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Hope4cure38:
I noticed it’s it’s getting hard for me to keep my body fat low, it’s there any reason for me to think I will never be able to be in shape and have a low body fat the same way I was before HIV?

I love to workout and use testosterone but I noticed It’s getting harder for me to stay in shape.

Jim Allen:

--- Quote from: Hope4cure38 on September 21, 2024, 11:04:27 pm ---I noticed it’s it’s getting hard for me to keep my body fat low, it’s there any reason for me to think I will never be able to be in shape and have a low body fat the same way I was before HIV?
--- End quote ---

No, you can live with HIV and be in shape, however, there might be some additional challenges.

Firstly untreated HIV burns a lot and now that's no longer the case as you started treatment, so those calories are now being stored, for some it's also a return to health weight gain. On top of that the meds can independently increase a bit of weight, others can be weight-suppressing or protective and of course, you will also continue to age.

However, there are things you can do like adjustments to lifestyle, workouts, and diet of course. Fitness including weight & fat was a topic at the last peer support call: https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=78033.msg789837#msg789837


PROSPER-HIV trial - Weight gain, diet & exercise far from futile
https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=77556.msg

Starting HIV Treatment Is Associated With Weight Gain
https://forums.poz.com/index.php?topic=73276.msg

HIV May Lead to a Big Belly
https://www.poz.com/article/hiv-may-lead-big-belly

https://www.aidsmap.com/news/jul-2022/weight-gain-treatment-more-evidence-taf-plus-dolutegravir-leads-greater-gains

Loa111:

--- Quote from: Hope4cure38 on September 21, 2024, 11:04:27 pm ---I noticed it’s it’s getting hard for me to keep my body fat low, it’s there any reason for me to think I will never be able to be in shape and have a low body fat the same way I was before HIV?

I love to workout and use testosterone but I noticed It’s getting harder for me to stay in shape.

--- End quote ---

Some classes of our HIV meds can increase visceral bodyfat.
https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/weight-gain-and-hiv-treatment
 I have discussed this with my own ID doctor. I am on Descovy + Tivicay and one of the drugs in my pill combo certainly does. 

It absolutely has happened to me. Though it is hard to figure out where natural weight gain started & how much weight did HIV meds put on me. See I'd an advanced Hiv (Aids) when I found out I was poz, so lost a lot of weight due to that & obviously I'd undecected HIV for up to 10 years which could have kept the fat off too!

I did vaguely discuss changing meds with the ID Doctor to a less fat/weight gaining med, but I've decided to stick with my current pills as they work well.

I always worked out 6 times a week, weights, cardio, martial arts, & no matter how much I worked out, I still could not get rid of the pot belly look.

What has worked well for me in recent months with loosing weight & belly fat has been 1). Intermittent Fasting - I rarely eat after 8pm & I try not to eat again until after 11am the next day, so that is 15 hours approx fasting. 2). High Protein - I cut out bread, rice & bad cards & eat mainly meat now, chicken breasts, lean beef with banana or avacado, nuts & greek yogurt. It is boring food but it works. I have lost 5 kilos the last few months & my belly is noticeable less fat.  I am in my early 50s too so this is a good result.

Now I still might have a McDonalds now & then but I stick 90% on the above. Try it, it might work for you.

Now the  testosterone supplementing you mentioned.  You can get TRT if you have a low T Score. I asked my ID Doctor about TRT & he was absolutely against it. He said with us HIV people already having a higher risk of heart disease later in life, that TRT could have an impact there too. Whilst I understand his concerns, I think he is being ultra-conservative on this matter.  Either way I cannot get TRT legally from a doctor. Maybe in a few years time I will revisit this.  But if you are thinking about it, do not go & get testosternone yourself & use it without proper medical supervision. You absolutely will be in a danger zone if you do.

Why not try the IM Fasting, high protein diet  & get into the gym a few nights a week in the gym, 3 nights weights, two nights cardio & outside of that walk, walk walk & walk more! That is what I do.

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