Didn't know where else to put this, but I'm curious, do you tend to gain weight around your period? I seem to put on at least 5 pounds, starting at very least a week before, that will drop after my cycle finishes...

Does this happen to you to? Does it make you frustrated about your diet?

I Think It Happens To Most Of Us But When I Use To Go To Formu 3 Weightloss They Had Us Use Parsley Flakes In Our Food And Water And It Helped Lose It And The Bloating Sorry Guys Forgot About It Or I Would Have Told You Earlier!

Oh it happens - your body is holding in so much water and that before you have your period, it makes you bloat a lot. All I know is that you should drink lots of water and stay active! The parsley trick sounds worth trying though! Thanks RN!

Good to know it's not just me, I was disappointed because I'm up a little today (I need to stop using the scale daily! *Smacks my hand*) But I'm going to start sometime between the 15th and the 19th, and it's totally like my body to start bloating up 5-10 days early.

I'm drinking water like it's going out of fashion O_o 80oz yesterday. I was so thirsty!

This happens to me too... about 3-5 pounds... I just keep exercising and TRYING to eat healthy.. and yeah, the water thing is new to me but I am trying... then when it is over, I haven't gained anything, sadly sometimes I don't lose anything either... hmmmm.....

I put on about 7lbs before and during my period.. think its because i have a really heavy flow.. It's so depressing. lol

I've noticed that on birth control that doesn't tend to happen as much. Then, of course, you risk that extra 10 lbs or whatever that everyone says you gain. I know I did, but I was also eating cupcakes on a daily basis and McDonald's for breakfast, so I'm hardly a reliable source for the birth-control-makes-you-gain-weight issue.

However, my doctor did say that if you maintain your calorie intake and continue exercising, birth control should not cause you to gain weight.

yeah but is your doctor a man or a woman? maintaining calorie intake isnt so easy when its the birth control giving you cravings you can barely fight in the first place! i dont take them, but this is what i hear.

Personally i don't agree with birth control pills.. There just doesn't seem anything right about controlling hormones.. Hormones were put in us for a reason.. We just got to deal with them...

But then again i could just be bitter. lol I went on birth control pills when i first started uni purely for that 'just incase i get pissed etc etc.' My mum found it a lot more comforting to know that i was 'protected.' hehe I guess i blame the birth control pills for my weight gain. They made my breasts go to a HUGE cup size.. they are big now but then they were huge! It didn't matter how much i controlled my cravings/urges/calorie intake or exercised the weight just didnt seem to drop off.. plus my breasts always seemed really sensitive... Think maybe i got the wrong type prescribed to me?

sorry.. birth control pill rant over.

I have never had birth control cravings or even heard that they were attatched to using BC - possibly 'depo provera' definately.. it all depens on your body though ... it reacts differently so while one may be perfect for one body it doesn't work for another and sometimes the only way to find out is by trial-and-error. You may not think trying to 'control' hormones is right or not - but you probably WILL when you're going through menopause and your blood feels like its boiling... it's all about quality of life! But once again, while menopause may be hell for one woman - another may not even know she's going through it - everybody's different.

Elizab3th.. I agree with you totally.. and understand that some people will find birth control a heaven sent.. Because of my bad experience i guess im just weary of them. hehe

I'm not about to campaign against birth control.. don't worry.

Mmm.. I understand - I had a bad 'depo' experience that resulted in a little less 'birth control' than I thought haha it's too bad there isn't some miracle pill out there... something that doesn't have possibly long-term effects. And then I would get a miracle pill for losing weight, and one for being smarter, and one for growing bangs faster! Hahaha...

Good to know

interestingly enough, I started using birth control and started my campaign to lose weight about the same time, and it hasn't hindered me =) I actually started to get more serious about exercising BECAUSE i was afraid that I would gain weight with them, and didn't want to be any bigger than I already was.

i find the pill helpful for even-ing out my cycle and do find that I get less bloated... I used to have two really heavy days and then three light ones, and so was very bloated and cramped at the beginning, but that has lessened =)

okay - this is a completely different topic from birth control, but speaking of periods...

Have any of you heard of reusable feminine products? My first reaction to that question was EWWW - but then I did some research and talked with some friends who used them, and have used them now for two years... and LOVE it!

There are a couple of different varieties: natural sea sponges (like a tampon), menstrual cups (inserted like a tampon, but holds fluid instead of absorbing), and cloth pads. I know this sounds way gross - but I have been using a cup for a while now, and don't think it is any messier or grosser than using a tampon.

While purchasing the products to begin with is kind of expensive, overall, it saves you a ton of money. I spent $30 for my cup and haven't purchased tampons or pads for two years!

If anyone is interested in hearing more, pm me - i don't want to get into all the details here if you're not interested =)