Birth control and weight loss

[vivid-prodigy.livejournal.com]

I've been on NuvaRing for a year, and since I started, I have been able to lose about 40 lbs.  However, I'm having difficulty losing weight and inches around my belly.  No matter how much I work out or how much weight I lose, I can't seem to get rid of much as much around this area in proportion to how much I've lost elsewhere.  Could this be because of the birth control?

Thanks in advance!  

Comments

[jenninhtown.livejournal.com]

Belly fat has been linked to high carb diets. Reduce your carb intake and it should help. Also, make sure you are doing some form of cardio exercise 3-5 times a week to burn fat.

[vivid-prodigy.livejournal.com]

I started living on my own in June of last year, and I probably do eat more carbs than I should (they're easier to come by! and cheaper). My exercise routine has some cardio but not much, so I should probably do that more. Thanks :)

[birdlily.livejournal.com]

^agreed. Mix up your exercise routine and include more cardio. You could be at a natural plateau because you've already lost 40lbs.

gluck!

[vivid-prodigy.livejournal.com]

I am most likely at a natural plateau because now I weigh about 125, and it is doubtful that I can lose much more through healthy means (I don't want to lose any more, anyway). I've been doing mostly crunches and situps for that area, so perhaps more cardio will work. Thanks for the advice. :)

[birdlily.livejournal.com]

also, just found this article:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080220/hl_nm/whole_grains_inflammation_dc

[vivid-prodigy.livejournal.com]

I'm, sigh, 5'0. But I've got large bones and I'm a 36D...even at my lightest, I was about 120 lbs. I'm not sure if I have extra inches or not...it isn't my tummy necessarily but the way the curvature looks. Like, my belly fat still sticks out a bit on the side, and it's not a smooth curve.

[poppleshatesyou.livejournal.com]

You've received some great advice, i just wanted to add that maybe doing daily crunches would help, toning your ab muscles may give you the desired effect you want. Unfortunately no one can really tell you if it is specifically your HBC that is effecting your weight loss or not because HBC effects everyone differently.

[kiteless.livejournal.com]

Sadly, spot toning is impossible. I wish it worked.

[divamelisande.livejournal.com]

Maybe you're just naturally an apple shape?

I lost almost 30lbs a couple years back - and dropped a good few dress sizes. I have a HUGE ribcage and a very short torso, which unfortunately means I'll never have a tiny waist! I'm in pretty good shape, and yet I will never really lose any more than about another inch on my waist. I have no butt and fairly skinny, toned legs and arms, but still a barrel chest and a thick waist. Ah well...

[afternoonlovein.livejournal.com]

hey, i may be reading this incorrectly, but has NuvaRing contributed to your ability to lose the weight?

[vivid-prodigy.livejournal.com]

I really can't be certain if the NuvaRing itself contributed, but it did improve my moods a lot which probably helped indirectly.

[afternoonlovein.livejournal.com]

ah.
well congrats!

[kiteless.livejournal.com]

Well, hmmm. If you carry a lot of your weight around the middle, you could have what they call "syndrome x". Similar to PCOS, it involves insulin resistance and some other stuff. However, if you're 5'0 and you're in the neighborhood of 140 - 150, it's doubtful that is the cause. That just might be your body shape, and I know how that sucks. I lost 135 pounds and unless I get some serious cosmetic surgery to remove my excess skin, I'll ALWAYS have a gut even though it is just skin.