Weight loss after hormonal drugs. How to lose weight after hormonal pills

To avoid complications, according to gynecologist Albina Usenko, it is very important to choose the right remedy. However, as practice shows, it is impossible to avoid the appearance of excess weight after taking hormonal drugs. About how to lose weight after hormones, what nuances exist in this matter, said a nutritionist-endocrinologist.

Natalya Samoylenko, nutritionist-endocrinologist, head physician of the Stolitsa clinic, member of the Association of Dietitians of Ukraine, founder of the Strunka Ukraine movement

Why does taking hormones cause weight gain?

Many hormonal drugs increase the feeling of hunger, because they directly affect the metabolism and hormonal levels in the body. Of particular note is the activation of the production of the hunger hormone ghrelin, which has metabolic and endocrine functions. To cope with unwanted hunger, it is very important to eat little and often - 5-6 times a day. This method in nutrition is called grazing, and it really helps to control hunger.

What diet while taking hormones and after the end of the course will help to lose weight?

First of all, every diet should be individual. That is, selected by a dietitian according to age, gender, lifestyle, level of physical activity, weight, existing diseases. Those who took hormonal preparations should pay special attention to the balance of vitamins and microelements, because hormones contribute to increased consumption and removal of nutrients from the body. Perhaps the doctor will advise you to fill the lack of vitamin C, calcium, zinc, iron, chromium, folic acid, selenium and vitamin E.


What foods should be limited to lose weight after taking hormones?

It is necessary to completely abandon foods with a high glycemic index, since such patients have a reduced ability to utilize simple sugars, that is, all products made from sugar and white flour, as well as beer, are prohibited. You need to be more careful with potatoes, semolina and white peeled rice. It is also necessary to limit meals rich in saturated fats, such as fatty meats, sausages, sausages, fatty dairy products, processed and hard cheeses, and cream.

An organism weakened by hormonal drugs will be greatly harmed by smoked and fried foods, sausages and semi-finished products. It is worth emphasizing that the body during the period of taking hormonal drugs is especially sensitive to low-quality products and food chemicals - dyes, preservatives, flavors, so you should refrain from sausages, semi-finished products and bright carbonated drinks.


How should you adjust your diet?

The amount of liquid for weight loss cannot be limited, because this will lead to the opposite process - fluid retention, because the body, feeling a lack of moisture, will begin to save and stock up. Lack of fluid will also provoke the development of other diseases. On average, you need to drink 1.5-2 liters per day. You can calculate your liquid rate based on the rule: 30 ml per 1 kg of weight.

What physical activities will help you get rid of extra pounds?

Those who have taken or are taking hormonal drugs should avoid serious power loads. To get back in shape and get rid of extra pounds, the best choice is daily walks in the fresh air at a fast pace. Pilates, dancing, swimming, walking, treadmill or elliptical exercises are also suitable. Also, for those who restore shape after hormones, yoga classes will help improve the hormonal balance in the body as a whole.

Hormonal drugs have become a familiar part of the lives of many women. They are used both as contraceptives and for the treatment of complex diseases, including infertility and depression. Often, taking pills of this type is the only way to return to a normal lifestyle, give birth to a child, or feel like a woman again. But, like all drugs, hormones and birth control pills have their drawbacks. One of them is a rapid set of extra pounds. Getting rid of health problems with the help of hormones, women lose their slim figure. And then the most relevant question is how to lose weight after hormonal pills.

Weight gain for each woman can occur individually: someone gets better while taking a course of medication, others after it. And in fact, and in another case, one should not despair, the problem with extra pounds can be solved quite successfully. First of all, you need to contact the doctor who prescribed the medication. Most likely, the doctor will prescribe a special nutrition system or advise what medications you need to drink to lose weight. But even when contacting a doctor, you should pay attention to some points that can lead to weight gain and exclude them from everyday life.

There are many factors that can lead to weight gain while taking hormone pills. So, the ability of drugs of this type to cause an increase in appetite is not a secret. Feeling hungry, a woman will eat everything in a row, and then blame the hormones for the appearance of extra pounds. To prevent this from happening, when taking medication, pay attention to the diet and the amount of food eaten. These indicators should remain the same as before treatment. If you suddenly notice that the clothes have become small, there is no need to panic and go on a diet. The rejection of many common foods and stress can lead to the fact that your hormonal balance, adjusted by taking pills, will be disturbed. And this, in turn, will lead to the fact that the treatment will need to be started again.

Thinking about how to lose weight after taking hormones, do not limit yourself in the amount of food, but try to correctly plan your daily diet. It is necessary to exclude frequent tea parties with sweets, sandwiches, fast food and semi-finished products. Let your snack be some fruit, such as a pear or an apple.

Weight gain also determines such a property of hormonal drugs as a slowdown in metabolism. After taking hormones or during it, try to minimize the use of foods that promote the growth of fat cells. These are fatty, fried and smoked foods, as well as confectionery and sweet sparkling water.

It is not so much hormones that lead to the appearance of excess weight, but the changes in the body caused by them. Sometimes these changes are so small that they are ignored. Meanwhile, taking this type of medication, you need to listen to your body and, if necessary, adjust its needs.

So, fatigue, insomnia, excessive psychological stress can lead to weight gain. If, getting up in the morning, you do not feel rested, try to reconsider the daily routine. Sleep at least 8 hours a day, take walks, do easy physical exercises in the morning, and soon lethargy and fatigue will leave you, and the body will painlessly get used to the changes that have occurred in it.

In order to help the body, engage in a favorite type of physical activity that you enjoy. Yoga, swimming, jogging or dancing are very effective in this case. They will not only allow you to lose weight, but also strengthen muscles, make life healthier and more fulfilling. Types of physical activity based on weight lifting are not recommended. Forget about hormonal drugs, think only about yourself and your body, and those extra centimeters will leave you forever.

Actions after stopping hormone therapy

When the causes of extra pounds are known, efforts can be made to eliminate them. But at the same time, it must be remembered that most likely it will not be possible to lose weight while taking the medicine. You should complete the course, and then proceed to action. How to start the fight against excess weight formed after hormonal drugs? The algorithm of actions and tips for implementing it are as follows.

  1. Visit an endocrinologist. It will help you eliminate diseases that lead to weight gain, correct the hormonal background. All subsequent decisions must be made with his approval and on his recommendations.
  2. Refuse various kinds of diets: the illiterate use of a diet can cause serious harm to the body. Adjust your diet and exercise. It should be remembered that losing weight after taking birth control or other hormonal drugs will not work quickly. In such cases, the hormonal background of the body is restored for at least 6 months, and sometimes for 1.5 years, so you need not to panic, but patiently and systematically follow the doctor's recommendations.
  3. Cleanse the body of toxins and toxins. This will help improve digestion, which will improve the absorption of nutrients and the removal of harmful ones.
  4. Exclude from the use of various kinds of teas, pills and miracle drugs for weight loss. Pay attention to phytohormones, because in some cases they have a positive effect on the recovery of the body and significantly improve health.
  5. Drink at least 1.5 liters of fluid per day. It is better if it is pure water or green tea. Limit the amount of coffee you drink by replacing it with a decoction of parsley.

Approximate diet


If you do not know how to lose weight after hormones, plan your daily diet. This can be done by focusing on the basic recommendations.

  1. Completely exclude salty, sweet, smoked, fried, fatty foods, spicy sauces, mayonnaise, marinades, fast food, convenience foods from consumption.
  2. Limit the consumption of potatoes, semolina, white rice, white bread, high-fat dairy products, processed and fatty cheese, instant cereals as much as possible.
  3. Eat at least 5 meals a day, preferably every 3.5 hours. As snacks, use raw fruits and vegetables, natural yogurt, diet bread, salads from fresh vegetables and fruits, a small amount of fat-free cottage cheese. These products contain a small amount of calories, but at the same time they will eliminate the feeling of hunger if it arises.
  4. Eat more protein-rich foods. Due to this, your body will lose fat, not muscle mass.
  5. To eliminate cravings for unhealthy foods, drink special mineral complexes and vitamins. This not only promotes weight loss, but also restores the functioning of the body.

After reading the above recommendations, the question of how to lose weight after taking hormonal drugs will no longer seem insoluble to you. You must remember that to do this is real, you only need patience, some effort and time. Use the tips and your forms will soon be perfect again.

There are situations when taking hormonal drugs is simply a necessity. They are prescribed when a hormonal failure in the body is detected, and if you neglect the advice of doctors about pills, you can easily provoke the development of serious diseases that can even lead to infertility. Therefore, it is impossible to refuse to take hormonal drugs just because you feel like it.

But, despite the fact that such drugs improve hormonal levels and prevent the development of various diseases, they have one significant "minus" - they contribute to rapid weight gain. At the same time, extra pounds can appear both when taking hormonal drugs, and after them.

And if weight gain is due to restructuring, then how to lose weight after hormonal pills? And in general, is it possible?

Often, we consider hormonal drugs to be the culprit for the appearance of extra pounds, although in fact they affect weight only indirectly. Why? But because with the normalization of the hormonal background in the body, strong changes occur, due to which it occurs.

An increased appetite makes us put everything that comes to hand into our mouths. And you still think that pills are to blame for the appearance of extra pounds? You yourself cannot control yourself and control your desires.

But after taking hormonal drugs, weight is gained due to your habit of chewing something. When the medication is taken, not only the hormonal background is normalized, but also metabolic processes. At the end of taking the pills, metabolic processes slow down, food begins to be processed more slowly, but its amount does not decrease. Hence the extra pounds, which were allegedly gained due to the use of hormonal drugs.

And if it so happened that you were overweight, you can lose weight after hormonal pills only if you begin to feel your body and determine what exactly it needs now.

Don't eat when you don't want to. Stop snacking on sandwiches or drinking tea with sweets. All this leads to the appearance of body fat and without taking hormonal drugs.

Remember, the figure's best friend is and. Green tea promotes, cleanses the intestines and normalizes blood pressure. And healthy food provides the body with all the necessary substances, while not overloading it with fat.

Try to eat more fruits and vegetables. Prepare various salads from them (without oil and mayonnaise) or bake them in the oven. It is better to exclude smoked and fried foods from the diet altogether, they have a very bad effect on the condition of the figure.

Drink plenty of water. Try to drink at least 5-6 glasses of cold water. They dull the feeling of hunger and tones the skin, which is also very important when losing weight.

Forget about crackers, chips, fast food and soda altogether. These products are very harmful to the body and, moreover, are one of the most common causes of excess weight in modern society.

And of course, do not forget to visit the doctor who prescribed hormonal drugs for you and tell him about your problem. If he sees that there is a problem, he may prescribe a special treatment to help you get your forms back in order.

Video on how to lose weight after hormonal pills

Treatment of diseases with hormonal drugs is quite effective, but a large number of pitfalls and side effects somewhat overshadow the recovery. There are a lot of stories about girls gaining weight after taking hormones.

Therefore, it is important for the fair sex to know how to lose weight after taking such drugs and nutrition during this period.

What pathologies are treated with hormones?

Treatment with hormones is used not only in gynecology. These drugs are prescribed for many conditions:

  • thyroid diseases, including hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, thyrotoxicosis, autoimmune thyroiditis;
  • diseases of the parathyroid glands, for example, and;
  • acne;
  • inflammatory skin diseases;
  • disruption of the ovaries;
  • infertility;
  • malignant and benign tumors, whose formation is associated with a hormonal background;
  • diabetes.

And this is just a short list of possible reasons. The endocrine system is a very delicate mechanism, intervention in which inevitably leads to malfunctions, leading to all sorts of disorders.

Before prescribing medications, all patients must be examined to determine the level of their own hormones in the body. Based on the analyzes, the doctor selects the reception of those funds that will work for each individual patient.

Why is overweight?

There are many factors that can influence weight gain. It is no secret that while taking hormones, appetite increases. Constant hunger leads to the consumption of more foods, including fast carbohydrates. In order not to gain weight during treatment, it is enough to control the diet and the amount of food eaten. No indicators, especially weight, should change.

In addition to the difficulties with nutrition during hormone treatment, a decrease in metabolic rate has an effect. This effect is especially pronounced in violation of the thyroid gland. Therefore, the content of foods that lead to an increase in the number of fat cells in the body should be minimized. Such food includes:

  • fatty;
  • roast;
  • smoked;
  • bread and other pastries;
  • confectionery;
  • carbonated drinks.

Taking hormonal contraceptives affects fat metabolism. Estrogens help increase body fat. Progesterone works in a similar way. Its additional effect is the ability to retain fluid in the body. All this leads to weight gain during treatment.

General factors may also play a role. Fatigue, insomnia, and emotional stress play a role in slowing metabolism and weight gain. In this case, it is worth trying to change the daily routine and nutrition. Sleep should last at least 8 hours a day, and physical activity can consist of walking and exercising in the morning.

What can you eat during treatment?

The main thing is not to exceed the usual "standards". You can eat and drink everything. It is enough to keep track of consumption volumes. Of course, the rejection of fast food and other carbohydrates is required. The intake of foods containing fats should be in accordance with the daily balance of BJU.

The basis of nutrition is proteins, as they help fight the swelling that occurs with long-term use of drugs containing estrogen. But if an increase in appetite is still present, then it is impossible to go on a diet abruptly. Otherwise, the body, experiencing stress during treatment, will suffer even more. All this will lead to a new failure, as well as weight gain and the course of taking hormonal drugs will have to be started anew.

Allowed carbohydrates include the following foods:

  • whole wheat bread;
  • whole grain pasta;
  • brown and red rice;
  • buckwheat;
  • Hercules;
  • bulgur.

It is quite difficult to say how you can lose weight and reduce weight by constantly taking hormones. Each case is individual, and weight gain will occur in different ways.

What to do?

Of course, losing weight after hormonal pills is not easy. But this does not mean that without proper work on yourself, the weight will not move anywhere.

First of all, you need to calm yourself. Excessive worries will not help in burning fat. There is no point in constantly getting on the scales and checking every gram, or trying on your favorite, but now too small, dress. On the contrary, it can become an additional incentive. A sober assessment of the problem that has arisen will allow you to identify the right solutions and start acting in the right direction.

Already when prescribing hormonal pills, you can ask your doctor about the features of the diet and allowed foods. He will tell you what are the subtleties and what is better to exclude from the diet so as not to gain weight.

How to lose weight after hormonal drugs? This is the main question that worries all patients. The following tips will help in reducing weight after treatment with hormonal drugs:

  • If the girl begins to gain weight after the treatment is canceled, then perhaps the whole point is in the changed work of the body, which must be corrected. In this case, you need to visit the attending endocrinologist. He will prescribe the necessary tests, conduct a complete examination and report the cause of the changes. If necessary, additional hormonal correction will be prescribed. As well as taking any means that contribute to weight loss, should be taken only with the permission of a specialist and under his supervision.
  • Discussing a suitable diet with a doctor. Almost all newfangled diets, according to which most girls reduce weight, are not suitable and only worsen treatment.
  • Cleansing the body of toxins and toxins that accumulate over the years. They are deposited in the liver, kidneys, joints and on the walls of the intestines. Normal digestion and the work of all organs in this case is impossible. A specialized specialist, for example, a dietitian, can choose the right cleansing technique.
  • Lymph cleansing. Regular activated charcoal works well.
  • Sufficient water intake. Fluid has always been the key to harmony and health. Weight change after treatment is no exception. If a woman drinks 1.5-2 liters of plain water a day, then the result will not be long in coming. In the near future, weight will begin to change without exhausting diets and other strict manipulations.

  • Elimination of harmful products. So that the girl does not gain weight, it is necessary to limit the use of sweet, fatty, fried, smoked, marinades and semi-finished products.
  • Reducing the amount of white rice, potatoes, white bread and other similar foods in the diet. It is also not recommended to eat semolina and any cereals that are fast food products.
  • From dairy products, it is better to refuse fatty sour cream, cream and yogurt with a fat content of more than 2%. During treatment, fatty cheeses and processed cheeses are not allowed.
  • It is worth getting acquainted with such a concept as the glycemic index. He will tell you which carbohydrate foods should be consumed less often during treatment, and which more often. For example, oatmeal contains a large amount of gluten, so it is recommended to eat cereals from this cereal no more than 1-2 times a week. Such tables are available on the Internet.
  • Sufficient consumption of clean water.
  • Meals during treatment should be frequent. The break should be no more than 3-4 hours. In between main meals, you can have snacks that consist of fruits, fresh vegetables, crispbread and low-fat yogurt.
  • Compensation for the lack of vitamins with the help of balanced vitamin-mineral complexes.

Sample daily menu

Diet option for the day:

  • For breakfast, porridge with milk containing nuts or seeds is well suited. It is complemented by tea.
  • For a second breakfast, a sweet fruit is recommended.
  • For lunch, you can eat soup on low-fat broth with a piece of meat. In the afternoon, fiber must be added to the main meal. A vegetable salad is good.
  • For an evening snack, you can drink a glass of freshly squeezed juice or berry mousse.
  • For dinner, you can eat lean fish with buckwheat, supplemented with vegetable salad.
  • Before going to bed, it is advisable to drink a glass of kefir.

Physical exercise

Can you lose weight on food alone? Yes, it is possible, but it is impossible to say what the result will be. Supplementing the prescribed diet with the right physical activity will not only speed up the process of losing weight, but also make the weight loss process more effective.

List of allowed activities for hormonal disorders that help to reduce weight:

  • yoga;
  • swimming;
  • Pilates;
  • gymnastics;
  • running, including on a treadmill;
  • aerobics;
  • hiking.

Everyone who is undergoing treatment should know how to lose weight by taking hormones. It is important to know that self-refusal to take medication will only worsen the situation. Correction of the body's work is possible only with the close cooperation of the patient and his attending physician. The specialist is able to change the diet and choose the optimal treatment and nutrition regimen. The patient is only required to strictly follow the prescribed instructions, and then weight loss will not take long.

Hormonal drugs have long entered the lives of many women. They are used in the treatment of complex diseases and as contraceptives. Often taking hormones is the only way to restore health, but like all powerful drugs, hormonal pills have their own side effects.

One of these serious shortcomings is the rapid and difficult to control weight gain. Getting rid of health problems with the help of hormones, a woman loses her harmony.

The set of kilograms occurs individually: for someone during the course of hormones, for someone after it. In any case, you should not panic, because after taking hormones it is solved.

First of all, you need to consult a doctor who prescribed hormone-based drugs. Usually the doctor prescribes drugs for weight loss and prescribes. However, there are a few points that should be excluded from everyday life, starting to deal with weight after hormones.

What causes excess weight

When taking hormonal drugs, many factors lead to weight gain. One of them is increased appetite, which is caused by hormones. A woman begins to randomly and uncontrollably eat everything in a row, and then blame the hormones. In order not to fall into this trap, you should pay attention to the amount of food eaten and. These indicators should remain the same both before and during treatment.

Instead of giving up conventional foods and drastically limiting the amount of food, it is better to carefully plan your diet. Knowing that you won’t be able to do without a snack, stock up on an apple or a pear, and don’t buy fast food at a stall at a bus stop.

Hormonal drugs also slow down the metabolic processes in the body, so during and after taking hormones, limit those foods that contribute. Such food includes all fatty, fried, smoked, as well as confectionery delights and sweet soda.

Not only hormones lead to weight gain, but also the changes that they cause.. Constant fatigue, insomnia or excessive psychological stress also create opportunities for weight gain. Hiking, sleeping 8 hours, not burdensome - and fatigue with lethargy will go away, and the body will get used to changes in itself.

To help you cope with the consequences of taking hormonal drugs faster, choose a type of physical activity that is pleasant for you and do it regularly. It can be brisk walking, cycling, swimming, dancing, especially oriental dances, because you can start doing them even with a lot of excess weight. Only now power loads are not recommended at this moment - they can upset the balance of hormones even more. Your favorite type of sports activity will tighten the body, strengthen muscles and diversify a boring life with impressions.

Many women, having started taking hormonal contraceptives, resign themselves to the idea that they will gain weight in advance. They sigh, noticing that the clothes are getting tight, but they do nothing, thinking that everything is useless. Really shouldn't have that side effect. If the weight went up, then the drug simply does not suit you. You need to tell your doctor about this so that he can suggest another option.

Algorithm of actions after the abolition of hormones

  1. Bring the course of hormonal treatment to the end and only then proceed to eliminate the consequences. It still won't work at the same time.
  2. Visit an endocrinologist and think over a plan for adjusting hormonal levels with a doctor. Remember that for a long time - from six months to a year and a half, so losing weight "today and now" will not work.
  3. Forget about all sorts of extreme and ill-conceived diets - they only bring additional imbalance and disrupt metabolism.
  4. To cleanse the body of toxins and slags - this will improve the absorption of the useful and accelerate the removal of the spent and harmful.
  5. Exclude all kinds of teas, pills and miracle pills for weight loss from the process of restoring the shape. But you can pay attention to phytohormones, as they can positively affect the restoration of health.
  6. Drink one and a half to two liters of pure water per day. Supplement water with green tea, herbal decoctions, for example, coffee can be replaced with parsley decoction.
  7. Make a major dietary adjustment and follow the correct menu consistently and consistently.
  8. Pick the perfect one for you.

Approximate diet

  • We exclude sweet, salty, fried, smoked, fatty foods, as well as mayonnaise, marinades, spicy sauces, convenience foods and fast food.
  • We limit as much as possible potatoes, semolina, white rice and white bread, high-fat milk, processed and fatty cheeses, instant cereals. It is better to give up these products at the time of losing weight.
  • The intake of special mineral complexes and vitamins will relieve cravings for unhealthy foods, because we are drawn to a concentrated and salty taste when there is a lack of any useful nutrients in the body. Therefore, we buy and drink them regularly.
  • We eat 5 times a day after 3 hours. For snacks, we use low-calorie foods: vegetables, fruits, natural yogurt, dietary bread, fresh salads, fat-free cottage cheese. Any of these products can eliminate the feeling of hunger.
  • Increase protein foods. This will enable the body to lose fat rather than muscle mass.
  • There is no need to starve, you just need to create a deficit of 200-300 kcal in the body.

It is quite possible to lose weight after taking hormonal pills, only the process of restoring the shape in this case will not be fast.

You will need patience and time, but the effort will pay off.