Sugar cravings? A sign of HRT?

[Charlie Nicki]

So I'm MTF and I've been on hormones for over a year and lost a ton of weight in the past 3 months thanks to dieting, exercise and surgery. So for the past month I've been craving sugary stuff like crazy!! It's been the first time this has ever happened to me in my life (pre and post HRT). I've never been a sugary type of person...I would always choose a pizza over a piece of cake but that has definitely changed lately! I feel like I need the sweet stuff.

So I go back and forth thinking this might be my body telling me it needs the fat to store it in the feminine spots of my body versus this is just a silly craving that is gonna make me fat everywhere! Have you guys been through this? Should I listen to my heart and just give in to the cravings and eat all the sugar I crave hoping it'll all go to my hips, thighs and butt or should I listen to my brain and avoid the sugar like crazy since it'll make me fat everywhere?

[Virginia]

Or perhaps your body is simply telling you it needs more carbs from all the dieting and exercise?

It sounds as if the brain's logic may be based on a lifetime of experience with the effects of testosterone. On estrogen replacement therapy, new fat will accumulate in female pattern (bellow belly button, breasts, hips, buttocks).

[Paige]

So I'm MTF and I've been on hormones for over a year and lost a ton of weight in the past 3 months thanks to dieting, exercise and surgery. So for the past month I've been craving sugary stuff like crazy!! It's been the first time this has ever happened to me in my life (pre and post HRT). I've never been a sugary type of person...I would always choose a pizza over a piece of cake but that has definitely changed lately! I feel like I need the sweet stuff.

So I go back and forth thinking this might be my body telling me it needs the fat to store it in the feminine spots of my body versus this is just a silly craving that is gonna make me fat everywhere! Have you guys been through this? Should I listen to my heart and just give in to the cravings and eat all the sugar I crave hoping it'll all go to my hips, thighs and butt or should I listen to my brain and avoid the sugar like crazy since it'll make me fat everywhere?

Hi Charlie Nicki,

Have you tried having some fat, like a piece of cheese, when you get these cravings.  You're right to avoid sugar, it's just not good for your health.  One thing I also do is eat a very small piece of 85% to 90% dark chocolate with my tea once in a while.  With the darker chocolate you don't seem to need a lot and it's very low in sugar.

Also you might be a little dehydrated.  When you get the craving see if a glass of water helps.

Good luck,
Paige

[Devlyn]

I agree with Paige, it's very common for the body to confuse thirst for hunger. And heck, water is just plain good for you, and the cheapest cure you can find! 

Hugs, Devlyn

[Northern Star Girl]

So I'm MTF and I've been on hormones for over a year and lost a ton of weight in the past 3 months thanks to dieting, exercise and surgery. So for the past month I've been craving sugary stuff like crazy!! It's been the first time this has ever happened to me in my life (pre and post HRT). I've never been a sugary type of person...I would always choose a pizza over a piece of cake but that has definitely changed lately! I feel like I need the sweet stuff.

So I go back and forth thinking this might be my body telling me it needs the fat to store it in the feminine spots of my body versus this is just a silly craving that is gonna make me fat everywhere! Have you guys been through this? Should I listen to my heart and just give in to the cravings and eat all the sugar I crave hoping it'll all go to my hips, thighs and butt or should I listen to my brain and avoid the sugar like crazy since it'll make me fat everywhere?

@Charlie Nicki
Oh yeah, even before HRT I always have had, and still do have cravings for sugar and sweets...
...I am a candy-hollic.   At my home, in my car, and in my office desk, I always have chocolate and other treats handy.

For me, I am not worried about trying to put fat on all the right feminine places, it will get there all by itself...  I gain plenty of fat just with my regular diet, so I don't attempt to add more to my intake.

Now, on another craving... Salt and salty foods !!!!!  Obviously most of this is a result of hydration and/or lack thereof.   Good ol'e Spiro as a T-blocker and a diuretic is most responsible for increasing thirst and inducing more bathroom visits... and salt cravings come along with that.   Potato chips and pickles are my favorite solutions...  the chips have lots of calories but the pickles are near Zero....  I end up finishing off a jar of pickles about once a week.

Thanks for you update and for sharing.....
Hugs and well wishes,
Danielle

[Charlie Nicki]

@Devlyn @Paige

I'll try upping my water intake to see if that helps. But damn, sweets are just so good lol.

@Alaskan Danielle

Yeah I used to have salty cravings when I was on spiro. It wasn't a problem since that doesn't make you fat. But those are gone since I had my orchi and removed spiro from my treatment.

[Devlyn]

@Charlie Nicki
Oh yeah, even before HRT I always have had, and still do have cravings for sugar and sweets...
...I am a candy-hollic.   At my home, in my car, and in my office desk, I always have chocolate and other treats handy.

For me, I am not worried about trying to put fat on all the right feminine places, it will get there all by itself...  I gain plenty of fat just with my regular diet, so I don't attempt to add more to my intake.

Now, on another craving... Salt and salty foods !!!!!  Obviously most of this is a result of hydration and/or lack thereof.   Good ol'e Spiro as a T-blocker and a diuretic is most responsible for increasing thirst and inducing more bathroom visits... and salt cravings come along with that.   Potato chips and pickles are my favorite solutions...  the chips have lots of calories but the pickles are near Zero.... I end up finishing off a jar of pickles about once a week.

Thanks for you update and for sharing.....
Hugs and well wishes,
Danielle

Quart or gallon? 

[Allison S]

I try to eat fruit, an apple, strawberries, peaches, pears, plums, oranges, any other berries... Those are my favorite. But I'm like Danielle, I can eat sugar all day and I'll want more. I'm definitely a sweetaholic lol if it's not cake, chocolate or some other dessert then it's a fruit juice or coffee with sugar and cream
I really only eat 2 meals a day and my portions aren't that big. I always try to save room for snacking... Still I do need to cut down a bit myself. I'm sure there's a better balance but I can't help myself lol

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[blackcat]

Should I listen to my heart and just give in to the cravings and eat all the sugar I crave hoping it'll all go to my hips, thighs and butt or should I listen to my brain and avoid the sugar like crazy since it'll make me fat everywhere?

Congratulations, welcome to being a girl.  The struggle is real.

Since I've started T, my sweet tooth completely disappeared. I still can't believe it. I can't remember the last day I've eaten chocolate, which is pure madness. I would usually be like, "Ok, no more than three pieces from a chocolate bar a day..." which would turn into OM NOM NOM half a bar...

I mean, too much sugar is a bad thing. Stay healthy, exercise, etc. But don't miss out on life and never eat cheesecake ever.

[Charlie Nicki]

Congratulations, welcome to being a girl.  The struggle is real.

Since I've started T, my sweet tooth completely disappeared. I still can't believe it. I can't remember the last day I've eaten chocolate, which is pure madness. I would usually be like, "Ok, no more than three pieces from a chocolate bar a day..." which would turn into OM NOM NOM half a bar...

I mean, too much sugar is a bad thing. Stay healthy, exercise, etc. But don't miss out on life and never eat cheesecake ever.

It's so unfair lol. I have a sweet tooth now! I exercise everyday so I try to indulge here and there but it does worry me that I'll let myself go.

[Colleen_definitely]

For me it's a sweets and everything else tooth.  Chocolate has gone from great to downright magical, and everything else just tastes so much better.

Aaaand this is why I'm not posting swimsuit photos, lol