Weight, Bmi, And Frame

[Guest Sabine1]

I am wondering what to expect regarding my body, and how others have approached this. And also how you have approached "sculpting" your body. I'm not sure this is the right forum, but I'll try it.

I have been looking at my body a bit more closely since I started therapy, and since the possibility of transitioning is now very real. I have had my doubts about passing, mainly because of how I see my frame and size. I just want to be "normal", I'm not looking to be a model or gorgeous. However, I also realize that much of that perception has been about low self image about my body. My body is fine for a man, I just am not one, so I think I internalized that dislike and discomfort deeply. Also, I had comments from others saying "you'd make a horrible woman." I think the comments were more about masculine features of my face, but perhaps also a larger size. I took it for granted that these people were right, and that they confirmed what I felt about myself.

I'm about to turn 50. I started to look at averages and dimensions of bodies, and body types, and researching again the effects of HRT and FFS. I'm a little under 6', and my chest has been largish -- 40-44 depending on my weight. My waist size has been as low as 30, 32-34 for a long time, and with weight gain up to 38 -- as low as 165 and as heavy as 230ish. A lot of variation, and yes a lot to do with self image issues. I rarely looked heavy, just large with broad shoulders. I thought, well, I have a large frame too, so I carry a lot of weight without too much "rolls". I was prepared for some depression numbers. However, now I am a but confused and not sure how to judge.

I did every imaginable frame test. I came out as small boned for a man, and medium for a woman. I'm not sure how this could be with a 42 inch chest. My shoulders are wide, but actually not hunkish, more lightly squared (and in a tank top, soft squared if that makes sense). So I kept measuring my chest and looking at comp numbers for women. The ave now is a 36C for bra size (I can fit into a 38C, but that's without full breasts, an dwomen can cheat with bras and go to the next size with larger cups -- which means I'd be in the 40ish right now). Most of the medical sites I read say that we DO loose mass in out chests, but of course YMMV. I'm wondering if my frame is not what I think it is, and that while I'll have broad shoulders, I might actually be in the 38-40 range after HRT. Does this sound wishful or plausible? Or can you have small bones and a large frame?

As for weight. I looked at weights for women of my height -- about 6', perhaps closer to 5'11" now (I've not been measured in a about 8 years), and saw that 165 is "normal" BMI and ok for a woman of my height -- and a weight I have had in the recent past and and inching towards again. Again, I have no idea what HRT will add to me, but I think my frame may be smaller than I thought it was, and that male 165 also included muscle mass. Again, wishful?

I'm not sure will HRT will do to my hips, butt, and boobs, of course "YMMV," but I had a 30-32 in waist as a male, 32 is plausible again, and my mother has a flat butt and between b and C cup.

I plan to keep on losing as much weight as I can in a healthy way before I start hormones -- I have a ways to go, but I dropped the first 27 already. I also am working on toning and tightening, and also building butt and hip area muscles. I just am wary of bulk, especially before I have any blockers. At the same time, evidently I have low T to begin with (with the usual signs regarding libido, fertility, etc., and somewhat softer skin for a male), so I probably am OK (waiting for the doc on this, and also why my "man boobs" are not affected by weight loss (which has made summer T shirts interesting, but I'm not complaining!) Any suggestions? Warnings?

Thanks,

Sabine

[Paula ult]

Sabine hon,

Women come in all shapes and sizes, look around and you will see what i mean, i am 58 years old and started transition at 56, 5'8", 46" chest, waist... well we will not go there but at the beginning of the year i weighed 245 i started eating better at the first of this year and in 6 months lost 15 pounds, i have my srs scheduled next May with Dr Mcginn and she has very strict guidelines, i need to get down below a bmi of 28 which means i need to weigh 175 - 180, i have been on a very strict diet and in the last 3 weeks lost 18 pounds. it is better to lose the weight before starting hormones, some people lose weight and some gain weight on them.

There is no way to tell what you will look like after being on hormones a couple years, some need facial feminization surgery (FFS), i am lucky i got allot of my mothers features and do not plan on getting FFS. Despite my size i pass without trouble, like you i never thought that i would, please look in my gallery for before and after pictures.

Paula

[Guest Miss_Construe]

I have been sampling some of the videos for women in order to get thin quick and they all seem to be doing well for me. My shoulders are 4 inches less broad (though I started out pretty built) and my but is full for the first time in my life. I actually get checked out by guys from the back and I have yet to do any sort of 'Real life Test'. This while being 6'4" and 230 lbs. These programs should generally have ample stretching, but if you feel it is lacking, the internet is full of info (also, yoga and pilates).

NOTE: It takes a lot of hard work and you will need to work through some serious 'my muscles are tired' pain (this is different than 'I am ripping muscles and it feels like liquid fire' pain). Like all things, you only get out what you put in.

[Guest Sabine1]

Hi!

Paula: Thanks! I am with you - women come on different sizes, and I know that I will be whatever I will be. I'm comfortable with that, actually. I think I am just freaking a little because of old body image issues, but you are right. Besides, I can only work with what I have. My GT rolls her eyes at this, she thinks I appear androgynous, etc etc. (which I supposes is what would be expected at the start). I'll just dedicate myself to making it work. I also really do want to get rid of all the weight before I start HRT.

Miss_Construe: I am so there. I need to push the exercise more and let it burn. I have been doing the basic things, but not enough, although I see results with my inner thighs and butt. I really need to increase the weight loss and that means more aerobic -- beyond the 45 minutes a day I walk, something more intense. I may switch to biking. Are you doing yoga and pilates in classes or with dvds?

Sabine

[Guest Miss_Construe]

Are you doing yoga and pilates in classes or with dvds?

Books and DVDs

I try to sample around for ones that are more my style as some get a little preachy as far a philosophy goes.

Amy