The things no one tells us about hrt.

[Ivy]

4 hours ago, RhondaS said:

Some of us joke about opening jars, but that's getting less funny each time I can't open a jar like I used to. 

Now days I'm  sucker for jar-opening-gizzmos.

[Jackie C.]

9 hours ago, Red_Lauren. said:

I was just thinking about this. I grew up on a farm, and did heavy manual labor till about this time last year. When I mean heavy manual labor. I was lifting things near 100lbs all day, and swinging a sleg hammer, so things that were 45-50 lbs. I had zero trouble with. 

 

Now I struggle with things in the 50lb plus weight. I've also noticed I have lost a lot of endurance, and overall hand strength. Most of my muscle mass has disappeared especially in my arms, chest, back, and shoulders. My arms were so jacked before. That I would look like I was flexing just relaxing. Now I have to flex to even feel a tiny muscle. 

 

You've got to exercise to keep it up. I was just doing back presses with 55lbs in each hand. I can probably do more, but I have trouble getting more than that up without dropping the weights on anybody's toes. I enjoy being an amazon honestly. I offered to carry a tipsy friend to my car the other night. She's only 140, I can manage that for a couple of blocks.

 

Hugs!

[Willow McKenzie]

I started HRT 6 years ago at a real good "Rainbow" clinic in a big liberal city.   After a years worth of labs including comprehensive panels, my Dr. said I needed a colonoscopy because I was always always anemic.   I had a colonoscopy a couple years prior, and passed with flying colors.   So, after going through all that AGAIN!---they still didn't know why I was anemic.   I finally found an experienced, trans friendly, endo who just laughed, " they are running your labs by male parameters.  

[Kelly2509]

I feel weird reading stories about strength and endurance loss from others as I haven't had any of that.  It makes me feel like my GAHT isn't working.  Now logical brain knows that's not the case and not everyone experiences the same thing, but emotional brain freaks out and is like "why is this not working?!?!?!"  Also I tend to ignore the fact I did 25 minute upper body resistance band workouts 3 times a week for the first 9 months on GAHT so that may be a big reason why I haven't noticed a difference.

[Jackie C.]

9 minutes ago, Kelly2509 said:

I feel weird reading stories about strength and endurance loss from others as I haven't had any of that.  It makes me feel like my GAHT isn't working.  Now logical brain knows that's not the case and not everyone experiences the same thing, but emotional brain freaks out and is like "why is this not working?!?!?!"  Also I tend to ignore the fact I did 25 minute upper body resistance band workouts 3 times a week for the first 9 months on GAHT so that may be a big reason why I haven't noticed a difference.

 

Yeah, I did the same thing. Before I started on HRT, I started a strength-training routine because I knew that I'd lose muscle mass. Of course THAT turned into a regular body-building routine and now I'm an amazon and much stronger than I was on T. Though I work out with guys and I can absolutely see the difference in how they build strength and muscle mass vs. the way that I build strength and muscle mass while chugging estrogen and progesterone.

 

Hugs!

[Kelly2509]

14 minutes ago, Jackie C. said:

 

Yeah, I did the same thing. Before I started on HRT, I started a strength-training routine because I knew that I'd lose muscle mass. Of course THAT turned into a regular body-building routine and now I'm an amazon and much stronger than I was on T. Though I work out with guys and I can absolutely see the difference in how they build strength and muscle mass vs. the way that I build strength and muscle mass while chugging estrogen and progesterone.

 

Hugs!

you know, this reminds me of how amazed I am at some of the fitness transformations I've seen.  I've seen a LOT of before and after pictures where it's obvious people did not take care of themselves before GAHT (guilty!) and after wound up dropping tons of weight and getting super fit!  It's amazing what kind of progress you can make when you don't hate your body so much.

 

It's really neat you can see the difference with the body building group you hang out with.

[Jackie C.]

6 minutes ago, Kelly2509 said:

I've seen a LOT of before and after pictures where it's obvious people did not take care of themselves before GAHT (guilty!) and after wound up dropping tons of weight and getting super fit!

 

VERY guilty of that. My brain was very, "Can't put lipstick on a pig," about my appearance. I just did not care. There was also a pretty strong streak of, "If I don't take care of my carcass and I don't go to the doctor, maybe this will be over soon." The transformation after I started taking care of myself has been pretty dramatic. There's still work to be done, but I don't mind anymore. I'll do whatever it takes.

o

It's funny. Mom looks like a superhero. She really does. She's been doing bodybuilding for decades though. She's still jealous of how fast the guys can put on size and strength. I'm pretty powerful, but with less than half my effort all the guys can beat out my progress pretty easily. One of them can, for example, push a fully-loaded sled with all 207 pounds of me riding it as easily as I can push just the sled. I put the work in every day. He comes in a couple of times a week. So not fair.

 

Hugs!

[Kelly2509]

12 minutes ago, Jackie C. said:

"If I don't take care of my carcass and I don't go to the doctor, maybe this will be over soon."

OMG it's like you read my mind.  I am SOOOOO guilty of that!  I feel like at one point I was kind of daring my body to fail.  I'm still working out some bad habits but now that I care what happens it's amazing how much effort I willingly put into taking care of myself.  Maybe that gets us a bit back on-topic ( ), before GAHT nobody ever told me I would be so much more motivated to take care of myself, my health, heck, even my clothes (There's such as thing as "cold wash"?!).  

 

13 minutes ago, Jackie C. said:

I put the work in every day. He comes in a couple of times a week. So not fair.

Oh yeah, that sucks!

[Jackie C.]

1 hour ago, Kelly2509 said:

Maybe that gets us a bit back on-topic ( ), before GAHT nobody ever told me I would be so much more motivated to take care of myself, my health, heck, even my clothes (There's such as thing as "cold wash"?!).

 

Goddess yes. Oh look, my wardrobe is now more than jeans and black t-shirts with dark jokes on them. I have a skin and nail care routine. Caring about my appearance? Jewelry? Urge to get piercings (My ears anyway. I'm timid) and maybe a couple more tattoos. Where did this urge to go out and find friends to connect with come from? Wait, I'm motivated to actually build a career now? -what the heck-?!?

 

GAHT has been pretty good to me. I'm sorry I waited so long. I mean, "I could have felt like this THE WHOLE TIME?!?"

 

Hugs!

[Heather Nicole]

On 1/23/2022 at 10:13 AM, Jandi said:

Now days I'm  sucker for jar-opening-gizzmos.

 

A few years ago around her birthday, my mom was getting really fed up struggling with jar lids and openers that just didn't work for her. So I went and just got her a variety of highly-rated openers figuring "At least one of these things has got to work!" Eventually, after she passed, they all came back into my possession. So...the point of this whole story? I'm now, at least hopefully, very well-prepared for my upcoming "Argh, I can't open these any more!" time 😁

 

3 hours ago, Kelly2509 said:

I've seen a LOT of before and after pictures where it's obvious people did not take care of themselves before GAHT (guilty!) and after wound up dropping tons of weight and getting super fit! 

 

I'm finding this to be true, too. At least hopefully. It's still too early for any results, but I found that when I hit the reality of "OMG, I may actually be starting hormones in a couple weeks", that did give me an extra swift kick in the rear to get myself back into shape, since I know E makes that all the harder to do.

 

Four weeks on E now and I'm doing a lot more homemade veggie-heavy foods, less prepackaged and fast foods, and working on getting more exercise in. It's still somewhat of a struggle, but I actually feel more consistently committed to it now than I did before. Fingers crossed...

 

3 hours ago, Kelly2509 said:

I feel like at one point I was kind of daring my body to fail.

 

I was definitely at that point a few years ago. (That was how I regained all the weight I'd previously lost, and then some.) I'm not sure how closely that related the dysphoria in my case, as I had other things going on that were more directly triggering it. Buuut...the dysphoria may very well have been a big indirect cause of what led me to be in that situation in the first place.

 

[Kelly2509]

@Jackie C. Yes to all of that!  I feel exactly the same way!

 

@Heather NicoleThat's interesting about the eating habits! I actually started feeling way more into fruits and veggies than meats and gravitate towards "lighter" veggie based things.  I just don't like the "heavy" feeling I get when I Have meat these days and can't really explain exactly why.

[Jackie C.]

2 hours ago, Kelly2509 said:

I just don't like the "heavy" feeling I get when I Have meat these days and can't really explain exactly why.

 

Yeah, I feel this too. I don't HATE meat or anything, but I eat way less of it. Lots of plant-based proteins, but animal-based protein is more of a "once in a while" thing.

 

Hugs!

[Jamie68]

I really wish I would have lost the "spare tire" before starting HRT. I just can't seem to get rid of it now. I usually go to gym every other 2 or 3 days and do a half hour of cardio, then a half hour of weights. I think I burn around 400 calories. I've been in a slump for a little over a week now. Hopefully get back into it today. 

 

I used to "live to eat", now I "eat to live".

[Jackie C.]

2 hours ago, Jamie68 said:

I really wish I would have lost the "spare tire" before starting HRT. I just can't seem to get rid of it now. I usually go to gym every other 2 or 3 days and do a half hour of cardio, then a half hour of weights. I think I burn around 400 calories. I've been in a slump for a little over a week now. Hopefully get back into it today. 

 

I used to "live to eat", now I "eat to live".

 

You've got the order backwards. You'll see better results if you lift first, then do your cardio. Remember to go heavy and while you're doing cardio, your body will start going after the fat stores to fuel your workout. It's more work on HRT, but I lost about 100 pounds while scarfing estrogen. I absolutely believe you can do it too.

 

Hugs!

[Jamie68]

56 minutes ago, Jackie C. said:

 

You've got the order backwards. You'll see better results if you lift first, then do your cardio. Remember to go heavy and while you're doing cardio, your body will start going after the fat stores to fuel your workout. It's more work on HRT, but I lost about 100 pounds while scarfing estrogen. I absolutely believe you can do it too.

 

Hugs!

Thanks. I'll try that.

I work mostly the legs since they are skinny. Do heavy on that, then moderate on twisting and chest press. Don't want to bulk up there, just tone it. ❤️

[Jackie C.]

17 minutes ago, Jamie68 said:

Thanks. I'll try that.

I work mostly the legs since they are skinny. Do heavy on that, then moderate on twisting and chest press. Don't want to bulk up there, just tone it. ❤️

 

You won't on HRT. Especially if you stretch afterwards. I've got my pics scattered through the What are you Wearing thread and I'm not bulky. It's HARD to reach the kind of hypertrophy you're thinking about without T.

 

Hugs!

[Heather Nicole]

4 hours ago, Jackie C. said:

You'll see better results if you lift first, then do your cardio. Remember to go heavy and while you're doing cardio, your body will start going after the fat stores to fuel your workout.

 

Ooh! I'll have to try that, too. I was basically allergic to physical activity the first 30 or so years of my life, so I know nearly nothing about working out. About all I know is "Taking walks is a good thing" and "Spending time in VR (esp. Beast Saber) really tires me out!"

 

I've also heard that eating protein within half hour of working out can help build muscle. I don't know how true or perhaps over-simplified that might be?

 

3 hours ago, Jackie C. said:

You won't on HRT. Especially if you stretch afterwards. I've got my pics scattered through the What are you Wearing thread and I'm not bulky. It's HARD to reach the kind of hypertrophy you're thinking about without T.

 

Yea, while I'm no expert and have no personal experience with this yet, I do get the feeling that women (both trans and cis) tend to be more concerned about "bulking up" than they need to be. Even setting aside the effects of E vs T, my understanding is that the more muscle mass you have, the more calories your body automatically burns even just going about your day. And I figure it's probably easier to "un-bulk" if you need to than it is to cut down on body fat - especially on E.

 

[Heather Nicole]

(Erm, that was supposed to read "Beat Saber", not "Beast Saber". Don't know why my finger keeps wanting to hit that 's' key...)

[Jackie C.]

1 hour ago, Heather Nicole said:

I've also heard that eating protein within half hour of working out can help build muscle. I don't know how true or perhaps over-simplified that might be?

 

That is absolutely true. You want to eat something with lean protein in it within 20 minutes of your workout. It keeps your body from eating all that muscle you just encouraged to grow.

 

1 hour ago, Heather Nicole said:

Yea, while I'm no expert and have no personal experience with this yet, I do get the feeling that women (both trans and cis) tend to be more concerned about "bulking up" than they need to be. Even setting aside the effects of E vs T, my understanding is that the more muscle mass you have, the more calories your body automatically burns even just going about your day. And I figure it's probably easier to "un-bulk" if you need to than it is to cut down on body fat - especially on E.

 

You absolutely need to meet my mom. She's tiny and cis, but she works out HARD every day. She looks like a very petite (hey, she's 5'3") superhero, but she's not bulky at all. So sexy. People ask me why we started working out together and I say, "Because I want to look like that."

 

Hugs!

[Jamie68]

I did my regular routine backwards yesterday. Holy crap! What a difference. I almost couldn't do my regular 1/2 hour on the elliptical. I try to not exceed 160 bpm. It usually takes 20 minutes to get there. It only took 10 minutes this time. 

[Jamie68]

Just now, Jamie68 said:

I did my regular routine backwards yesterday. Holy crap! What a difference. I almost couldn't do my regular 1/2 hour on the elliptical. I try to not exceed 160 bpm. It usually takes 20 minutes to get there. It only took 10 minutes this time. 

Also I always eat a "pure protein" bar. It's only 21 grams of protein. I usually eat a tuna fish sandwich in the summer. Also I  drink a body armor right after working out.

[Jackie C.]

21 is plenty sweetie. I scarf those too.

 

Wish you lived closer, I could show you how to work the elliptical to hit your heart rate in five minutes or less.

 

Hugs!

[Jamie68]

4 hours ago, Jackie C. said:

21 is plenty sweetie. I scarf those too.

 

Wish you lived closer, I could show you how to work the elliptical to hit your heart rate in five minutes or less.

 

 

According to a chart, for my age I'm not supposed to go over 140 bpm so I try to build up above that slowly. It usually only takes a couple minutes to get to 140. I try to stay between 155 and 160. 

[Jamie68]

1 minute ago, Jamie68 said:

According to a chart, for my age I'm not supposed to go over 140 bpm so I try to build up above that slowly. It usually only takes a couple minutes to get to 140. I try to stay between 155 and 160. 

When I cool down, I make sure I'm down to 140. 

[christinakristy2021]

   Once I get started with hormone replacement therapy, my journey into getting ready to transition from male to female will be the bestest ever.