My weight has changed violently (for me) in the past year. First, my psychiatrist put me on an antidepressant and I went from around 50kg to around 77kg in 4 months. When my doctor told me my cholesterol and triglycerides were too high, I stopped the antidepressant and started a pretty extreme diet and excises plan. I managed to drop 19kg between February and when I started HRT a month and a half ago. I have been eating normally since I started HRT and doing only light excises (running and Pilates). At first I figured I would put some weight on, but instead I have lost another 3kg. I suppose it is muscle mass, but I am not sure. I hope it is.
Mary

Some antidepressants make you gain weight. That happened to my ex wife.

I have ask read that estrogen often increases appetite, so that's something to watch out for.

I was hungry all the time while I was on antidepressants, that is true. I also read that E can increase your appitite, but I haven't really noticed a change in that department. My tastes have changed a bit though. For example, I used to love spicy food and coffee and now I just have no desire to have either really.
Mary

I've lost over 66 lbs since the beginning of the year. I've been on E, Spiro and Finasteride since late April. I changed my daily diet at the beginning of the year and have kept that up with very little exercise (got a little lazy ). Since antidepressants were brought up, I've also been on antidepressants since around 2003 (maybe 2004, I forget).

Quote from: Carrie Liz on November 08, 2013, 06:09:36 AM
I've lost 50 lbs since starting hormones. But that has nothing to do with the hormones themselves, I guarantee you. It's because I've been working my a** off to diet the weight off. Hormones have actually made it a lot harder to lose weight. It takes a LOT more effort to lose anything now. (Granted, the self-esteem boost from the hormones definitely helps with the drive to follow through with the weight loss... every time I tried dieting as a guy, I stopped caring once I got down to about 240 lbs and eventually gained it all back. Where now, I went WAY further than I've ever gone before, and have actually been able to keep it all off thus far.)

I think that's what accounts for a lot of people's weight loss, is that they gain the self-esteem and the drive to actually care enough about their bodies in order to do it, where it's a lot harder to care about a body that you hate.

This is where I'm at pre-HRT. I've lost almost 45 lbs... and I get to see if it's easier or harder to lose more on AA's (loss of muscle mass?) starting in Dec/Jan, and E starting in May/Jun.

I must be really boring as my weight hasn't changed at all. Mind you it hadn't changed since I was 19 (aside from a spell of homelessness when I dropped to 112 lb) despite wild variations in what and how much I eat over the years.

Rosie.

Quote from: Mary81 on November 10, 2013, 02:48:55 PM
I was hungry all the time while I was on antidepressants, that is true. I also read that E can increase your appitite, but I haven't really noticed a change in that department. My tastes have changed a bit though. For example, I used to love spicy food and coffee and now I just have no desire to have either really.
Mary

I was just talking to a fully transitioned friend of mine about this.

She said: "I'm about 25lbs heavier than pre transition. I think you gain body fat big time, after years of hormones your body fat shifts to your hips and butt"

Obviously everyone is different, and we are hearing examples of weight gain and loss. I plan on getting as thin as I can before I start HRT, which should be soon.

I better not lose my love for spicy food! 

In just the first few weeks, I've lost over 10 lbs. Of course I'm thrilled about this and want to work to continue in this direction. I'm on E and Spiro, both tabs.

It seems that HRT made it a little easier to put weight on, but I still have to put in effort to put on anything much and keep it there. Losing it is still very easy.

Before HRT, I went from ~200lbs to about 145lbs. Since HRT, I've held my weight at my ideal weight of 160lbs.

Exercise and dieting notwithstanding, I think that whether hormones themselves make you gain or lose weight depends on how your body is starting out. If you're really muscular starting out, you're going to lose weight, because hormones will get rid of a lot of muscle. If you're starting out really thin and slender, you'll definitely gain weight, because you'll gain fat in the feminine areas (and in the undesirable areas as well, like your tummy).

I just want to put this out there... HRT cannot make you gain weight!

HRT will change your metabolism (to what degree probably depends on where you were pre-HRT and what your genetics say you should be at). It's still a function of calories-in vs. calories-out... but if you don't change your "calories-in" to match the change in "calories-out" that HRT brings... you'll gain weight.

It may also change hunger significantly... but appetite is, in a big part, relative to the amount of food in your stomach and stomach size is fixed. This is a good article on it:
http://home.trainingpeaks.com/articles/nutrition/appetite-101.aspx

Quote from: kabit on November 12, 2013, 08:59:28 AM
I just want to put this out there... HRT cannot make you gain weight!

HRT will change your metabolism (to what degree probably depends on where you were pre-HRT and what your genetics say you should be at). It's still a function of calories-in vs. calories-out... but if you don't change your "calories-in" to match the change in "calories-out" that HRT brings... you'll gain weight.

It may also change hunger significantly... but appetite is, in a big part, relative to the amount of food in your stomach and stomach size is fixed. This is a good article on it:
http://home.trainingpeaks.com/articles/nutrition/appetite-101.aspx

This is very good info, Kabit. Thank you so much for posting it

Quote from: Mary81 on November 10, 2013, 02:10:36 PM
At first I figured I would put some weight on, but instead I have lost another 3kg. I suppose it is muscle mass, but I am not sure. I hope it is.
Mary

Hi Mary,

Before I forget, I wanted to say that judging by your picture, you have a very feminine looking frame....and I'm SO jealous of your shoulders/upper arms

I can almost guarantee it's muscle mass that you're losing, you look great

Kelsie

Quote from: KelsieJ on November 12, 2013, 05:20:40 PM
This is very good info, Kabit. Thank you so much for posting it

Thanks! I kind of stole it from another article I was reading... how "starvation mode" (where you "magically" gain weight because you're eating too little) is a myth. It's the same equation - metabolism changes, but it can't possibly change that much (from eating). HRT... it probably changes more than just diet can do, but the cals-in cals-out equation is always, always true.

♥ I'll know 1st hand soon enough!!!!!!!!

Quote from: kabit on November 12, 2013, 08:59:28 AM
I just want to put this out there... HRT cannot make you gain weight!

HRT will change your metabolism (to what degree probably depends on where you were pre-HRT and what your genetics say you should be at). It's still a function of calories-in vs. calories-out... but if you don't change your "calories-in" to match the change in "calories-out" that HRT brings... you'll gain weight.

It may also change hunger significantly... but appetite is, in a big part, relative to the amount of food in your stomach and stomach size is fixed. This is a good article on it:
http://home.trainingpeaks.com/articles/nutrition/appetite-101.aspx

There's more than calories involved. If your metabolism is slower you won't burn off those calories. I know this all too well! This is why if you just eat less, but aren't active, your body will adjust and you won't lose much weight. Ten or so years ago I had gained quite a bit of weight from being depressed. Just reducing my calories didn't work, and I was active enough. I ended up taking one of those metabolism boosters, and then the weight dropped right off. It also made me terribly anxious!

Also pay attention to food density when it comes to eating. Some food will have too many calories but you won't feel full until you have eaten more than you should. So don't eat chips, and eat some carrots instead. They say if you are hungry have an apple. If you don't want an apple, then you weren't hungry.

I lost a lot of weight recently by not eating sweets and no snacking, and not eating much at all. I'm hungry all the time, but I feel and look much better than I did this time last year.

But generally, yes, reduce your caloric intake lower than what it should be. That means eat less!

Quote from: RavenMoon on November 12, 2013, 08:25:27 PM
There's more than calories involved. If your metabolism is slower you won't burn off those calories. I know this all too well! This is why if you just eat less, but aren't active, your body will adjust and you won't lose much weight. Ten or so years ago I had gained quite a bit of weight from being depressed. Just reducing my calories didn't work, and I was active enough. I ended up taking one of those metabolism boosters, and then the weight dropped right off. It also made me terribly anxious!

Also pay attention to food density when it comes to eating. Some food will have too many calories but you won't feel full until you have eaten more than you should. So don't eat chips, and eat some carrots instead. They say if you are hungry have an apple. If you don't want an apple, then you weren't hungry.

I lost a lot of weight recently by not eating sweets and no snacking, and not eating much at all. I'm hungry all the time, but I feel and look much better than I did this time last year.

But generally, yes, reduce your caloric intake lower than what it should be. That means eat less!

Metabolism is the most important part of the "calories-out." Exercise is usually pretty negligible (although important for increasing your metabolism) and is actually a common source of overeating (if the calories you calculate from exercise are inflated). There are lots of other "hidden" sources of overeating, too. This is the article

http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/starvation-mode/

HRT clearly will affect metabolism - so no, you can't usually eat the same way on HRT as you did maintaining off HRT - which is probably why most people gain weight. After you're on HRT for 3+ months, and if you're having problems with weight, it might be a good idea to get your metabolic rate tested ... insurance may cover it if it's coded correctly (otherwise around $200). I haven't had this done, but in my weightloss/fitness forums people have done this (because of other life changes ).

I highly suggest anyone having weight control problems start counting calories and tracking weight. If you're gaining... you're eating too much and exercising too little... and there's little else you can do (aside from more medication) to fix it. Weigh yourself at the same time (mornings after peeing and before drinking or eating is best) either daily, and watching trends not <1 lb fluctuations, or weekly or monthly. Work with your doctor if necessary.

I wonder if someone could do a study... 25-50 trans* people pre and post HRT would be <$50k if metabolic equipment were rented/borrowed. It'd be even less if a university had their own (but then finding the people would be more impossible).

People often over eat because of food density. Processed foods have more calories per once. So be the time you feel full you have over eaten! And you shouldn't stuff yourself anyway. But if you fill up on a salad that won't happen.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/weight-loss/NU00195

And while starvation mode is NOT a myth (don't use diet and exercise sites for info) it is something different and does not change the metabolism, but does burn fat:

"Starvation mode is a state in which the body is responding to prolonged periods of low energy intake levels. During short periods of energy abstinence, the human body will burn primarily free fatty acids from body fat stores. After prolonged periods of starvation the body has depleted its body fat and begins to burn lean tissue and muscle as a fuel source."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starvation_response

Quote from: RavenMoon on November 13, 2013, 06:58:50 AM
People often over eat because of food density. Processed foods have more calories per once. So be the time you feel full you have over eaten! And you shouldn't stuff yourself anyway. But if you fill up on a salad that won't happen.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/weight-loss/NU00195

This is definitely true. Eat bulky, low calorie foods. That has been my entire stratey!!

Quote from: RavenMoonAnd while starvation mode is NOT a myth (don't use diet and exercise sites for info) it is something different and does not change the metabolism, but does burn fat:

"Starvation mode is a state in which the body is responding to prolonged periods of low energy intake levels. During short periods of energy abstinence, the human body will burn primarily free fatty acids from body fat stores. After prolonged periods of starvation the body has depleted its body fat and begins to burn lean tissue and muscle as a fuel source."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starvation_response

Which, as the article points out, does not occur in any modern diet (with notable exceptions that truly overweight people do not have).

I agree that it's a feedback cycle... but it's definitely more about how much you put in your body than any sort of "starvation mode". Starvation mode, as used in "diet talk" is a myth. Starvation itself is not. You can eat too little... but it's very, very difficult to do (for those who are obese).

You cannot gain weight unless you have a calorie surplus. You cannot lose weight unless you have a calorie deficit. Figuring those out is the tough part... and HRT throws a wrench into the works. Tracking calories and weight is (pre-HRT) and will be (on HRT) necessary for me.

The food density angle is very interesting. I'm now doing a 950 calorie a day vegetarian diet - well, this weekend I went off of it but I'm back on it now. I've found that even with low calories, it's possible to pig out, lol!!

I don't feel hungry at all even though it's a diet. I think part of that is also due to the fact that I've gone from a predominantly meat/low-carb lifestyle to eating things like fruits now. I start the day with a glass of OJ and go to work. I come home for lunch, eat maybe 2 helpings of chopped potatoes and a veggie burger, go back to work, come home and eat some seasoned kale chips or something like that.

It's amazing how full it can make you feel

The method of E administration can make a big difference on weight gain depending on the individual.

With any oral administration (where the majority of estradiol passes through the liver), there is a MUCH higher likelihood of weight gain due to estrone conversion by the liver. Estrone is horrible for you on so many levels, and is about 1/10th as effective for feminization compared to estradiol. It is what accounts for pretty much all of the negative side effects of oral HRT or birth control.

Bypassing the liver by any means is a good idea, so if you are worried about it I would get on injections, the patch, gels/creams, or pellets.

I did notice that when I was taking more progesterone for a brief period, I piled on the weight. I went from 125lbs to 147lbs in 3-4 months. But over the past 4 months, I lowered my progesterone dose and now I'm back at my ideal weight of 130- probably mainly due to appetite changes.

As we all know, hormone therapy works differently for everyone. In a way it's kind of a black art or science to get it right for each individual, and well versed endocrinologists that are sensitive to this fact can be hard to come by. Hopefully advances in transgender care will help a lot of them wise up and stop administering pills altogether.