this post was submitted on 13 Sep 2024
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35
Estrogen in relation to hunger/appetite (lemmy.blahaj.zone)
submitted 2 months ago by SquishedFly@lemmy.blahaj.zone to c/mtf@lemmy.blahaj.zone
23 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

So I've started estrogen around 3 weeks ago (hooray (^ヮ^)/ ) but have noticed one thing that is really bothering me.

I feel like I could eat the entire day through. I'm just constantly hungry and it really irks me... Before, I had absolutely no issues going with one, maybe two small meals a day (when not at work) and sometimes even completely skipping a day. But now I pretty much need a chewing gum to sedate me from eating all the food that I made for myself for today and tomorrow.

It's really tearing on me... Yes, I am slightly underweight (56kg/173cm) but the fact that I am a little slim is like 30% of what makes me pass even just on 3 weeks of HRT...

I don't want to gain weight, I don't want to lose this figure of mine, I don't want to waste so much time and money just eating....

I know that this is probably partially an undiagnosed eating disorder speaking but does any one of you have a similar experience?

The fat i'd accumulate wouldn't go to my ass or boobs.... I have no chance of getting much of either sadly so it would just collect as undesirable belly padding....

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[–] apprehentice@lemmy.enchanted.social 34 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I struggled with disordered eating before HRT. A few weeks in, another trans girl explained to me that the body needs energy to do its thing. It's basically second puberty and you know how much teenagers eat.

I was like you, being able to eat a couple of meals and be satisfied. Now, I snack more. I also eat smaller meals as it takes less to fill me up. I'm also ~6 months on E, so I've lost some muscle mass. Despite my new eating habits, I've been able to maintain around 70kg at 180cm tall. Meanwhile, my body's been burning the fat buildup from T and packing it onto my butt, thighs, and chest.

If you want my two cents, try snacking more and just eat when you're hungry. You don't have to eat until you're full, just until you're not uncomfortable anymore. Trust the process and let your body do what it needs to do.

If you start going in a direction you don't like, you can stop. You might also consult your doctor for advice

[–] SquishedFly@lemmy.blahaj.zone 9 points 2 months ago (3 children)

It does make a lot of sense that I need more energy...

Do you have any recommendations for not too unhealthy snacks? I'd go with cereal bars but they actually are quite sugary/unhealthy and hella expensive :/

[–] apprehentice@lemmy.enchanted.social 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I'm still discovering that myself 😅 It can be hard to find nutritionally balanced snacks, so I like to keep a variety around. Things that I like to have around are popcorn/potato chips, fresh veggies, tortilla chips and salsa, lunch and snack meats, and of course some sweets like gummy candies and chocolate. I try not to eat too much of one thing. If you're thinking about reaching for a whole bag of chips, maybe make a sandwich instead.

[–] SquishedFly@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 2 months ago

Oh carrots are an amazing idea I just thought of! But thank you for the ideas c:

[–] theresa@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I always keep a supply of nuts, mainly cashews and salted peanuts, on my desk to snack on during the day. Healthy fats!

[–] SquishedFly@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 2 months ago

Oh that'd an amazing idea too. Nuts fill your stomach nicely too

[–] gandalf_der_12te@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 2 months ago (2 children)

I cook myself. Always the same thing. Noodles with vegetables. You just chop the vegetables to small pieces, throw it in the water, add noodles, cook as long as the noodles take to be done, then add spices, tomato juice, herbs, oil. Done, and delicious. You can eat many small portions throughout the day.

It's cheap ($5/day) and delicious, nutritionally balanced.

[–] SquishedFly@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 2 months ago

Oh my god. The first actual quick and cheap recipe I read on the internet. Instantly added to my cookbook, tysm!

[–] apprehentice@lemmy.enchanted.social 3 points 2 months ago

I'm craving ramen now, thanks 😅

[–] industrialdeerfluff@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 2 months ago

I don't have a ton to add but I've had problems with eating, some months back a good friend hit me with something like "you want your body to be more feminine shaped yea, your body cant redistribute fat you don't have."

So I've started putting on weight and its all going to my hips and ass xd

On appetite, I've fluctuated between eating way less and having an insatiable appetite, and its definitely alot like first puberty and the body just craving things.

I'm at a year and a half abouts, and its wild to look at my biceps and see the stretch marks from when they were significantly bigger, I was never super athletic but I was naturally stocky. Now i can fit my hand in a pringle can which blows my mind.

[–] growsomethinggood@reddthat.com 16 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Cis woman here, married to a trans woman, so I'm familiar with both sides of this puberty: it's okay to eat a little more. You're basically a teenager, and your body needs energy now. You are going to go through a fair bit of change and it's important to have the calories needed to do so, especially if you're starting out without much fat in reserve. Your body is going to redistribute where fat accumulates on your body, and people with estrogen tend to have a higher body fat percentage than people with testosterone.

If you have a therapist (gender therapist or otherwise) I'd definitely consult with them about your anxiety around this, since you mentioned the possibility of disordered eating. If it helps, talking to your regular doctor or endocrinologist can give you other professional perspectives on this as well.

Good luck! And take care of yourself ♥

[–] SquishedFly@lemmy.blahaj.zone 10 points 2 months ago

Thank you <3 I'll bring it up in my next therapy session. Probably a good idea

[–] captainlezbian@lemmy.world 9 points 2 months ago

You need food to grow tits

[–] Pirky@lemmy.world 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I am just barely ahead of you at 4 weeks and I noticed something similar with me. I'm very similar dimensions; at my lightest I was about 57 kg and 176 cm.
Once I started taking E, I was hungrier longer and it took more to satiate me. Now I'm around 60-62 kg, which is where I've been in the past, so I don't look all that different.
I noticed my legs feel a little squishier than I remember. But that could just be me looking for things that aren't there. I think it also moved some fat around in my face as my cheeks feel a little thicker/puffier than before. It's taking some getting used to.

[–] SquishedFly@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I should really get it out of my mind that I won't allow myself to be above 60kg. But I'm so glad that I'm not alone in this feeling <3

[–] theresa@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Hey, just wanna chime in with my experience, 6 months on HRT. I started at 183cm/61kg and HRT made it a lot easier for me to eat regularly, I didn't eat breakfast most days before. Now, I'm eating a hearty breakfast and lots of snacks inbetween (almost didn't snack at all before) and I LOST weight, last I checked was a month ago or so at 59kg. I figure most of that was muscle though, my thighs grew a bit. So eat away, I'd say. I'm eating a good 25% more than before HRT and am barely keeping my weight.

[–] SquishedFly@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 2 months ago

That's very reassuring, thank you <3

[–] Vibi@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I'm a little over 6 months on hrt and haven't noticed any appetite changes. I've actually been eating far less and more sporadically. I was eating for performance reasons pre-transition, so I'd say I'm eating more normally. How are you receiving/dosing your estrogen? I use patches, but I could see fluctuating hormones from injections/pills affecting appetite.

[–] SquishedFly@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Hmm, I'm using pills but I don't think that the ROA would have such a big impact...

Who knows tho, I'm not a medical professional

[–] dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 month ago

I inject estradiol valerate and found my appetite increased significantly pretty much immediately. I gained 15 - 20 lbs over 6 months, and now I'm back to the weight I was before I started transition.

Considering you are underweight, don't underestimate the importance of fat in feminizing a figure. Even if just temporarily it might be good to see this as a time where you intentionally want to put on extra weight (assuming you are suppressing testosterone and maintaining estrogen dominance), because that will help develop breast growth (which are fat stores), and hips and butt (which are also fat stores). Even fat in the face seems to play a big role in feminizing it.

[–] CyberTailor@lemmy.world 3 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Progesterone increases appetite, estradiol decreases it

[–] SquishedFly@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 points 2 months ago

Yeah I know but it seems to be a lot more complicated than that

[–] dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 month ago

When starting estradiol for the first time it seems to increase appetite, I found this to be especially true in the first 3 - 6 months. Even if estrogen generally is associated with decreased appetite, it's contextual how it impacts appetite, and in the case of estradiol initiating puberty it increases appetite (even without progesterone).