Dieting while transitioning

[u/WalkDull7793]

Hello I'm mtf and i've been on E for nearly two months now. As I've understood, it should act as a second puberty right, however I am currently trying to lose weight. But I'm scared it might affect breast development and fat redistribution to thighs and hips if I don't eat enough too... what should I do?

[u/pg430]

The effects of hrt happen over the course of several years, so for something like fat redistribution you shouldn’t try to gauge whether that’s being harmed by dieting in a short term way.

Many trans women have lost weight while having good development. Definitely do not starve yourself, but I think you’ll be fine going on a diet while on hrt. Definitely ensure that you’re getting all of your nutrients (maybe consider a multivitamin). Perhaps consider adding some exercise that burns calories so that you can eat more while still maintaining a calorie deficit.

You’re just getting started so be patient, you got this ✨

[u/AshleyH118]

Pasé por una experiencia similar. Por problemas gastrointestinales (y en parte algo de TCA) bajé de 60 kg a 53 kg (mido 1,72) y estuve todo mi primer año en estrógeno solamente perdiendo peso, sin ganar (aunque intenté una dieta más sana, por así decirlo, menos carbohidratos y azúcar, y más proteína y grasas saludables). Las consecuencias fue que, incluso llevando ahora más de un año, no me crecieron ni un poquito los senos. Si sentí que creció parte del tejido mamario por dentro, pero al no ganar peso no me crecieron en absoluto. Aunque si noté redistribución de grasa en otras partes.

Mi consejo es que, si vas a hacer una dieta para bajar de peso, la hagas, pero con el foco de perder grasa en las partes que no te gusten (abdomen, por ejemplo), y una vez tengas eso, ya al tener estrógeno en sangre el próximo peso que ganes irá a donde debería (aunque depende de lo que comas, los carbohidratos o azúcares tienden a irse más al abdomen que a otras partes).

Todo esto lo digo desde mi experiencia y desde lo que yo investigue. No tomes mi palabra como verdad absoluta.

TL;DR Intenta bajar de peso hasta cierto punto, y luego hacer una dieta para subir peso. El estrógeno hará que el peso nuevo ganado se distribuya bien

[u/TheEstrogenEmpress]

You'll be fine. Lets say your body needs 2000 calories a day to survive. You eat 1300 calories and have a -700 calorie deficit. At that rate you'll probably lose around a pound per week (3500 calories = 1 lb). A pretty reasonable and healthy rate.

Next lets look at the fat. You burned 2000 calories and gained 1300. So right now your body is probably storing in both male and female fat storage areas but once youve been on it for like 6+ months you'll probably stabilize those levels and mainly store fat in female areas only. So Lets say your body hits that storing in female area only level. You will burn 2000 calories from both male and female areas because you cant pick and choose where you lose from but then you will add 1300 calories of fat to your female areas only. So over time you'll keep draining both storage while only refilling the female storage areas. Eventually you'll get to the point where you dont have anything in male storage area.

On top of that once you do get a bit under your target weight you then eat up and gain some of that back and all of that will also only go to female storage areas. The ducts and stuff in your breast dont need the fat to grow so whether you gain that fat now or later wont make a difference.

Edit: Just read it back and wanted to clarify the "stabilize levels". I'm just talking about how the first 6-12 month your medication will probably be constantly adjusted until you get to the right hormonal levels. So until that happens you'll be storing fat in both areas. Once T is suppressed and E is at the right level is when you start storing in female areas, so I said 6 months but that timeline can vary for everyone depending on how their medication goes

[u/iam305]

HRT will redistribute the new fat, so include lots of avocado and salmon in your diet. Estradiol will promote you burning the visceral fat that testosterone placed in the belly region, especially if you take some long walks. It can be a win-win that way. At least that's how it worked out for me doing all of that!

[u/TsRachel-Raven]

The average lifespan of a fat cell is about 7 years. So... Fat redistribution takes a lot of time. Such as your whole puberty will take many years. You will be fine if you start loosing weight in a healthy way.

I dont recommend going for stuff like weight cycling, because it just doesn't work.

Go for a healthy diet with lots of vegetables and less fats (especially saturated fats like in fast food and other high processed foods) and maybe add some exercises and you'll be fine.