HRT and weight

[Karen]

Hi everyone.   

What has your experience been with HRT and weight loss or gain ?

Since Sept I have lost close to 20 pounds and I would like to lose another 15.   

Thanks.

[Meghan]

Hi everyone.   

What has your experience been with HRT and weight loss or gain ?

Since Sept I have lost close to 20 pounds and I would like to lose another 15.   

Thanks.

I am on HRT since December and loss 17 pounds my tight jeans begin to fit better

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[Kylo]

I've been steadily losing weight slowly since I started HRT 1 year 5 months ago. It's become extremely easy to lose or gain weight though, so I'm rarely completely static... it's always going slightly up or down between 3 or 4 lbs all the time.

Before HRT my weight was fairly stable and hard to knock off-kilter. Now I could drop a stone in a 12 days if I really wanted to, or probably gain it too, if I ate too enthusiastically.

The result is I tend to be apathetic about eating, to eat less than I should, to make sure I'm not gaining any weight. I used to have an eating disorder that helped me mentally with the idea of keeping the body as angular as possible, as terrible as that is, and at least that's largely gone now, since I know I'm not under or over weight and I don't have to worry about some of that any more. I don't know if eating disorders ever truly leave a person's mind though - the sheer repetition and obsessing over control doesn't seem to completely leave, because there's always that fear you'll balloon out if you let go and if that happens it only leads to more health complications in another direction.

So I'll always be trying to stay on the skinny side as opposed to the other side. I don't want to be a (garden) rake, but I'd rather deal with that than the effects of hypothyroidism, etc.

I needed to lose about 20 lbs really to be ideal, in my own view, and I'm pretty much at the goal with almost no effort. I got a general "feel" for how much I should eat per day that led to a weight loss of about 1lb per week and aimed for that as a general rule (without explicitly counting calories); if I ate "too much" one day, I'd eat less the next. It's worked out pretty well, while also trying to make sure I don't fall back into bad mental habits.

(It would have been a hell of a lot easier if I still smoked, lol) 

[Daniellekai]

Seems to take more discipline to not eat bad things sometimes... But if I'm good it's about the same as before.

[Dani]

Total weight gain or loss really depends on your weight at the start of HRT.

If you are lean and muscular, expect to lose muscle mass when taking Estradiol and gain muscle mass if taking Testosterone. If you are on Estradiol and overweight and dieting, expect to lose fat around your waist, but keep fat on your thighs, butt and upper chest. Since breast tissue is fat and glandular tissue, expect breasts to develop rapidly for the overweight MTF more so than someone who is lean.

For those of us on Testosterone, expect to grow fat on your mid section if overweight. The only way to lose fat for the FTM is diet and exercise.

Many people say that Estradiol causes a shift in fat location on the body, but really it depends on losing fat in some areas and keeping or gaining in the typical female areas. Testosterone does give you a bit more energy so working out in the gym with the heavy weights is easier.

Regardless of which HRT you are taking, fat gain or loss depends mainly on diet and exercise.

[zirconia]

Hi Karen,

What has your experience been with HRT and weight loss or gain ?

I've seen no effect outside of my normal winter-summer fluctuation of about 5kg... If I eat a lot one day, I just don't feel that hungry the following day so I automatically eat less. That said, I do think that I probably eat less overall than I used to. I probably also tend to skip meals more often because I don't feel hungry.

[Kylo]

Forgot to mention that "comfort eating" thing that sometimes used to happen before HRT seems to have stopped. Whether that's hormonal or just because the HRT has reduced the stress I experience, unknown. But I don't find myself hungry anywhere near as often.

Which is strange because a ton of FTM talk about feeling ravenous all the time on HRT. I drink a lot of tea, maybe that's an appetite suppressant.

[Dani]

Forgot to mention that "comfort eating" thing that sometimes used to happen before HRT seems to have stopped. Whether that's hormonal or just because the HRT has reduced the stress I experience, unknown. But I don't find myself hungry anywhere near as often.

Which is strange because a ton of FTM talk about feeling ravenous all the time on HRT. I drink a lot of tea, maybe that's an appetite suppressant.

Hot liquids such as tea  or bullion can suppress the appetite. Comfort eating, for me, has diminished greatly when my gender dysphoria went away, when I transitioned to my preferred gender.

[AnamethatstartswithE]

I lost a bunch when I first started, and seem to have plateaued. I'm a stress gainer, I think that the initial loss was the hrt knocking out the worst of the dysphoria.

[RobynTx]

I check my weight every morning and it can be any where from 171 to 176.  Many people have said that it looks like I've lost weight but I really haven't.  It's just the fat has redistributed to other locations.  My spouse has said I have a more hour glass shape now.  Measurements seem to support that as well.  I would love to get down into the 160s or even 150s but that may not happen. 

[KayXo]

In 2004, pre-HRT, I was 127 lbs (at 5'6) and a part-time smoker, extremely thin, could fit in size 5 jeans. Now, no longer a smoker, healthier, post-op and around 170 lbs. Around size 10-11. I don't have much appetite on just estrogen. I gained some muscle mass since starting a little T post-op so this accounts for the increase in weight and perhaps, also some bone density increase as well. I still find I would look better 5-10 lbs lighter. Working on that

[Pisces228]

In 2004, pre-HRT, I was 127 lbs (at 5'6) and a part-time smoker, extremely thin, could fit in size 5 jeans. Now, no longer a smoker, healthier, post-op and around 170 lbs. Around size 10-11. I don't have much appetite on just estrogen. I gained some muscle mass since starting a little T post-op so this accounts for the increase in weight and perhaps, also some bone density increase as well. I still find I would look better 5-10 lbs lighter. Working on that

Same here but I was a fulltime smoker.  I was 128 when I started at 5'10.5 and now am 5'9 and 175 ( yes I shrunk) and a size 12.  I had a pretty bad eating disorder before hrt for almost 14 years and that accounted for the thinness.  Honestly, I'm healthier 5 pounds overweight than when I was super skinny.

[Meghan]

Before HRT I was 188 lbs and three months later I drop to 171 pounds. My face complexion looking better when my Therapist saw me after three months. My sister-in-law ask me what did I do?

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[KayXo]

Same here but I was a fulltime smoker.  I was 128 when I started at 5'10.5 and now am 5'9 and 175 ( yes I shrunk

I would be worried if I shrunk...lack of T and/or E. Osteoporosis?

[Pisces228]

I would be worried if I shrunk...lack of T and/or E. Osteoporosis?

I mentioned to my dr and she wasn't worried about it.  I guess some people shrink a little from muscle and cartilage changes.

[Deborah]

Right now after 3 years on HRT I'm about 25 lbs lighter than before and have increased my muscle mass.


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[TonyaW]

Started HRT at 6'3" and 230lbs 13 months ago.  Had gotten down to 225 until come January I found I had put on about 15 pounds of holiday food. My pants still fit, so at least it went to the right places.
Adding 5 to 10 pounds has been a holiday tradition for me the last 10 years or so.  Would lose at least some of it afterwards.

Trying to eat healthier and getting to the gym at least twice a week including some weight work.  Have not seen results yet. 
Started medroxyprogesterone a month ago which might be an issue.  If spring ever actually stays around I'll be outside more,  hoping  that will help.


Might have shrunk at most a half inch.  Last time doctor measured the got 6'2".  I've been measured at 6'2.5" before so might just be differences in rounding and the person doing the measuring. 
Shoe size has not changed.


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[KayXo]

Started medroxyprogesterone a month ago

I've read several studies indicating this progestogen, in contrast to other progestogens most notably progesterone, tends to oppose the positive effects estrogen has on arteries, lipids and increase cardiovascular risk. Also, in a large randomized trial, women taking this with estrogen were more likely to have heart issues, and breast cancer, although, to be fair, the increase was very small but still significant. It can also dampen mood in some and lead to depression/anxiety, sometimes suicidal ideation. It is also slightly androgenic, as it somewhat triggers androgen receptors. All things that *personally* concern me as a transwoman with already all the other issues I need to contend with in my life.

You could, if you want, discuss this with your doctor, read a few studies on your own and decide what to do. Just wanted to bring that up in case you weren't aware. What you do after that is, of course, up to you and your doctor.

[TonyaW]

I've read several studies indicating this progestogen, in contrast to other progestogens most notably progesterone, tends to oppose the positive effects estrogen has on arteries, lipids and increase cardiovascular risk. Also, in a large randomized trial, women taking this with estrogen were more likely to have heart issues, and breast cancer, although, to be fair, the increase was very small but still significant. It can also dampen mood in some and lead to depression/anxiety, sometimes suicidal ideation. It is also slightly androgenic, as it somewhat triggers androgen receptors. All things that *personally* concern me as a transwoman with already all the other issues I need to contend with in my life.

You could, if you want, discuss this with your doctor, read a few studies on your own and decide what to do. Just wanted to bring that up in case you weren't aware. What you do after that is, of course, up to you and your doctor.

Thanks.  I was aware of the potential issues.  I generally tolerate meds well so thought it would be worth a try.  I think my breasts have grown a tad and also have had more down or off moods.  Hard to say if that's from the drug or not.   I see doctor at end of May. I'll her ask about trying the micronized if that's still happening. I'll stop it before my appointment if it gets worse. 

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[I Am Jess]

For most of my life I was around 180-190 pounds.  12 years ago I started gaining weight and I got up to almost 250.  When I found out my ex was cheating on me back in 2009 I lost about 80 pounds in a rather short period of time.  I gained some weight back and I was about 220 when I started my transition and got as high as 235 post GCS.  Last summer I got on a health kick and by the end of the summer I was down to 190.  I've been keeping my weight between 194 and 198 and am getting ready to start another weight loss program to get down to between 175 and 180.  I dropped from dress size 16-18 down to 12-14 and slacks from 14-16 down to 8-10.  I'd really like to get down to a 6-8 in slacks and 10-12 in dresses.