Diet interfering with HRT?

[GypsySoul]

Hello all, I dont usually post here since I am an SO but my wife has a question and is at work, she asked if I would post so there would possibly be some responses by the time she gets home tonight.

The question is this.
Will dieting and exercising slow or interfere with the effects of HRT on facial features?  She has been dieting and working out, with much more willpower than I will ever posses, for the last few months since starting HRT. She has lost A LOT of weight and the effects of both this and HRT on her body are apparent, but she feels that her facial features are unchanged. Do you think it would be helpful for her to stop dieting so hard core and let some fat build?

Thank you kindly for any help =)

[Claire25]

Hey! thanks to my wife for asking while I was at work.

I have been on a very heavy diet and a lot of exercise since right before HRT and so far through it. I have lost about 55lbs since Dec. About 194lbs right now. I have lost most of the fat that I wanted to lose and now just have a a lot of leg muscle.

I was mostly wondering for those more adept in the ways of HRT would know. Would stopping most of my exercise(3mile jog a day) and eating more "normally" help with feminization? I have noticed some in my face, but I have mostly just lost weight from my face.

Any answers would be greatly appreciated 

[violetdancer94]

I had this EXACT same obsession a couple weeks ago. What does interfere with the hrt process is your body going into starvation mode/too much vigorous exercise. Depending on your calorie requirement and exercise level it can affect your hrt but not greatly. If you have maybe 10 extra pounds of body fat then you'd want that would be a good weight to maintain for a while. You don't want to be too thin or development may go differently. Make sure the weight loss rate is not too drastic. I would only recommend .5-1 lbs a week.

Pre-teen girls that suffer from malnutrition don't develop as well. So Since your body will be taking the calories it is not getting from fat reserves you won't go into starvation mode. Try to exercise every other day and limit vigorous exercise to 30 minutes. So you can lose weight but too fast is harmful to people that are NOT on hrt... so imagine how bad it is for us. Try to aim for just like a pound and make sure to have cheat days where you don't stress about what you eat or exercise as much. And if it helps I've been losing weight slowly and my hrt is going wonderfully.

Hope that helped =)

[JoanneB]

HRT effects on facial features is very slow process if there is any at all. It falls under YMMV catagory. I can tell some differences in myself after a year or two. And I emphasize some.

Facial features are driven a lot by bone growth, some muscle, and fat. Testosterone is great at growing bones. Often seen in faces by a mans  pronounced super orbital ridges, which continually grow, and jaws.

Like most things transition related, never expect to find a magic pill, incantation, or surgery to turn you into anything resembling a supermodel. Self assurance, attitude, a little makeup and how you dress does more to help you pass and most importantly be accepted as a woman, then anything else.

IMHO Self-Assurance is the #1 ingredient.

[Claire25]

I had this EXACT same obsession a couple weeks ago. What does interfere with the hrt process is your body going into starvation mode/too much vigorous exercise. Depending on your calorie requirement and exercise level it can affect your hrt but not greatly. If you have maybe 10 extra pounds of body fat then you'd want that would be a good weight to maintain for a while. You don't want to be too thin or development may go differently. Make sure the weight loss rate is not too drastic. I would only recommend .5-1 lbs a week.

Pre-teen girls that suffer from malnutrition don't develop as well. So Since your body will be taking the calories it is not getting from fat reserves you won't go into starvation mode. Try to exercise every other day and limit vigorous exercise to 30 minutes. So you can lose weight but too fast is harmful to people that are NOT on hrt... so imagine how bad it is for us. Try to aim for just like a pound and make sure to have cheat days where you don't stress about what you eat or exercise as much. And if it helps I've been losing weight slowly and my hrt is going wonderfully.

Hope that helped =)

I was eating about 1000-1200 calories a day and jogging about 3 mile daily. I am thinking of taking it easy for a while now and trying to eat a more normal calorie amount.

Thank you for the replies!!!