It’s honestly wild the difference in caloric requirements based on age and sex/gender (I don’t know how much is due to size/hormones, so I don’t know where trans people’s requirements would be) even before factoring in activity level, so it’s entirely reasonable not to realize the difference.
If you’re just starting estrogen-oriented HRT and you’re at a weight considered ideal for your pre-HRT body, then it is helpful to actually gain a few kg of fat, together with weekly bursts of activity. Then fat redistribution will be more effectively towards a )( body shape, with breast growth improved.
For testosterone-oriented HRT, I’m less certain, though I assume the same applies, though with the accent more on weight loss and exercise for muscle growth.
That said, everyone has their own goals; important is that one remains healthy. A body fat percent healthy for all people (binary and nonbinary) would be around 14-25%. If you can get pregnant (and seek to do so), it’s better to be a little higher in this range.
It’s honestly wild the difference in caloric requirements based on age and sex/gender (I don’t know how much is due to size/hormones, so I don’t know where trans people’s requirements would be) even before factoring in activity level, so it’s entirely reasonable not to realize the difference.
For trans people it depends.
If you’re just starting estrogen-oriented HRT and you’re at a weight considered ideal for your pre-HRT body, then it is helpful to actually gain a few kg of fat, together with weekly bursts of activity. Then fat redistribution will be more effectively towards a )( body shape, with breast growth improved.
For testosterone-oriented HRT, I’m less certain, though I assume the same applies, though with the accent more on weight loss and exercise for muscle growth.
That said, everyone has their own goals; important is that one remains healthy. A body fat percent healthy for all people (binary and nonbinary) would be around 14-25%. If you can get pregnant (and seek to do so), it’s better to be a little higher in this range.