Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Good morning everyone,

Since starting HRT, I have put on about 20 pounds, all to my hips and rear, thankfully. But I still have some abdominal fat that I would like to get rid of through exercise, but I'm afraid to lose feminine fat that contributes to female-pattern fat distribution. I also do not want to lose what little breast I have. So, in brief, can I lose this fat without jeopardizing my feminization? 

Thanks

Unfortunately, you can't target specific areas for fat loss (outside of surgery).  What you can do is lose weight, which will cause fat loss from all parts of your body, then gain fat back which should be deposited in a female pattern, assuming everything is right hormonally.  I've done this and it has worked really well for me.  If you still have way too much abdominal fat, have your cortisol levels checked.  High cortisol levels can cause an abnormal fat distribution concentrated in the abdominal area.

Gaining weight is often the case with HRT. As muscle mass fades, so does the caloric intake requirement. If you still eat as you normally do weight gain is bound to happen.

I've always been at war with my weight. At one point I weighed 100lbs more then I do today. If I breath too deeply passing a bakery in the morning I gain 2lbs. My diet has changed a lot over the years. And still is now that old age and HRT are in charge.

My biggest belly blowupper is alcohol. Something else I've always had a battle with. There are a LOT of empty calories in just 1 glass of wine. When 1200 kCal a day is all I need, a few drinks blows that away. Other feel good comfort foods same thing, just less of a hangover. Still about the same guilt factor stepping on the scale

Since I have a job that does not requires a lot of moving, I try to get in a good walk every day for an hour or more. Being a former fatty the concept of going to gym scares me more then showing up to work in a dress. In fact I am sure working in a dress will come, joining a gym never will.

As DrummerGirl said there is no way to "Target" getting rid of fat fat cells over then some medical intervention. Tightening core muscles with shrinking the fat cells overall gives the illusion you are targeting. The key is you are shrinking ALL the fat. Your body tends not to discriminate were it stores the reserve energy. How your genes distributed the fuel tanks and how many you have varies. 

Quote from: DrummerGirl on April 19, 2015, 09:06:50 AM
Unfortunately, you can't target specific areas for fat loss (outside of surgery).  What you can do is lose weight, which will cause fat loss from all parts of your body, then gain fat back which should be deposited in a female pattern, assuming everything is right hormonally.  I've done this and it has worked really well for me.  If you still have way too much abdominal fat, have your cortisol levels checked.  High cortisol levels can cause an abnormal fat distribution concentrated in the abdominal area.

Never heard that losing weight then letting  any regained fat deposit itself following a female pattern. Is that documented anywhere?

Quote from: thegreenrabbit on April 19, 2015, 10:35:57 AM
Never heard that losing weight then letting  any regained fat deposit itself following a female pattern. Is that documented anywhere?

Not really... it doesn't work that simple. Fat cells stay in abdominal area after you lose weight, and most of them will happily fill up when you gain weight back. But with enough time on hormones and efficient levels more new fat cells will likely tend to deposit on typical feminine areas and form a female pattern. Old cells on masculine areas don't just die when you start HRT and lose some weight...
It is true some people notice significant fat redistribution very early, but at around one year on HRT most realize that it literally takes time, like years, before hormones do its thing.

Quote from: thegreenrabbit on April 19, 2015, 10:35:57 AM
Never heard that losing weight then letting  any regained fat deposit itself following a female pattern. Is that documented anywhere?

Under the affects of estrogen fat cells will tend to deposit and grow more in the breasts hips and thighs. At the end of the day, boobs are just mounds of mostly fat!

Quote from: thegreenrabbit on April 19, 2015, 10:35:57 AM
Never heard that losing weight then letting  any regained fat deposit itself following a female pattern. Is that documented anywhere?

It's my own hypothesis.  I tested it on myself and it did work although I freely admit that it's possible that the reason it worked may be different than what I think.

Quote from: mmmmm on April 19, 2015, 11:13:24 AM
Not really... it doesn't work that simple. Fat cells stay in abdominal area after you lose weight, and most of them will happily fill up when you gain weight back. But with enough time on hormones and efficient levels more new fat cells will likely tend to deposit on typical feminine areas and form a female pattern. Old cells on masculine areas don't just die when you start HRT and lose some weight...
It is true some people notice significant fat redistribution very early, but at around one year on HRT most realize that it literally takes time, like years, before hormones do its thing.

You are assuming that the rate at which the fat cells "fill up" is either constant between weight fluctuations, homogeneous throughout the body, or both.  I'm not so sure that's the case.  Ultimately, the redistribution is going to be controlled by a combination of genetics and hormones.  It's not just a matter of having levels that look good, but having an optimal hormone balance in the system to maximize the feminine pattern.  Since the OP mentioned already having a some female pattern distribution, I suggested a method that worked for myself.  I also didn't mean to imply that this is some sort of instant solution.  I'm continually in cycles of losing and gaining fat and it does take time.

I've been able to lose a lot of weight while having significant body feminization in an abnormally fast time.  It might be that I was predisposed to do this or it might have something to do with what I am doing.  There is really no way to be 100% sure.

You won't lose any fat aquired from HRT. I'm 5'8" and was a solid 133-137lbs before HRT. Now after 5+ years straight of HRT I hover around 138-141lbs, but I have an hourglass shape and C cups. My hips are more femme than I ever thought they would be. Even though I'm pretty slim, I still have necessary fat. I eat lean and low carb and excercise less than I should. Still, I have belly fat I can't get rid of myself.  :eusa_think:

sit ups & yoga

Lucky girl for your butt & hips to increase. Be happy for that & work on your stomach with exercise. I've had nice changes, breasts, less hair, softer skin.....however my hips & butt have just none nothing, so frustrating not to have a nice butt & some curves

With Joanne on age, HRT and glasses of wine (sitting here writing this, supping on a nice glass of Merlot)...

I think obviously diet, but stomach exercises, similar to Nicole's comment will help no end...

For me going through weight battles and general exercising affects my boobs, hips and butt all the time... but gradually I will get to where I need to be... (Yeah so with you FrancisAnn  :-\)

L Katy  :-*