Will HRT Shift Body Fat?

[KaylaW]

This might not be the right place to put this, if not, please somebody move the topic to it's correct home.


Without making this a total "about me" thread, I'm 40 and seriously considering beginning trying to figure out if I should transition or not.  Not really at the point to answer any questions about it but I have a lot of questions myself about what does what.  I've got a mostly flat and non existent rear-end, despite the fact that I'm chubby & chunky, I just don't have a caboose behind my train.

Would HRT cause body fat to shift around to my rear-end and give me a behind or would it have no effect on that?

I know HRT is what causes breast to grow but I read somewhere else here that someone was inducing lactation also.  Is it possible for a MTF to actually do this, could I do this also?

And last for now, will HRT shape me into a more female form, give me hips and thighs (that I don't really have now) or is it just too late because the bones have fused where they are and it's as good as it gets?  Will it change my hair also... another question I have, I have curly and crappy hair... would it fix that?

[Rita]

Regardless of age HRT will have some effects.  Not sure it the changes you desire will be acquired though.  Its had a significant affect on my body shape, but that could be genes and my younger age combined.

Its totally possible to lactate... but not something you can plan for.  It has only happened once, and my hormones were in a bit of a flux period and it was also a rainy day.  Rainy days seem to have an effect hormone levels to    Amount of lactation was tiny, unlike some other girls in transition who could actually wet their shirt.  I am glad that doesn't happen to me... 

[natastic]

From what I've gathered (and I cannot rightly claim that I am a lady of science, therefore take my internet wisdom with a grain of salt), HRT doesn't shift body fat per se.  It influences where new fat cells will go, so one will start to accumulate fat on the hips and buttocks (in the case of MTF HRT), but fat deposits that existed prior to HRT will pretty much stay there.

Feel free to correct me if I am wrong, anyone who reads this!

[Shodan]

Yeah. I really need to start working out to get rid of my beer gut (not that beer had anything to do with it since I don't drink), or else people will mistake me for being pregnant.

[MaidofOrleans]

HRT doesn't shift fat but deposits new fat in female zones. You'll have to burn your old male fat cus it ain't moving.

[KaylaW]

Ok, so if I could start HRT somehow, then I'd probably have a rear end instead of such a flat butt. And it would be possible to actually have some hips too?  I'm starting a diet to try to lose weight cause I'm really way too big as it is, just didn't know if hormones would shift the fat storage or not.

A lot to read and learn I guess. I'm not totally ready to let go of my guy self but sick of him at the same time.

[Hideyoshi]

About lactation

If i lightly squeeze the bud of either breast, I cause a bit of liquid to come out.

However, one time i gripped it really hard during... Something.... And it freaking poured out. That's my experience

[Nicolette]

Ok, so if I could start HRT somehow, then I'd probably have a rear end instead of such a flat butt. And it would be possible to actually have some hips too?  I'm starting a diet to try to lose weight cause I'm really way too big as it is, just didn't know if hormones would shift the fat storage or not.

A lot to read and learn I guess. I'm not totally ready to let go of my guy self but sick of him at the same time.

Well, HRT is not going to transfigure you into some female ideal or equivalent. It has a more subtle effect. Flat butts are mainly genetic, but can be enhanced with exercise and diet. Hips don't change much (bone is fixed past puberty), but can be 'augmented' by losing weight around the waist. As has been said, fat doesn't migrate. Losing it first and then regaining it may deposit it in a more female pattern. It's all highly individualistic and nothing is guaranteed. Is there a requirement to lactate?

[KaylaW]

No, no requirement.  I just read that somewhere else here that someone was trying to induce lactation and I was amazed if it were at all possible.  No, I personally have no need to unless I were to gain a partner that would like it, otherwise no.  It was just a question, mostly to get opinions, thoughts, etc., and see if it was a myth or not. 

My plan is go on a diet of some sort, something that won't drive my low blood sugar problem crazy and something that won't drive my stomach into fits, I have some crazy bowel problem already.  I'm hoping to lose maybe about 100lbs, by that point maybe I'll have some idea of what I need/want to do with myself and at that point maybe HRT will be some type of option for me.  If so, then I guess I'll see if redepositing fat goes where I want/need it to be and not where it's been so far...

[tomthom]

about the fat "migrating"... well fat never migrates like that. cells aren't going to decide to pack up and move to another area of you body. generally how it works is that if you are young you can change you fat cell count very easily, and they can be "moved" around the body as you lose weight and gain weight. it gets harder as you get older. Think of it this way, each fat cell is a warehouse, and sometimes they get abandoned, but they will still be there. in this way of thinking if you work out now pre HRT and really burn up your fat stores, when you start packing it on again your body MAY choose to use far more of the "female real estate" of your fat cell count. aka buttocks, hips, breasts, etc. That's pretty much how it works.

and yes, there are exceptions to altering your fat cell count, and no, cutting them off your body physically will not get rid of them. the body keeps track of how many emergency rations warehouses it wants to keep, and will rebuild them.

[KaylaW]

So lipo wouldn't really work at removing those warehouses you speak of?  Your body would make new ones?  I didn't know that.

I didn't mean migrate and move around quite like it's been taken, I meant the body naturally moving where the mass of it was stored.  Like with guys I think the body stores most of it in the gut and with girls, well the hips/thighs and breast usually get it before the belly (sometimes).  Y'all know what I mean though, right? 

I wondered if HRT would reprogram my "body" to store fat somewhere differently instead of where it is now, my stomach.  I don't eat much, don't eat often and don't eat junk food and take in large amounts of sugar... yet I'm just "fat".  I hate it.  I had a GG tell me one time that I had really nice legs and thighs, she said most girls would die to have your body from the waist down.  I think she was smoking crack though... From the waist up, I look like a football player or something, I hate it.  I know HRT won't be like a Fairy Godmother waving a wand over me but wouldn't it help to reshape me a little bit?  I actually have pretty good skin for a guy, I've never spent a lot of time in the sun or tanning beds, I've almost always washed with some type of female bodywash, O'lay is my latest favorite and I've been good about keeping some type of lotion on myself too.  I'm not very hairy (thank you Jesus) and I favor my mother a lot and the females in her family.  So I have hopes that HRT to some extent would really help me look more feminine. 

Do they even prescribe any type of HRT to you if you're not planning to go full female? 

[Nicolette]

No, no requirement.  I just read that somewhere else here that someone was trying to induce lactation and I was amazed if it were at all possible.  No, I personally have no need to unless I were to gain a partner that would like it, otherwise no.  It was just a question, mostly to get opinions, thoughts, etc., and see if it was a myth or not. 

It's probably possible by simulating female hormone levels of a pregnancy. It may also happen in tiny amounts at the beginning of HRT, but stopped. It did for me.

My plan is go on a diet of some sort, something that won't drive my low blood sugar problem crazy and something that won't drive my stomach into fits, I have some crazy bowel problem already.  I'm hoping to lose maybe about 100lbs, by that point maybe I'll have some idea of what I need/want to do with myself and at that point maybe HRT will be some type of option for me.  If so, then I guess I'll see if redepositing fat goes where I want/need it to be and not where it's been so far...

Add some cardio exercise and that sounds like plan. Maybe take some measurement at intervals to assess progress and to add incentive.

[Nicolette]

and yes, there are exceptions to altering your fat cell count, and no, cutting them off your body physically will not get rid of them. the body keeps track of how many emergency rations warehouses it wants to keep, and will rebuild them.

Cutting them off indeed removes them and 'permanently', unless you put on enormous amounts of weight, ie. become obese. It then spawns new fat cells. This was explained to me by my surgeon who does a lot of fat grafting.

Here's some information on it:
http://www.liposuction.com/realistic-expectations.html

[KaylaW]

So basically I can lose now, start some sort of HRT and then it should be deposited in the fem zones instead of the male ones. And for a really fem shape, I should have been lucky enough to start HRT as a teen.

I told my mom if I could turn back time that she and my dad would just have to deal with me wanting to change gender.

[Shantel]

I've been on HRT about 18 years which includes a two year hiatus caused by a brain fart or something stupid. I'm 5' 7" and a chunky type to begin with and noticed that aside from getting minnie boobs I was developing a pear-like shape which was pretty disconcerting. I changed my eating habits and work-out most days for an hour or so and dropped from 235 to 170 but there's a point where genetics and bone structure comes into play that can't be changed. I noticed that weight loss always shows first in the extremities, ankles, calves, wrists and forearms, face and neck. The trunk is the last place weight goes away. Some people have flat asses and genetics usually rule over hormones there. I have a round-full butt topped off by some nasty looking love handles that are finally starting to dissipate after four years of hard work. Meanwhile my wrists are getting skinny, I've had two links removed from my male style watchband three times so far and my watch is beginning to slip up and down my wrist once again. Just taking hormones isn't like the good witch Glenda and her magic wand, it's going to take a lot of work if you expect to look like a woman in your birthday suit.

[JennX]

I've been on HRT about 18 years which includes a two year hiatus caused by a brain fart or something stupid. I'm 5' 7" and a chunky type to begin with and noticed that aside from getting minnie boobs I was developing a pear-like shape which was pretty disconcerting. I changed my eating habits and work-out most days for an hour or so and dropped from 235 to 170 but there's a point where genetics and bone structure comes into play that can't be changed. I noticed that weight loss always shows first in the extremities, ankles, calves, wrists and forearms, face and neck. The trunk is the last place weight goes away. Some people have flat asses and genetics usually rule over hormones there. I have a round-full butt topped off by some nasty looking love handles that are finally starting to dissipate after four years of hard work. Meanwhile my wrists are getting skinny, I've had two links removed from my male style watchband three times so far and my watch is beginning to slip up and down my wrist once again. Just taking hormones isn't like the good witch Glenda and her magic wand, it's going to take a lot of work if you expect to look like a woman in your birthday suit.

A big +1 to this post. Or to put it another way, you gotta work! HRT won't do much, unless you,are one of the few, the young, the genetically predisposed. Exercise, diet, and luck are the best options. Fat doesn't move, but new mass will begin to build in the more female disposed areas of your hips, butt,  and breasts.

[tomthom]

A big +1 to this post. Or to put it another way, you gotta work! HRT won't do much, unless you,are one of the few, the young, the genetically predisposed. Exercise, diet, and luck are the best options. Fat doesn't move, but new mass will begin to build in the more female disposed areas of your hips, butt,  and breasts.

What exactly is the age range for "young"?
Just curious.

[Devlyn]

I'll guess young means before, or during the years the body is changing.

[JennX]

What exactly is the age range for "young"?
Just curious.

Lets go with 18 years old or less. Seems reasonable... Yes?

[tomthom]

That seems kind of an odd age considering most bone structure is complete by that point. In terms of generally successful transitions for the young though I tend to see 25-26 as the max for HRT having a big effect in terms of redistribution.