HRT and Diet... HELP!!

[SamiT]

Hello all,
Looking for guidance from those who may have experianced this.
I have been on HRT 11 months now, prior to going on to HRT I lost over 60 lbs and was at an ideal male weight for my age,height and build. Short and stalky and had actualy built quite a bit of musscle from working out 4 to 5 days a week.
Despite my diet efforts that had ALWAYS worked in the past and continuing to work out at at the same if not steped up pace. Im gaining weight. I have gained back 10 lbs of what I lost on top of that alot of my muscle has turned to fat. Some good with bad there.. Breast growth is in the very positive side. I would say Im a full C if not pushing a D. But so much fat has deposited in what I would call a MALE area. The gut, SO not sexy.
I am on a dietician monitored diet as I have moderate to severe type 2 diabetes. Minimal dairy, Fuits, wheats and grains, Low fat meats like fish, chicken and turkey. Im allowed one meal a week of lean beef. I dont drink soda or any cafinated beverages. Sugary sweets are a no go as well, So i know its not the diet. I know some of this is the typical redeposite and muscles mass loss. Im at a loss as is my dietician. She knows Im trans and on HRT my blood sugars have actualy gotten better over the last year.. Has anyone gone thru this??   

Sami

[JennX]

How many calories per day do you normally eat? Are you engaging in any sort of regular daily exercise program?

[wendy]

Hello all,
Looking for guidance from those who may have experianced this.
I have been on HRT 11 months now, prior to going on to HRT I lost over 60 lbs and was at an ideal male weight for my age,height and build. Short and stalky and had actualy built quite a bit of musscle from working out 4 to 5 days a week.
Despite my diet efforts that had ALWAYS worked in the past and continuing to work out at at the same if not steped up pace. Im gaining weight. I have gained back 10 lbs of what I lost on top of that alot of my muscle has turned to fat. Some good with bad there.. Breast growth is in the very positive side. I would say Im a full C if not pushing a D. But so much fat has deposited in what I would call a MALE area. The gut, SO not sexy.
I am on a dietician monitored diet as I have moderate to severe type 2 diabetes. Minimal dairy, Fuits, wheats and grains, Low fat meats like fish, chicken and turkey. Im allowed one meal a week of lean beef. I dont drink soda or any cafinated beverages. Sugary sweets are a no go as well, So i know its not the diet. I know some of this is the typical redeposite and muscles mass loss. Im at a loss as is my dietician. She knows Im trans and on HRT my blood sugars have actualy gotten better over the last year.. Has anyone gone thru this??   

Sami

Wow 60 pounds is good!  I did that too and then started eating for comfort again.  Health is good but waist is not.  Alcoholic beverages are my downfall in that they have a lot of calories and reduce will power to push plate away.  Best diet is lots of vegetables and fruit with lean meat. 

[Naturally Blonde]

But so much fat has deposited in what I would call a MALE area. The gut, SO not sexy. I am on a dietician monitored diet as I have moderate to severe type 2 diabetes. Minimal dairy, Fuits, wheats and grains, Low fat meats like fish, chicken and turkey. Im allowed one meal a week of lean beef. I dont drink soda or any cafinated beverages. Sugary sweets are a no go as well, So i know its not the diet. I know some of this is the typical redeposite and muscles mass loss. Im at a loss as is my dietician. She knows Im trans and on HRT my blood sugars have actualy gotten better over the last year.. Has anyone gone thru this??   

Sami

Hi Sami, I have the same problem no matter what I eat, how much I excercise or how much I watch my diet (which is a very healthy diet) and I fear the HRT is causing the problem more than anything else. The HRT creates male type fat distribution in the belly area (my belly looks like a guy that's been on the beer!) instead of female type fat distribution which is really frustrating. I've been on HRT for many years and the problem has slowly got worse to the point where I'm bigger on my upper body than my lower body.


I'm now considering quitting HRT but staying on anti androgens in order to see if I can irradicate this unwanted accumulating male type belly fat. Before I was on HRT I was in good shape and my proportions were better than they are now.

[Nicolette]

Hi Sami, I have the same problem no matter what I eat, how much I excercise or how much I watch my diet (which is a very healthy diet) and I fear the HRT is causing the problem more than anything else. The HRT creates male type fat distribution in the belly area (my belly looks like a guy that's been on the beer!) instead of female type fat distribution which is really frustrating. I've been on HRT for many years and the problem has slowly got worse to the point where I'm bigger on my upper body than my lower body.


I'm now considering quitting HRT but staying on anti androgens in order to see if I can irradicate this unwanted accumulating male type belly fat. Before I was on HRT I was in good shape and my proportions were better than they are now.

Naturally Blonde, I hear that hard to shift fat deposits on the stomach are indicative of hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is often a side-effect of too high an estrogen level. But I presume you've been following your HRT levels with your endocrinologist?

[Naturally Blonde]

Naturally Blonde, I hear that hard to shift fat deposits on the stomach are indicative of hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is often a side-effect of too high an estrogen level. But I presume you've been following your HRT levels with your endocrinologist?

I live in the U.K and the system here for the treatment of Gender Dysphoria is very poor. I only get to see my endocrinologist every six months and I'm not sure where you think my HRT levels should be? I usually have a blood test every six months and my estrogen is always in the normal female range. Please elaborate on the Hypothyroidism as I've mentioned the belly fat to my endo before but he has never mentioned the word Hypothyroidism? is this related to thyroid problems which I don't think I have.

[Nicolette]

I live in the U.K and the system here for the treatment of Gender Dysphoria is very poor. I only get to see my endocrinologist every six months and I'm not sure where you think my HRT levels should be? I usually have a blood test every six months and my estrogen is always in the normal female range. Please elaborate on the Hypothyroidism as I've mentioned the belly fat to my endo before but he has never mentioned the word Hypothyroidism? is this related to thyroid problems which I don't think I have.

The UK is a bit of a postcode lottery.

Apparently, too much estrogen, or estrogen dominance, can cause an insensitivity to the thyroid hormone, even if you have a perfectly working thyroid.

http://www.ukmicentral.nhs.uk/headline/database/viewnewssearch.asp?offset=5740&NewsID=209

http://www.health-science.com/hypothyroidism.html

[henrytwob]

It sounds like you need to see your endo again. You might not have the right balance. All the hormones work together and sometimes it can be tricky. The bad news is, in general, men tend to loss wt easier than women, so in some ways you may be "swimming up stream". I'm confident that in the right hands he proper balance can be achieved, it just may take some tweaking.

[wendy]

Remember genetics play a big part of fat distribution.  Women in my family are apple shaped so that I remain apple shaped.  Fat goes to my middle, arms, legs, and breasts when I gain weight.  My rear remains small.

As one decreases muscle mass, body needs fewer calories to maintain itself.   Since we try to decrease muscle mass we have in effect reduced need for calories.  That means if we eat same amount of calories as when we had more muscle mass we will typically gain weight.

[Naturally Blonde]

Remember genetics pay a big part of fat distribution.  Women in my family are apple shaped so that I remain apple shaped.  Fat goes to my middle, arms, legs, and breasts when I gain weight.  My rear remains small.

My mother had big boobs, mine are tiny, my mother had fat legs, mine are thin....you get the picture? I don't echo the women in my family at all.

[PHXGiRL]

I can't say I've gone threw what your going threw because of your medical condition you will have to play around and find what works best for you I would recommend doing at least 30 minutes of cardio a day if your trying to lose weight.


I've actually lost a lot of weight since starting HRT which from what i've read from other girls experiences is rare?. Around 19lbs so far. My diet is rather boring its pretty much a rabbit diet i call it. This is what I eat about 4-5 days a week. I drink TONS of water (around 12-15 16.9oz. water bottles a day) and do LOTS of cardio. I cross country run about 15-20 miles a week. I go to the local grocery store on my lunch breaks at work and mix it up. This is my diet and I'm sure I'll get some negative feedback because I eat so light.

Break-fest - 1 Fiber one bar. 90 cals


Lunch - 1lb. Mixed fruit bowl /strawberries/cantaloupe/watermelon/blueberries or a large cup of just strawberries.
         
I usually mix it up between... Egg Salad just under a pound or a Caesar salad just under a pound as well around .68 ounces


Dinner - Usually consists of very light meals or I just snack eat like cottage cheese, anything green, strawberries, salad w/ vinegar & oil, a lettuce wrap, raw lunch turkey meat, low fat popcorn... I "try" not to eat past 9PM each night.


Prior to March of this year I was a gym rat and weighed roughly 180lbs very toned and built like a guy. I came out in March stopped the gym and strictly went to running at a local mountain. Now, I'm a ton smaller and weight 160lbs and still shrinking.


I don't drink any soda anymore. Cut my daily energy drink out. Haven't drank much alcohol anymore if I do its a couple glasses of red wine.


My thought is that the muscle I had is turning to fat which happens with HRT and if I can stay ahead of the fat I will have a toned female body in the end. My "man" pecs are turning into boobies already too so not all the fat is going away its just going to the right places.

[Naturally Blonde]

I can't say I've gone threw what your going threw because of your medical condition you will have to play around and find what works best for you I would recommend doing at least 30 minutes of cardio a day if your trying to lose weight.


I've actually lost a lot of weight since starting HRT which from what i've read from other girls experiences is rare?. Around 19lbs so far. My diet is rather boring its pretty much a rabbit diet i call it. This is what I eat about 4-5 days a week. I drink TONS of water (around 12-15 16.9oz. water bottles a day) and do LOTS of cardio. I cross country run about 15-20 miles a week. I go to the local grocery store on my lunch breaks at work and mix it up. This is my diet and I'm sure I'll get some negative feedback because I eat so light.

Break-fest - 1 Fiber one bar. 90 cals


Lunch - 1lb. Mixed fruit bowl /strawberries/cantaloupe/watermelon/blueberries or a large cup of just strawberries.
         
I usually mix it up between... Egg Salad just under a pound or a Caesar salad just under a pound as well around .68 ounces


Dinner - Usually consists of very light meals or I just snack eat like cottage cheese, anything green, strawberries, salad w/ vinegar & oil, a lettuce wrap, raw lunch turkey meat, low fat popcorn... I "try" not to eat past 9PM each night.


Prior to March of this year I was a gym rat and weighed roughly 180lbs very toned and built like a guy. I came out in March stopped the gym and strictly went to running at a local mountain. Now, I'm a ton smaller and weight 160lbs and still shrinking.


I don't drink any soda anymore. Cut my daily energy drink out. Haven't drank much alcohol anymore if I do its a couple glasses of red wine.


My thought is that the muscle I had is turning to fat which happens with HRT and if I can stay ahead of the fat I will have a toned female body in the end. My "man" pecs are turning into boobies already too so not all the fat is going away its just going to the right places.

I've put on a lot of weight since HRT and I am exercising a lot and walking a lot more. I actually eat less than you do and also eat a lot of salads, fruit and almost the same diet as you have.

My upper body has too much muscle in my arms and after 14 years of HRT it hasn't turned to fat, just still muscle. I wish I could loose weight on my upper body. My upper body is still a bigger size than my lower body and increasing. I don't drink at all and after all this time I'm at the point of giving up. I'm not sure why HRT is still targeting the wrong areas? I'm now thinking of coming off HRT to try and improve my body shape.

[Nicolette]

Who "threw" what?

If muscle turned into fat, it would be a process on par with alchemy, ie. impossible.

I still think you need to see another endocrinologist for another opinion. You need to find the underlying cause, and there will be one, I guarantee.

[wendy]

I've put on a lot of weight since HRT and I am exercising a lot and walking a lot more. I actually eat less than you do and also eat a lot of salads, fruit and almost the same diet as you have.

My upper body has too much muscle in my arms and after 14 years of HRT it hasn't turned to fat, just still muscle. I wish I could loose weight on my upper body. My upper body is still a bigger size than my lower body and increasing. I don't drink at all and after all this time I'm at the point of giving up. I'm not sure why HRT is still targeting the wrong areas? I'm now thinking of coming off HRT to try and improve my body shape.

I lost a lot of muscle mass by stop lifting weights.  My upper body will always be bigger than lower body because that is my build and my genetics.  When I eat poorly I gain weight.  Naturally Blond do you take T blockers?  Your body shape sounds healthy.  I know some folks that have been on HRT for many years and have tiny boobs (AA), and others have been very successful with photo-estrogens alone.

[Naturally Blonde]

I lost a lot of muscle mass by stop lifting weights.  My upper body will always be bigger than lower body because that is my build and my genetics.  When I eat poorly I gain weight.  Naturally Blond do you take T blockers?  Your body shape sounds healthy.  I know some folks that have been on HRT for many years and have tiny boobs (AA), and others have been very successful with photo-estrogens alone.

I've never lifted weights or had a job which would include very heavy lifting. I've been on anti androgens for about 14 years as well as HRT. I still have tiny boobs which are so small they don't really look like female boobs and are not the right shape. I'm not sure what photo-estrogens are? but I take oral HRT and have also tried patches and estrogen implants. I haven't tried shots because they are not licensed in the U.K. I really want to try shots as I think they will work better but I'm not sure how to get them through U.K customs?

[wendy]

I've never lifted weights or had a job which would include very heavy lifting. I've been on anti androgens for about 14 years as well as HRT. I still have tiny boobs which are so small they don't really look like female boobs and are not the right shape. I'm not sure what photo-estrogens are? but I take oral HRT and have also tried patches and estrogen implants. I haven't tried shots because they are not licensed in the U.K. I really want to try shots as I think they will work better but I'm not sure how to get them through U.K customs?

Yes someone in community taught me how to administer shots.  They are O.K. but after many years they will not help.  My breast growth was mostly complete after about 5 years.  I know one person that got 38B from using Pueraria Mirifica without any HRT.  I know many that are flat.  Remember you have your dad's genes too.  Lopsided boobs are very common in community.  GG's get lopsided boobs too.  Many GG's are also flat chested.  Many your nipples got more sensitive?  That would be good.

[Naturally Blonde]

Yes someone in community taught me how to administer shots.  They are O.K. but after many years they will not help.  My breast growth was mostly complete after about 5 years.  I know one person that got 38B from using Pueraria Mirifica without any HRT.  I know many that are flat.  Remember you have your dad's genes too.  Lopsided boobs are very common in community.  GG's get lopsided boobs too.  Many GG's are also flat chested.  Many your nipples got more sensitive?  That would be good.

I've been on HRT for 14 years not 5, so something should have happened by now? I haven't got lopsided boobs, they are just small and not very rounded. A guy could get the same effect from going on the beer!

[wendy]

I've been on HRT for 14 years not 5, so something should have happened by now? I haven't got lopsided boobs, they are just small and not very rounded. A guy could get the same effect from going on the beer!

Yes I understand.  Breast growth is normally complete at about 5 years.  Sometimes an orchi or SRS gives more breast growth.  I got no extra from orchi at about 6 years.

I had extremely large tubular breasts with left side bigger. Probably about a 40B/C.  I made mistake of asking doctor for mastopexy and he sold me inserts (650 car bumpers).  Doctor cut under nipples.  Eight months later my nipples and pecs are still sore!  I think I will have them out!  They hurt too much but they look nice.

Naturally Blond if your avatar is you I just love your cheek bones.  You look very pretty!

We are all our worst critics!

Doctor told me, "Oh you will be so happy if you are with someone."  This is true but try sleeping on your stomach with car bumpers under your pecs. 

Hey I like girls that are flat chested or big breasted.  I went out with a pretty MTF and we were in car like teenagers.  She was flat chested but I was happy to have her company.  It was nice to be held!

She had lost a lot of weight like me and was gaining it back like me.

Exercise, eat right and try to smile.

[Naturally Blonde]

Naturally Blond if your avatar is you I just love your cheek bones.  You look very pretty!

Thanks for your very nice comment Wendy. But my main problem is my physical body shape and fat belly which isn't seen in a facial picture.