Birth Control/Weight Gain

[Guest guest]

Sorry for the short notice, but tomorrow I'm having an exam and will be

looking into changing my birth control method. Currently I'm on the pill.

When I started, I weighed about 215. In a year I shot up to about 240. I

didn't blame it on the pill - college, wedding stress, anything but the

pill. Well, I've been maintaining between 235-240 for a good two years now.

Yes, I've completed a BFL challenge (shortened to 9 weeks) and I only went

down to 234 from 243. I was very pleased with that, but I can't seem to get

lower. I weighed myself the other week and it said 235.

The other thing I remember is before I was taking the pill I was 201 pounds,

and in 3 months I dropped to 187 merely by cutting out munchies, sweets and

walking for about 30 minutes three times a week. So clearly to me, the pill

has a huge hinderence on my ability to lose weight.

My sister has been taking the Shot, but she told me that she's going to look

for another method, because she too has gained 25 pounds in a year.

My sister and I are genetically alike - as in people will think we're twins

due to the similarities. So I'm sure that if I were to try the shot, I would

have the same effect as she does.

I would really appreciate any suggestions or insight to a better method. My

husband won't do condoms (and I'm not interested in that), he's against the

IUD, but otherwise would give me free reign to methods. We also won't

consider anything permanent, even though kids aren't on the plan right now.

The things I've enjoyed about the pill is that it's given me energy - I get

very sluggish and emotional when I go off it for a week. It's lessened my

period flow, drastically cut back on my cramps, and it's helped me have a

steady mood. I've also enjoyed being able to have sex without any

" preparation " - I wouldn't want to stop and have to put something in RIGHT

beforehand.

I'm considering the NuvaRing - any pros or cons on that?

Thanks!

Leah S