Question about weight gain

[freebrady2015]

I have my first endo appointment in two weeks and I've read a lot about the effects of testosterone but I haven't been able to understand why there seems to be lots of weight gain? I would appreciate it if someone could answer from personal experience. Is it because you started eating a lot more due to increased appetite or you started working out so you gained muscle mass? What type of weight gain is it (muscle, water retention, fat)?

Thanks!

[FtMitch]

My appetite sky rocketed, but so did my energy levels and my interest in working out, so I haven't really gained much weight and what I did was muscle.  However, I do think that if I'd stuck with the same sedentary lifestyle I was living and started eating like I do now, I would have gained weight.  IMO, it's mostly an increase of appetite combined with poor choice of foods and a lack of interest in working out.  Some people are, obviously, just more genetically inclined to gaining weight, but I think that's where the idea of the "T 10" actually came from--guys' appetites increase and either they don't exercise to offset it or they choose foods that are super high in calories but don't really fill you up (aka junk food) and eat way more than they think they are.  I think that as long as you monitor what you eat and do some light exercise, you should be okay.  But don't assume you know how many calories you are eating!  French fries or a slice of pizza can have a shocking number of calories in them.  If you want to keep from gaining on T, you need to monitor what kind of foods you are downing with your increased appetite.

Just my personal opinion on the situation.  🙂

[invisiblemonsters]

My appetite sky rocketed, but so did my energy levels and my interest in working out, so I haven't really gained much weight and what I did was muscle.  However, I do think that if I'd stuck with the same sedentary lifestyle I was living and started eating like I do now, I would have gained weight.  IMO, it's mostly an increase of appetite combined with poor choice of foods and a lack of interest in working out.  Some people are, obviously, just more genetically inclined to gaining weight, but I think that's where the idea of the "T 10" actually came from--guys' appetites increase and either they don't exercise to offset it or they choose foods that are super high in calories but don't really fill you up (aka junk food) and eat way more than they think they are.  I think that as long as you monitor what you eat and do some light exercise, you should be okay.  But don't assume you know how many calories you are eating!  French fries or a slice of pizza can have a shocking number of calories in them.  If you want to keep from gaining on T, you need to monitor what kind of foods you are downing with your increased appetite.

Just my personal opinion on the situation. 

i agree with this 100% when i was on T, my appetite went crazy and i barely ate before but now i need to eat more often. if i didn't have a physically active job, i would have definitely gained weight.

[freebrady2015]

Thanks for the replies!

I'm pretty obsessive about exercise and my weight and eating but I wouldn't say I'm scared of weight gain if it's sort of natural male pattern puffed-up-ness. Just wanted to better understand what to expect. Hopefully I can keep eating healthy and build muscle and minimize fat gain...

[FTMax]

Testosterone causes an increase in most people's appetites. So if you aren't scaling your activity level to offset any additional eating you're doing, you're going to gain weight. It also makes it easier to gain muscle which weighs more than fat, so that could also be playing a part in it.

FWIW, my appetite has not changed on T and I've lost weight without doing too much.

[virtuallybeck]

When I was on T I gained quite a bit of weight but then I ate like crap and I didn't work out.  I'm going to be getting back on T soon and this time I plan to do things a bit differently.  I'm going to be eating healthier and working out for at least 30 mins most days, which I hope will be enough to stave off the infamous T 10.

[Ayden]

Testosterone causes an increase in most people's appetites. So if you aren't scaling your activity level to offset any additional eating you're doing, you're going to gain weight. It also makes it easier to gain muscle which weighs more than fat, so that could also be playing a part in it.

FWIW, my appetite has not changed on T and I've lost weight without doing too much.

Unlike FTMax my weight has changed, but it's also due to life style change. I gained a lot of weight, then lost 40+ pounds after, then lost 70 then gained 30.

I lived in America, then Japan and then back in America.  Diet really does affect how much weight you can gain.

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[FtMitch]

Unlike FTMax my weight has changed, but it's also due to life style change. I gained a lot of weight, then lost 40+ pounds after, then lost 70 then gained 30.

I lived in America, then Japan and then back in America.  Diet really does affect how much weight you can gain.

My personal trainer says it's 90% diet and only 10% exercise!

[Ayden]

My personal trainer says it's 90% diet and only 10% exercise!

I believe it. When I was eating a Japanese diet I lost a lot of weight. Since coming back to America I've had weight gain. I forgot how much. ... junk... there is in American food. Everything I missed and started eating again is packing on the pounds. Oh well!

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[Clever]

I ate LESS when I started T because suddenly everything tasted unpleasant, but I still gained 10-15 pounds. I'm still in the awful "moon face" stage that some guys go through, almost a year in. I have to count calories meticulously to stay at my weight. It's really not fun at all.

[Mr.X]

I believe I gained about 2-3kg at the start of T. I think most of it was bloating, as I also went through a puffy face phase. I was not overweight, but wanted to lose as much female fat as possible, so I started to count calories and exercise more. I lost all the extra weight and a bit extra after that, now weighing 47 kilos and being lean (I'm very short, btw, so don't worry   ) I am positive I have less fat now than pre-t, and more muscles, but still weigh less so that's something you can control.

I have to count calories meticulously to stay at my weight. It's really not fun at all.

I'm doing this as well, and it's hard to let go, eh? Are you short by any chance as well? We shorties really have to watch what we eat because we aren't allowed many calories. They say the average man has to eat about 2500 a day. If I eat that much I will become obese within a few months....it sucks!

[Tossu-sama]

Since starting T I've gained ~10kg (I'm now at about 60kg). My appetite increased and I suppose at least part of it is also muscle growth? But honestly, my diet is far from being good. Lucky for me, my metabolism works in a weird way and it's hard for me to gain weight. I was pretty damn scrawny pre-T so I'm just happy I've filled out.