Testosterone, dieting and hunger

[Cailan Jerika]

In the last 15 months I've lost 109 pounds as I try to remodel my body completely from a fat lady (no, I don't sing well) to a lean, muscular guy/Amazon woman. I have 36 pounds to go to reach my final goal. I started testosterone just over 4 months ago.

However, in the past week or two I've been desperately snacky. I'm trying to figure out if it's T-hunger (which I had a couple of months ago, but it faded away within a couple of weeks), or if I need to increase my caloric limit.

My diet is three ~500 calorie meals per day, heavy on the protein and veggies, light on the carbs of all kinds, and I just get *snacky* and I desperately want carbs. It's not my stomach asking for food. I'm full after a meal. It's my mouth/head asking for it. I have a couple of Wheat Thins, or a small handful of cereal from my kids' cereal supply, or something else relatively small, but it adds up. Suddenly I've had 1800 calories, or occasionally more than 2000 calories!

I lost just over 6 pounds in the past month (Sept. 1- Oct 19) despite breaking my calorie limits on a regular basis, which makes me wonder if I should have upped my calorie limit when I went on T. I've still used the female standards, because my body isn't particularly masculinized. I'm trying to be scientifically honest. I'm bi-gender and am happy identifying as a guy or a girl.

So, what do you think? Should I take a hint from my body and increase my food intake in general because of T-based changes and see if that gets rid of the cravings, or should I stick to my dietary guns and just buckle down and ignore those cravings?

[Deborah]

T by itself does not raise metabolism.  The reason that men usually have a higher metabolism is because of more muscle mass.  The T helps increase that muscle mass but does not directly effect metabolism itself.

Without more information it's impossible to estimate what you should be eating.  It's a pretty inexact science anyway.  However, if you are still losing weight while eating more that's a good hint that you should eat more.  Just watch the scale and make adjustments from there.  It's good that you can eat more and still lose weight.  That's a pretty good indication that your metabolism is in great shape.


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[Kylo]

At one year in I don't think T does much to metabolic rate in and of itself and therefore increases any need for "extra food". T might make you do more exercise, and if that's the case adjust accordingly, but if your lifestyle and amount of muscle hasn't significantly changed from before you will likely not need more food than you used to. If exercising a lot then obviously you'll need more, but not just because of T.

As for cravings there's various methods to combat them. Eat protein in response, ignore the cravings, drink a pint of lemon-infused water, tablespoon of olive oil, etc.

Or just tell yourself (aloud) you know you don't need food because you're full. Sometimes a statement like that can reinforce your willpower.

If you're already full it's conditioning and habit to want more carbs. The brain does get attached to the tastes and smells of various foods, and in some ways this is addiction behavior. I know it fairly well - I used to have to deal with this and the problems of cravings that would creep up on me and auto-pilot my brain into eating without really thinking. Like any addictive behavior, it does help to recognize immediately when you're doing it and to try to stop, or if you can't do that, make a table for calories you allow yourself per day and do not allow yourself to go over it.

I guess the difference between successful and unsuccessful dieting/weight loss is just discipline. Whenever I failed it was always because of it.

[Deborah]

Another thing is related to what you are snacking on.  Wheat based products contain a protein that signals hunger in your brain.  So if you snack on wheat thins and cereal it will often increase rather than decrease your hunger.  It would be better, and more healthy, to snack on things such as cheese or almonds that contain fat and will reduce the hunger signals.

I have the same problem with carbs, although my snack of choice is M&Ms.  I'll start with the intention of having one package and staying within my calorie goals.  But once I eat one I can't stop.  So 2000 calories later I've busted my goals big time and am still hungry.  Fortunately I work out enough that I can get away with it from time to time without a scale disaster.  Something with protein or fat stops hunger a lot better when I just have to eat.


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[Lady Lisandra]

If you are turning into an Amazon, you definitely have more muscle mass. Muscle consumes energy. A lot. So you should consider increasing your calorie intake. Also, include carbs. They're energy for your muscles. If you exercise, carbs will turn into energy and will be burned instead of turn into fat.

Keep in mind that muscle is heavier than fat.