Slowing weight gain by stepping down E?

[kaitylynn]

Started to gain weight that is not explainable by muscle mass gain...no T, no true gains there.  I have hips, breasts and all the deposits of fat that a girl will have...and it looks fine for the most part.  The issue is the scale; the number keeps going up and this is with a consciousness focus on my diet and regular exercise.

Am starting to wonder if stepping back my E dosage a little might help curtail the unwanted increase.  I am not on P, just an AA and E...but the E is on the highest side we (Dr. and I) can get it.

Anyone step down their E dosage a little and notice any stabilization of weight after increases on higher doses?

[AnonyMs]

I'd stop eating before cutting back Estrogen. Food I can live without.

[EmilyMK03]

Are you SURE it's the E dosage that's making you gain weight?  Do you count your daily caloric intake?  If so, has it remained the same and you're gaining weight?  Or is it just a "sense" that you're "eating about the same" and you're gaining weight?  Our minds can play tricks on us sometimes.  The only way to be sure is to literally write down everything you eat and drink - count your calories, do the math.  It's the only way to be sure.

[AnonyMs]

I've found HRT does slow down my metabolism rather significantly. If you don't adjust the amount of food you eat I think you're going to put on weight.

[Dena]

Testosterone enables you to build muscles faster and burn more calories. If you reduce or eliminate it, you will need fewer calories to maintain your weight. Estrogen seems to have minimal effect on gaining weight from what I have seen though I put on a few pounds when I first started as I didn't have any meat on my bones.

I know you are not on progesterone but if you were, that can drive your appetite up and cause you to gain weigh. I had to half my dosage to prevent eating everything in site.

It appears it's easy for you to gain weight so you will need to reduce your intake to somewhat less than your pre blocker levels and continue your exercise or you may gain more than you desire.

[kaitylynn]

Okay...started really paying attention to how when and what I am eating.  I think I might have found the issue.  It seems like I am not eating that much, but once things were on paper, it seems I am intaking about 2500 calories in an average day...and some of those are not healthy ones.  With everything changing, I guess there is one more aspect that I need to stay aware of now.

Thank you Ms and Emily!  That would appear to be the key at this point.

Dena, you are right.  I used to be able to eat anything I wanted with very little effect.  Those days are gone.

[Michelle_P]

I've found that tracking everything is the only way to keep my weight on target and my blood work all in spec.  I'm currently using the free version of MyFitnessPal on my iGadgets to track diet, exercise, and weight.  Everything goes into it.  Meals, snacks, each cup of coffee...

I started using it to track sodium intake, for my sodium-sensitive hypertension. Now that I'm on spiro, that isn't an issue but potassium is!  So, I try to track that along with calories and the balance between carbs, fats, and protein. 

It works for me.  Others probably think I'm crazy (for various reasons...) or obsessive-compulsive.  I think of it as attention to detail.

[RobynD]

Since going on E my appetite knows far fewer bounds. The only way i have been able to maintain my weight is by tracking everything and making a conscious effort to substitute healthier options at smaller portions.

This takes an a lot of discipline and fortunately i have spousal and family support.

Oh and celery - i love it and can literally fill up on it. It's one of the saltiest veggies to boot.

[EmilyMK03]

I've found that tracking everything is the only way to keep my weight on target and my blood work all in spec.  I'm currently using the free version of MyFitnessPal on my iGadgets to track diet, exercise, and weight.  Everything goes into it.  Meals, snacks, each cup of coffee...

I started using it to track sodium intake, for my sodium-sensitive hypertension. Now that I'm on spiro, that isn't an issue but potassium is!  So, I try to track that along with calories and the balance between carbs, fats, and protein. 

It works for me.  Others probably think I'm crazy (for various reasons...) or obsessive-compulsive.  I think of it as attention to detail.

Nope, not crazy at all.  In fact it's really smart and totally works!    I think people who are struggling to lose weight would be surprised if they actually counted the calories of everything they eat and drink.

[josie68winter]

I am going to have to track my intake. Since the last month on e, I gained 7 pounds back, its depressing. Still got a long way to go to be happy with weight.

Jo