This post is for all of my friends that are getting ready for their next figure or fitness competitions this summer. I was catching up on my reading of my Oxygen magazine which is a awesome resource for womens fitness. Let me tell you I am so behind in my readings. I have already received my August issue and I am currently on June and July’s. Wow!

Anyway on page 28 of the July issue they talked about oral contraceptives and weight gain. What the article talked is as follows:

Studies on physically active women have found that oral contraceptives, when taken as a single fixed dose of estrogen or as multiple does over the entire menstrual cycle, increase body mass and body fat percentage. One study, published in American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, found that women gain almost 4.5 pounds within six month of going on the pill.

I was like what? Now, take it I have been on the pill since I will 16 years of age and after starting the pill I did notice a increase of weight gain over the years the first fews years. Keep in mind I was an active cheerleader, in track and played volleyball for fun over the summer months to keep in shape. I remember going up a dress size going into to my Junior year in high school. Sucks! Anyway the article continues:

They say that the weight gain did not seem to be permanent; once you stop taking the pill the weight appears to drop within a month. So, if you are preparing for a fitness or figure competition maybe consider stopping the pill at least a month prior to going on stage. (Just don’t have sex)

Oxygen Magazine, July issue, page 28

I tend to agree with that part. To this day I am a current pill user and let me tell during the week when I am just taking the placebo pill which is during the time of the month my weight drops big time. I mean like 3-4 pounds in a week with exercise and healthy clean eating. Then when I start popping those pills again the weight begins to creep a bit, but with diet and exercise I can keep it under control. Oh well, I can’t stop having sex and my DH and I are happy with our one child so far, lol.

Tags: nutrisystem, weight loss, weigh gain, bodybuilding, fitness, healthy living