HRT and fast metabolism

[grace88]

Sorry if I am posting on the wrong section, but I think it would be more relevant if I posted here. I have not started hormones yet but I understand that genetic females on average have slower metabolisms hence they have a higher body fat percentage. I don't really know my body type but throughout my life I have been quite skinny. I have the body type in which my forearm is basically 2/3 the width of my arm. To provide you with more information I just turned 23, 5'7" and I have a pretty small frame. I believe I have relatively low to average muscle mass. My hip is basically non existence and I have size 8-8.5 feet in US women's. If I eat 2 meals a day I usually settle at around 115 lbs, and that is without hormone interventions. This makes me wonder if I have fast metabolism and even worries me to think that it might not be adjustible to a typical female level with HRT, as I have seen people with quick metabolisms run into these problems. Are there usually solutions to these scenarios or is it just a dead end with various limiting factors? For example reaching a dangerous dosage level before the metabolism slows down or the the body is just not sensitive to HRT?

[girl_ashley]

I have been on hormones for a year and half and there has been no change in my metabolism.  I have stayed the exact same weight I have always been.  There has been some shifting of weight, but I have not gained or lost any.

[Annah]

if you try to loose weight on hrt, it is slower because, yes, your metabolism shifts...however that doesnt mean you will gain weight...it will just take longer to loose it.

If you do eventually need to loose weight, then follow the female gender regiment and youll be fine.

[Lori]

if you try to loose weight on hrt, it is slower because, yes, your metabolism shifts...however that doesnt mean you will gain weight...it will just take longer to loose it.

If you do eventually need to loose weight, then follow the female gender regiment and youll be fine.

Lose, not loose.

You would say, your shoe laces are loose.

You would lose a bet.

[Annah]

Lose, not loose.

You would say, your shoe laces are loose.

You would lose a bet.

wow you replied to a post because i spelled a word wrong?


No matter what the discussion is about, the Priggish Grammar Troll will ignore the argument and pick on the one word you used incorrectly, like "alot" "loose" or misuses of "they're," "their" and "there."
http://www.smosh.com/smosh-pit/articles/18-types-of-internet-trolls

[grace88]

Okay... I think the above answers are to a different question than the one you asked. You are wondering if a fast metabolism will inhibit the effects of HRT, right?

Yes, it can be a bit of an issue for HRT if you have a very fast metabolism (like me, yay), mainly cause you may have trouble with the anti-androgen which is generally taken orally. Estrogen is taken in a way that bypasses your metabolism (sublingual, injection, or patch). I'd let the doctor that prescribes you HRT know going in that you are concerned. If there are any problems the blood tests should show them.

I seem to be doing okay on a max spiro dose (though I had very low T to start with), and E taken sublingually. My doctor is planning to switch me to androcur if my T isn't low enough on my next blood test. There are a lot of possible workarounds so I wouldn't worry at this stage (depo provera injections, for example).

And really, unless you have a particularly unusual metabolism, it isn't likely you'll have issues. Have you had problems with oral meds in the past? I'm immune to a whole long list of pain killers, cold and flu meds, sleeping pills, anti-depressants, etc.

As far as if it will cause problems because of limited fat distribution, that one is at least partly up to you. If you can discipline yourself to increase your calorie intake, you should be able to grow your boobs and ass, depending on genetics of course. Mine are growing!

In some ways us ectomorph girls have a bit of an advantage with smaller shoulder width, smaller rib cages, and overall lighter-looking features for our height. Wait and see what happens - which is really the only advice possible for HRT as it affects everyone rather differently.

Thank you very much for answering my question. I am not sure about my metabolism rate but the last time i was prescribed a drug for oily skin orally it was pretty effective. I am also very responsive to caffiene. Does that help with any implications on my metabolism? Even so, are there any other factors aside from metabolism that affect fat generation? Regarding the injection methods, is it possible to suceed without resorting to them? I just really wouldn't appreciate living the rest of my life injecting myself regularly.

[JennX]

HRT will not alter your metabolism as much some may claim... at least in my experience. I exercise 6 days a week, I'm very fit and active, and if anything I've increased my metabolism and lost weight since starting HRT about 1 year ago. If you adjust both your exercise routine and diet, maintaining and/or gaining/loosing weight shouldn't be an impossible feat. Genetic women loose weight all the time... at all age ranges. So, as long as you focus on your diet and exercise, HRT will have little impact on changing you metabolism.

[Annah]

HRT will not alter your metabolism as much some may claim... at least in my experience. I exercise 6 days a week, I'm very fit and active, and if anything I've increased my metabolism and lost weight since starting HRT about 1 year ago. If you adjust both your exercise routine and diet, maintaining and/or gaining/loosing weight shouldn't be an impossible feat. Genetic women loose weight all the time... at all age ranges. So, as long as you focus on your diet and exercise, HRT will have little impact on changing you metabolism.

it certainly did for me.

When I did my weightloss, I had to go under the "female gender" category as weightloss is slower than men.

My endo even told me to expect that my weightloss would have to be looked at as the female gender weightloss scenarios because of the lack of t in my system

[JennX]

it certainly did for me.

When I did my weightloss, I had to go under the "female gender" category as weightloss is slower than men.

My endo even told me to expect that my weightloss would have to be looked at as the female gender weightloss scenarios because of the lack of t in my system

... and two (very well-know SRS Surgeons who I've had consults with) both told me the opposite. So, it varies by individual, but your metabolism will never be the same as that of a genetic female. Our physiology is still very different, even after HRT and SRS.

Diet and exercise are your friends. 

[Annah]

I lost 350 pounds since I transition so I am going by real life experience verses what an SRS doc says.

My weightloss was going rapidly prior to transition (I had started 5 months prior)and about 8 weeks into my HRT regiment, my weightloss slowed down by over 40% in terms of weightloss and measurements.

When I went to my doc about this, that is when he told me the lack of T in the system is slowing down my weightloss considerably so try the female gender approach of loosing the same weight you were doing prior.

So I lowered my daily caloric intake by 300 calories per the female section of my weightloss program and my weightloss resumed as normal...but under less caloric intake.

So, in this case, YMMV

Here is me prior to my weightloss and transition:



Im on the right

[amymichelle]

I lost 350 pounds since I transition so I am going by real life experience verses what an SRS doc says.

My weightloss was going rapidly prior to transition (I had started 5 months prior)and about 8 weeks into my HRT regiment, my weightloss slowed down by over 40% in terms of weightloss and measurements.

When I went to my doc about this, that is when he told me the lack of T in the system is slowing down my weightloss considerably so try the female gender approach of loosing the same weight you were doing prior.

So I lowered my daily caloric intake by 300 calories per the female section of my weightloss program and my weightloss resumed as normal...but under less caloric intake.

So, in this case, YMMV


Here is me prior to my weightloss and transition:



Im on the right

Congrats on the weight loss, I hope I can lose that much weight.

[Annah]

that was a typo...I weighed 350 pounds prior to HRT. Im down to 150 now. So 200 pounds I lost....not 350 lol sorry!

[amymichelle]

that was a typo...I weighed 350 pounds prior to HRT. Im down to 150 now. So 200 pounds I lost....not 350 lol sorry!

I'd be happy with 200, what did you do to lose that much and how long did it take.

[Annah]

I'd be happy with 200, what did you do to lose that much and how long did it take.

it took about 17 months.  When HRT was just starting, I was consuming about 1700 calories and was loosing about 3 pounds to 3.5 pounds a week.

After the HRT kicked in, it went to about .5 pounds every two weeks. This is when my endo told me I needed to adjust my caloric intake as my body now functions (metabolically) as a biological female.

So I went down to 1200 calories and started to loose about 2.5 pounds a week.

I ate a lot of vegatables, low fat meats such as fish. Lotta fiber.

If you truly have that desire to loose the weight, you will suffer from the uncomfortably of the process in order to look good and be more healthy.

[Joelene9]

  The Spiro will cause you to slow in the metabolism as well.  I am beginning to lose the weight I gained, but my movements are still more sluggush.  However, I am doing more things due to the loss of my depression and the change to my attitude.  I was a little more spry for the fortnight without the Spiro but, I had a bad side effect at the end of those two weeks. 
  Joelene

[LilKittyCatZoey]

WEll let me say this my muscle loss has lost me 5kg and i have gained 4kg in fat i checked this through my friends fancy pulse scale thing. So you lose muscle weight but not really fat weight weight.

[pebbles]

it did change my metabolism abit this manifested as a sensation of always feeling cold, this was also exagerated with the thinner skin aspect of estrogen aswell. didn't change my weight tho. You realize that 5% shift in metabolism is like 20 calories, whitch is what? A slice of wafer thin ham or somthing.

You will get fatter but won't gain weight. If your like me anyway as some muscle mass turned into fat. and my body fat increased from 11% to 26% but my weight remained 140ibs odd.

[Annah]

WEll let me say this my muscle loss has lost me 5kg and i have gained 4kg in fat i checked this through my friends fancy pulse scale thing. So you lose muscle weight but not really fat weight weight.

you only loose muscle weight when:

1. You have a poor intake of protein in your diet
2. You do not exercise

[LilKittyCatZoey]

you only loose muscle weight when:

1. You have a poor intake of protein in your diet
2. You do not exercise

well that's me. I only eat meat once a week and never exercise
AND THANKS now i know why i lost muscle weight

[Annah]

i think the last reports is that if you dont eat protein and do not exercise, 1/3 of every pound you lose is muscle.

Protein is also vital for an easier transition as well as healthy fats.

Protein is responsible for skin health and hair as well as the facilitation of breast development.  Also, protein is very important for nail development (as finger and toe nails are pure protein).

If you are about 160 lbs you should be eating about 70 grams of protein a day. The heavier you are, the more protein you need to take in. For example, at 200 lbs you need 90 grams of protein per day to keep up with vital functions.

If you do not eat a lot of protein, your skin, hair, nails, breasts, muscle tone will suffer greatly.