Hello! I have a quick question about how taking additional hormones would affect your metabolism. I'm a transgender man so I've been taking hormones (testosterone cypionate) for the past three months. In these three months, my period has stopped since February and my hormone levels seem to be moving towards a male pattern. My body is more muscular overall, and if I were to guess, I think my fat ratio has lowered because my hips have lost an inch and my waist gained 1/2 an inch--I've gained 6 lbs but think it's probably normal because I actually work out now (1 hour per day). I was also underweight before (and still am, but borderline healthy weight now) so it hasn't been very pressing to monitor.

I am not positive, though, because I do eat more and am hungrier more often. Before I never worked out and ate around 1300 calories a day. Now I work out one hour a day and eat around 1800--so quite the jump.

Today I made a MyFitnessPal, though, because I don't like the weight gain trend and was wondering whether I would list my caloric intake as male or female. As my hormone levels become more masculine and my body has more muscle mass, would I follow the calorie intake for a male or for a female? How do I know when to make the switch? Also, for someone who is 5'2'' and 98 lbs taking testosterone but biologically female, what would be an appropriate daily calorie intake? Also, why am I constantly hungry--is it metabolism or am I just imagining it?

Welcome to Susan's Place. Excessive testosterone coverts to estrogen which is one of the reasons your testosterone levels are carefully monitored by your doctor. Testosterone in a way is a great diet drug. It improves muscle tone and development which requires additional calories. You are hungry all the time because your body needs more than you were eating before. If you work out or have a physically active life, you will find you burn the calories off more than before. It is possible to take in more than you need so you should monitor your weight and remain in the healthy range.

Giving an exact calorie number is difficult because your activity level, body size and activity level will determine what your body requires.

We issue to all new members the following links so you will best be able to use the web site.

Site Terms of Service & Rules to Live By	Standard Terms & Definitions	Post Ranks (including when you can upload an avatar)
Reputation rules	News posting & quoting guidelines	Photo, avatars, & signature images policy

I adjusted mine to male when I started hormones per my doctor's direction.

As far as what you should be eating, there are some great calorie calculators out there that will allow you to input what your goals are. If you want to gain weight and are actively working out, you should be eating around 2200 calories per day. To maintain your current size, 1750.

This is the calculator I use: https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/macronutcal.htm

And when you gain/lose 10lbs it's good to recalculate.

On T I would consider yourself in the male category since E will be being suppressed and E promotes more fat storage and a lower metabolism. May as well class yourself as (a smaller) male for the purposes of figuring out your intake requirements

But what you need per day intake will depend on your own body size and metabolic rate - some general number may not work for you, you may have to just get a feel for it by watching how much you eat in cals per day, noting any net gains or losses over a period of a few days.

I've noticed it's hella easy to lose weight since starting T, probably the increased metabolic rate as I haven't been working out that much.