5 Ways to Control Weight Gain From Birth Control Pills

1. Weight Gain: A Common Side Effect

Most forms of birth control have side effects, especially birth-control pills that are taken orally. One of the most common side effects of birth-control pills is weight gain. Weight gain occurs when the estrogen in the pill causes your body to retain more water and fat than normal. Since stopping your birth-control regimen usually isn't an option, it's important to know how to control the weight gain that result can from taking birth-control pills.

2. Watch Water Intake

One of the ways you can control weight gain caused by birth-control pills is by monitoring your water intake. You should drink at least eight glasses of water a day to stay healthy, whether or not you're taking birth-control pills. If you're well-hydrated, your body is less likely to retain water. Stick to plain water instead of sugary or caffeinated drinks. The excess sugar adds carbohydrates to your diet and the caffeine can leave you feeling drained.

3. Feel Good With Fiber

You can control your weight while taking birth-control pills by keeping yourself regular and balanced. A healthy fiber intake is an effective way to clean out your colon, get regular and help you lose excess weight. Include whole grains and high-fiber cereals in your daily diet. If you don't have time to make sure you're eating enough foods with fiber, try taking a daily fiber supplement to keep your weight under control and keep everything moving the way it should.

4. Eat Right to Feel Right

Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet is one of the easiest ways to control your weight while on birth-control pills. If you resort to eating junk food and make unhealthy choices, you're going to gain weight. If you add this behavior to the weight you're already gaining due to the pills, your problems will just compound themselves. Stick to a balanced diet, including plenty of lean meats, fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy dairy and whole grains. Keeping your diet balanced will keep your weight in check and help you feel better, too.

5. Work It Out

No matter the cause of your weight gain, exercise is a great way to fight it. Weight gain from birth-control pills is no exception, so find yourself a healthy exercise regimen and stick to it. Take nightly walks around the block, go for morning bike rides before work or invest in an elliptical machine in order to work out at home. If you don't feel motivated on your own, join a gym on a trial membership to get some training from a professional and lose that weight the healthy way.