Fat redistribution and weight loss

[Luc]

I've had weight problems since age 18... prior to that, I was always able to stay incredibly thin, but once 18 hit, I started gaining, and nothing I did ever made any difference or caused me to lose more than 10 lbs. I've even gone so far as to run 2 miles, every night of the week, while maintaining a 1500-calorie diet, over 4 months... to no avail.

Seeing as I have the symptoms of PCOS, that could explain my difficulties, but I have yet to be tested fully for it. Soon I'll be back on T, though, so if I do have PCOS, it should be taken care of by that alone. I'm just wondering whether any other ftms/any female-bodied folk have had this problem and, if so, did it go away with testosterone or anything else? I'm desperate to lose weight, and am living a completely healthy lifestyle... ha, try explaining to someone that you weight 245 lbs but eat NO junk food. Anyway, any help would be much appreciated.

SD
Post Merge: March 04, 2009, 02:41:40 PM
Duh... I should use the preview option. As per fat redistribution, I have legs and arms that are almost entirely muscle... all the fat is sitting on my hips in spare tire formation. I know fat redistribution on T should put that into my belly, but anyone have any idea how long it takes for that? I saw it start after almost 4 months on T before, but I've never gotten past 4 months without running out and having to go on hiatus.

[Mister]

I think it took about five months for me when suddenly all the fat from my hips melted and i had to go buy new pants and belts. 

As for the weight thing, PCOS doesn't typically add an extra hundredish pounds to someone's frame.  Have you had your thyroid checked?

[JonasCarminis]

my mom has thyroid problems and that sound a lot like whats going on with her.  she eats like a chicken and is still heavier than she should be. :/ 

[Luc]

I had my thyroid levels checked 3 1/2 years ago... doctors were certain that was my problem, but no problem there. I wish it were; I don't understand what's wrong with me.

When I was at a healthy weight (for me, anyway), I was about 185. I was a runner for years, and all that exercise gave me a ton of muscle. At 185, I had a 34-inch waist which, with my wide hips, is about the best I could ask for. Now I wear a size 36-38, but I wear my pants on my hips... I'm afraid to even measure where my waist should be.

I was at 210 before I started T in the first place, and bulked up to 240 within a couple months on T without getting any bigger. But if the fat will come off my hips, even if it goes into my belly it'll be much easier to lose.

SD

[Mister]

Eh... I'd probably ask my thyroid to be retested.  If you're active and have a halfway decent diet, there is no reason for you to be 65 pounds overweight.  If you drink regularly, you might want to get a liver panel, too.

[GQjoey]

I was diagnosed with PCOS at 17. I was an athlete from 4-18. Was always in good shape, but short and stocky. I held 5'3-5'4 in high school, at 140, pretty solid. Broad shoulders, big defined legs, but always had a tummy. Not hanging out my belt or nothing, but not real defined. From 19-21 I wasn't very athletic, drank and partied a lot..and hit 185 quickly. I didn't realize how overweight I was until I got a warehouse job that was 10 hours of hard labor, and got back down to 150 in a month. I held that up until I started T. The first 5 months I stayed about the same, and for the past couple months I realized I've gained weight, in nothing but my stomach. My waist is still a 33-34, but my tshirt size went from M being a lil baggy, to hugging my stomach like Peter from the Family Guy. A lot of this is probably due to my diet, and lack of exercise, although I just got back to exercising 3-4 nights a week.
A lot of it, is just genetics. Even with PCOS, I know I can lose the weight with exercise, but I also know I will gain quickly with eating poorly. You say you have symptoms of PCOS, like what? It doesn't take much to diagnose, other than blood work.

[DRAIN]

i third (or more?) getting thyroid rechecked. ESPECIALLY since you've said you have hypoglycemia. hypothyroid, hypoglycemia, and PCOS can all be comorbid.

[Dante]

I agree that you should have your thyroid checked. My mom (and apparently a little me, too) has thyroid problems, and so she can't lose any weight.

[Ashton28]

I can't wait to get on T and use it to my advantage in the gym. Hope you have some luck with that.