Transgender and weight loss/muscle gain?

keiranloucas

Hello, I'm Keiran and I'm ftm transgender.

I'm trying to find the best way to gain muscle and lose weight while on testosterone injections, because I want to get more of a male body.
Was wondering if anyone had any tips or suggestions to how this can be done?

I'm 5"2 and 63 kilos at this point and want to get to at least 55?

Thank you

jemhh

It's going to be the same as for anybody. Eat in a caloric deficit and lift or do a progressive bodyweight training program. When you get to goal, eat at maintenence or a bit above and keep training.

SLLRunner

Hi Keiran, is this something your doctor can help you with since (I suspect) he/she would be the one to prescribe testosterone injections? I don't know, but it seems to me you could be playing with fire here unless you are under medical supervision because of the hormone involvement.

rainbowbow

Since you'll be taking test, my suggestion would be the oppposite of the above.

Take this opportunity to eat in a slight caloric surplus, make sure you get plenty of protein, and start lifting heavy. Something like stronglifts would be good i think.


You can worry about cutting some fat later, but i would focus on putting on more muscle especially while you're getting test if you're transitioning.

Sued0nim

You should find it easier to build muscle than previously due to the testosterone

But it's still the same building blocks

Lift progressively heavier ..have you don't free weight programmes? If not good programmes are stronglifts 5x5 or starting strength

Eat sufficient protein and fats (0.65-0.8g protein and 0.35g fat minimum per lb bodyweight)

You should probably look at either dropping fat then bulking (eating in surplus) then cutting again

Or body recomp by eating at maintenance whilst lifting

usmcmp

First, I hope that the testosterone injections are doctor prescribed. There have been instances where transitioning people have taken tainted hormone injections or the wrong dosage and it has caused more harm than good. I know getting a doctor to prescribe them can take a long time and a lot of work, but it's important to go that route for safety reasons.

Gaining muscle is the same for either gender, so your transitioning won't impact WHAT kind of workouts. The added test will make it easier for you to gain than it would before you started injections. Find a resistance training program (New Rules of Lifting will teach you a lot or there are free workouts on bodybuilding.com).

As for wanting to gain muscle and lose fat, as a beginner and with higher testosterone levels you will initially be able to gain muscle while in a calorie deficit. You may find that you reach a point where your body fat is low and you still want more muscle, so you'll want to look into the gaining weight section of the forums for how others are going about gaining muscle or bulking.

EvgeniZyntx

Testosterone injects will induce metabolic changes that require 10-15% more energy over the initial year baseline.
Start a progressive strength training program and cut calorie for a couple of months to lose 1-2 lbs per week. Reassess then.

Your body will be changing over the next years, but those changes are often slow to appear - record with photos for personal evaluation. Good luck.

siluridae

If your testosterone levels are the same as any other man your age, then use a TDEE that is calculated for male people.

But at your height (and mine) you won't be getting a lot of calories anyway, testosterone won't save you. Small people problems. Mine is set to 1200.

keiranloucas

Awesome thank you everyone!
And the testosterone is doctor prescribed

EvgeniZyntx

siluridae wrote: »

If your testosterone levels are the same as any other man your age, then use a TDEE that is calculated for male people.

But at your height (and mine) you won't be getting a lot of calories anyway, testosterone won't save you. Small people problems. Mine is set to 1200.

Bolded is likely incorrect. I'd suggest you evaluate your BMR directly from your tracking averages or, if you need a starting formula, base it on a 'genderless' equation like the Katch-McArdle.



(weight in kg)