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Weight loss pills, hrt, and fat redistribution. Oh and upper arms.

Started by Ltl89, April 23, 2014, 06:00:38 PM

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Dee Marshall

Quote from: JamesG on April 23, 2014, 06:36:39 PM
I've been taking "Hydroxicut" weight loss aids about as long as I've been on low-dose HRT (spiro and Estradiol), about 14 months.  In combination with reduced diet (~500 cal. day), vitamins, tuned cardio exercise (legs & lower abdominal mostly), and copious water intake (to counter the spiro). Went from 220lbs. and a 38" waist to now 175lbs. and a 32". ...

Five hundred calories per DAY? What's your weight loss rate? I'm doing about 500 calories per meal and I'm losing 2 pounds per week. If I was any hungrier I couldn't work. My temper would be too short.
April 22, 2015, the day of my first face to face pass in gender neutral clothes and no makeup. It may be months to the next one, but I'm good with that!

Being transgender is just a phase. It hardly ever starts before conception and always ends promptly at death.

They say the light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train. I say, climb aboard!
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JamesG

500 cal. was the goal not often met.  ;D

Guess I should have used a bigger ~:-X

I think I was averaging around 1-2 lbs. a week, but that's not a consistent steady rate (darn holidays in New Orleans...) plus I have/had a lot of muscle mass (darn Army) that I am working off too which takes longer than fat.  Right now I am sitting on one of my plateaus of 175-180lbs but can't touch 170 yet (my final target weight, i'm 6' 1").
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Ltl89

Quote from: EllieM on April 24, 2014, 10:21:26 AM

LtL, there is no quick fix. Slow and steady. Here's the big repeat: More veggies, cut out sugar and fat, cut out highly processed foods, reduce your meat intake, learn to love the garbanzo. You don't eat less, you eat better. Desert? Fruit, fresh, not canned. Celery takes more calories to metabolize that you get by eating it. Don't buy your salad dressing, make it. Stop using butter and margarine, use olive oil. Don't eat ANYTHING after 8:00PM. Oh, this is hard... consume... less... alcohol... whew, got it out :)

Me: 250lbs --------> 175lbs; not bad, I'm 5'11" did that in my late 50s.

I know how unkind the mirror can be, but like everything else on this journey, it takes patience. Be careful, don't hurt yourself. In addition to the pathologies described by our resident EMT (thank you Jessica) there is this little factoid: rapid weight loss is often followed by rapid weight gain. You have to let your body get accustomed to the "new" situation, or it will rebound unpleasantly. Hope this helps.


Thanks the advice and concern (I mean that).  I do know that these things take some time and effort; however, I've been doing that for a year.  I've been "starving" (800-1000 cals a day)myself the past few months just to speed it up, and I've gotten results.  However, it just hasn't been fast enough and somedays I would binge for emotional reasons or just shere hunger. I can't go less than those calories because I would go insane , but I can't do one of those healthy long lasting diets anymore.  I will do those things again soon as they are meant to be sustainable diets (like you do point out).  In the meantime, I just don't want to feel like a whale in most of my girl clothes.  Since I really want to go full time soon, this has to be dealt with sooner than later.  It's one of the things that will make me feel more comfortable going out as myself.  And more time in the depressed cocoon I'm putting myself in is bad.  Whatever get's me out of it faster.

I understand it's not healthy to do this, but it really is only in the short term.  And believe me, I do much worse already than take diet pills.  For example, every night I take 4 advil pms and 15 mg's of melatonin (and depending on the anxiety level, I'll mix it with kava) in order to get sleep.  And I've did much worse in my past than that. Still, my liver is in good shape according to blood test and I've spoken with  my therapist and doctors , about what I do. *

Still, I do care about the pills hurting my progress with chest development and further hip development.   I wonder if it could do that and that's kind of a deal breaker for me.  Also, I'm sure it could interact with hrt in some way and prevent my hormones from being digested adequately.  That's what I'm really concerned about.  It seems like there is nothing out there about this and many here that have responded aren't sure of the answer themselves.  If that's the case, I'll avoid the pills rather than risking degression with hrt, but it sucks because I feel I need some quick solutions.

* I in no way endorse what I do and plan to do for other people.  Believe me, I advise everyone to not act like the screw up mess that I am.  I'm just being honest about things and trying to figure out if diet pills can be taken with hrt.  Much of these things are only short term and will be stopped shortly.  They are just quick fixes while I'm still living with everything.  Once I fully transition, not only will I be happy, I will make sure that I take better care of myself and maintain a healthy life.

Quote from: JamesG on April 24, 2014, 11:03:03 AM
500 cal. was the goal not often met.  ;D

Guess I should have used a bigger ~:-X

I think I was averaging around 1-2 lbs. a week, but that's not a consistent steady rate (darn holidays in New Orleans...) plus I have/had a lot of muscle mass (darn Army) that I am working off too which takes longer than fat.  Right now I am sitting on one of my plateaus of 175-180lbs but can't touch 170 yet (my final target weight, i'm 6' 1").

Okay, even I think 500 cals is insane, lol. 
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devon14

Ive been following these commandments for my diet regimen:

Thou shalt not eat foods dense in carbs (bread, noodles, rice, etc.)

Thou shalt not eat table sugar and only natural sugars

Thou shalt not eat a few hours before bed

Thou shalt not eat processed foods

Thou shalt eat some meats but mostly vegetables, fruits, and nuts

Thou shalt exercise for an hour every day

By following these commandments that i made for myself, I've been able to lose over 10 pounds within a month or so. Make sure to still eat at least three meals a day otherwise your body will hold onto those fat cells as your body will be in a starvation mode and will pack on all the fat it can when you do end up eating. Also it might be worth noting that estrogen clings to fat cells so your exersize and diet will need to be more rigorous than if you were not on HRT and small slip ups in diet can cost you dearly. 

I know you'll meet your weight goal. Its hard but just stay focused and determined sweetie! :icon_hug:





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JamesG

Amen!   :D

@ LtL:
One of the benefits/effects of "diet pills" is that they suppress your appetite.  You literally do not feel like eating (so you can do 500 cal days). Remember the trick to weight loss is consistency. The rate of loss is less important than not having wide swings in your calorie intake which upsets your body. You have plenty of carbs and proteins in your body already, they are what you are trying to get rid of.   The only thing that is a "consumable" by your body that you need to keep supplying it to stay healthy are vitamins and minerals. And water.

AFAIK there is no disruptive effect between them and HRT. They are totally different chemicals and hormone systems. Even the diuretics like senna aren't going to make E go thru your system faster than you can absorb it.  They have been tested, not by the FDA, but by the companies who don't want to get sued for making people sick.

I think that if you want to do serious short term weight loss, then you pretty much need to use help. And drink water.
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EllieM


I understand the dilemma, LtL. I don't know enough about drug interactions to provide any light on this. Maybe you can find middle ground, just a suggestion. Caffeine is an appetite suppressant, you could curb your intake that way (real coffee, green tea). As far as I know, the only way to lose weight is to avoid certain foods and to exercise more. I don't know of any drugs that act directly on fat cells. I guess this is really a question for the docs, then.
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DiDi

The best diet is one you enjoy and can stick with. Sounds trite, but if you don't want to make a permanent change in what you eat, you will fail as soon as you go back to your previous "normal". Also - your body will have a set point below which you will actually need to starve to lose more. I recommend that you check this out.

http://www.halls.md/ideal-weight/body.htm

If my current status does not allow the link then google parts of it yourself. It will tell you what women of your height and age see as "ideal". What you envision may be beyond reach.
Trying to Be Real In Real Life
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Lady_Oracle

Don't diet pills have terrible effects long term? And aren't good for you in general???

Finding a workout/diet regimen that fits you is what works. Never heard of a pill compensating for that.
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Lady_Oracle

Exactly what Kate said!! If you want a fuller butt and boobs you need that fat cis girls gain throughout puberty. Or else you're just stunting your growth.
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Ltl89

Thanks everyone.  I guess I will stay away from them.  I just don't know what to do.  I'm fat and never will look the way I want to anytime soon.  As much as I've lost in a year, I'm still nowhere near thin.  The stomach area doesn't bother me too much, but my fat arms do.  I just want them to go away.  Yeah, they could be worse and it seems to be a common thing for many girls, but I hate it.  It's probably my most dyshoric quality about myself right now because they create the illussion of bigger shoulders in tighter clothes.  Oh well, not much I can do about it.   I have to deal with the fact that even when I go full time I'll look like a ridiculous sumo wrestler compared to other girls my age.  I'm tall and got bigger arms.  Great quality for a 25 year old girl.  I'm sick of this obsession over my body and of my flaws, I feel disgusted and trapped but passing is important to me.  And this may sound vain, but I realy want to look somewhat pretty and it kills me to know I'm not and never will be.

Ignore this post, I'm just feeling really dysphoric right now.  But don't worry I won't take the pills.  Still, I refuse to eat anything more than 1,000 calories and will strive for about 800 a day.  These fat arms have to go away someday.  Maybe I should become a sumo wrestler?  I'll burn off the weight but look the part in the mean time, lol.

Thanks everyone for your concerns and help. 
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naomi599

Quote from: learningtolive on April 24, 2014, 03:32:14 PM
Thanks everyone.  I guess I will stay away from them.  I just don't know what to do.  I'm fat and never will look the way I want to anytime soon.  As much as I've lost in a year, I'm still nowhere near thin.  The stomach area doesn't bother me too much, but my fat arms do.  I just want them to go away.  Yeah, they could be worse and it seems to be a common thing for many girls, but I hate it.  It's probably my most dyshoric quality about myself right now because they create the illussion of bigger shoulders in tighter clothes.  Oh well, not much I can do about it.   I have to deal with the fact that even when I go full time I'll look like a ridiculous sumo wrestler compared to other girls my age.  I'm tall and got bigger arms.  Great quality for a 25 year old girl.  I'm sick of this obsession over my body and of my flaws, I feel disgusted and trapped but passing is important to me.  And this may sound vain, but I realy want to look somewhat pretty and it kills me to know I'm not and never will be.

Ignore this post, I'm just feeling really dysphoric right now.  But don't worry I won't take the pills.  Still, I refuse to eat anything more than 1,000 calories and will strive for about 800 a day.  These fat arms have to go away someday.  Maybe I should become a sumo wrestler?  I'll burn off the weight but look the part in the mean time, lol.

Thanks everyone for your concerns and help.

Its okay to let out your pain and frustrations out. I too am overweight, but these things take time. I struggle with the mirror all day but hey, we all struggle with the mirror even cis women. Even if its slow, we will loose weight  :). The best things come with time.
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Ltl89

Quote from: kate on April 24, 2014, 03:47:18 PM
From photo's you have posted in the past, i don't recall any issue with your weight at all. LtL it's one thing to have a healthy diet and making decisions as to what you eat, but be careful this doesn't develop into an obsession and potentially an eating disorder babe.

Don't worry.  I don't have an eating disorder or anything.  I'm just really fat and need to lose the weight.  However, I'm not going to vomit and stuff like that. I just got to be very restrictive for now.  I mean, there is a chance that I do sort of have an eating disorder, but it's something I can change easily enough once I get to where I want to be.  I have control over it at least.   But believe me, I need to do what I'm doing right now.

Quote from: naomi599 on April 24, 2014, 03:39:02 PM
Its okay to let out your pain and frustrations out. I too am overweight, but these things take time. I struggle with the mirror all day but hey, we all struggle with the mirror even cis women. Even if its slow, we will loose weight  :). The best things come with time.

I understand.  You are probably right, but I've given it a lot of time.  It hasn't been that quick as I've been working on these things for about a year.  It's just I'm tired of crying while looking in the mirror.  And I'm dressing more and more in girl clothes so I can get a sense of what I'll look like when I get the nerve to go full time, but I feel ashamed of how I look, especially my big fat arms.  Like I said, I feel like a sumo wrestler and I'm tired of it.  I've already lost a ton of weight in about a year, but I'm no where near looking thin or pretty.  I don't think I can ever be those two things.  But I guess I just have to keep going slowly like the whale I am, lol.  Seriously though, I would just be happy if my upper arms were a little smaller or didn't create this illussion of very broad shoulders in some of my clothes.  That along with being 5'11 in very depressing. 

Again everyone, I'm in a bad dysphoric place right now, so forgive me for being so blah and crazy as usual.  And I'm trying to put some humor into my writing about my weight to at least alleviate my bad feelings a bit.  Like I said, I will stay away from the pills.  Thanks everyone for all the advice, help and feedback. 
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naomi599

Quote from: learningtolive on April 24, 2014, 04:24:09 PM
Don't worry.  I don't have an eating disorder or anything.  I'm just really fat and need to lose the weight.  However, I'm not going to vomit and stuff like that. I just got to be very restrictive for now.  I mean, there is a chance that I do sort of have an eating disorder, but it's something I can change easily enough once I get to where I want to be.  I have control over it at least.   But believe me, I need to do what I'm doing right now.

I understand.  You are probably right, but I've given it a lot of time.  It hasn't been that quick as I've been working on these things for about a year.  It's just I'm tired of crying while looking in the mirror.  And I'm dressing more and more in girl clothes so I can get a sense of what I'll look like when I get the nerve to go full time, but I feel ashamed of how I look, especially my big fat arms.  Like I said, I feel like a sumo wrestler and I'm tired of it.  I've already lost a ton of weight in about a year, but I'm no where near looking thin or pretty.  I don't think I can ever be those two things.  But I guess I just have to keep going slowly like the whale I am, lol.  Seriously though, I would just be happy if my upper arms were a little smaller or didn't create this illussion of very broad shoulders in some of my clothes.  That along with being 5'11 in very depressing. 

Again everyone, I'm in a bad dysphoric place right now, so forgive me for being so blah and crazy as usual.  And I'm trying to put some humor into my writing about my weight to at least alleviate my bad feelings a bit.  Like I said, I will stay away from the pills.  Thanks everyone for all the advice, help and feedback.

That's neat, I'm 5'11 as well. I just looked up your pictures from March and can honestly say that you look wonderful! You look like a woman with no signs of any masculinity!  :)
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Ltl89

Quote from: naomi599 on April 24, 2014, 04:42:28 PM
That's neat, I'm 5'11 as well. I just looked up your pictures from March and can honestly say that you look wonderful! You look like a woman with no signs of any masculinity!  :)

Aww, you're very sweet and that made me feel nice.  I just don't see myself the same way at all.  But thank you, that cheered me up a little. :)
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JLT1

I'm bouncing my weight down to maximize fat redistribution.  Loose 10, gain 6, loos 8, gain 4.  When I want to lose, I do the 1200 cal/day diet with enough of a work out to burn 800 cal.  Nice breakfast with some fiber, light lunch, heavy work out, light dinner and a light snack a couple hours before bed time.  I lose 3-5 lb/week.  Gaining weight, well that's easy.  (I do ice cream).

I'm down 92 lbs in two years.  And fat distribution is cis woman good, trans woman awesome....

Loosing weight does not do great for fat redistribution, particularly breast growth.  In fact, I believe it makes it much more difficult.

Hugs,

Jen
To move forward is to leave behind that which has become dear. It is a call into the wild, into becoming someone currently unknown to us. For most, it is a call too frightening and too challenging to heed. For some, it is a call to be more than we were capable of being, both now and in the future.
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Katherine

From time to time throughout my "male" life, I've been an exercise freak of sorts.  Eating once a day will actually cause your body to store fat.  Eat small portions four to five times a day, cut back on carbs, but not too much.  They provide your body with energy.  Weight training can help, higher reps, light weight will help reduce weight with minimal muscle gain, help to keep you lean.  Use light weights, maybe 3 to 5 pounds, high reps (about 15 to 20) when exercising your arms to get rid of the fat that flaps around under your arms. Eat healthy and lean, drink plenty of water.  Doing the opposite of all this, heavy weights, lower reps, extra carbs, and protein supplements, will build muscle mass, which is what you want to avoid.  Also, do some speed walking or jogging for at least 30 minutes to burn those carbs and trim down.  About three times a week is good as a minimum. 
Always running away from myself...
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Dee Marshall

LtL, have you calculated your BMI? Personally I think BMI makes people look fat when they're not, but it's worth figuring out. A BMI of 21.5 is about in the middle of the normal range, anything under 18.5 is underweight. Dysphoria and normal female insecurity makes us all feel fat, even when we're not and that can lead to trouble, so check with a dispassionate, if slightly biased, source.

https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/guidelines/obesity/BMI/bmicalc.htm

Dee

(I'll be happier looking like "Venus" than Twiggy.)
April 22, 2015, the day of my first face to face pass in gender neutral clothes and no makeup. It may be months to the next one, but I'm good with that!

Being transgender is just a phase. It hardly ever starts before conception and always ends promptly at death.

They say the light at the end of the tunnel is an oncoming train. I say, climb aboard!
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f_Anna_tastic

I lost 42lbs since last summer (most has been muscle) but i only started my below diet in december and thats when most of the weight dropped off ((https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,163770.0.html)) before and after pic in there if you want.

I already knew about healthy eating and exercise which made things easier but i set a goal of 1200 calories per day and i documented everything on MyFitnessPro app on my phone - scanning barcodes of products etc (and if i added my own i would ALWAYS estimate UP not down)

1200 calories will guarantee you to lose weight and is enough to run off (you will feel hungry for the first 7 days then you will get used to it.)  They key is to make every calorie you eat count.  No wasted empty calories all nutritious.
"What do you fear, lady?" he asked.
"A cage," she said. "To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them, and all chance of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire."
                                                                                     ― The Return of the King
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JamesG

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f_Anna_tastic

Ah, well.  I was lucky to get to a weight I was happy with within the first 3 months of hrt.

I still hate my upper body muscles but now I am eating a calorie surplus and actively trying to put fat on.  It's working as I'm getting a nice round ass and my breasts are growing week by week.

But if I was eating a calorie deficit I would seriously expect it to hamper my transition.

Fat is stored energy and it has to come from somewhere. 
"What do you fear, lady?" he asked.
"A cage," she said. "To stay behind bars until use and old age accept them, and all chance of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire."
                                                                                     ― The Return of the King
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