Does your caloric intake directly determine your body weight?

[Skyer89]

Even if you decide to go from trt to 750mg test? If macros stay completely the same would your body weight remain unaffected?

 

[Flocci]

its not that simple, let me have AI break it down for you..

Beyond caloric intake, bodyweight is influenced by a dynamic interplay of hormonal, metabolic, physiological, and environmental factors. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the key determinants:

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1. Hormonal Regulation​

Hormones dictate how your body partitions energy (fat vs. muscle), retains water, and metabolizes nutrients:

• Testosterone ↑ muscle synthesis, ↓ fat storage.
• Estrogen ↑ subcutaneous fat/water retention (via aromatization).
• Insulin ↑ glycogen storage/fat deposition (especially with high-carb diets).
• Cortisol ↑ catabolism (muscle breakdown), ↑ visceral fat.
• Thyroid (T3/T4) ↑ basal metabolic rate (BMR); hypothyroidism causes weight retention.
• Leptin/Ghrelin regulate hunger/satiety (impacting calorie intake indirectly).

Example:
750mg testosterone enanthate → ↑ anabolism (muscle gain) + ↑ estrogen → water retention/bloat.

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2. Water Balance​

Fluctuations in water retention can alter weight by 2–5kg (4–11 lbs) within days:

• Sodium intake ↑ extracellular water (bloating).
• Carbohydrates ↑ glycogen-bound water (1g glycogen holds 3g water).
• Hormones (aldosterone, estrogen) regulate fluid retention.
• Medications/PEDs (e.g., steroids, diuretics).

Example:
High-estrogen levels on testosterone enanthate → noticeable water weight gain.

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3. Glycogen Stores​

• Muscle/liver glycogen accounts for ~2–5% of bodyweight (~1.5–4kg in adults).
• Depletes rapidly during fasting/low-carb diets (e.g., keto "whoosh" effect).
• Supercompensates with carb-loading (↑ weight temporarily).

Example:
Bodybuilders gain 2–3kg post-carb load before a show.

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4. Gut Contents & Digestion​

• Food in stomach/intestines adds 1–3kg (varies by meal size/fiber).
• Gut microbiome impacts nutrient absorption (e.g., Firmicutes ↑ calorie extraction).

Example:
High-fiber diets ↑ stool weight but may ↓ net absorption.

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5. Metabolic Adaptation​

• BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate): Muscle mass ↑ BMR (~50kcal/day per kg muscle).
• NEAT (Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis): Fidgeting, walking, etc. (varies by ±500kcal/day).
• TEF (Thermic Effect of Food): Protein ↑ TEF (20–30% vs. 5–10% for carbs/fats).

Example:
750mg testosterone → ↑ muscle → ↑ BMR → ↑ calorie needs.

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6. Medications & Supplements​

• Steroids (e.g., testosterone) ↑ LBM + water.
• Diuretics (e.g., lasix) ↓ water weight.
• Stimulants (e.g., caffeine) ↓ appetite/↑ NEAT.

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7. Sleep & Stress​

• Poor sleep ↓ leptin, ↑ ghrelin → ↑ hunger/fat storage.
• Chronic stress ↑ cortisol → ↑ visceral fat/muscle loss.

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8. Environmental Factors​

• Altitude ↑ RBC production → temporary weight gain.
• Temperature (cold ↑ brown fat activity, heat ↓ appetite).

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How 750mg Testosterone Enanthate Impacts These Variables​

Factor	Effect of High-Dose Test	Net Weight Impact
Muscle Mass	↑↑ MPS via androgen receptors	+4–8kg (lean tissue)
Water Retention	↑ E2 → subcutaneous bloat	+2–5kg (water)
Glycogen	↑ insulin sensitivity	+1–2kg
Appetite	↑ hunger (androgenic effect)	± Fat gain
BMR	↑ via muscle accretion	↑ Calorie expenditure

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Practical Takeaways​

1. Scale weight ≠ fat/muscle alone – Water/glycogen swings are normal.
2. For accurate tracking:
   • Use DEXA scans or calipers for bodyfat %.
   • Weigh daily (fasted, post-toilet) and average weekly trends.
3. To manipulate weight:
   • ↑ Short-term: Carb-load + sodium (water retention).
   • ↓ Short-term: Low-carb + diuretics (water loss).
   • Long-term changes require calorie/hormone control.

And then, when you take everything into account, outside of that, calories in and calories out, aka your energy balance will dictate your longterm bodyweight.

 

[buck]

Could stay the same but composition may change.

 

[neutrino]

Even if you decide to go from trt to 750mg test? If macros stay completely the same would your body weight remain unaffected?

Few things come to mind.
1. Anabolics affect nutrient partitioning (to various degrees) as well as glycogen retention. Those calories will likely be a little less effective and/or you may lose some glycogen. How much? Not sure. Keep in mind that glycogen retention also requires water at an approximately 1:3-4 ratio. For every 1 part of glycogen, you hold 3-4 parts water.
2. Missing a BIG factor here: TRAINING. A lot of people let the training slide when the drugs get pulled out. I would say that this has a MAJOR impact on the question you are asking - likely more significant than the drugs themselves.
3. You are looking at the situation from a very black and white perspective. There are SO MANY variables at play here, genetics being a major one.

• How far are you beyond your genetic limit?
• What is your lifestyle like?
• Do you get enough sleep?
• How long do you plan on being "OFF

That is just a few. Like with most things in life, you can ask 5 different people and get 8 different answers (depending on time of day and alignment of the stars). Best way to find out how it applies to you is try it for yourself.