I've had weight problems since age 18... prior to that, I was always able to stay incredibly thin, but once 18 hit, I started gaining, and nothing I did ever made any difference or caused me to lose more than 10 lbs. I've even gone so far as to run 2 miles, every night of the week, while maintaining a 1500-calorie diet, over 4 months... to no avail.

Seeing as I have the symptoms of PCOS, that could explain my difficulties, but I have yet to be tested fully for it. Soon I'll be back on T, though, so if I do have PCOS, it should be taken care of by that alone. I'm just wondering whether any other ftms/any female-bodied folk have had this problem and, if so, did it go away with testosterone or anything else? I'm desperate to lose weight, and am living a completely healthy lifestyle... ha, try explaining to someone that you weight 245 lbs but eat NO junk food. Anyway, any help would be much appreciated.

SD

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Post Merge: March 04, 2009, 02:41:40 PM

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Duh... I should use the preview option. As per fat redistribution, I have legs and arms that are almost entirely muscle... all the fat is sitting on my hips in spare tire formation. I know fat redistribution on T should put that into my belly, but anyone have any idea how long it takes for that? I saw it start after almost 4 months on T before, but I've never gotten past 4 months without running out and having to go on hiatus.

I think it took about five months for me when suddenly all the fat from my hips melted and i had to go buy new pants and belts. 

As for the weight thing, PCOS doesn't typically add an extra hundredish pounds to someone's frame.  Have you had your thyroid checked?

my mom has thyroid problems and that sound a lot like whats going on with her.  she eats like a chicken and is still heavier than she should be. :/ 

I had my thyroid levels checked 3 1/2 years ago... doctors were certain that was my problem, but no problem there. I wish it were; I don't understand what's wrong with me.

When I was at a healthy weight (for me, anyway), I was about 185. I was a runner for years, and all that exercise gave me a ton of muscle. At 185, I had a 34-inch waist which, with my wide hips, is about the best I could ask for. Now I wear a size 36-38, but I wear my pants on my hips... I'm afraid to even measure where my waist should be.

I was at 210 before I started T in the first place, and bulked up to 240 within a couple months on T without getting any bigger. But if the fat will come off my hips, even if it goes into my belly it'll be much easier to lose.

SD

Eh... I'd probably ask my thyroid to be retested.  If you're active and have a halfway decent diet, there is no reason for you to be 65 pounds overweight.  If you drink regularly, you might want to get a liver panel, too.

I was diagnosed with PCOS at 17. I was an athlete from 4-18. Was always in good shape, but short and stocky. I held 5'3-5'4 in high school, at 140, pretty solid. Broad shoulders, big defined legs, but always had a tummy. Not hanging out my belt or nothing, but not real defined. From 19-21 I wasn't very athletic, drank and partied a lot..and hit 185 quickly. I didn't realize how overweight I was until I got a warehouse job that was 10 hours of hard labor, and got back down to 150 in a month. I held that up until I started T. The first 5 months I stayed about the same, and for the past couple months I realized I've gained weight, in nothing but my stomach. My waist is still a 33-34, but my tshirt size went from M being a lil baggy, to hugging my stomach like Peter from the Family Guy. A lot of this is probably due to my diet, and lack of exercise, although I just got back to exercising 3-4 nights a week.
A lot of it, is just genetics. Even with PCOS, I know I can lose the weight with exercise, but I also know I will gain quickly with eating poorly. You say you have symptoms of PCOS, like what? It doesn't take much to diagnose, other than blood work.

i third (or more?) getting thyroid rechecked. ESPECIALLY since you've said you have hypoglycemia. hypothyroid, hypoglycemia, and PCOS can all be comorbid.

I agree that you should have your thyroid checked. My mom (and apparently a little me, too) has thyroid problems, and so she can't lose any weight.

I can't wait to get on T and use it to my advantage in the gym. Hope you have some luck with that.