Hormones and the big belly cyndrom

[VickiTheGamer]

I have a large stomach. It started to grow when I was just out of college. I worked hard to keep it down but nothing worked. From massive amounts of sit-ups to other uncomfortable abdominal exercises. Because of the fat that is under the muscle and is around my organs, I am a walking time bomb (heart attack). So I was wondering, can hormones reduce the stomach on a male who is going MtF?

For example, the Men in my family have always had a large stomach by the time they were 35 or so, which never seems to get smaller. Hundreds of Sit-ups a day did not work, doing other abdominal exercises only strengthened the stomach so that it was big, but strong. Eating less reduces the arms and legs substantially before the stomach was even touched. (reference malnourished people). The fat builds up under the muscles in with the organs.

Yet the women in the family did not build up the stomach. They had the weight move mostly to their hips and bottom.

Would hormones reduce the stomach and redirect the fat in it to other body parts (hips, etc.)?
Thus enhancing the persons health via the MtF Transgender process?

Thanks,
Vic

[Aimee20]

I'm not a doctor so I can't really give medical advice, but I'd really have to say most likely no hrt would not help with that. Generally, supressing testosterone slows the metabolism and names weight loss more difficult. Some of us though have lost quite a bit of weight after starting hrt due to relief from depression and anxiety leading to more healthy life styles.

Your best bet if you are unable to shed that weight would probably be addressing it with your doctor. There are medications out there that can kick start a metabolism.

[I Am Paula]

When people on HRT talk about fat redistribution, it unfortunately doesn't mean the same fat migrates to hips and thighs. Alas, fat you have stays put, and new fat goes to hips and thighs. Unfair, I say!

[stefan37]

Hrt will definitely not help you lose belly fat. It may actually hinder fat loss. Messing with your endocrine system to lose weight is a very dangerous thing. Hrt should only be used under the direct supervision of a licensed medical practitioner.

[Frances]

When people on HRT talk about fat redistribution, it unfortunately doesn't mean the same fat migrates to hips and thighs. Alas, fat you have stays put, and new fat goes to hips and thighs. Unfair, I say!

^This

You have to lose the male-pattern fat through diet and then gain the female-pattern fat through ice cream. Also, NO MORE BEER!

[LeaP]

NO MORE BEER!

Damn damn damn damn damn damn damn ...

And very true.

Vicki– you need to lose weight. End of story.

[Aprilrain]

Fat "redistribution" is a bit of a misnomer. The fat that you have doesn't actually pack up and move to a different part of your body. I went from about 175lbs with lots of muscle to 147lbs at my skinniest (too skinny actually) then back to about 175 now. I've lost most of the definition in my muscles and gained a layer of fat just under the skin, especially on my legs and ass. I have a much more feminine appearance now do to this "redistribution" of fat. HOWEVER, my belly continues to be a problem. I've had lipo on my belly and love handles, the love handles are gone but the belly persist. It's better but as you say, the fat isn't subcutaneous, it's down amongst the intestines and organs. YUCK!!!!!

[arbon]

I was very skinny when I started hrt and then gained lots of weight, almost all my weight gain (from 150 to 195lbs) went to my belly. Not pretty.

[whowhatwhen]

I know those feels, I've got a big belly.
:/

[LeaP]

My weight has been creeping back up. For a very long time, I could lose weight as easily as I did before HRT. It would seem that is no longer the case. I have a bit more below the waist, which is fine. Women's pants are actually a proper fit now instead of being more of a style or gender choice. But I have acquired a little bit of belly fat that I don't like, too. It is not something that I have had in the past, except when very heavy.

[Leah Lynn]

Oh, no! All this time I was under the delusion that you all were sweet and petite, and I was the only big bellied ogre on hrt. I'm not special anymore!

I went from 250 down to 200 before starting hrt. Then that last 20 moved back home; straight to the belly.

But I LIKE Beer!

Leah

[VickiTheGamer]

Thank you so much for all of your input.
I have actually been looking up the Corsetry side. I even watch the video's by Lucy. As for my tummy. :(. The using HRT to reduce the tummy isn't what I have in mind. I was looking to find out if it is a bonus when doing HRT. I wouldn't go on HRT to do this unless it really really worked AND my doctor gave it as a good option to reduce tummy size. So worry not about my doing HRT to get a smaller tummy. If I go full out HRT, it's going to be for a great deal more than the hope of reducing my tummy (which I now know won't happen).

I have an odd feeling I am stuck with the tummy. Years and years ago when the tummy first decided to grab me and not let go, I was very much into body building. I was doing so for about 6 years. I worked out about 3 hours a day. I did 400+ sit-ups a day at that time. I was a very very lean 165 lbs of muscle but still had that darn tummy. It was a lot smaller then than it is now but I had it. I was trying for the 6pack abs, but even after following video's, having a trainer try to help, and a very strict diet, I had decided it was not happening.

So, here I was. 165 and very very little fat on the other parts of my body. Heck, even my tummy didn't display a big layer of fat. I just couldn't get the definition. So, then I got a job that was the job from hell. In 4 months I went from 165 to 125. I was still working out like crazy (helped me stay sane with the horror job), still did the sit-up's and everything. I just stressed so much that I had no appetite. Well, by the 4th month and 40 lbs later, I was visiting my Aunt and she said. "you look like one of those malnourished people in Ethiopia with the oversized stomach and the skinny body". The fat was on the inside and even with the massive loss of weight, it STILL held on.

Since then I have tried a TON of other options short of surgery. Diets where I hated what I was living on but did it for a good 6 months or more. Exercise where the Abs are the workers. I just got an even larger tummy but it was rock hard. I even spoke to my doctor about what they recommend and after they heard about my diet and exercise program, their response was, stop working the stomach muscles so much. They think that I have a LOT of internal fat AND that I have worked my stomach to the point of being larger in muscle. She cited Weight lifters (not body builders) body build. They often have larger stomachs rather that fine tuned cut tummy's . So there I was, doomed with a over built hard as a rock tummy with a bunch of internal fat that was determined never to go away. (waaaaa)

Thus the question about HRT. I was thinking, "hmmm.... muscle mass reduction, fat distribution.....". So, that is how come I asked.
Again, thank you so much for all of your assistance.

Love you all,
Vicki

[Inna]

All my fat redistributed to the brain region responsible for driving and especially parking skills.

[JohnH]

But I LIKE Beer!

Leah

Oh the variety that there is instead of the dark ages of 1970's and before. However, in my book a real beer conforms to the my version of the German Reinheitsgebot (Purity Law) that specifies beer may have only barley, hops, water and yeast. Beer is so gooood but so fattening.

As far as guts are concerned I still have one with the HRT. At least there are distractions with me such as my breasts and butt to deflect some of the attention.

I don't lose weight nearly as easily as I could before. In fact with the diet I now have the pounds would have melted off before HRT. So now if I want to lose weight I will have to curtail my diet more than I have ever done before.

The good thing is I am at peace with myself and I no longer have the urge to binge drink nor be chronically depressed. As a result I am much healthier than I used to be.

It would be good if you got counseling before getting on M2F medication to see if that would be appropriate for you. At the very least you should take the medication under the care of a doctor. Don't do what I did and self-medicate. I was fortunate there were no adverse effects from my self-medication. At least now I am under the care of an endocrinologist.

Don't think for a minute HRT is going to cause the gut to disappear without changing anything else.

Johanna Anna

[Nicole Erin]

most people over 30 do have a belly.
Are we talking about the normal gut that most of us develop or is it more of a "cannot even live a normal life" type gut?

For losing a gut, "spot reduction" doesn't do much. All over cardio helps.

Might want to stay away from fat loss meds or these scam diets or miracle weight loss products. They do not produce long term results. And especially avoid those "try it free" weight loss pills. They are hard to cancel out of and keep charging your credit card.

[Marleena]

HRT = the dreaded "muffin top".

[JohnH]

most people over 30 do have a belly.
Are we talking about the normal gut that most of us develop or is it more of a "cannot even live a normal life" type gut?

Oh, I can certainly live a normal life with the gut I have. However, wouldn't we all want to have hourglass figures? My endocrinologist said I would look a lot better if I lost my gut.

Johanna Anna