How to Gain Weight While on the Pill

Although some women may point to the birth control pill as a cause of their weight gain, very few women actually put on pounds because of the pill, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, taking the pill will not lead to weight loss. Some types of oral contraceptives reduce bloating, which can make it seem like you are losing weight. Healthy ways to gain weight are the same whether or not you are on the pill.
source

Step 1

Change your birth control pill. Because there are so many kinds of the pill, you may find one that doesn't affect your weight.

Step 2

Eat more calories each day. If you increase your calories by 500 per day, you will gain a pound a week. Choose healthy calories instead of empty calories, such as refined sugar. To boost your calories, add cheese, nuts or ground flaxseed to meals.

Step 3

Snack on nuts, seeds, yogurt, hummus or avocado between meals. This will help you increase your overall caloric intake, which should help you gain weight. If you don't have much of an appetite, you may want to change your birth control pill to one that increases appetite.

Step 4

Limit your cardiovascular exercise when trying to gain weight on the pill. Participate in aerobic exercise, such as walking, running or cycling, 2 to 3 days a week for 30 minutes at a time.

Step 5

Add more strength training to your workout routine. This will help you add lean muscle mass while on birth control. Include exercises for all major muscles groups.

SOURCES:

• MayoClinic.com: Birth Control Pill FAQ- Benefits, Risks and Choices
• Marie Claire: The New Super Pill
• University of Illinois McKinley Health Center: Gaining Weight the Healthy Way
• CNN: All the 2 Percent Want to do is Gain Weight