Susan's Place Transgender Resources

did any of you change any thing else like eating habits exercise anything to help become more feminine ?

Yes.  I quit smoking, stopped drinking, restarted exercising, and changed my diet to lose weight.  All of that wasn't so much to look feminine though but rather that the HRT cured my depression.  Two years in I'm still at it.

In my opinion, unless you start out really skinny, losing the fat around your midsection is one of the more important things you can do as that fat results in a typically male shape.  Besides, it really improves your health too.


Conform and be dull. —James Frank Dobie, The Voice of the Coyote

I cut back on my eating habits a few months prior to starting HRT, to lose a bit of weight.  Nothing drastic, just smaller portions, no second helpings.  I figured I'd get a jump on any weight gain that the HRT might cause.

i started losing weight and getting in shape last year I've lost a lot of weight over 80 lbs but still want to drop another 40 or 50 lbs to be where i would like to be i'm not sure if i will ever start hrt or not just a dream i guess 

Eat more grapefruit to increase concentrations of estrogen (and progesterone) in the blood, stop smoking and eat healthier (less carbs). I will occasionally have a drink or two or three, haha! Seems alcohol also acutely increases estradiol concentrations in the blood.

For those taking medications other than estrogen or progesterone, beware of grapefruit and alcohol, these may interact with your medications and cause serious adverse effects. No joke!

Especially the grapefruit.  It has an enzyme that can increase the effect of certain medications.  So be careful and read the labels carefully.

Quote from: KayXo on July 09, 2017, 04:48:00 PM
Eat more grapefruit to increase concentrations of estrogen (and progesterone) in the blood, stop smoking and eat healthier (less carbs). I will occasionally have a drink or two or three, haha! Seems alcohol also acutely increases estradiol concentrations in the blood.

For those taking medications other than estrogen or progesterone, beware of grapefruit and alcohol, these may interact with your medications and cause serious adverse effects. No joke!

Do not use grapefruit with Statins (Crestor, lipator, simvasitin, atorvistatin) for the heart.

Changed my eating habits, gave up the soda pop and all other sugar drinks. Started eating breakfast everyday and started doing light exercise (tread mill). I managed to lose 35 lbs. I've since gained 10 back but I lost most of that "beer gut". I do feel much better.

I'm not sure how intentional it was, but since starting hrt I've definitely started eating better, exercising more, and turning to my vices less. I attribute it to improvements in my mood more than anything else. For the first time in years I actually want to take care of myself. I started out at just under 150lbs and 5'9" and I'm down to low 140s in about 3 months, but haven't exactly been trying to take weight off.

Grapefruit interacts with dozens of drugs, raising levels of the drugs in the bloodstream. It also causes changes in a woman's estrogen levels. The chemical in grapefruit does not interact directly with medicines or estrogen. Instead it binds to an enzyme in the body and reduces absorption. That leads to more of the medication or estrogen passing into the bloodstream, according to Harvard Medical School. As of 2010, research into grapefruit's impact on estrogen levels and possible long-term effects such as increased breast cancer risk was still ongoing.
-Livestrong.com

I'm still pre-HRT (only 8 days until my appointment!), but for the last 2 months or so I've been exercising & dieting. Don't know my weights (still haven't picked up a scale), but I've gone down 2 pants sizes since starting. Still at it, since I've got some more belly bulge to get rid of. :-\

I dropped about sixty pounds prior to HRT, and yes it helped tremendously in honing my figure into a feminine shape.

Other eating habit tips: taking smaller bites, and pausing frequently to sip or talk or just fuss with my napkin, all without putting my elbows on the table.  I will not be the first person to finish a meal, or to take the last slice of cake.  Eating is a time to socialize, not refuel.  Besides, I want to minimize the impact that eating has on my lipstick. 

Facial hair removal.

Quote from: DawnOday on July 10, 2017, 08:32:35 PM
Facial hair removal.

Oh yes!

And voice retraining.

Quote from: DawnOday on July 10, 2017, 08:32:35 PM
Facial hair removal.

Quote from: Sophia Sage on July 10, 2017, 09:07:34 PM
Oh yes!

And voice retraining.

Yes, these. The two never ending "refinements". I know they will end someday, but it seems like I've been doing both forever!

I started dieting, lost a lot of weight. Quit smoking, decreased alcohol consumption, started laser, letting my hair grow.

I quit smoking cold turkey on day 1 and haven't had a single puff, patch, gum, or vape of nicotine in 10 months.  And hair removal.

Quote from: Pisces228 on July 14, 2017, 08:00:27 AM
I quit smoking cold turkey on day 1 and haven't had a single puff, patch, gum, or vape of nicotine in 10 months.  And hair removal.

Congrats! That can be really tough to do!
I tried smoking back in high school, but started feeling ill after a while so I just stopped. Never had the urge to try it again since.
My addiction to ice cream, however, is much harder to kick... :-\

Sounds like the main recurring theme is weight loss!
I havent started HRT yet but I did lose 9lbs so far and goal is another 25.

Quote from: Jennagirl on July 14, 2017, 01:01:19 PM
Sounds like the main recurring theme is weight loss!
I havent started HRT yet but I did lose 9lbs so far and goal is another 25.

I started dieting before HRT but then once the spiro hit I lost even more weight (without trying), so keep that in mind.

Quote from: Sarah_P on July 14, 2017, 12:25:45 PM
Congrats! That can be really tough to do!
I tried smoking back in high school, but started feeling ill after a while so I just stopped. Never had the urge to try it again since.
My addiction to ice cream, however, is much harder to kick... :-\

Omg it was so hard!  I was my 10th try to quit in 5 years.  My Dr looked at me at my first hrt appointment and said if I didn't quit she would hold my hormones hostage.  I said ok and finally did it :)

Quote from: Pisces228 on July 14, 2017, 02:18:41 PM
Omg it was so hard!  I was my 10th try to quit in 5 years.  My Dr looked at me at my first hrt appointment and said if I didn't quit she would hold my hormones hostage.  I said ok and finally did it :)

LOL! That's some harsh, but effective motivation!

I quit smoking and increased the amount of water I drink.