My Hips Don't Lie

[Guest J-Walker]

I thought that would be a funny title.

I've just started a gym membership and I love it, but being in the men's locker room reminds me even more of how different I am. My upper body is perfectly masculine but my entire lower body looks like it was surgically placed onto my body from the opposite gender. Basically I've got major hips and big ole femme thighs, so I know doing strength exercises would only see to accentuate them, replacing them with muscle instead of fat. I started testosterone almost two months ago, and I have noticed numerous changes, but shifts in my body mass have not occurred.

When will I start to see changes in my body in terms of making it look more masculine? Will this eliminate my current problem on its own? I'm not really concerned with having perfect thighs or hips, just normal male ones. If not, are there some exercises I can do to drastically reduce this or even completely alleviate this problem? Heeeelp me!

Charlie

[Guest April63]

Well testosterone should redistribute fat, but I'm not sure when. Your bone structure probably won't change, so in a way, you're stuck.

April

[Guest StrandedOutThere]

Yeah, that title was really funny. I lol'd, and I seldom do that because I'm all stoic and stuff.

My hips don't lie, and it complicates my life a lot. The top half of me says "dude", but the bottom half says "chick" (sadly). My problem is different from yours though. The fact that I'm pudgy and carry the weight down low makes it worse. You hit the nail on the head. I too look like someone mixed up my top and bottom half.

My sense is that it takes a while for the fat to redistribute. Neither of us has been on T all that long. The thing that's a little disconcerting is that I've seen guys where it didn't redistribute much. I think the most important thing is to stay close to your ideal weight, which, judging from your recent pics, you are already doing.

[Guest Evan_J]

Definately keep your weight down like Ainsley said, and focus on expanding the top to offset/take away attention from the bottom. I think if you focus more on keeping the bottom as slim as possible it'll fix itself out as opposed to worrying about "strengthening" it. Think more of doing something like running if you are determined to address the lower half.

[Guest leo]

even pretty much said it all, but also you aint been on T to long so dont worry yet

[Guest bronx]

I never had a hip problem but as i got older my thihs did get bigger and soft. The good news is T does help. It took about a year before I really noticed that my thighs became more muscular and male in shape. They are solid muscle now, so just be patient it will all come together. It takes about 2-5 years to get the full effect of T on your body and genetics plays a part as we all know. So just keep working out. Some bio-guys have hips and thighs I've noticed.

[Guest J-Walker]

Thanks a lot guys and girl. And glad I could break Stranded's stoicness.

I've been getting really into exercising lately. Before I tried, but I wasn't committing to it every day like I am now. When I look at exercise videos for "Buns" (Lower body, it should be called), they are always hosted by women and always by chicks with large, meaty thighs, which scares me every time I look for routines. If T will definitely help once it's progressed, I won't worry about it. I'll stick to treadmill for now as far as legs are concerned (and maybe the "giving birth" machine) and do lots of running then.

Thanks!

[Guest Irielle]

J - here is a quick outline that might help you structure an exercise program -

Doing some running, stairmaster, or other aerobic exercise that uses your glutes (butt muscles) will burn the fat. The biggest muscle in our body is our gluteus maximus so you want to do aerobic exercises that will use them. That means move your legs. Use a heart rate monitor and generally aim for sustained effort of 60 - 75% of your maximum heart rate. Studies show that sustaining a higher heart rate will burn fat faster.

To build up your upper body mass do high weight/low repetition weight training. Go to total muscle failure in maybe 8 -12 reps. When you can do 12 reps at a given weight then you are ready to raise the amount of weight you are lifting. Try and work each major muscle group at least 2 times a week. Don't work the same muscles in consecutive days. Work larger muscles first in the session and then down to smaller.

For your lower body you can use low weight/high repetitions to increase definition and not increase muscle mass. Then when the fat burns off you will see nice muscle definition. Use a weight that will let you do maybe 16 -20 repetitions.

A basic workout schedule might be something like this:

Day one - 1/2 hour aerobics, weight training for legs and neck

Day two - 1/2 hour aerobics, weight training for chest and back

Day three - 1/2 hour aerobics, weight training for shoulder and arms

Day four - repeat day one

Day five - repeat day two

Day six - repeat day three

Day seven - 1+ hours of aerobics (or rest day if you want)

There's a lot more, too. You want to cycle hard/easy days and do different aerobic workouts on different days. Swimming won't burn fat so much (maybe it's the body's way of maintaining warmth and buoyancy?) but is great exercise and tones you up.

There are just so many ways to organize your workouts. Body shaping takes time but it can be done within the confines of your genetics and hormones and all those things. Good luck!!! You WILL get the body you want!

Iri

[Guest J-Walker]

Irielle, have I ever told you how amazing I think you are? Probably not. In any case, I love you. You basically just took all the hard work out of working out (the organization). THANK YOU!

[Guest Irielle]

Wow, Charlie, thanks you so much for the compliment. I love you to and want you to look like the boy you know you are.

Don't forget to take full body photographs before you start your workout program. Full front, side and back. Minimal attire or even nude if you're not too shy. These are just for you to have a record of how your body changes. Your body will change, but you might not realize how much without the photos. Take photos every so often, maybe six months or so.

Take a notebook with you to your workouts and keep track of which exercises you do, how much weight and how many repetitions. This will be valuable information when you learn more about how the different exercises change your body. It will be easier to fine tune your workouts. It will help you figure out what works best for you.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Iri

[Guest StrandedOutThere]

Thanks a lot guys and girl. And glad I could break Stranded's stoicness.

I've been getting really into exercising lately. Before I tried, but I wasn't committing to it every day like I am now. When I look at exercise videos for "Buns" (Lower body, it should be called), they are always hosted by women and always by chicks with large, meaty thighs, which scares me every time I look for routines. If T will definitely help once it's progressed, I won't worry about it. I'll stick to treadmill for now as far as legs are concerned (and maybe the "giving birth" machine) and do lots of running then.

Thanks!

The stoic bit has been good for passing. Tonight I went to this hamburger place with my roommate. I just knew I was going to get "ma'am" at the counter. When I'm with my roommate that's what usually happens. He's a big dude, so by comparison I look pretty fem, I guess. Anyway, I put on my "mild scowl" and got "sir". Sweet. It's weird. I never was what you'd call a smiley person. Anyway, this subtle, mildly annoyed with a slight scowl look seems to do the trick.

Hmm... I don't like those exercise videos and stuff. The ladies at my gym are always doing this thing called "Zumba". I think it is like this decade's version of Tae Bo. Yeah, being in there with all the ladies makes me feel self conscious. My dad will go to spin class and other classes full of women, but he's obviously a natal male.

I'm thinking good old fashioned treadmill and some upper body training are the way to go. Irielle's plan seems pretty awesome.

[Guest J-Walker]

Oh god no. Zumba? I don't enjoy those big class things. Just follow them for learning routines. But contrats on the sir! Always fun to be confirmed, especially moreso when you don't particularily feel like you're passing.

[Guest StrandedOutThere]

Oh god no. Zumba? I don't enjoy those big class things. Just follow them for learning routines. But contrats on the sir! Always fun to be confirmed, especially moreso when you don't particularily feel like you're passing.

Classes aren't my thing either. Zumba is upsetting. It's all trendy and stuff. Mostly I just like to watch from the treadmill, OUTSIDE of the aerobics room.

I wonder how long before T gets rid of these hips. Oooohh...I'm ready for them to go away....