Birth control pills can be an effective way to prevent pregnancy and regulate your menstrual cycle, but they also have side effects, including weight gain. According to MayoClinic.com, most weight gain from birth control pills is due to water retention, but many women believe otherwise. When you do decide to stop taking the birth control pill, you may want to lose the weight you gained as well. Once you have stopped taking the pills, the process and likelihood of success of losing weight is similar to that of anyone else trying to lose weight.
Step 1
Talk to your doctor about discontinuing your birth control pills. Your doctor will likely tell you how to taper off the pills, if applicable, and about other birth control methods you plan to use instead.
Step 2
Exercise regularly. MedlinePlus recommends at least 2.5 hours of aerobic exercise each week, in intervals of at least 10 minutes each time. Include at least 20 minutes of weight training each week as well to build lean muscle; muscle burns more calories than fat, so you may lose weight more quickly.
Step 3
Cut calories from your diet and eat a balanced variety of healthy foods. To lose 1 to 2 lbs. per week, consume 500 to 1,000 fewer calories each day. This can be most easily achieved by making several small positive changes. Switch to lower-fat alternatives, skip eating dessert and second helpings, eat smaller portions and avoid high-calorie beverages.
Step 4
Drink more water. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water per day for optimal health and weight loss. Drinking more water will also help you feel full, which may enable you to avoid mindless snacking.
Tips and Warnings
- Eat a well-balanced breakfast. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, lean meat and whole grains.
- Do not skip meals to lose weight. Do not try fad diets that promise rapid weight loss; any weight lost is usually regained quickly, and may cause damage to your heart.
