HT SEs - weight gain

 Well its been 18 months on HT, with the last 12 on Degarelix. I have learned to deal with hot flashes, fatigue,  complete loss of libido, inability to get an erection (which is ok , see loss of libido), loss of body hair, growth of scalp hair, mild depression, irritability, mental "fog", ect, ect ,ect. 

 But the one thing I cant get control of is weight gain. I have gained 20 pounds and have gotten flabby. I exercise (cardio and weights) 6X/week. After overdoing it a few months ago trying to burn too many calories by upping cardio (60 minutes/day) and weights (max weight to do ten reps), I had issued with muscle fatigue (felt like crap the harder I worked out, and still didn't lose weight), my doc and I went over my exercise routine. He had me cut back (40 minutes cardio and max weight to do 30 reps). the muscle fatigue is much better, but I'm still gaining weight. The solution according to the doc......eat like a bird (significant reduction in calorie intake).

 But hell, I get eating right and I do, but i still want to enjoy my life, have a few beers (150 calories a pop), enjoy eating a good meal (I'm italian after all). I hate looking at food and seeing calories. I know there is no answer other than the bird diet, but I just needed to vent.

I don’t know the answer, wishing I did. I do the gym (5 mornings per week) but the 'bird diet' - hell no!!!

Life is for living my friend, and this is coming from a woman who has spent her life wishing she was MINIMUM one dress size smaller, who is now staring down the barrel of the menopause gun (read ‘hot flushes’,) and being female, well I born with ‘mood swings’ LOL.

Flabby? Nah, just a bit more cuddly!

Stay well.
Susan
x

Ditto on Friday and Happy Hour.... Will do a lot of twelve ounce curls this evening.

Weight loss is by intake control, and it's slow.

You can flail away for an hour on an elliptical machine and burn no more calories than a nice bagel with cream cheese. It's fairly shocking, really.

I gained at least 25 lbs when on Lupron and I do go to the gym regularly.  my appetite went crazy and I ate more but I think most guys gain weight even eating the same amount so you have to readjust (your belt) to the new normal.

ed

 

Lupron is like eating butter. I put on 22 lbs on my first round. On my first break I lost 30 lbs. Second round has caused me to pick up another 10. The problem is you lose muscle mass as you lose the Testosterone and though you are not consuming more than normal there is nothing there to metabolise the calories.

Keep up the routine as long as possible. I had to keep cutting weight and reps and cardio as I got weaker over time.

Good luck,

Don