Pre-hrt fat management

[ToniTone]

New here. 32 amab fem-leaning androgynous. More or less fully committed to seeking professional medical help in starting hrt. But in the meantime I've been struggling with body dysphoria. I wrote about most of issues in my intro and hrt posts, so I'm just writing in this one to discuss my concerns specifically about body image, diet and exercise. 

 

In my teens and early 20s, I was more content with my body. But at 32, my metabolism is slowing down, and my fat distributes exlusively to my gut and love handles. I now have this square, bean shaped masculine torso, on a pair of chicken legs. This makes me look and feel so uncomfortable. 

 

I've tried gaining and losing weight, a variety of adjustments to my diet, as well as excercise routines, and intermittent fasting. Four months ago I blew up from the 130 lbs I've been all the formative years of my life, to 165 lbs stress eating after I got sober. Now I'm settled down to 147. This seems to be my healthy weight and I'm content having got it under control. 

 

Regardless of my weight or diet and exercise regimen, or how skinny or fat I get though, my body proportions remain square, bean shaped and masculine. I so desire a more feminine hourglass-esque figure, with fat distributing to the thighs and hips. 

 

My question: is there any recommended or beneficial diet and exercise plan for before or during hrt? Either for aiding in obtaining this desired feminine shape, or for preventing possible health risks? 

[Kirsten]

I will tell you that I know of no exercises that are directly linked to getting a more feminine shape. Eating healthy, drinking lots of water, and getting a full body workout routine will all help your body adjust to your natural shape. Hrt will start to adjust where your fat goes, but it’s not an overnight deal. At 9 months I can see a slightly more feminine shape for myself, but nothing extreme. You’re mostly formed and changes will be limited to some extent. But you’ll get some. Your muscle will change and be less bulky. And you’ll lose strength. It’s also much harder to lose weight on hrt. 

As far as bad foods, anything high in potassium is no good while on spiro. 

[ToniTone]

Thanks. I'll keep potassium consumption in mind when I begin. 

 

Do you know if intermittent fasting for better or worse effects metabolism, or has any benefit or health impact WHILE ON hrt?

 

I understand the necessity of and will discuss this with a doctor before starting this process. Just inquisitive about other experiences. 

[Kirsten]

The reason for IF is to keep your body from creating insulin. Every time you eat anything you create insulin. IF limits that. It makes your body burn stored fat rather than burning what it has readily available. It is a good practice assuming you eat healthy during your food window. No matter what you need the caloric intake, and it needs to be healthy and balanced between your macros unless you’re doing keto some other “diet”. 

I will tell you that when I started hrt I had no choice but to stop my Keto Diet. My body needed the carbs. I believe, and this is my opinion and I have no facts to back it up, that a balanced macro diet is what you need. Possibly heavy on the protein side. I think this because hrt is similar to a second puberty. And I can’t see how putting a kid in puberty on any limited diet would be beneficial to them growing.

Add to that the insanity of hrt by itself and it’s just a recipe for difficulty. Upping your water intake to something in the area of a gallon a day is hard and recommended. The mental ups and downs. The sensory changes. Relationship changes and so much more. It’s far from an easy process. And I’m sure it’s not an awful thing to have a little extra pudge to feed your body thru it all. Having said that losing is a lot more difficult once your T goes away. 

I recommend easy balanced life choices for a while. Save your energy for the other stuff that’ll come. Cause you may need it. 

[ToniTone]

Wow, thanks for your thorough and thoughtful feedback. It's one thing to read literature on this stuff. But hearing other people's experiences and understanding of the knowledge really helps affirm and make more relatable these matters. 

 

I've been thinking, I've already been practicing intermittent fasting. Now that I'm at what I feel is a healthy weight for my physiology, my approach to this is much more casual. 

 

I think a good course might be to continue this healthy & casual IF practice right up until I begin hrt. Then begin a balanced, calorie requirement fullfilling, healthy dietary regimen as I begin hrt. With the approval and guidance of a Dr and dietician of course! 

 

Without endorsing this (outside of professional context), does this seem like a sound idea? Have any of you ever tried a like practice, in anticipation of weight gain, and to what effect?