OPT- effect of BC pills vs. rest week- for Leigh

jstpierre22 · 08-01-2009, 06:13 AM

Hi everyone, hi Leigh if you have time to read this:

I am just finishing week 5 of OPT and had in the 1st 3 weeks lost 6.5 pounds from 198 to 191.5. I then had my rest week while on vacation, where I did my best to consume the advised number of calories and macros for week 4 of OPT. I did take a couple days of refeed at the beginning of the week 4 because I was having a lot of difficulty with dizziness and bruising (on the advice of Leigh.)

At the beginning of this week I went back on BC pills after not having been on them for a couple years (am 15 months post partum) and have noticed an increase back up to 194.5. Kind of frustrating.

I have hit all my macros this week and stayed right on course for caloric intake for week 5. I'm just curious if anyone has any idea if the bump up in scale weight is related to hormonal adjustments of being back on the pill, or some kind of aftereffect from my rest week followed by the change in training and increase in calories of OPT week 5.

Thanks everyone- you are all so helpful on this board!

LaraT · 08-01-2009, 08:03 AM

It is normal to gain a few lbs of water when starting back on the pill so I would think that could be a main factor.

jstpierre22 · 08-01-2009, 08:07 AM

Thanks- its not permanent right? lol

LaraT · 08-01-2009, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jstpierre22

Thanks- its not permanent right? lol

Probably not

But in my experience the pill did make weight loss slower. I went off last January (after almost 10 yrs on) and my rate of loss picked up.

Leigh P. · 08-01-2009, 12:28 PM

The pill and hormone issues cloak water more. You also ate off some while on vaca, no big. I am sure a small amount will drop in a week and in general expect to start your trend over at a higher level. For example you should raise your start number so to speak. Instead of 198, now it is likely 200 given a few pounds are always held with BC pills on average. Make sense?

jstpierre22 · 08-01-2009, 06:22 PM

Makes sense, but man, is that depressing! Oh well. I'll get where I need to be evenutally. Leigh, have you written any articles about BC pill use and fat loss by any chance?

Lost Dog · 08-02-2009, 10:24 AM

The thing you have to get used to is that certain things let your body store more fluid (bc pills, sodium, higher carbs diets, gluten, beer, creatine, etc.), but they don't necessarily inhibit fat or weight loss. If you're going to use these things, consider your weight on these things your starting weight. You don't gain 2lbs (for instance) per month from these things, you retain 2lbs. once.

Weight itself is meaningless, so you'll have to mentally adjust your weight to this new starting number. It's not fat and it's not a step backward in progress. Of course with bc pills, you have hormone issues, but I believe the big fear from most women is a panick about those initial "5 lbs" that they put on. I've heard some in the office go as far as to say that they might as well not go on a diet because they're on the pill. Or, some don't want to go back on the pill because the last time, they gained 5lbs and then it kept going up and up. Well, that's just bs.

Don't let the pill win.

missjane · 08-02-2009, 12:28 PM

Roland, I had this EXACT same conversation with a girl at the gym today who just started taking creatine.

jstpierre22 · 08-03-2009, 07:38 AM

lol, thanks Roland! Don't let the pill win

I love it. I'll try not to!