Weight gain after starting HRT

[HeatherR]

For me, I've gained a fair amount of weight and it all went straight to my gut and chest... This while eating fairly healthy and doing intensive labor outdoors in the Arizona heat...  I'm quite perplexed by this, as I would have thought it would go the other way, with all the physical energy expended.

[Misha]

Prior to transition I had 62kg (I looked like I went through a gulag). Right before starting blockers I had 65 (measured on April 8th) and when I was almost one and a half on estrogens I had 67 (measured on May 25th). And it's stable around that with +/- 1kg.

For a 182cm tall woman I'd say that's a healthy weight (BMI says it too). I still look very slim so I don't complain. I'm actually glad I gained some extra. It makes me look healthier not to mention it nicely shaped my butt and breast :-) .

[zog]

I've been actively dropping my weight starting five months before I got on hormones and have continued with the regime this whole time I've been on hormones, so my results may not be representative. But I have continued losing weight and while I understand the fat redistribution mainly affects new fat, I think there's been some changes in the distribution regardless. At least my waist and hips have taken a more feminine shape.

[latoya rayne]

The only places I've gained weight are my boobs butt, and hips. My body is more curvy but still the same weight :-)

[Suziack]

Eating healthy doesn't mean you'll lose weight. If you're serious about losing weight, eat less, consuming less fat and carbs, or calories, which ever you count.

[HeatherR]

I'm eating less than 1700 calories a day and drinking over 140 oz of water...  I'm wondering if my levels are too low... because I break a sweat from no more than intense thought lately.

[Hikari]

I have been losing belly fat since I started HRT. Fat isn't really being deposited in female locations too much because I seem to be losing weight. I find this most strange but my appetite is like nothing compared to what it used to be, which is the opposite of what I thought was supposed to happen. I was in a hurry yesterday so I bought a 10 piece nuggets from mcdonalds....Now that is 470 calories but, still it used to not even fill me up, but I couldn't finish it. Like, I bought a pizza last week and I only ate one slice, I had trouble finishing a 6" flatbread from subway the other day too.

I want to get thinner so this pleases me somewhat, and I want to spend less on food so this also pleases me due to that. What isn't so great though is aside from the breasts, female fat depositing isn't happening very quickly, and I would attribute that to losing weight in general, after all I am running a reasonable calorie deficit as best I can estimate. The thing that does suck though is I am not running enough of a deficit, I wouldn't mind being back down to 130, which is where I was in highschool but I would need to eat about 1700 calories to be there, and depending on day I go from 16-2200 probably averaging about 1900 now. That is no good though, because that is like 160lbs....I am 5'10" and 28, but I guess I am just going to have to exercise lots more.

[FilaFord]

I have been losing belly fat since I started HRT. Fat isn't really being deposited in female locations too much because I seem to be losing weight. I find this most strange but my appetite is like nothing compared to what it used to be, which is the opposite of what I thought was supposed to happen. I was in a hurry yesterday so I bought a 10 piece nuggets from mcdonalds....Now that is 470 calories but, still it used to not even fill me up, but I couldn't finish it. Like, I bought a pizza last week and I only ate one slice, I had trouble finishing a 6" flatbread from subway the other day too.

I want to get thinner so this pleases me somewhat, and I want to spend less on food so this also pleases me due to that. What isn't so great though is aside from the breasts, female fat depositing isn't happening very quickly, and I would attribute that to losing weight in general, after all I am running a reasonable calorie deficit as best I can estimate. The thing that does suck though is I am not running enough of a deficit, I wouldn't mind being back down to 130, which is where I was in highschool but I would need to eat about 1700 calories to be there, and depending on day I go from 16-2200 probably averaging about 1900 now. That is no good though, because that is like 160lbs....I am 5'10" and 28, but I guess I am just going to have to exercise lots more.

You need to change your diet up... don't focus on calories so much as what you are eating.  Fast food is horrible for you, and you can stay under 2000 calories and never lose weight if you are on a steady feeding of processed garbage. 

Less fast food, more vegetables.  Incorporate some nuts into your diet as well.  I think nuts make an excellent healthy snack but you really have to watch the portion size.  Raw veggies are delicious.  Cucumbers, carrots, celery, and peppers are all very tasty raw snacks.  I've lost over 50 pounds since the beginning of the year, and I just really started dieting in April.  I feel so much healthier than I've ever been.

I'm 5'9" 165lbs and some days, I eat under 800 calories, and I work out doors in the Texas heat/humidity.   Cheerios and a banana for breakfast, homemade spicy nut mix for a snack, raw veggies for lunch, and a light dinner since I usually go to bed quite early.

Of course, other nights, I will spend $15 at Jack in the Box on a "male binge" where I just get so fed up with a diet because I am presenting as a male and I feel like that is a great excuse to stuff my face with unhealthy garbage 

[Hikari]

You need to change your diet up... don't focus on calories so much as what you are eating.  Fast food is horrible for you, and you can stay under 2000 calories and never lose weight if you are on a steady feeding of processed garbage. 

Nutrition and weight loss are not the same thing, I am not eating a nutritious diet, but I am losing weight due to eating a low calorie diet (partially due to the weird reduction in appetite my post was about). If I do reach my target 1700 calorie average I know I will reach my target weight, I have been pretty exact on calculating my RMR and my average amount of activity. I could increase activity by about 2-300 calories per day and get the same result. It is basic science that calories in versus calories out determines weight loss or gain.

If I were to eat 2000 calories of good stuff, I would gain weight, not magically lose it. Unless I were to get into ketosis or some similar trick, calories are the primary factor. You can be fat or thin and still be malnourished.

I should eat better, but it is very, very difficult with the work I do. If I had access to a kitchen on a regular basis or refrigeration it might be different, but as it stands if it cannot be microwaved, purchased from the convenience store (they do sell fruit) or bought at a restaurant then I really don't have access to it. In any case it is better to eat junk and lose weight than gain it.