Somthing I Didn't Find Here

[Guest Zabrak]

So, as I've posted before I'm going full time male even off of T. This means no extra muscle growth boost anytime soon. That's a big problem for me for one reason and here it is...

I'm 5'9 and 116 pounds. I'm 'technically' suppose to be 125-130 pounds to 'be healthy' but I feel perfectly healthy - for anyone who was going to comment on my health.

No matter if I eat a truck load of food or none at all in a day my weight will NOT CHANGE. My biggest change I had in years is going from 120-116 pounds. I still don't get why I lost that weight and I've never been able to gain it back.

I want to be stronger and bigger, I want gain muscles but its seeming less and less possible to do it without finding some magic drug out there that can boost them chemically.(I do work out by the way, it doesnt help and because I have such a small body I get tired quickly).

Has any other FTM gone through this kind of issue? Do you know of any 'magic' health drink or chemically(that arn't illegal lol) that will help? I've researched into it but maybe you guys have found somthing I haven't.

[Guest Cody_T]

umm I don't have anything like the same problem going on... but if you consume like, tons of food/protein (like, bulky protein shakes) before working out you should convert it over to muscle. At least that's the theory behind the football guys at my school. You probably won't gain much bulk without T, but converting that intake to muscle would probably help. And strength is always helpful, so I'd keep doing weights even if you're not getting bulk.

[Guest Huff]

I have difficulty putting on muscle mass too. Before T, I was 5'6" and could maintain in the low 120's as long as I was binge eating (to the point of feeling sick) just about everyday. The good new is that testosterone WILL help, as one of it's major functions is muscle synthesis. So, I've gained some lean muscle mass in the last 6 months - I'm in the low 130's now, which probably represents more like 12 pounds of muscle, since my body comp is also lower. Still, though, I would like to be more like 140 or 150 pounds of muscle. One of the things I learned in class (I'm studying exercise physiology) is that different people have different genetic muscle fiber types. Some people have more fast-twitch muscle fibers (which get big and strong easily with weight-training) and some people have more slow-twitch fibers (which are really good for running and other aerobic activities, but don't really get very big no matter how hard you try). If you're an 'ectomorph' like me, then you'll probably do better running 10Ks than playing lineman on the football squad. Regardless, though, strength development is still important and will be even more important while you're going through puberty again (assuming you are planning to take T).

So... I'd say use those slow-twitch muscles to your advantage. For the first 6 weeks (especially after you're on T), use a weight that you can lift 15-20 times before you can't lift it again. Do 2-3 sets of each exercise, making sure to hit all your major muscle groups. If you really get into it, you can do lots of exercises and split up your leg days and back days, etc or you can just pick 10-12 exercises that cover the whole body and do them all on the same day. Do this 2-3 times per week. Keep increasing the weight you're lifting so that you fatigue in 15-20 reps. As for dietary stuff... eat plenty of protein and LOTS of complex carbohydrates (whole grains, fruits, veggies). You should consume 1.5 grams/kg of simple carbs (white rice, white bread, sugar, whatever) and some protein within twenty minutes after working out for optimal muscle repair. The post-workout meal is the most important by far. To gain mass, you're intake is probably going to be 2500-3000 before you're on T and 3000-3500 after you're on T. That's a lot of food - I find I need to eat 5-6 meals a day to get in all those calories without feeling sick. If you're metabolism is higher than average (which it sounds like it might be), then you're looking at eating even more than that.

Oh, and after 6 weeks, I'd try 6 weeks of 3-5 sets of 8-12 reps to fatigue. If that goes well, the next cycle would be to do 4-6 sets of 6 reps to fatigue, but that cycle might not work very well for you if you don't have an abundance of type II fibers - you'll have to try it and see, though.

MK

[Guest Zabrak]

Thanks, Huff! Thats the answer I've been looking for. You've giving me a good guideline to follow and I'm on T now so things should be easier.

Oh, and sorry for the late answer. I forgot about this thread. LOL

[Guest Huff]

I'd be interested to know how your strength development and weight gain go. One of the guys that organizes some of the programming for the Southern Comfort Conference asked me to give a presentation on athletic training for transmen... and I'd like to get more data points other than just my own. Actually, it'd be a really interesting exercise physiology PhD topic... cardiovascular and muscular adaptations in transsexual men and women during and post HRT transition. hmm... I'm such a geek... a geeky jock. go figure.

Mike

[Guest Zabrak]

Today Wed, Dec 10 I weighed in at exactly 114 pounds. .......

I'm going to start working out now, but this month I'm going away for xmas from the 20th to the 4th of Jan. So I wont get much of a chance to stick to it. So I'll get on a better schedule for Jan. Maybe I'll buy some protein stuff that helps now that I got some T in my body. I'll weigh in again at the end of Jan to see if theres any real progress.

[Sally]

Hey Zabrak,

I know that you would like to bulk up right away - at your age I would have given anything for about forty extra pounds (6'4" - 145). After college my life style changed - work didn't allow as much time for sports and most of the physical activites that had been a daily part of my life. My eating habbits didn't change, but with the onset of the aging process (a slowing of the matabilism) and a more sedintary life style the pounds packed on so fast that I have been fighting and loosing the battle ever since. The T is a powerful growth hormone so if you eat well and supply the proper building blocks you will increase in mass, how much depends on genetics.

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest Zabrak]

Everyone always warns me age will catch up at some point then I'll have to worry what I eat. I'm happy it hasnt happend yet - I need muscle not fat. My family has pretty slender guys but I'd say their medium build, I'm guessing I'll at lest be able to have some 'musle padding' which is a realistic goal for me.(even if I'd love to be muscle man.)

Heres a goal for me; I want to look like iron man! He's my idol.

I AM IRON MANNNN, NAH NAH NAH NAH NAH NAHHH

[Guest Zabrak]

I'm going to do a little experiment here for my own amusement. I'll post a picture of my arm now and in the latter then compare the 'looks' of them.

This is the best place seeing as I don't use any other place to post about being trans. I guess it's my own record keeping on my exerise as a transmen. I hope thats not againts the rules.

[Guest bronx]

Have you tried doing push-ups, chin-ups and dips? The reason I say this is that you can do these exercises just about anywhere and there good for your upper body strength, also definition. I'm only 5'2" and I used to weigh about 115-120 pounds now I'm about 140-145 pounds and I'm not fat. I was doing alot of those exercises b4 I got sick and it really helped me alot. GOOD LUCK