per month.