MTF Hormones and Weight Loss?

[Starscrash]

I saw someone mention in an offhanded way that it's better to lose weigh before starting hormones.  I haven't read anything about it in the official information that I've looked at, but is it easier to lose weight (especially belly fat) before taking female hormones?  My BMI is at the high end of normal range (24.5,) and I've definitely been trying to lose the belly fat I have, and I'm wondering if it'll be more difficult on hormones than off. 

[Ms.Behavin]

Ha,,, I'm STILL trying to loose the belly fat.  It is harder on E and after SRS too.  Plus if you have a sweet tooth like someone here, well it's pretty hard.  But excersize and diet will help, it just may just take longer.

On the plus side On E additional fat tends to distribute to other places so that can be a plus.

Beni

[Janet_Girl]

My weight swings between heavier in the Winter to lighter in the Summer.  And my routine does not change. 

When I started HRT I was in my heavier mode and lost weight everywhere.  But now I am in the heavier mode again.  I am hoping it shifts to where it needs to be.

[Asfsd4214]

I don't know about harder or not, but i lost 20kg (44lb) after starting HRT without much difficulty.

But keep in mind I'm 21 and so that might give me an advantage.

[Starscrash]

I don't know about harder or not, but i lost 20kg (44lb) after starting HRT without much difficulty.

But keep in mind I'm 21 and so that might give me an advantage.

I'm 19, so hopefully if I start soon I can take advantage of age as well!

[hkgurl1480]

From what i understand the lack of T slows down your metabolism which will make it harder to lose, or easier to put it on.  Either way, it doesn't help.  On the plus side the E may move some of it to hips, butt and thighs, but everyone is different so dont count on that.

[Hannah]

I think a lot of people use this question as a substitute for action. It's pretty scary to do something so dramatic and permanent as hrt so yeah, I can see putting it off while you lost some weight or find a better job or see how a relationship is going to work out or have more money or whatever.

Some times you just have to grow a pair and do it because there's always a reason why not.

Yeah it's harder to lose weight, I'm actively losing still but it's slower and more difficult nowadays. So what. I'll take a longer weight loss period over one single day of testosterone driven metabolism any day.

[hkgurl1480]

I'll take a longer weight loss period over one single day of testosterone driven metabolism any day.

Hey Becca, I am with you 100%, just trying to provide the OP with an explanation.

[Starscrash]

I think a lot of people use this question as a substitute for action. It's pretty scary to do something so dramatic and permanent as hrt so yeah, I can see putting it off while you lost some weight or find a better job or see how a relationship is going to work out or have more money or whatever.

Some times you just have to grow a pair and do it because there's always a reason why not.

Yeah it's harder to lose weight, I'm actively losing still but it's slower and more difficult nowadays. So what. I'll take a longer weight loss period over one single day of testosterone driven metabolism any day.

I'm actually not looking to put it off.  Just got back from the 2nd appointment with a new psychologist, and worked out the conditions to get a letter of referral (she agrees that I have GID, but wants a few more meetings to see if my depression has put me in a place where I'm not ready to handle the stress of transition.  She also wants me to go to a regular support group that she knows of.)  I was just pleased to be down to 210 from 240, and was wondering if I'd see that trend stop once I started hormones.  (Also yes, I'm way too tall, 210 is an okay weight for my height !)

[MyKa]

no probs with real weight gain or loss here. i try to maintain a healthy life style and workout regularly (run 3 miles a day and light weights to keep tone not to bulk up).

[Hannah]

Oh, I'm sorry, I guess that does look a little bitchy doesn't it. I didn't mean to be challenging, I just think too much about stuff, lol. If we were sitting around a coffee table you woulda known I wasn't being a shrew, I'm sorry. Anyway for me it slowed down dramatically, yes, but it's hard to say if that's from the hormones or from the fact that its not as energy-draining to move my body around as it originally was. The energy thing is defintiely from the hormones though, and my personal experience is a significant loss of stamina while exercising.

[hkgurl1480]

No offense taken, it's all good 

[Chloe]

My BMI is at the high end of normal range (24.5,) and I've definitely been trying to lose the belly fat I have, and I'm wondering if it'll be more difficult on hormones than off.

Why would it be? *Diet & exercise* is the same be it "on" or "off". With a current BMI of under 20 I lost 50lbs initially and have since put about 15lbs back on *in effect substituting better placed fat in exchange for both old fat & much muscle* . . .

I 'ave a serious problem with the whole idea of "fat redistribution" - ya have to loose it (not move it) before HRT then helps put it back somewhere else?

[gothique11]

I lost tons of weight on Estrogen, then gained some of it back, then lost again, then gained, and now I'm in the lost some more part again... I guess it's genetics. I haven't reached my old, pre-hrt weight ever. I guess it's duo to muscle mass loss, and maybe genetics. I've been on HRT for, um, about 4 years... and I'm still changing....

[JennaLee]

I started a diet the same time I started hrt.  So far, I've managed to loose 69lbs.  I believe in the conservation of energy, and count calories. 

One pound of body fat is about 3500 kilo-calories.  So, if you eat 1000 kcal less each day you would loose two pounds per week.  It is recommend not to loose weight faster than this.  I use a program to help me add up the calories.  It has a large data base of foods and it makes it relatively simple.  So far, it's been spot on.

In 1990 MD Mifflen (et.al.) provided a calculation for the BMR or Basel metabolic rate for men and women.  It's considered to be more accurate then the 'Harris Benedict' equations of 1919.  This is essentially the 'resting energy expenditure' or the amount of kcal we burn in a resting state.  There is an 'activity factor' which adjusts the BMR to kcal/day required to maintain a constant weight.  For light activity (exercise 1-3 days/wk) the activity factor is 1.375.  By comparing my weight loss to kcal consumption I have determined my activity factor to be 1.36.

BMR = 4.53*(weight in lbs) + 15.88*(height in inches) - 4.92*(age in years) + 5(for men) - 161(for women) [kcal/day]

kcal/day = 1.36 * BMR  (for me)

They go on to say the difference between men and women is attributed to their percentage of lean body mass.  They also provide an equation based on lean body mass equally valid for men and women but calculating lean body mass is not straightforward.

One interesting study measured resting energy expenditure (essentially Basel metabolic rate) in a group of men before and after loosing about 25% of their weight.  The change in metabolism was too small to measure.  It was lower after loosing weight but only by the amount estimated in the above equation.  In studies with large numbers of people, the above equation was within 4% for 95% of the people.  Of course, activity levels can and do change making the kcal required per day vary.




Sorry for the long post.  The simple answer is (at least for me) there is no reason to gain or loose weight with HRT (with exception to hydration level).  There is a big psychological component to both HRT and eating which could easily result in a correlation (again, at least for me).