HUNGRY!!

[jmaxley]

My T levels have gone up some on the DHEA and the one thing I've noticed the last few weeks is that I'm absolutely craving MEAT.  And more meat.  And then a little bit more meat.  Which is kind of disturbing for someone who is semi-vegetarian (I don't eat much meat and what little I do eat is usually lean chicken).  I'm still eating chicken but now I want ham and bacon and pork chops and hamburgers and hot dogs.

[M.Grimm]

DHEA did the same thing to me, although I deal with it by blending fresh fruit and a good quality protein powder, which takes care of those cravings (I don't like meat). There's distinctly a burning need for extra protein going on, and I'm slowly but distinctly putting on a little more muscle, which equals weight. But my fat is slowly going away. I'm glad I stated taking DHEA, it's almost like a tiny peek into what hormone therapy has in store.

[harlee]

Im hungry 24 hours, 7 days a week Cant imagine how much T will change this aah, thats crazy! For some reason I can eat loads and not get fat...dunno why, I dont even exercise I dont care about what I eat or how unhealthy it is, but then again weight isnt on my mind, or not yet at least 

[uni]

Remember that many of us FTMs are much smaller-statured than the average cis man. I'm 5'3 and I eat about 1500 calories a day and I'm usually quite satisfied with it. There are occasional days when I get this problem of always feeling hungry, but that just means I keep eating more on those days. :p Once I start working out again I am sure I will need more.

I just can't imagine eating that little. I'm 5'4.5''(hey, every half inch counts) weigh 105 and eat 2000 calories a day at least. Plus I don't exercise. I don't have a high metabolism though, my thyroid test came back normal. I just worry that you guys aren't eating enough! 1400 calories is like the perfect sized meal for me.

[uni]

Might have to do with how calorie-dense of foods we're eating. For example, some fast food places have single burgers with 1000 calories. That can take up the same room in your stomach as a healthier burger with, say, 400 calories. Your body will notice the energy difference over time, but when you actually eat it the signals of satiation and physical stomach capacity are no different.

That's true to some extent but there is more to satisfaction than fullness and stomach capacity. I have tried to "trick" myself many times into choosing the healthier option over a high calorie craving, however,  eating a large salad will make you full but not content if what you really wanted was a burger. I have mindlessly snacked on healthy foods to the point I was full and bloated but my cravings for pizza or ice cream were still there just as strong. If, on the other hand, I had given into temptation it would hit the spot immediately and I'd be satisfied with less food volume wise.  Appetite isn't simply physical sensations, there are many emotional components as well as hormone signals involved.

[Greg]

I don't count calories. I just eat when I'm hungry, which is all the time. MEAT, MEAT, MEAT, CAKES, MEAT.

[LordKAT]

I am not hungrier nor has my metabolism risen. I am still a sluggish slug. I eat a carrot and gain 5 lbs fat and 1 oz muscle(maybe). T is not doing me the most good in a few ways.

[Evan]

Eating small meals multiple times a day rather than trying to stick to the basic 3 helps a lot with feeling ravenous though.

doing this and upping my water intake to around a 1 gallon a day helped with my constant hunger, lost 34lbs so far.. your body can confuse the need for hydration with food, are you sure that you're getting enough?

[Cairus]

Heya, squirrel. I just wanted to mention that yeah, from what I understand it's pretty common. Within the first week of starting T I was ravenous. I felt like I could eat and eat and eat. Your body is being stimulated to change at a cellular level, you're more or less going through another puberty; while it's good to watch what you eat, it may not be such a great idea to starve yourself, not when your body is going to be working overtime. I'd suggest eating *more* but *well* and working out hard too(if you don't already).

I ate quite a bit more for the first month or so of starting T before my appetite settled down; thankfully I was never inclined to eat a lot of junk, but despite the increase in my caloric intake I *didn't* gain weight, I actually *lost* a little weight for a bit before it picked back up again(my meals did and still do consist of mostly meat and vegs). Now I can say my weight distribution/muscle tone has changed a bit, but I am the *exact same* weight I was pre-T.

[DRAIN]

if you're hungry, eat. 1400 calories a day is too little for even a small female that's as active as you are. i would first try eating 1800 calories, high protein, lots of fruit and veggies, whole grains, and moderate fat. yep, that low fat crap really doesn't work, plus men need more fat in general than women anyway. if it's high quality fats (olive oil, avocado, fish, lean meats) it shouldn't affect you negatively, just keep you fuller longer. i use a website called sparkpeople to track all this stuff, they take your activity level, weight, etc into account and tell you how many calories you need, it's really helpful. 

also, since you're on T, any fat you have or gain will end up in a more male distribution, so you shouldn't have to worry too much about getting more curves if you do end up gaining a bit.

(i'm not an expert, i just play one on tv  )