HRT muscle loss - Will it do anything about big thigs and calves?

[Apples]

I can't believe this gets on my nerves even more than my face. The big thighs are sort of a genetic family trait, and the calves are concentrated muscle fiber at this moment. Practically my thighs are bigger than my torso, and I can't get over that fact. I've managed to lose 5 kg on a month, reducing them a bit, and I want to lose another five, apart from trying to reduce their size. Maybe I can do something about the calves, but I don't know if the thighs have a solution. 54 cm (21") at the biggest part of the thigh and 37 cm (14.5") at the calves.

As for how it looks at this moment (I know, still a lot of love handles):


Maybe I am getting a bit obsessed about it, sorry. Did HRT induced muscle loss help any of you with this problem?

[Apples]

Thanks. I hope it happens to me, too. I never knew I disliked my body to this extent. It keeps getting worse.

[Eve87]

I've lost a staggering amount of muscle mass as well. Im participating in some study where I have to stick my arms & legs into a scanner thing and then it shows the bone, muscle and fat. The layer of muscle has halved in some places compared to a year ago.

So yeah, HRT often does that. There is a reason female body builders are often all over testosterone. That being said, you can burn your own muscle with the right diet and cardio programme. Jogging 4x/w on an empty stomach seems to work.

[Nicolette]

I can't believe this gets on my nerves even more than my face. The big thighs are sort of a genetic family trait, and the calves are concentrated muscle fiber at this moment. Practically my thighs are bigger than my torso, and I can't get over that fact. I've managed to lose 5 kg on a month, reducing them a bit, and I want to lose another five, apart from trying to reduce their size. Maybe I can do something about the calves, but I don't know if the thighs have a solution. 54 cm (21") at the biggest part of the thigh and 37 cm (14.5") at the calves.

As for how it looks at this moment (I know, still a lot of love handles):

[url=http://imgur.com/ZawiP]http://imgur.com/ZawiP[/url]

Maybe I am getting a bit obsessed about it, sorry. Did HRT induced muscle loss help any of you with this problem?

Are you crazy? I love your thighs and think they're feminine. Maybe I have a thigh fetish or something. Skinny, boney thighs look masculine. My thighs are 22.5" and want to keep them that way.

[MayoiNeko]

I'm with Felicitá, you shouldn't feel obliged to do anything about those legs.. If you'd like to swap though I'd be happy to accommodate
Mine have the opposite problem of being too scrawny, with no meat at all theres nothing feminine about 'em.

[Nicolette]

I was expecting ripped thigh muscles and calves the way Apples was describing. Calves are fine too.

I was expecting this,


but was pleasantly disappointed when I saw a pair of fine feminine pins. 

[Apples]

I don't know... Lots of autoimage problems. When I fattened at puberty the combination of thighs and belly made me feel like an egg. Whenever I sit down they seem to expand and gain a 25% witdth, so I hope I still have good fat deposits on them I can kill. Yet other times I used take photos of them and try to imagine myself as a girl... I won't accept it, but I've been wanting to wear a skirt or short dress for a loooooong time. Even a scottish kilt would have made me happy.


Today I talked at the gym about going into resistance training. Won't reduce muscle mass, but should make them slimmer and leanner. Also, I will stick to the hypocaloric diet (get less calories than you burn). The 5 kg I removed on a month were a bit of cheating. Since I was suffering from extremme anxiety, I couldn't process the nutrients properly, so now it's going to be harder than ever. I'm setting 5 exercise days for the week, With a minimum of 45 cardio minutes per day. I want to be ready.

[Nicolette]

I don't know... Lots of autoimage problems. When I fattened at puberty the combination of thighs and belly made me feel like an egg. Whenever I sit down they seem to expand and gain a 25% witdth, so I hope I still have good fat deposits on them I can kill. Yet other times I used take photos of them and try to imagine myself as a girl... I won't accept it, but I've been wanting to wear a skirt or short dress for a loooooong time. Even a scottish kilt would have made me happy.


Today I talked at the gym about going into resistance training. Won't reduce muscle mass, but should make them slimmer and leanner. Also, I will stick to the hypocaloric diet (get less calories than you burn). The 5 kg I removed on a month were a bit of cheating. Since I was suffering from extremme anxiety, I couldn't process the nutrients properly, so now it's going to be harder than ever. I'm setting 5 exercise days for the week, With a minimum of 45 cardio minutes per day. I want to be ready.

My thighs expand a lot when I sit, but I see that as a feminine trait. It actually makes me feel more feminine. Your thigh muscles are softened by fat deposits, which is good. Many women dream of wearing short dresses or skirts, but don't have the body image confidence to do so. HRT may completely change the equation in terms of muscle and fat distribution, so don't get too hung up on it right  now.

[V M]

Your thighs and calves don't look all that bad imo 

[Kelly J. P.]

Your thighs and calves don't look all that bad imo 

In fact, they look amazing. And pretty awesome.

[Apples]

Thanks, ladies. I'll have to put more thrust on myself.


By they way, looking and the photos, the bodygroom does less and less effect every day (I shave all my body weekly). I think I'm going to switch to wax, at least for the legs.

Oh, and I can't wait to receive those slimmy jeans. I really want to see how I look with thight clothes.

[Kevin Peña]

I'd recommend you do some strength training with heavy weights. You'll lose weight faster and get lean, but once you start HRT, your muscle mass will decrease and the training will do you good in the long term since stronger muscles will help make cellulite less of a problem. Your skin will get thinner and if you don't keep your muscles firm, the adipose tissue that deposits on your thighs and hips will cause cellulite.

Good luck. 

[Apples]

Point taken, thanks. I forgot that even If lift weights, muscles won't hypertrophy unless they get enough protein. Only thing, that I won't abuse the lower extremities as much as I did until now.

[Kevin Peña]

I would still recommend doing a good amount of lower body work. It's very important to work the biggest and strongest muscles in the body. Also, once again, it will help you to avoid noticeable cellulite. Also, don't deprive yourself of protein out of fear of hypertrophy (Meat tastes too good  ). Once again, HRT will prevent hypertrophy since you won't have the testosterone advantage.

[Carolina1983]

Your legs look like mine.

I had alot of muscles there before, but now its more fat and I have only been on hrt for a little over 3 months now. I think you will be just fine

[Apples]

I would still recommend doing a good amount of lower body work. It's very important to work the biggest and strongest muscles in the body. Also, once again, it will help you to avoid noticeable cellulite. Also, don't deprive yourself of protein out of fear of hypertrophy (Meat tastes too good  ). Once again, HRT will prevent hypertrophy since you won't have the testosterone advantage.

But, you mean during HRT of before? At this moment I've decided (I put it on the other thread, sorry) to do 6 exercise days per week, half for cardio/endurance and half for weight training (upper, lower middle). If I don't get a protein excess, I should be able avoid excessive hypertrophy.

[Kevin Peña]

Both. It's good to have a base of strength. Besides, it's not like you'll be out in public immediately, right? You'll have time to let the hormones take effect. It's up to you what you want to do, I'm just stating my opinion.

[Apples]

Well, since losing all of my strenght would mean losing my job, I'll still be forced to keep a bit of muscle mass after that. I'll see what I can do.

[Apples]

It hurts. So much.

Yesterday I got some custom made insoles, so I can finally do lunges and squats without breaking my knees. Let's see if we can shape these legs a bit.

[Beth Andrea]

My calves were always well-developed and well-defined. Other men got jealous of them, because "it's so hard to build up muscle there."

After nearly 6 mos on HRT, they're down to a reasonable size. My arms, too. Thighs no longer have significant quads showing. (I'm not a bodybuilder, btw)