Undecided.

[Guest Tobiaskun]

I've been losing weight for a while now, so I can get into a healthy range. However, I'm 5'1", yikes. When I see female bodied people at a normal weight with the same height, they have fairly feminine bodies.

I've been really excited that I've lost this weight, however! Everything I've heard about it was true, my breasts have gotten much smaller. I feel better, and my body image is improving, despite being Pre-T still.

But, I don't want to look very feminine for so long; I won't be able to start T until I go to college, which is in around a year. However, with my family situation, we may be moving to Australia within that time, and I may go along with them, which would probably prolong that even longer.

Should I continue to lose weight into my healthy range? I don't really want to be a stick-like person. The most I would probably go is to the very tip of it, to borderline overweight. Will building muscle mass improve that image?

[Guest ranse]

It can't hurt to be the optimum weight for you before you start the physical transition. Being in your best shape will make the process easier. Lifting weights will help make you solid and may help you feel more masculine than feminine in appearance. As far as not wanting to appear too feminine as you lose weight, a lot of it is in the way we carry ourselves and dress.

Just don't do anything to either extreme when it comes to your weight. Don't keep unhealthy extra pounds on just to look more male, but don't shed too much too fast.

[JJ]

Men have leaner more muscled bodies than women because they don't have the soft rounding of that extra layer of body fat women have. So the less fat you have and the more muscle the better.

Also because T drives your body to bulk up it also frequently drives increased hunger. It is possible to lose weight on T-you will also be stronger and have more energy according to my own experience and that of others, but it is harder for many than it is pre T. I have lost 90 lbs in 7 months on T by the way and I am 64, so it clearly IS possible. I was losing before I started it and noticed a slow down at first but it is going rapidly now because I am exercising hard for long periods every day.

You don't have to be a stick either, or crash diet, just eat sensibly and exercise a lot. There are sites like Livestrong.com or caloriecount.com that have free programs that really help and lots of articles about what works and what doesn't. I have found Livestrong to be particularly helpful that way. It is a massive site and allied with the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Johnny

[Guest Tobiaskun]

Oh, wow. Thanks guys --I'll be checking out those sites, Johnny. Thanks a lot. Would you mind if I asked how intensively you exercised? I don't need to lose nearly as much, but bulking up a bit doesn't sound at all like a bad idea.

But I think I'll keep going to a healthy weight, whatever makes it easier in the end.