Weight gain or loss on estrogen therapy?

[KelsieJ]

I'm just wondering, how many have gained weight or lost weight on estrogen? I've gained 29lb - in the process of trying to lose that excess weight (I'm down almost 9 lb now in 2 weeks),  but it seems that most people lose weight, or at least start to appear smaller. Before I started I was equivalent of size 12......now with 29 pounds more, I'm up to 16 :/

I'm doing the pill right now vs injecting. Does that make a difference? Have you gained or lost weight, and are you injecting or taking it orally?

Curious Kelsie

[Jessica Merriman]

Hi Kelsie! I am on the "E" patch and Spiro. I started to lose weight before HRT and still am, but I think the latest loss is because of the diuretic effects of the Spiro. I did start a whole new dietary discipline though and am eating healthier. I have noticed a slight re-distribution of fat though making certain areas appear to gain weight, but the scale says no as far as overall gains. Not much info, but that's all I have for now.

[big kim]

I put on hardly any weight when I first self medicated(don't do this!).When I was given official HRT it was a much increased dose and I ballooned,though I had a sit  down job then and a very physical job in a warehouse before.By contrast my flatmate stayed a stick insect while taking the same dose

[Cindy]

Well I've stayed much the same, but I did decide a new body and a new life meant new habits, so I work out - hard- and I eat a healthy diet.

I did notice that my taste in food did change, I really don't like red meat anymore, I use to love it. So my protein source tends to be chicken, seafood etc. I restrict carbs and eat lots of vegies, I don't have excess sugar, I especially look out for the fizzy drink trap. I drink lots of water.

Yep spiro cleans out the kidneys!

[Sammy]

I was loosing weight intensively before I started the HRT and was at 74 kg on the day when I submitted my pre-HRT blood tests. On the day when I got my prescription (but I was doing DIY for 1,5 months already....) I was 69 kg - the same was 3 months later. I have not been able to jump on scales recently but I have gotten a bit chubby in some areas... In general, I also do look smaller and feel the same . But I am quite big for a girl anyway .

[kira21 ♡♡♡]

I have lost about 30-40 lbs. I was maybe an 8-10 before, now I am a 4-6.

I am on patch and spiro, not that I am sure it makes any difference. My weight change is probably due in part to hormonal muscle loss and dietary fat loss. I go for periods of time without eating though both to drop weight and to control it, so I am probably not a good guide to go by. (Yes I know its not healthy, but neither is my head if I don't).  I would like to lose another 15 pounds, then I will hopefully get my diet more regular.

Meh.

[Carrie Liz]

I've lost 50 lbs since starting hormones. But that has nothing to do with the hormones themselves, I guarantee you. It's because I've been working my a** off to diet the weight off. Hormones have actually made it a lot harder to lose weight. It takes a LOT more effort to lose anything now. (Granted, the self-esteem boost from the hormones definitely helps with the drive to follow through with the weight loss... every time I tried dieting as a guy, I stopped caring once I got down to about 240 lbs and eventually gained it all back. Where now, I went WAY further than I've ever gone before, and have actually been able to keep it all off thus far.)

I think that's what accounts for a lot of people's weight loss, is that they gain the self-esteem and the drive to actually care enough about their bodies in order to do it, where it's a lot harder to care about a body that you hate.

[Natalia]

In one month on HRT I have lost 20 libs! I am now with 163 libs, still too much!

But I am on a diet, trying really hard to lose weight. For my height 5.5 ft I still need to lose something around 10 libs.

I don't know if HRT has something to do with it, but I am not feeling hungry all the time and I am being able to have really small meals and already feeling full.

[Eva Marie]

I started losing weight like crazy when my HRT switched from low dose to a transitioning dose. It got to the point that I was afraid that people would think that i was sick  (I went from 180lbs to 162lbs in about a month), my clothes didn't fit, and I looked gaunt. 165lbs seems to be a good weight for me, and when I slip under that weight now I eat stuff like pizza to gain it back. Normally I eat a lot healthier than that but you have to do what you have to do to maintain a healthy weight.

I do get lots of exercise so maybe the exercise combined with HRT triggered the weight loss. I had been stuck 180 lbs for years before ramping up my HRT last month.

[Sammy]

I started losing weight like crazy when my HRT switched from low dose to a transitioning dose. It got to the point that I was afraid that people would think that i was sick  (I went from 180lbs to 162lbs in about a month), my clothes didn't fit, and I looked gaunt.

That's exactly my friends thought and my best male friend even got the idea that I might have cancer...

[Lady_Oracle]

You do lose a lot of muscle mass, hence the loss in weight. For me I've been gradually gaining weight since I started hrt. I was naturally skinny all my life. I think I've gained about 20lbs. Started at 120ish now I'm at around 140. I'm quite happy about the weight gain! MORE CURVES!!! Ive started working out to keep my body in check while hrt works its magic

[warlockmaker]

I was a slim fit male of 143 lbs and 5ft 7ins plus. I'v always been a health fanatic - im still the same wight and i eat a lot less BUT I notice I can put on weight easily. Females do have a slower metabolism and I knew I had to eat less BUT food taste so good !!! I'm tryingto lose 3 lbs

[Just Shelly]

That's exactly my friends thought and my best male friend even got the idea that I might have cancer...

This is what's sad for many males that loose weight!

Pre-transition about 9 years ago I lost about 20#, that may not seem like much but I was only 160# to begin with....many people would comment and some would ask if I was alright!! A couple years later  I lost another 20# because of stress and depression from divorce....most thought I was dying!!    I did at one time get down to 118#

Now 6 years later I have gained 7 pounds back (mostly belly) none in the butt or boobs!! The big difference is now other women will comment on how skinny I am and some men seem to look more....never am I looked at as being sickly or underweight!!

I do like my weight where it is now and I fear about putting on even 1 or 2 pounds.....but then at times I eat unhealthy to try and put on some weight in other places....

[evecrook]

I just started HRT 3 days ago . I feel pretty blotted. I'm over weight so right now I can use to lose it. I could lose it  because I'd like to buy some nice skirts to go out with. I eat pretty healthy so  I'm not worried about losing too much.

[KelsieJ]

Seems most lose weight and some gain. Wonder if it's anything to do with taking estrogens any other way than intramuscular....?

My doc wants me to move to injectable because she said people "seem to have better results that way" but couldn't give me "proof". I'm scared of doing the needle, but guess it would be better on my liver, etc, anyway.

Thanks everyone

Kelsie

[Riley Skye]

I gained roughly 15lb going from 130-145 and assuming you get back under 140 next year during my Ironman training. The best part is that all the fat is in the good places!

[RavenMoon]

Interesting! I haven't started HRT yet, but I've ben consciously loosing weight. I don't own a scale, but my belt is not 3 notches tighter and my previously tight skinny jeans (32" waist) are baggy.   I stopped eating sweets and snacks, became a vegetation, and just don't eat much during the day. I feel great! But I'm hungry all he time. The things we do to be pretty. lol I'm in my mid 50s, so I don't want to be old and fat.

I read that some people gain weight, and I was a little over weight, so I want to be prepared.

[Naturally Blonde]

Everyone keeps talking about Sprio? I live in the U.K and want to get on Spiro? how can this be achieved? I've been through the whole GIC system over here but still can't get my anti-androgens on prescription. Spiro is my preference but I need to know how to access it.

[Ltl89]

I've been losing weight, but that is probably more related to exercise and dieting.  I wouldn't expect estrogen to make any drastic changes to your overall weight (besides muscle mass).  If you feel the need to lose some pounds, make sure to work for it.  It sucks but it takes effort to lose it.  And for those of you who hope to gain weight because you're so skinny...... well, I hate you, jk. 

[JennX]

I've lost weight. But I also exercise regularly and watch what I eat. It seems to be 50/50.