Susan's Place Transgender Resources

So.  This is probably the opposite of what you think.  I WANT to GAIN weight, not lose it.

Let me explain.  Back when I was in guy world, I had a body fat of about 3-5%.  It was low.  I weighed about 150 pounds (give or take).  Now, since starting HRT, I have lost about 15 pounds (all muscle, and I bet there is more to come off).  I am down around 135.  It's not that I am underweight, as I am in a good weight range, but I would like to be a little heavier.  Here's why.  I am one skinny bitch.  I can't gain weight for the life of me.  I can eat whatever I want all day everyday, sit on my couch, watch tv and eat some more.  Just cant gain.

Does anyone have any suggestions for ways for me to put on a little weight?  I can't really get any fat distribution if there isn't any to distribute.

Well considering daily calorie limits and all...
Pig out!! Get the highest calorie, fattiest food you can find. by the way try that Baskin Robbins oreo sundae and tell me how it was. 1000 calories, 50g fat right there :)

When I was younger I had this problem.
I ate everything could.

When I got in the military, I looked really skinny. I wasn't light weight, I just looked it, in fact they thought I would not get in due to my height and weight. While there I met a trainer who helped me finally put on weight and keep it.

It took me a year 2 years to gain and hold 5 pounds. His solution, beer, steak and bread. It took me 5 years to gain 15 which put me where I wanted to be.  A few years later my T took a nosedive and my weight started climbing. Be careful what you wish for. I have it back under control, which wasn't too difficult really, and I am a good weight for (a guy) my size (I still don't look nearly as heavy as I am)..

If you are skinny, enjoy it.

somewhat tongue-in-cheek amswer though true nonetheless -
If you were on the antipsychotic Olanzapine you'd be as fat as a pig in no time flat - same goes for most of the antipsychotic meds, it's a major drawback with them and a common reason that people stop taking them and have a relapse

I wish there was a Baskin Robbins near me, but there isn't.  I've been craving that for EVER!

I should really count my caloric intake, but I feel like its really high.  Maybe not.  Who knows.  I feel like I eat a lot.  I am eating less that when I was really active, but it still feels like a lot.  I was really active about a year ago, but now I am not.


I ate MacDonalds all day every day for a while and gained nothing.  Like a month.  Ok, not all MacDonalds, there was some Wendy's too ;D.

Hormone levels are good.  T is low, but not absent (within female norms).  Estrogen is in female norms.  All my vitamin and mineral levels are good.  As far as I can tell, I am getting a healthy amount of food in, and the right nutrition.  I guess I'll just have to eat even more.

How old are you, Valerie?  I was always skinny.  I got drafted during Viet Nam and after I was in the Army I found out that if I had lost 3 pounds (which would have been easy for me) they wouldn't have taken me. :P  The only thing that put weight on me was when I lived in the country and drank about two quarts of fresh-from-the-cow whole milk a day (yum!).  Still, I only put on about 5 pounds.

At about 35 all of a sudden I gained about 15 pounds and then just kept going.  It took a lot to get back down to a decent weight.

Now I'm 5'10" and 148 pounds.  I've stayed within 3 pounds of that during transition, although my shape is gradually changing.  I asked my doctor about putting on some weight to help round me out a bit.  He asked if I felt OK (yes) and then said don't mess with it.

So, do you feel good, physically, at 135?

(At my age I can put on weight anytime I want with lots of beer and french fries, but I don't like where the weight goes. :P  And neither of those things makes me feel any better about myself. :icon_blah:)

- Kate

22.

I am 5'9 and 135 pounds (give or take a pound).

I have no idea where the weight would go, as I can't get any.

Well, I felt better when I was active.  My activities were lots and lots and LOTS of rock climbing (bouldering and sport).  I stopped that to lose some upper body mass, and it worked really well.  Like I said, I lost 15 pounds in muscle, most of which was probably upper body.  I have a little extra skin on my upper arms from where the muscle was.  It's nice in a weird way.  I was also running, I was up to 5 miles, 3 times a week, but it went down to 3 miles, then to 2 miles, and now nothing.  I kinda got lazy.

I've been meaning to get back to running, and doing some cardio exercise, but that's on hold right now while I figure out the gym situation at school.

Like Kate once I hit a certain age (about 30 for me) I started gaining.


By way, much of Wendy's menu isn't quite as bad as most people think.
Meet is low fat, never frozen (no preservatives), Veggies are fresh and chopped each morning. Frostys, fries, chilli meat, and chicken are the only think kept in the freezer.

Or at least that was how it was (many) years ago when I worked there.

I'd say up your calorie intake but stay away from McDonald's and other really bad fast food none the less. Even if it helped you gain weight you would just be sending yourself to an early grave living off of that stuff. And for some people the food just goes right through you because there is no real nutrition to be had.
I would look into heavy foods that are high in calories and will stick. Like pastas bagels and nuts. Dried fruit is also awesome because its all high calories and very surgery, but doesn't fill you up with excess water so you can eat more.
Mexican food is another awesome way to gain weight when you're skinny. All the tortillas and bean will put some pounds on ya if you have enough of it. And its still good for you.

Here is a good quick list of some foods that would help you.  http://nutrition.about.com/od/tryingtogainweight/tp/foodstogainweight.htm (http://nutrition.about.com/od/tryingtogainweight/tp/foodstogainweight.htm)
And here is some more information. http://www.healthnews.com/diet-weight-loss/healthy-eating/how-gain-weight-eating-healthy-foods-248.html (http://www.healthnews.com/diet-weight-loss/healthy-eating/how-gain-weight-eating-healthy-foods-248.html)

Hmm, this one is tough.
How about moving less, and eating meat ?

patience, there is probably much more going on than you belief you can see.

This is a bit from experience :)

Don't try to gain weight, give hormones time, the weight might stay the same but the % of what makes the weight will change.

Regardless of what you eat, make sure you get a balanced diet.
To some folk, eating high caloric foods and skimping on things like fruit, veg, protines, and such, create a skinny body (sometimes with a gut too, but not often). That's what my brother's body does at least.

A well balanced diet for the base, with treats on top, will help more than just pigging out on sugar and fat.
Get some cookies for the 4 o'clock tea-time and have great deserts :)

Wait (or is that "weight") until you hit 40! 

Everything changes then!

have you trained weight gain shakes? (have no idea what they are, but...)

Quote from: Nero on September 18, 2009, 08:42:13 PM
have you trained weight gain shakes? (have no idea what they are, but...)

My sister is actually doing a weight gain shake thing.  I don't know what it's called either.  She got some wicked cellulite from it.  She is 15 months younger than me.  She did put on weight though.  She was also working out pretty regularly (weights and cardio).

I don't think I am into that.

how long have you been on HRT? I know I now eat huge amounts of food while staying the same weight from before T. maybe your metabolism hasn't slowed yet.

Quote from: Nero on September 18, 2009, 08:49:14 PM
how long have you been on HRT? I know I now eat huge amounts of food while staying the same weight from before T. maybe your metabolism hasn't slowed yet.

7 months or so (give or take a week or two).