Exercise/weight loss and transitioning

[Meeples]

As of a few days ago I finally started on HRT, and as of recently I've been trying to lose a bit of weight. I'm not too bad off in a male sense for me height (165lbs at 5'10"), but I'm very sedentary, so much of that is fat. I have a belly and such annoyances I really wish to get rid of..! I've mostly just been watching my diet a bit and running a few times a week, but I've been overcome by a sudden worry - will doing this impede breast growth or bodily shaping? I'm not working out too much, it is mostly just half an hour of moderate jogging a few times a week, but it still has me worried!

[A]

I don't know at all. It might help, and it might hinder. Though if I stretch my imagination, I think that if you do burn a lot of calories but also get some (as in, moving a lot but also eating a good amount), it might actually help burn fat that is in male areas and deposit some in female areas.

Maybe.

The only thing I'm sure about is that it's generally to avoid very extensive dieting and cardiovascular training during the first years of HRT. Now, as to whether a moderate weight loss regimen helps or hinders, I'm at a loss.

[LilDevilOfPrada]

Well here is my advice HRT = i cant lift anything i used to be able to but !! its because i didnt work out and only did dieting !! True i wanted to be as weak as i am now but in all honesty it takes time to adjust to the new feeling of Vulnerability  I suggest work out a little i mean jogging cardio etc things that aren't meant to build visable muscle like yoga are perfect. Now breast growth its as my doctor says you need fat your a growing girl  but i say keep healthy and dont do a hardcore diet do something more like a healthy living diet rather and you should have no issue 

[Bexi]

I'm not sure of the science behind it, but heres my experience - I was always athletic as a guy and when I went on hormones, most of the muscle disappeared and increased my boobage (ive been on HRT for 6 months and my chest is noticeable). At first I found out I was putting on a bit of weight, although this may be because I greatly reduced the amount of weight-lifting and physical sports I was doing and concentrated on cardio more.

Nowadays i'm down to a UK size 2; I do stomach exercises and a lot of cardio and my boobs are still a nice hand-filler-upper . I also watch what I eat, avoid certain things, drink much more water and have greatly reduced the amount that I eat (i've went from Man vs Food portions to fist-sized meals).

Jogging won't necessarily affect growth, but it will help you shift a few pounds, namely around the thighs and abdomen. However, doing a lot of upper body exercises such as pull ups and push ups will add muscle mass in place of the mammory tissue, which will affect the size of your bust negatively.

Again, im not an expert or anything, but its what ive encountered. Hope it helps 
X

[Siobhan]

Well last september I was 200lbs, 5"8..then I dieted and when on aa's. Im now 147 lbs and just started hrt a month ago. Im hoping to lose some more, but the fat I have got seems to be going to my hips, butt and legs, but very slowly!

[Carlita]

I'm not sure of the science behind it, but heres my experience - I was always athletic as a guy and when I went on hormones, most of the muscle disappeared and increased my boobage (ive been on HRT for 6 months and my chest is noticeable). At first I found out I was putting on a bit of weight, although this may be because I greatly reduced the amount of weight-lifting and physical sports I was doing and concentrated on cardio more.

Nowadays i'm down to a UK size 2; I do stomach exercises and a lot of cardio and my boobs are still a nice hand-filler-upper . I also watch what I eat, avoid certain things, drink much more water and have greatly reduced the amount that I eat (i've went from Man vs Food portions to fist-sized meals).

Jogging won't necessarily affect growth, but it will help you shift a few pounds, namely around the thighs and abdomen. However, doing a lot of upper body exercises such as pull ups and push ups will add muscle mass in place of the mammory tissue, which will affect the size of your bust negatively.

Again, im not an expert or anything, but its what ive encountered. Hope it helps 
X

Er ... do you mean 12?  2 would make you a schoolgirl!

I'd love to get down to 12 ... but how tall are you? And do you find that your male skeleton - broad shoulders, etc - affect the size you have to take, no matter how much you weigh? I guess losing muscle-mass helps, but still ... I fear I'll never get my top much below a 16 ...

[Bexi]

Er ... do you mean 12?  2 would make you a schoolgirl!

I'd love to get down to 12 ... but how tall are you? And do you find that your male skeleton - broad shoulders, etc - affect the size you have to take, no matter how much you weigh? I guess losing muscle-mass helps, but still ... I fear I'll never get my top much below a 16 ...

Oops! Wishful thinking  .

I'm a shade under 5"10. Unfortunately I still have broad-ish shoulders but they're slowly but surely getting thinner. I started off transistioning when I was still very active, in the gym 4/5 times a week and playing a high standard of football 3 times a week, so I wasn't looking feminine by any stretch of the imagination! My 'figure' was a result of my last "I was born a guy so I have to try my damnest to be one" stage, which I finally realised was a lost cause

I'd agree that skeletal mass, and also genetics, can play an important part but you never know how you'll eventually turn out until you try your hardest to get that killer body  ! Even then, clothing that compliments your figure can make a huge difference, so theres no reason to feel bad. The shoulders are home to some of the largest muscles in the human body, so it will take some time to shift.

But remember theres women out there, cis and trans alike, of all shapes and sizes who are happy and comfortable with their physiques.
X

[JoanneB]

I am a former fatty, 6 ft and 250 lbs at my worse in my early 20's. Mostly all fat and little muscle. After a year plus of dieting plus some help from an illness I got down to 140-145. I am sure I lost some fat but there was, and still is, a good amount of flab around my abdomen. (Yes, I do have body image issues too). My legs are also gigantic. Thighs are like 6x the size of my arms, calves about half of that and both a lot of fat in spite of all the walking I do. (I know it is fat because I will literally float upside down! Yes, my wife agrees that there are also the rocks in my head to tilt the scales some)

The worse part of loosing the weight is now I have a bit of a boney butt. Sitting is not as comfy as it used to be. I always had big girly hips and ass. It just isn't as flabby as it was.

[cwrukid2012lakeforest]

I am under the impression that cardio, core and low weight high rep weights should be the aproach.

[Claire25]

I am under the impression that cardio, core and low weight high rep weights should be the aproach.

Pretty much yes, By adding weight you add the increase of muscle mass. Most people are not looking to bulk up just loose some of the goo 

[GhostTown11]

Can I switch with anyone? Seriously, hrt is making my weight plummet >:0 (measured 22 inches waist  and 32 hips with my mom and 28 chest). Am I the only who experienced something like this with hrt?

[cwrukid2012lakeforest]

when i take hormones I hope I am like erin grey and loose weight

[A]

Ehmn, it does happen to lose weight on HRT. There are two things conflicting when you get on HRT: your metabolism decreases, and your appetite decreases. Whether you lose or gain weight is all up to which is stronger... Which, unfortunately, for most people, means weight gain rather than loss. Since, well, appetite is partly physycal, partly mental, and HRT shouldn't change much how a person likes to eat.

For me, though, HRT has, eh, stabilised my weight. I had been losing some due to my ADD meds reducing my hunger to mostly manageable levels (hallelujah), but when my metabolism diminished, I guess it compensated. But maybe it's even unrelated. The period for which my weight was stabilised corresponds with HRT, yes, but also with the start of a busy school term during which I didn't eat very well since I stopped cooking, and during which I also stopped doing exercise.

[Rita]

I have always been vulnerable xD but I would say a 30 minute jog(or walk) every morning would seriously have an effect on your man fat.  Don't run or do anything too strenuous, second would be don't sit down so much! Walk around get some fresh air, practice shaking your hips while you walk.

You need fatty foods, you need to gain a little weight.  I mean during male puberty I am sure we all gained a little weight and its healthy for a girl to do that same!  Although society tends to drive girls/woman to be skinny and eat salads.  We need the weight even more though as it helps round out our body better! By comparison to someone that is born with the right everything.

[GhostTown11]

I have always been vulnerable xD but I would say a 30 minute jog(or walk) every morning would seriously have an effect on your man fat.  Don't run or do anything too strenuous, second would be don't sit down so much! Walk around get some fresh air, practice shaking your hips while you walk.

You need fatty foods, you need to gain a little weight.  I mean during male puberty I am sure we all gained a little weight and its healthy for a girl to do that same!  Although society tends to drive girls/woman to be skinny and eat salads.  We need the weight even more though as it helps round out our body better! By comparison to someone that is born with the right everything.

TBH, now that I'm back at school and cant pass as male at all, I think the weight I lost was really the muscles just kinda shrinking. I dont look anorexic I just look like I have a small frame even for a woman.

[r22b2]

I started hrt at 195lb and 5'8 3 years ago, I used to be able to do 100 pushups, had 15 inch flexed biceps, 40 inch chest, 35 inch waist and 35 inch hips at the bum. One year of hrt and daily on the running machine for one hour and eating only salads i got my weight down to 130lb, 36 inch hips at the bum, 34 inch chest (no breast growth, i wonder why), 25 inch waist and 12 inch flexed biceps. So you see even though i got very thin my bum still grew by an inch but i got no breast growth.

I was much too thin so got back up to 150lb the next year. The fat that came back returned in a female fashion, with the most annoying being at the back of the arms which I don't really like, but that's part of it! I am now pretty much sedentary (I never really liekd exercising to begin with) but watch my diet carefully to maintain my weight at 145 / 150lb. I now have 39 inch hips at the bum, 37 inch chest with b cups, 28.5 inch waist and 13 inch flexed arms.

I think doing light exercise is good maybe 20 minutes a day of cardio just for health. Diet is the most important thing.

[Rising_Angel]

Hiya all! ^.^

For the last month I've been on a routine by Rusty Moore called "Visual Impact for Women."  It's designed around light weights, short reps, and cardio mixed with high intensity interval training.  I've dropped 14lbs in 2 weeks, and gained no muscle mass, in fact I am losing it in my arms and legs.

He specifically made the program because the girls he trains were always talking about how when they start working hard to lose weight their jeans get tighter, lol, so he designed the course around slimming without bulking.  I would absolutely suggest it!

[Th!nk]

I've mostly just been watching my diet a bit and running a few times a week, but I've been overcome by a sudden worry - will doing this impede breast growth or bodily shaping? I'm not working out too much, it is mostly just half an hour of moderate jogging a few times a week, but it still has me worried!

Congrats on starting hormones!

I'm two months into a low estrodiol dosage with no AA. Within days of starting I quit smoking and started hitting the gym every day (previously I never went). I do anywhere from 30-60 minutes of cardio depending on how I feel that day and no weight training. My left breast is nearly and A cup and my right one is straggling but definitely changing shape. I've also noticed my butt is starting to fill out. Fat is definitely moving around.

At the same time I started hitting the gym, I also started making a concerted effort to eat a lot of vegetables. Stir fries, salads, etc. I'm down 18 pounds since I started (began at 188). So for me anyway, working out doesn't seem to have effected anything negatively (yet).

[UCBerkeleyPostop]

It is absolutely essential to maintain optimal health while taking estrogen. The incidence of breast cancer is dramatically increased while on hormones. However, with the right diet and exercise, even on HRT, the risk of cancer can be greatly reduced.