The pill, formally known as an oral contraceptive, has changed a lot over the decades. The new concoctions are much easier on your body, have fewer side effects and haven\’t lost effectiveness.
You may be wondering, however, if they are potentially causing weight gain in your body. There seems to be quite a lot of confusion and controversy regarding this issue.
Well, after having looked into this extensively, the research demonstrates that contraceptives can in fact cause increases in weight. Here is how they can do it:
1. Poor insulin functioning. This is more of an issue for women with pre-existing insulin issues. The main problem with decreased insulin functioning is that it can cause weight gain. One way to tell if you have poor insulin functioning is to look at the size of your abdomen.
2. Less fight or flight hormones. Said hormones are critical for mobilizing and burning fat from your fat stores. Without these hormones, losing weight can become extremely difficult. They are also responsible for providing you with energy.
3. Compromised recovery. This happens because with contraceptives, your body might not get enough amino acids. And amino acids are responsible for repairing body tissues. Amino acids, by the way, are the building blocks of protein.
4. Water retention. Although temporary, this is still an undesirable side effect. Since contraceptives increase levels of estrogen-like substances, your body may hold onto more water than usual. One way to counteract this is with diuretics, but this can take a toll.
Now I don\’t recommend getting off of contraceptives quickly. This is a decision that should be looked at from many different angles.
If you are not happy with how your body is reacting, however, definitely talk to your doctor. And keep in mind that you can always suspend use until you reach your fitness goal, and then resume taking them.
Finally, I would like to point out that acting on the information in this article is critical if you don\’t want to forget what you have learned.
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