I'm looking for opinions and advice. I sorta wanted to get in shape prior to starting T (I should lose about 50 pounds) just to help with appropriate fat redistribution and any other changes. I certainly wanted to get in shape prior to top surgery to help prevent dog-earing etc.
Now, however, not to mince words, I am impatient and just want to make the appointment and get it over with and begin, exactly the way I am now. The goal would be to lose weight and build muscles, while starting T, to eventually get top surgery.
Is this a terrible idea? Am I going to make weightloss and getting in shape hundred times harder with an increased appetite? Is the effectiveness of the T changes going to be hurt by extra weight?
Should I wait....until I lose weight, to start T? Or just go for it and use the T changes and extra muscle to help with the whole process? My weight loss/get in shape plan so far is calorie counting and p90 first, then working my way through p90x. I also want to start the couch2 5k running plan.
thanks in advance for any comments
Primal diet. Trust me-- it'll keep you full while making you leaner and healthier. And promote the building of muscle. Google it.
P90's ok. I have it but I only used it for like two weeks. Doing the same two workouts every single morning is the most boring thing ever.
My stats with the diet-- I've been following the primal diet loosely for about three months with very little regular exercise and two whole weeks of horrible cheating at Christmas. I've lost about 5 inches off my waist, 3 off my hips and 4 off my bust. It's also made my face less round and more oval. And that's without ever feeling hungry. It also cleared my my acne and bacne and made me able to go for longer periods of time without eating without getting almost sick with hunger like I used to. Unfortunately it also made my periods regular again. :-\ Because of PCOS I've only gotten it once or twice a year the past few years but since starting the primal diet I've gotten every month like clockwork. I'm not liking it, but it is a sign of a much healthier body...
Back when I was way heavier than I am now, my goal before starting T was to reach 150 lbs. Because of my circumstance with school, I ended up starting T at 185 lbs. Two years later, I'm 140 lbs and have gone down to 136 before with a goal of 132 lbs. My weight loss was mostly do to diet (vegetarian) which I had started 1 1/2 years before starting T. Exercise barely changed.
I also started the P90 (not P90x) before top surgery to get in better shape and reduce the possibility of dog ears (still happened a little on one side). Devin is right; it is rather boring at times. That's probably one of the reasons (besides not wanting to further stretch my scars) it's taken me so long to start back on it. Eventually I'd like to do the P90x, but I think it'll be a long time before I get there. It's kind of funny how similar our situation is. I started the Couch to 5K after getting on T. Due to embarrassment of my weight and walking/running in public, I stopped it though. Wish I hadn't now :(
Personally, I had to start T regardless of my weight/physical fitness. I don't regret it at all. My experience is not typical though. It seems like most guys have a difficult time losing/maintaining weight after starting T. If you're dedicated, I think it is possible to have weight loss with T. My concern would be the increased risk of hypertension, high cholesterol, and other cardiovascular problems. However, if you work closely with your provider and are motivated enough to make the necessary changes to your diet/exercise, it's definitely doable.
I would wait and use the effects of T to aid in fat loss. Actually I wouldn't bother working out until the initial phase of of muscle gain is over. Your body can only gain so much muscle at once. I would work on creating a diet that fosters the muscle growth. Make sure you are getting all your nutrients and get enough protein. Your bone density will be increasing too so don't forget about calcium. You should get an increased appetite since your physiology is chaining. These changes are going to make it easier to get in shape and stay in shape. If you're hungry then eat you need to fuel the virilization. Don't try to loose fat and gain muscle at the same time. They require opposite diets. I don't know how over weight you are, but fat cells secrete estrogen. Fat men have higher estrogen levels. So I would assume it can have some impact. In my experience all the fat boys in middle school seemed to have gone through puberty just fine.
I agree with what Devin says; I'm also an advocate for primal dieting and I agree that P90 gets boring fast (but if you can stick to it, more power to you--any exercise is better than no exercise). But it doesn't really matter which order you go in. Body recomposition caused by T is not a guaranteed thing anyway, especially not immediately after you start hrt.
While everyone's different, I found that the increased-appetite effect of T didn't last long. I don't know if I'm unusual, or if your body adjusts after a while. I'd say within three months it was more or less back to normal.
I was around 198 lbs pre-t, and four months after starting t, I'm 190 and still dropping. Although I have not been doing any additional exercise, my strength and muscles are noticeably more pronounced. My appetite has fluctuated, however I agree with therewolf that any increase in appetite has been temporary.
However (and this is a major however), I'm 57 and post-menopausal. I weighed well under 140 until I started perimenopause and developed hypothyroidism at the same time while in my early 40s. I gained all my weight between the ages of 42 and 56, so am thrilled to regain a functional metabolism and resulting weight loss. Now, all I need to do is add exercise!