b/c and diet

[b fold the truth]

Ok...one thing that I do not have a strong grasp of is birth control and the effects that it may have on women and their body. My ex girlfriend started taking ortho about 2 months ago for her menstrual problems (tons of pain) and it has helped that greatly. She could tell immediately that it was going to affect her body fat storage too, and that scared her. She is not a small girl but is definately not fat either...it would just be very easy for her to get very overweight.

She recently started 2 a days...5am is lifting and 7pm is cardio and abs. She says that she has lost about 10lbs in the past month and can tell a big difference. She started doing power movts again as well as working out with an attitude. She also has switched to a very low carb diet...very low everything if you ask me...and this has me wondering.

Are there certain foods or supps that may help her loose or keep the extra weight off? Will she gain all of that weight back if she decides to go out and actually eat for a week?

Just curious how b/c can affect one's diet and nutritional needs.

Thanks

 

[Sassy69]

You may get some more detailed responses on this and I'd also recommend doing some searches on birth control because this topic constantly comes up on the boards.

In general, some people may experience some degree of weight gain on certain birth control. Good diet & training regimens will help to keep this in check. The only time I would recommend going off birth control as a way to avoid weight gain is for competition. Often the estrogen-related fat will prevent a competitor from achieving the bodyfat levels (7-9% bf) required for serious competition. And below bf levels of about 11% the menstrual cycle will actual stop. This is OK for the short term (a few months) but has long-reaching consequences if the menstrual cycle stops for long periods of time. (see the threads on contraception for more detail). To just "be in shape" it is not really necessary to consider the weight associated with birth control to be really bad. Again, that is in general.

Personally I was on b/c for 15 years and never noticed any significant weight gain. I was able to lean out to 8-9% bf for my first competition while on b/c. Others may have different stories. Reaction to b/c is a very individual thing.

The weight gain associated with estrogen is the tendency to increase body fat in the hips, thighs, maybe stomach area with "evolutionary" purpose of adding protection for carrying babies. And its just damn hard to get rid of because it is there for a reason.

Best suggestion is to stick w/ a good diet & training regimen. Definitely give yourself cheat days to help spark the metabolism (so it doesn't think its going into starvation mode while on low cal diets). The idea is to not restrict intake to the body, but to provide optimal fuel for optimal metabolism.

 

[bunni]

Birth controll can be a real issue as far as weight loss . As a woman who takes it it is real easy to put on the weight but can be a bitch to take off . I reccomend cardio , and lots of it . I would say an hour at a time about 5 days a week . I gained a lot of weight from birth controll and am in the process of taking it off . I am on a diet of phen and exercise as well as watching what I eat . If its that much of an issue just use condoms .

Good luck bunni

 

[b fold the truth]

Ummmm...the need for actual birth control is not necessary. She is my ex girlfriend...and it wasn't a concern when we were dating...my choice...

B True

 

[b fold the truth]

Any other ideas?

Thanks

B True