life without HRT

[nullorchis (imported)]

"

is i

t possible to not get fat while not taking HRT

"

With a regular exercise regime and a healthy diet it is probably quite possible to stay thin.

Before castration my weight sta

yed right around 155lbs -- now it seems stuck at 210. :O

Why do they castrate livestock? Depending on the stock, one answer is to fatten them up.

but for us humans weight is all about calories.

The number of calories going in.

The number of calories "burned".

Less in, more burned = loosing weight.

Same old crap. Diet and exercise. It's so boring. But so true.

You can eat the same and loose weight....just exercise more.

[JesusA]

Why do they castrate livestock? Depending on the stock, one answer is to fatten them up.

The animal analogue can be quite instructive:

Castrate a young bull and he quickly becomes far less aggressive and mostly uninterested in cows. Basically, he becomes asexual and much more gentle. Let him do as he pleases, and he quickly becomes fat and lazy and is headed toward the dinner table. Put him to work pulling a plow or a wagon and he's still asexual and gentle, but he can become as strong, or stronger, than an intact bull (who's spending much of his time chasing cows or fighting over them).

Testosterone certainly makes it easier to gain strength. There's never likely to be a body builder who's a eunuch not on HRT. But with exercise and diet a eunuch can certainly be stronger and more fit than many an intact couch potato.

[kristoff]

While I am no expert, I would suggest that perhaps the lack of testosterone would reduce the rate of metabolism, thus causing weight gain. This in addition to the above, viz., exercise and diet.

[kennath7 (imported)]

Besides diet and exercise, has any eunuch tried any diet pills for weight loss? As a eunuch my metabolism has slowed and I am 51 too, so my weight is creeping up. I am considering trying something to speed up my metabolism. I realize that we might not be able to say what the products are specifically, but I need some extra help.

By forcing your body to do something it cant do normally do because the means was taken away

Wouldn't that cause heart problems over time or other health issues

[nullorchis (imported)]

While I am no expert, I would suggest that perhaps the lack of testosterone would reduce the rate of metabolism, thus causing weight gain. This in addition to the above, viz., exercise and diet.

For most people it's all about calories.

"Burn" more calories than you acquire, and you will loose weight.

Thus, the old adage, diet and exercise.

Michael Phelps for example.

He consumed thousands of calories a day.

But since he swam and exercised so much each day, he reamained trim.

If you are willing to exercise enough, you can eat more.

[mrt (imported)]

In my experience Testosterone Treatment gave me very early on "Energy" to get up out of bed and get things done. I think the first time it hit me I woke up very surprised that I wasn't still "tired" after sleeping. *That being the norm. Feeling alert and rested I started working around my Garage and cleaning up things that had just been left laying around. Since I went to injectable Testosterone which has a slight "cycle" to it I think I could probably tell you where on the cycle I am by my "motivation" or Energy whatever you want to call it. To the people who are not on any HRT I can only say you are a better man then me! I will say that having low levels seems to become "normal" feeling after only a short while. I have a theory that we all are wired by hormones so that whatever is going on is "normed" fairly quickly. Not that it doesn't affect us! We just don't seem to be as bothered by or notice it as much as those close to us.

Sure this is just one experience but I think that castrated bull probably felt the same. As to if it changes the way you process food? I think thats very possible. And at least may be a part of the puzzle.

[devi (imported)]

Why do they castrate livestock? Depending on the stock, one answer is to fatten them up.

but for us humans weight is all about calories.

The number of calories going in.

The number of calories "burned".

Less in, more burned = loosing weight.

Same old crap. Diet and exercise. It's so boring. But so true.

You can eat the same and loose weight....just exercise more.

The reason for castrating livestock are:

#1) Not to have too many bulls in the crowd which would upset the herd risking damage to your assets. Think about the fighting and damage that this would entail while they're busy fighting over young hefers.

#2) Not to have too many bulls in the bullpen (literal) which would also risk damage to your assets as they are so busy mangling each other.

#3) To allow administered estradiol to take much more effect upon their metabolisms allowing them to reach maturity faster. This is so that they can be either taken to market and/or butchered faster and thereby saving on less feed per individual asset.

*However to get the most lean but chewy meat from of an individual asset would require leaving the testicles on as the best choice.

*Fat is not an issue with the making of the above choices.

[tome (imported)]

No HRT for me not missing my loss of a bad temper.

Feel good overall.

[shrunken (imported)]

The only thing I can point to that apparently has been affected by the loss of T is that my fingernails seem to be more "delicate", meaning more easily broken.

Can fragile fingernails be a symptom of osteoporosis? I have noticed recently that my nails break unusually easily.

[kristoff]

Can fragile fingernails be a symptom of osteoporosis? I have noticed recently that my nails break unusually easily.

My nails have always been brittle, regardless of T-levels. It might be a worthy point to investigate - not the first time I've heard the notion. Any research sleuths out there?

[saywhat (imported)]

For most people it's all about calories.

"Burn" more calories than you acquire, and you will loose weight.

Thus, the old adage, diet and exercise.

Michael Phelps for example.

He consumed thousands of calories a day.

But since he swam and exercised so much each day, he reamained trim.

If you are willing to exercise enough, you can eat more.

In intact people this theory is generally try but... If you impare the body's ability to create and maintain muscle, fat will be created instead. The avereage 70kg man needs about 2200kcal a day, take away the T and he will only require 1800 or so. Therefore your diet will have to be more strict. Also as muscle mass decreases caloric expendature decreases, so less bang for your buck at the gym. Not to mention decreased energy will also hamper your efforts. If/when I get it done I will be on HRT the next day.

[tugon (imported)]

When I was first castrated I was working a very physical job in healthcare. The job required that I help patients transfer from bed to chair and back. Also transporting patients to tests, responding to codes and helping restrain combatitive patients. Then we would go to the gym and lift after our 12 hour shift. Weight gain was not a problem until I was promoted to management and put behind a desk.

I do not have problems with energy. I wake up in the morning before the alarm and I am ready to go. Sometimes I have more energy because I like where I am going. Spending a day off running around I have more energy than going to work. Maybe it is because my body has adapted after 11 years of no hormones.

[saywhat (imported)]

I do not have problems with energy. I wake up in the morning before the alarm and I am ready to go. Sometimes I have more energy because I like where I am going. Spending a day off running around I have more energy than going to work. Maybe it is because my body has adapted after 11 years of no hormones.

Maybe its because you have adapted, maybe you are just a special! Everyone is different ofcourse, the generalization is for the >50% of the population. Just like some men can have erections and have sex after castration, but most cannot. Consider yourself blessed to have that much energy.

[notalife (imported)]

do you guys without HRT have joint/muscle pain, does that get any easier?

[kristoff]

do you guys without HRT have joint/muscle pain, does that get any easier?

Without HRT I experienced a lot of joint pain. It did not get better over time - at least not for me.

[nullorchis (imported)]

In intact people this theory is generally try but... If you impare the body's ability to create and maintain muscle, fat will be created instead. The avereage 70kg man needs about 2200kcal a day, take away the T and he will only require 1800 or so. Therefore your diet will have to be more strict. Also as muscle mass decreases caloric expendature decreases, so less bang for your buck at the gym. Not to mention decreased energy will also hamper your efforts. If/when I get it done I will be on HRT the next day.

This is most interesting ! I had not read of this anywhere else yet.

Not being on the decimal system, I will have to look up 70kg.

With TRT my latest blood test shows my free T at 3.0

Pretty low.

I don't know what my free T would be if I stop TRT.

I do seem to be "hovering" at a point where I am not having big energy problems, but I do seem to be having irritability issues.

My Dr. thinks my TRT should be increased.

As it is, my testes do seem to be getting smaller and harder, (from the TRT?)

I am tempted to stop the TRT for awhile (again) and see how I get along.

Last time I tried that I had real energy issues that were very foreign to me.

Not just tired, not just exhausted, just like the life went out of me but I was still alive. Not nice. But maybe like someone else who posted here, after time, maybe I can adapt. Since the body naturally lowers T levels over time any sudden increase or decrease might cause unexpected and unintended consequences.

[mrt (imported)]

HRT will shut down your testicles. This causes "Atrophy" aka they shrink. There are some fringe doctors (My opinion) that give their patients HCG or Clomid to cause the testicles to continue to produce while your taking HRT. The problem is that neither of these has been tested for long term use and thus there is a fair change you could damage the hormone control centers of the brain. Brain damage is not as important *I think.

The current thinking (Correct?) is that you can be on HRT for about 6 months and quit and they will come back to about the original size. Going beyond that they don't fully recover. My doctor said that HRT is "for life" and once you agree its helping you stay on it for life.

You mentioned getting used to low to no Testosterone. I feel that this hormone regulates our perception. ie whatever level it is WE feel its normal for us. Friends family are often more vocal about how its causing us to behave. If your moody, "PMS", low energy, can't made up your mid, etc it all seems normal to you but of course others are asking "Whats up with you?"

I think that getting on a level of Testosterone that works for you is not easy but worth it assuming your looking for that experience.