should I lose all the weight I want to  before I start HRT or is it possible to do while you're on it

Hi Angie.

For some women it can be hard(er) to lose weight while on HRT. With a different hormonal balance comes a whole different set of rules for our bodies. If you have the opportunity to lose weight before HRT, I would easily recommend that. Otherwise it is possible to lose weight on HRT, but keep in mind that other changes will be taking place at the same time. It's a hard time for our bodies.

You need to eat even less to lose weight after starting hrt, but I believe that whether it is harder or more difficult is a personal matter that only you can answer.

I can't lose weight when depressed, and put it on instead. With hrt I'm not depressed - I'm feeling very motivated and losing weight at a rapid rate. I must admit I'm cheating a bit with some drugs, but that only makes it easier. I was losing weight before that, only suffering more in doing it. I really like food.

I lost 50 pounds while in HRT in 8 months, I changed my diet and also did a lot of Hot Yoga. I went from 190 to 140.

It was not difficult for me to lost the weight while in HRT but every body is different and hormones can have different effects in different bodies.

Nevertheless, good luck with your weight lost, the more important thing is a balanced diet with a good cardio plan.

Weight loss will be easier before starting hormones and blockers but you will always need to maintain, eat right and exercise.

There are two reasons weight loss is easier before starting HRT:

• A testosterone driven body has higher metabolism, a male body typically burns about 25% more calories than an equally sized female body.
• Testosterone helps build muscle mass faster, bigger muscles burn more energy so a male body will build muscles faster and bigger muscles burn more calories (even when stationary).

I don't think I would delay starting HRT but loose as much as you can before starting.

One interesting consequence of this is that on HRT you will feel cold more often, I now keep a sweater and blanket at the office :p

I'm not sure I understand the question. I mean, if you're going to lose weight, might as well start sooner rather than later. But either way, you're going to start putting on weight easier when you start HRT. It's not like losing weight before or after HRT is going to keep that from happening.

I used to be underweight my whole pre-HRT life. HRT helped somewhat, as I have gained about 10 pounds during 6 months (and lost 4 the next month ).
It is so unpedictable what effect will HRT have on your weight... it can be both ways.

yeah I've already been losing a lot of weight my question I guess is can I keep losing weight after I start HRT, or am I better off to lose it all before I start

There's nothing magical about hrt that stops you losing weight, its just a bit harder. Plenty of people hrt, and cis-women lose weight.

I think the answer to your question is another question - can you control your eating and exercise? Its pretty easy to lose weight if you can, even on hrt.

Why are you overweight in the first place? Whats driving you to lose weight now? How is that any of that going to change? Only you can answer.

Quote from: angie on October 26, 2014, 05:11:02 PM
can I keep losing weight after I start HRT, or am I better off to lose it all before I start

The answer is yes

I'm overweight now due to injuries the last couple years, just getting back to my normal weight and want to lose a little more

Started losing weight pre HRT, I was already slim for a male. Since HRT I have had to really monitor my food intake as my metabolism has slowed down and losing weught has been really difficult. I was 146 lbs pre HRT and am now 135 ibs (i'm 5ft 7ins). I eat healthy and exercise daily and I hope to be around 132 lb by Christmas. Go for the weight loss now and maintain.....