6 months and muscle loss

[KathrynJulia]

I've just passed the 6 month point on HRT and yesterday I was taking a laptop, projector and cords to my car which is located some two timezones away from where I work. That's the joys of working for a University, parking your car may feel like a hike across your state. About half way to my car, I started to feel, this stuff is heavy. By the time I reached my car, I was about ready to collapse. All my life I've been used to being pretty strong and hauling 60 lbs or more was nothing.

Yesterday brought up the fact to me that I have to adjust to a whole new set of circumstances in my life. I'm experiencing some serious loss of strength. I've tracked my measurements with a Translog program and I've loss 2 inches in my chest diameter. My biceps are much smaller in diameter. I've lost almost 2 inches of diameter in my calves. Only time will tell what changes the next 6 months will bring. But I have a whole new reality check that I'm not the strong man anymore. I think I'll let someone else do the heavy lifting from here on out. Kathryn

[Guest KarenLyn]

I don't usually have to do a lot of heavy lifting so I didn't notice anything for quite a while. Then I noticed I needed someone else to open jars for me. I think it's something we just have to learn to live with.

[Guest]

Hi Kathryn,

I so understand! My problem is that I never had any muscles to begin with. I think my worst frustration is those packages with the instructions, "tear here". My dentist would cringe at seeing how I get them open - and not terribly lady-like either.

I am trying to use our workout bench to retain a glimmer of strength, at least. And overjoyed when a man holds a door open for me!

Love, Megan

[KathrynJulia]

Hi KarenLyn

Yesterday was one of those moments where I just suddenly realized. I really am experiencing change and it really is alright. I have nothing to prove. I'm ready to do what I can and what I can't, someone else will have to step up. Kathryn

[KathrynJulia]

Hi Megan I was brought up with learning to be courteous and hold a door for a lady. Now I get it. The Why LOL K

[Guest Melissa~]

I'm thrilled that some muscle mass is to be going away. Maybe it should have been a clue as a teenager that I despised people commenting about how broad and heavy my shoulders were. Regardless moving forward from here.

[Guest KimberlyF]

This has always been an odd conversation for me. I asked a bunch of my natal GFs about this last time it came up. Not one of them is happy about having to have someone open jars or carry things for them. Some very much like when people offer, but not having the strength to do some things annoys the heck out of them.

Prior to starting HRT, I would allow my BILs to move my furniture and my FIL to mow my lawn. But I could have done it. I was only being polite

So far I can still get every jar open that's come my way. But it's getting harder and harder. I won't be happy when the day comes that I can't open one.

[Guest Mia J]

My upper body strength has greatly diminished from the time I started HRT. I have found things that I used to be able to haul around almost impossible now. In fact my spouse can now lift more than I can and it takes both of us to lift some things. Sometimes it is a pain but most of the time it really does not bother me.

Mia

[Guest]

So far I can still get every jar open that's come my way. But it's getting harder and harder. I won't be happy when the day comes that I can't open one.

My sister has arthritic hands and has many handy tools for doing things that most of us can do without effort. The one that I've been enjoying is a little lever that pops the vacuum from inside a jar. Looks like a bottle opener with a slightly longer hook - you can find them in the kitchen stores. Rather than fretting over lost strength, I'm enjoying easier, more effortless ways of doing the same thing!

Love, Megan

[Guest KimberlyF]

So far I can still get every jar open that's come my way. But it's getting harder and harder. I won't be happy when the day comes that I can't open one.

My sister has arthritic hands and has many handy tools for doing things that most of us can do without effort. The one that I've been enjoying is a little lever that pops the vacuum from inside a jar. Looks like a bottle opener with a slightly longer hook - you can find them in the kitchen stores. Rather than fretting over lost strength, I'm enjoying easier, more effortless ways of doing the same thing!

Love, Megan

That sounds like a unitasker. Eeeek!!! Can you screw the top off and on after the seal is broken? I am intrigued

[KathrynJulia]

I always expected to lose muscle mass in the large muscles of the arms and legs, but what was surprising to me was that my chest diameter has shrunk 2 inches. I went from a 44 to a 42 inch band size of my chest. Anyone else experience a reduction in chest diameter? Kathryn

[Guest Megan_Lynn]

For me I have definatly noticed some loss of strength. But have not lost much in mass size. What little muscle I lost was fast replaced with fat. My upper arms( biceps) are still a rather large 17 inches around but all muscle definition is gone and they look just like any other womans upper arm but a bit larger then average....

[Guest JennX]

I guess I'll be the one to go against the grain here...

I've been on HRT for 2 years, and at most have lost maybe 10-15% of my "strength" compared to pre-HRT. I am in very good shape and still continue to weight lift 3 times per week including both machines and free-weights (I used to do more pre-HRT). I can still bench press 150 lbs. and I've not noticed a major drop-off yet. I'm a size 6 and and have lost some muscle mass, but I'm still weight for the big drop in strength I keep reading about.

[Guest]

So far I can still get every jar open that's come my way. But it's getting harder and harder. I won't be happy when the day comes that I can't open one.

My sister has arthritic hands and has many handy tools for doing things that most of us can do without effort. The one that I've been enjoying is a little lever that pops the vacuum from inside a jar. Looks like a bottle opener with a slightly longer hook - you can find them in the kitchen stores. Rather than fretting over lost strength, I'm enjoying easier, more effortless ways of doing the same thing!

Love, Megan

That sounds like a unitasker. Eeeek!!! Can you screw the top off and on after the seal is broken? I am intrigued

The one I have is a "JarKey". I just googled it and found a bunch of pictures like the one I have. It does release the vacuum without warping the lid. It's worked on everything from pickles to peanut butter.

Love, Megan

[Guest Paradox]

In the last six months I have lost 75 pounds, including muscle mass throughout my body. Feet? Who would have thought. My chest went from 52 to 45 over the breast and 42 below the breast. (strange that I have to measure my chest differently now.) I used to bench press over 400 pounds, now I think 100 would be challenging. Things used to bounce off of me and moving furnature was child's play. Now I bounce off of things and sliding my lightweight clothes dryer a few inches is a workout.

I don't think women truly appreciate just how very much stronger men are, nor men how much weaker are women. I say this as a point of observation, not an insult to either sex. People recognize the fact, but cannot appreciate the extent without experiencing it. Muscle mass, where did you go?

[Guest Just "B"]

I actually miss the strength I used to have. I was so used to it just being there as I was an avid gym rat. I'd love to have some of it back-------minus the mass of course.

[Charlize]

I'm a little worried after reading this topic. I'm still working the farm at 64 and while its so much harder now i can still do it. Hope i won't have to give up this work when i get HRT. I'm still strong and while i could cope i would have trouble if i couldn't move hay bales around.

Hugs, Charlie

[VickySGV]

I have always been terrible with "brute force" strength, even with the original equipment level of T. As a result I have always been compensating for the lack of strength with knowing how to use what I do have in ways that are a bit different. I have invented some of my own tools to help in common situations, and have a reputation for never using ANYTHING the way its original manufacturer intended. I make up in stealth and craftiness what I do not and never have had strength wise. Too much fun, and its saved my back and my bacon many times.

[Guest]

A little-talked about part of my past is that I have an Industrial Engineering degree. Yep! Efficiency Expert! But it was said that the best IE's were lazy people who found shortcuts and easy ways to do things. The motto is "Work smarter, not harder."

I gave up on the engineering career after 5 years. But, the idea of trying to be smarter rather than stronger has stuck with me.

Now, to buck a hay bale? I see that bales of hay are a thing of the past around here. Everyone has gone to the big rolls that have to be handled by a machine. Go ahead and go on HRT, Charlie!

Love, Megan

[Guest shadowghost21]

I used to do one armed pushups for warm up before playing Ultimate frisbee games... Yeah I almost died moved a few weeks ago. I lost close to what I imagine is 33-40% of my strength and maybe 20-35% of my bulk. I miss the strength but not the bulk. I'm fine being danty now, it's just that my partner doesn't realize that she is stronger than me now and still tries to make me do the heavy lifting when it's really a team thing. And talk about fatigue! Holy moly I get tired a lot faster.