Going to the gym during transition?

[Apples Mk.II]

Ok. One my typical doubts: How would I handle myself with the privacy during the awkward period?

I have a 6 months contract with my small gym. I've been going there for the last three years, and I plan to keep exercising, since I need a minimum of muscle tone to support my back and avoid health problems. Plus I really want a wonderful body (in the sense of properly worked and maintained).


But... Let's say I start transition with HRT. What will happen? OF course, exercising would be normal, but... What will happen when the "changes" start showing up? Yup, there are open area showers with large changing rooms. No private showers. The girls have it easier with private showers, but I seriously doubt I can go there in the middle of the transition.


The workaround  I can think of is that when changes are too visible on "naked" mode, I'd have to stop using the showers there. I go to the gym on the morning before work (less than two persons at the same time on the showers), so the only solution is leaving earlier, get to the metro smelling like a pig and use the only shower in the office, which I hop it will be available, if the bike commuters are not overusing it and there is a nice queue.

For the afternoons, I guess it's the same but showering at home...


Scrap, I don't know how I would deal with this.  Start looking for another gym with private showers? Basically it's the only place in my daily life were I am "unprotected".

[RedFox]

I've actually wondered the same thing - but additionally there's the question of clothing and presentation.  I guess I'll just have to wait and see.  But like you, for me exercise is not an option, it's a necessity.  I don't need it for health reasons so much as sanity reasons.  The gym is where I go to clear my head and have ME time.  Though as I'll likely be divorced in a few months I'll probably have more ME time than I want.  :/  Maybe i can just workout at home until i finish my transition.

But yes, good question with no good answers.

[Beverly]

But... Let's say I start transition with HRT. What will happen? OF course, exercising would be normal, but... What will happen when the "changes" start showing up? Yup, there are open area showers with large changing rooms. No private showers. The girls have it easier with private showers, but I seriously doubt I can go there in the middle of the transition.

Many gyms in the UK have a disabled changing area - a private room that accommodates one person but it is rarely used so I know that trans-people sometimes use the disabled facilities. Does your gym not have something similar?

[Kelly-087]

In the US we tend to integrate the disabled accomodations into normal mens and womens restrooms/locker rooms. Although sometimes it is a separate area.

[Apples Mk.II]

Many gyms in the UK have a disabled changing area - a private room that accommodates one person but it is rarely used so I know that trans-people sometimes use the disabled facilities. Does your gym not have something similar?

It does not have even a disabled access. I wonder how they manage to bring the machines inside. They probably have an industrial lift inside, but as for the only entrance open to public... You'd better have two legs and be a strongman to open that door.

It's really well hidden, but it's the only gym exactly on my route between home and the office. I already asked if there was another private separated changing room / shower. There is nothing.

[Misato]

I've got private showers where I go.  It's the naked bit between the locker and the shower that puzzles me once the girls start to show up.  And E starts for me in less than 13 days as of this writing.  I'll have to pay closer attention to what others are getting away with...

Stopping is not a option either.  I sit too much at the job.  And I have a nice curve in my torso I really want to keep!

[Chloe421x]

off topic, but for appearing mroe feminine do you think it would be a good idea to do muscle building worksouts to make our hips get bigger, like focus on high weight low rep hip exersize?

was wondering this the other day as i currently do tons of low weight high rep ( 100+ ) for toning and atempting to make my male frame a bit smaller ( darn these muscles     )

[RedFox]

Chloe, I would think that would depend on your personal anatomy - how your muscles respond to heavy weight.  I tend to bulk up quickly so I've switched all my workouts from heavy weights/low reps to high reps/low weight and a ton of cardio.

I've actually dropped 14 pounds in the past few months and it's still coming off - but it drives me nuts to be avoiding all the upper-body workouts.  I'm hoping once I'm slim and on E I can resume some moderate weight training without bulking up too much.

This shower question is going to be a tough one to answer.  As I'm currently looking for a new job, I'm hoping to find a place that has individual showers and maybe a gym.

[Cindy]

I go regularly to the gym and they have been wonderful in my journey. But I have to admit I don't use the showers there. I was thinking of maybe a shower smock? A sort of loose fitting smock that you can slip on as you undress and then go to the shower in. Once in the shower they are private so that should be OK.

But then again are dressing as a guy or a gal?

In my limited experience many girls cover their lower regions with a towel, particularly if it is that time of the month, as they go to the shower, and once out and you have your knickers on everything is hidden again.  Boobs come in all shapes and sizes so no one will notice.

Just a thought.

[Kupcake]

Ok, so as I understand it, you're worried about the social consequences of changes in your body shape when you're in the male locker room?

I might be biased because I'm probably more libertine than most, but I wouldn't sweat it, honestly.  Don't let it bother you at all.  Think about it this way.

There is one human drive which tends to outweigh almost all other concerns.  It has been demonstrated to be more powerful, in most cases, than human compassion or even desire for self-preservation in cases of ambiguous danger.  I'm talking about the drive to conform to the expectations of a social situation.  This is profoundly powerful, doubly so in cases where the circumstances are unclear.

So yeah, you could have a significantly feminized male body, and I think almost all people would simply go with the expected behavior of walking in, doing their thing in a business-like manner without paying excess attention to the men next to them, and walking out.

Beyond that, breast growth isn't any kind of huge red flag.  In most gyms in the US, you have your share of men with high levels of body fat who have developed moderate pseudogynecomastia as a result.  The incidence of this condition is only increasing internationally as levels of obesity rise across the developed world.  Meanwhile, there are also those with low body fat who may develop this due to glandular conditions.  People may not know the details, but I think most have some understanding that these things occur and don't give others trouble over it.  Heck, if larger than ideal male breast growth really caused people to react negatively, we'd have daily riots in every 24 Hour Fitness in Mississippi.

I do kinda sympathize.  I've got a gym membership, and I very often hop on over to go swimming at night.  I mostly look male, but I'm closer to average female than average male when you look at some of my body metrics.  Nobody really notices or cares.  I did have a guy staring at me yesterday.  But I've been with enough guys to tell that A. he was gay and B. it was the "now take off the rest" stare.

On the off-chance you do encounter the one outlier (AKA ->-bleeped-<-) who comments negatively about it, ignore him.  Honestly?  That kind of person is bad to a lot of people regardless of their gender, and it makes no sense to adjust one's behavior to appease this kind of ignorant loudmouth.