I am considering going on hormones and blockers later next year. Although i am blessed not to be fighting a major overweight problem, I am built quite "solid" (upper body, middle, shoulders etc:-\ ) and believe that for myself, some weight loss is important for a more femme presentation.

Should I lose the weight prIor to HRT?  From what I've been told, it's much more difficult with testosterone blockers.

Or should I leave the weight on, and hope like mad that HRT moves my fat around in an awesome way?

Seems like we're rolling a dice game with our lives here.

Quote from: Maddie on November 29, 2018, 06:52:22 AM
 
I am considering going on hormones and blockers later next year. Although i am blessed not to be fighting a major overweight problem, I am built quite "solid" (upper body, middle, shoulders etc:-\ ) and believe that for myself, some weight loss is important for a more femme presentation.

Should I lose the weight prIor to HRT?  From what I've been told, it's much more difficult with testosterone blockers.

Or should I leave the weight on, and hope like mad that HRT moves my fat around in an awesome way?

Seems like we're rolling a dice game with our lives here.

Some women here have said that their weight loss was harder after they started a hrt with estrogen program as compared to before starting it.  I do not recall the posts from ladies only on T blockers.

If your plans are to lose weight, do it.  I am not sure about fat redistribution, it probably occurs for some transgender women.  It could simply be that new fat is placed at the female places because of estrogen.

I myself would not keep fat I did not want on the hopes of fat redistribution.  If you have very little fat, then maybe you would not want to go on a reducing diet but that does not seem to be your case.   Some weight loss may be from muscle mass reduction as well as fat. 

Chrissy

Maddie,

When I asked the same question the prevailing answer was YMMV. Everybody is different and reacts differently to hormones. I am still struggling with when to start HRT due to my unstable relationship now that I am out to my wife. My decision was to try and lose as much weight as possible before starting HRT. I have a very apply kind of body. My tummy is where the vast majority of my weight is currently carried. It does not look flattering at all and really makes a feminine presentation so much more difficult for me. I've heard some of the ladies talk about how you can cycle fat to build areas once you start HRT. The new fat apparently tends to land on the areas where you want it. Breasts, hips, and butt. The old fat though burns at it's own rate. So I agree, try to lose as much weight as you feel you need to before you start HRT. Best wishes for your success. Love and faith.

Gabrielle

Agree with *all above* fat doesn't 'move around', redistribute. Your body is either storing or releasing and fat cells horde hormones, among alot of other things. Get rid of stores of 't' first!

Found an interesting article here . . . .popsci.com/when-you-lose-weight-your-fat-cells-release-more-than-just-fat

I had to eat entirely differently on HRT. Initially I lost 20 pounds on HRT and ate everything. Then my T dropped and I gained weight.

I lost muscle so I guess that was what caused the metabolism to slow.

I spin 2 to 3 times a week and ruck once a week. I eat very healthy now. I have gained back muscle on my lower body. I am trying to grow a booty and get rid of the last of my love handles, I am close.

Grateful that there seems to be agreement on this.

Gabrielle, you have introduced me to a social media acronym!

Thank you ladies for the sound advice. And inspiration.

I am going try and open the link Kiera sent later, my phone is bogging down,  and It's struggling just to post this reply right now... 

Well there is this....

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

Not in my experience. HIIT workouts on an elliptical work well to lose weight. Years ago I had great success and many places recommend it for the added benefits over traditional hour-long running.

I will be doing HIIT workouts to lose fat and muscle.

After reading effects of HRT on the body, I decided I needed to lose the weight before starting. This time last year I was a plump 185lbs for my 5'6" stature. After going full vegetarian and including more cardio into my workout routine, I'm down to 135. I would lose it before starting. E might make it harder for you to lose weight


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote from: Sky1090 on December 02, 2018, 09:24:58 AM
After reading effects of HRT on the body, I decided I needed to lose the weight before starting. This time last year I was a plump 185lbs for my 5'6" stature. After going full vegetarian and including more cardio into my workout routine, I'm down to 135. I would lose it before starting. E might make it harder for you to lose weight

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I know quite a bit about working out and weight loss. If someone completes HIIT workouts 3 or 4 times a week with some resistance training, pounds will come off.

The human body is nothing but a machine made of flesh. Weight will be lost if someone burns more calories than what is consumed. As long as the person is healthy. Of course, some people will argue with me about this, but I refuse to entertain the debate.

I will be working out at the local gym probably 4 or 5 times a week with a specific plan. I will be successful.

I have changed my diet and will go to the gym for
1) HIIT training for weight loss
2) Heavy powerlifting for the hips (Hip Sled). Specifically targeting the muscles. Here is a great list.
     https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/how-to-get-wider-hips
3) Light resistance for the upper body.
4) Pilates for flexibility and as a warmup for the actual work done.

Quote from: GingerVicki on December 02, 2018, 01:10:15 PM
I know quite a bit about working out and weight loss. If someone completes HIIT workouts 3 or 4 times a week with some resistance training, pounds will come off.

The human body is nothing but a machine made of flesh. Weight will be lost if someone burns more calories than what is consumed. As long as the person is healthy. Of course, some people will argue with me about this, but I refuse to entertain the debate.

I will be working out at the local gym probably 4 or 5 times a week with a specific plan. I will be successful.

I have changed my diet and will go to the gym for
1) HIIT training for weight loss
2) Heavy powerlifting for the hips (Hip Sled). Specifically targeting the muscles. Here is a great list.
     https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness-exercise/how-to-get-wider-hips
3) Light resistance for the upper body.
4) Pilates for flexibility and as a warmup for the actual work done.

I totally agree with you. Your workout regime looks like something I may take up myself. Thanks for the link BTW!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote from: Sky1090 on December 02, 2018, 01:14:18 PM
I totally agree with you. Your workout regime looks like something I may take up myself. Thanks for the link BTW!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

We are all in the same boat!
I am going to do the pilates first as my warm up then blasting the quads, everything else comes after that. I can't blast my hips on days when I do the HIIT training. My goal is to have my butt twerkable.

Quote from: GingerVicki on December 02, 2018, 01:20:16 PM
We are all in the same boat!
I am going to do the pilates first as my warm up then blasting the quads, everything else comes after that. I can't blast my hips on days when I do the HIIT training. My goal is to have my butt twerkable.

You and me both girl lol. I've got a nice butt now but need my waist to come down a little still. I've been hovering around a small size 6 lately.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Quote from: Sky1090 on December 02, 2018, 01:23:48 PM

You and me both girl lol. I've got a nice butt now but need my waist to come down a little still. I've been hovering around a small size 6 lately.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You're tiny!

I am between a 10 and 12 short. I started waist training again after letting myself go for a couple of years. I never got fat...
My goal is to have 28" waist because I already have hips/seat measurement of close to 39 inches. I would love if HRT got me to 41 or 42 inches with my 28" waist.

HRT may help but I'll rely on working out at the gym for my hip area growth. I hear that great lower body improvements are rare in my age bracket.

Quote from: GingerVicki on December 02, 2018, 01:51:58 PM
You're tiny!

I am between a 10 and 12 short. I started waist training again after letting myself go for a couple of years. I never got fat...
My goal is to have 28" waist because I already have hips/seat measurement of close to 39 inches. I would love if HRT got me to 41 or 42 inches with my 28" waist.

HRT may help but I'll rely on working out at the gym for my hip area growth. I hear that great lower body improvements are rare in my age bracket.

God 39 hips?! I wish... I'd love to have those hips. I'm only at 35-36 now. I've got a tiny waist but I still have the muffin top going on.. just want to get on losing that for now a flatter tummy is my only goal right now lol


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I lost weight prior to my medical transition, although for different reasons. I can say I definitely noticed a difference in losing weight on T versus before HRT, and I noticed fat distribution change drastically. It is harder to lose weight on E. Do it now while it's easy (less weight, more reps will tone muscle and burn fat but not build muscle if you want to not bulk up too).

Just a thought though is that I've heard slimmer transwomen have a harder time filling out their forms compared to more curvy transwomen. It might be worth considering leaving some fluff on to make it an easier time of filling out.

Quote from: GingerVicki on November 30, 2018, 08:45:42 AM
Not in my experience. HIIT workouts on an elliptical work well to lose weight. Years ago I had great success and many places recommend it for the added benefits over traditional hour-long running.

I will be doing HIIT workouts to lose fat and muscle.

Not overly familiar with HIIT, but how would you do it on an elliptical?  Trying to increase the workouts now that the weather has gotten to crappy for golf.  I use elliptical at gym because treadmill running is boring  aside from being hard on my hips and I can at least read while on the elliptical.

I'm 6'2" so you guys are tiny to me. 
I've lost weight both pre and post HRT, definitely easier before. Have had to start calorie counting to see any real progress this time.  Started HRT at 230 but have been up to 240.  Down to 215 from 236 since seriously starting calorie counting.
Goal is about 190, but I'd be ok with current weight if I could shift the excess from my belly to my butt and boobs.



Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

Quote from: TonyaW on December 02, 2018, 03:21:09 PM
Not overly familiar with HIIT, but how would you do it on an elliptical?  Trying to increase the workouts now that the weather has gotten to crappy for golf.  I use elliptical at gym because treadmill running is boring  aside from being hard on my hips and I can at least read while on the elliptical.

I'm 6'2" so you guys are tiny to me. 
I've lost weight both pre and post HRT, definitely easier before. Have had to start calorie counting to see any real progress this time.  Started HRT at 230 but have been up to 240.  Down to 215 from 236 since seriously starting calorie counting.
Goal is about 190, but I'd be ok with current weight if I could shift the excess from my belly to my butt and boobs.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

https://www.topfitnessmag.com/hiit-workout-2/elliptical-hiit/

When asking my Dr what are the side effects of HRT she looked at me grinning from ear to ear and said

"About 3kilo's"  was her reply.

I had to lose 16kgs for surgery but I managed it whilst on HRT  I don't know if it was any more difficult but it's done now. Good luck hope it goes well

Take care

Liz


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My view is losing weight is ALWAYS a good idea for trans women to help with passing, not to mention that it's good for general health.. So the answer to the question of when to start losing weight is today.