Weight and HRT?

[mtfbuckeye]

I'm pre-everything, but I am curious about if my weight should have any impact on when/if I should start HRT. I'm 5'7", 250 pounds.

I have no problem with being a BBW, but I'm just curious what the pros/cons of starting HRT at that kind of weight?

[Nero]

fat redistribution will be more drastic.

[Just Mandy]

This will be a short answer that really needs a longer one but I have to run

HRT can be started  (and many do) when overweight, but it would be safer if you
were at a more healthy weight. I personally set a goal for myself to drop 20 pounds
prior to starting HRT last year because I was afraid of the risks. I started at around 185
and dropped to 165 prior to starting (Im 5-10). I lost a lot more after that but that
is another story and was totally unhealthy. I think most will find it a LOT harder to
lose weight after starting HRT. I know know since my weight has stabilized around 145
that it's very easy to gain a few pounds if i binge on cookies. Welcome to womanhood

Amanda

[Ashley315]

I just ran across this.  From my experience, I actually found I am loosing weight faster since I started HRT.  Could be other reasons for it though so I can't really say for sure that is why.  Could just be that now I'm even more driven to hit my goal weight.

[almost,angie]

I lost 30 lbs. pre HRT easily . since I started HRT I have been gaining waight slowly throughout the year. Now i am doing the same diet I did Pre Hrt and am not loosing much to fast but I`m loosing waight. I eat low gluten and Vegan.
   Before HRT it was just the diet and some surfing and the pounds droped off fast. Now i have to do a swetty workout to see any changes. 

I would say take advantage of the school gym but be sure you didn`t eat much protien before you workout or you will gain muscles. With low protien you will eat the muscles you have helping you look more fem. ( May be)
Angie,

[Ashley315]

I don't really watch what I eat really, I just don't eat that much anyway.  Usually I have 2 pieces of toast in the morning for breakfast and then I eat whatever I want for dinner.  I have cut out the cola except for the occasional Diet DR Pepper and starting drinking more water, usually mixed with fresh squeezed lemon.
My workout regimen consist of running 6 miles 6 days a week and usually walk 1 to 2 miles 4 or 5 days a week as well.

[sd]

Just dropping soda and switching to water (READ THE LABELS!) you can drop a lot of weight fast.

Do that, and look at your snacks, just change the worst ones to something less fattening and the weight will drop off with little or no effort. I took off 30 pounds in about 4 months this way with no other changes to diet or exercise regime.

[flutter]

When I came out as trans, I weighed 380.

I dropped to 350 before I started HRT.

Between energy levels and winter weather causing me to curtail my exercise program and water retention from the salt cravings from the spiro..... I've gained back 10 pounds.

However, for me it was a psychological issue. I am literally afraid of loosing weight without something blocking my testosterone, because I do not want my sex drive to increase under any circumstances. Being fat kills the sex drive, now that I'm on E, it's miniscule.

So, the psychological barrier to me loosing weight has been removed, I've just got to get past the low energy levels and rotten weather to start exercising again. (and stop giving in to my cravings, I swear I've been like a pregnant woman this last month..... olives marinated in soy sauce..... omg.)

Addendum : The personal weight loss motivator for me is SRS. The highest weight limit I've seen imposed by a doctor is 220, so I need to get under that before I can qualify for surgery. I know it's going to take 2 years to get there.

So, since you are over the surgery cutoff, but pretty close to it, you might want to consider delaying hormones until you get under the magic number.

[Kaitlyn]

I've noticed that the hormones speed up my weight loss (Atkins) and give me a general metabolic boost.  When I was on HRT (postponed ATM) I had more energy, I didn't crave food, and I didn't suffer from leaden fatigue in the morning.  It even made my ADHD & depression meds work better.

[JenniferR04]

I weighed about 185lbs in early 2008.  I started exercising regularly and had set a goal of not allowing myself to start HRT until I was at 150lbs.  So I had my work cut out for me.

My exercising routine was 4-5 times per week doing mainly cardio activities such as running or biking.  I didn't drastically change my eating habits, but I did cut out all alcohol and soda/pop.  I dropped my weight into the upper 160's within a few months.  I also started seeing a trans-friendly family practice doctor over the summer of 2008 and have been diagonsised with high blood pressure.  Well, the doctor knows that I am trans and therefore with the high blood pressure, prescribed Spiro because it has the dual effect for reducing high blood pressure and is also used as a Testerone blocker.  Spiro is a diuretic which is another name for a "water pill", thus helps a person reduce their water content in their body, thus one of the side effect of more frequent urination.  My weight has since decreased into the mid 150's since starting Spiro only 3 months or so ago.

It took me some tremendous will power to give up soda/pop, but everything else has been fairly easily.  You need to determine what's important, and if losing weight and getting into the shape you desire for your female form, then you need to resist the urges and cravings of your favorite snacks and find some time to get started in a workout routine.  I don't specifically know off hand what the SRS requirements are, but I would have to concur with one of the previous responders that I believe there are guidelines, so that will need to be an eventual goal.  Don't necessarily start out with that as your goal though because it is a huge undertaking to lose that much weight in a  timely fashion, but rather set some incremental goals along the way and maybe reward yourself as you reach them.  For me, my next goal is the 150lbs mark and then I will start on the "E".

Good luck with your weight and many best wishes throughout the upcoming holiday season.  Keep strong and stay true to your goals.

Regards, Jennifer R.

[loveluv]

im 5'10" and i was perfectly healthy and at a good weight for my height and in the first couple of months on oestrogen i gained 6 lbs :S

woo too curves! hehe x