Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transsexual talk => Male to female transsexual talk (MTF) => Topic started by: therescueteam on April 28, 2015, 06:22:53 PM

Title: HRT and Muscle Loss
Post by: therescueteam on April 28, 2015, 06:22:53 PM
Hello there!

I've been on HRT for about 10 months now and have been, honestly, pretty disappointed in the results.
I feel like Avodart and losing weight have done more for me than Estrogen.

Granted, I had a decent amount of muscle prior to coming out, but am I simply jumping the gun with this?
Is it too soon to really see noticeable results on my muscle mass from HRT?
And what kind of diet do people follow? There's an article online about how cutting protein and eating 10x your body weight + cardio burns muscle, but upon trying that I almost hit hypoglycemic.
Thoughts? Experiences?


Thanks!
<3
Title: Re: HRT and Muscle Loss
Post by: Mariah on April 28, 2015, 06:34:19 PM
Hi, therescueteam. Welcome to Susan's. Depending on the amount of muscle mass you had coming in it can take a good amount of time to lose it. Advodart mainly affects DHT so it's affect on muscle mass would be limited, if at all. I look forward to seeing you around the site. Good luck and Hugs
For some more info in regards to HRT check this wiki page out.
https://www.susans.org/wiki/Hormone_replacement_therapy_%28male-to-female%29

Mariah
Title: Re: HRT and Muscle Loss
Post by: therescueteam on April 28, 2015, 06:38:55 PM
Quote from: Mariah2014 on April 28, 2015, 06:34:19 PM
Hi, therescueteam. Welcome to Susan's. Depending on the amount of muscle mass you had coming in it can take a good amount of time to lose it. Advodart mainly affects DHT so it's affect on muscle mass would be limited, if at all. I look forward to seeing you around the site. Good luck and Hugs
For some more info in regards to HRT check this wiki page out.
https://www.susans.org/wiki/Hormone_replacement_therapy_%28male-to-female%29

Mariah

Hey,

Thanks for the quote and the reply! <3
Title: Re: HRT and Muscle Loss
Post by: Rachel on April 28, 2015, 08:16:58 PM
I have been on HRT for 23 months. My T is less than the test goes down to, <20ng/dl. I had on a very thin light jacket while walking back from group last week. I was with 4 or 5 trans woman. I realized the sleeve went down to my  mid fingers. In the fall it was just below my wrist. One of the woman said you lost muscle. Over the past 3 months three cis  woman in the office said I am losing weight. I said why and they all said my shoulders are smaller. On the flip side I gained fat under my skin all over :)
Title: Re: HRT and Muscle Loss
Post by: Sammy on April 29, 2015, 02:38:18 AM
I am almost two years into HRT (which is not much) and I have so far noticed following patterns:
- there were changes within first 3-4 months, mostly due to weight loss and excessive cardio workouts (which I was still able to do, because I still had T levels within lower male range) - just a note, but I cannot do that level of difficulty exercise anymore.
- there were constant but very subtle effects all the time, but I would only notice them when trying to put on something from older wardrobe and seeing that I have shrunk in some areas.
- this winter I did a lot of cardio workouts (treadmill jogging) and I saw results within a couple of weeks (mostly muscle loss on upper back areas and around ribcage).
I still see some problematic areas - mostly shoulders and trapezius muscle, but I have seen it myself and now firmly believe that this is a matter of time, exercise and dedication. And the main issue is that You never know how cardio exercise will affect Your body - in terms of which muscles will burn first...
I hope this helps :)
Title: Re: HRT and Muscle Loss
Post by: katrinaw on April 29, 2015, 05:46:23 AM
Hi therescueteam, Welcome to Susan's  :icon_wave:

Losing muscle mass takes time, quite a will, depending on your body mass, metabolism, etc, etc...
Diet, Simple exercises (walking, Jogging etc) help no end... But it is not quick...

Anyway in the mean time -
Please review  the following links for site rules, helpful tips and other info...


And once again Welcome  :-*

L Katy
Title: Re: HRT and Muscle Loss
Post by: Nati on April 29, 2015, 06:37:00 AM
Yes, it's not quick, i start loosing muscle mass after 14 months of hrt with almost 0 resaults before 14 months mark, you need to be patient. ( i got lots of muscles when i start hrt )
Title: Re: HRT and Muscle Loss
Post by: Paige on April 29, 2015, 08:51:36 AM
Quote from: therescueteam on April 28, 2015, 06:22:53 PM
Hello there!

I've been on HRT for about 10 months now and have been, honestly, pretty disappointed in the results.
I feel like Avodart and losing weight have done more for me than Estrogen.

Granted, I had a decent amount of muscle prior to coming out, but am I simply jumping the gun with this?
Is it too soon to really see noticeable results on my muscle mass from HRT?
And what kind of diet do people follow? There's an article online about how cutting protein and eating 10x your body weight + cardio burns muscle, but upon trying that I almost hit hypoglycemic.
Thoughts? Experiences?


Thanks!
<3

One thing about Avodart is that by stopping the conversion of testosterone into DHT, it actually can increase your regular testosterone levels.  By the way, I've been on it for 3 months now.   From what I've read it may actually increase muscles size with exercise as muscles growth responds to testosterone not DHT.   With that said, the HRT should be lowering the testosterone, you should probably get your testosterone level checked.

Good luck,
Paige :)