Hi. I'm Mindy.

[Deanna_Renee]

Mindy, I also wanted to comment on an issue that you mentioned somewhere 'up there' about your concern with your musculature. I wouldn't give that much concern for the future. After you start HRT you will, more than likely, lose a lot of that muscle bulk as the hormones do their work. It may take 6 months or more, depending on how much mass you have, your diet and exercise routines. But, we all lose a lot of that muscle as the body reconfigures the fibers of the tissues to more appropriately align to the

chemistry. Also plan on becoming a weakling girl. Oh, and be prepared to cry at everything.

It is a wonderful journey, once you pass the speed bumps.

Deanna <3

[Emily Aster]

One question I have, which I can't seem to figure out is this: Is it better to complete the body laser hair removal first?  Considering the HRT will affect growth, etc, and make clearance less successful?

I view this as more of a personal choice. Almost everybody you ask will tell you it's a waste of money to do it before HRT because you won't need as much of it after HRT. I'm not on HRT yet and I'm already doing it. I hate having the hair there, so the extra cost of doing it now is less of a concern for me than it actually being there is. To each their own.

[Mindy More]

Oh my! That is pretty! I've never heard of it before, but may need to find myself a cute piece. Thank you Mindy.

Deanna ❤

My pleasure Deanna.

[Mindy More]

I view this as more of a personal choice. Almost everybody you ask will tell you it's a waste of money to do it before HRT because you won't need as much of it after HRT. I'm not on HRT yet and I'm already doing it. I hate having the hair there, so the extra cost of doing it now is less of a concern for me than it actually being there is. To each their own.

I've always hated the hair as well but I'm very much a perfectionist with a touch of OCD, so you can see the way my mind works.  When I first skimmed what you said Emily, I thought you were addressing facial feminization so I started to backpedal a bit.  Yesterday, I came across one website discussing the steps of transitioning, and the author of these steps very clearly says that surgery should ALWAYS come after HRT, so I started to think if I was making a mistake by going forward with the procedures in Feb.  They also said that transitioning is the last act of a desperate person (all seemingly spoken from experience).  I guess it was meant to be taken frankly and make people think twice by painting this negative picture.  I started to think about things negatively, but then I thought about how I'm taking things one step at a time and how much of a dream come true this would actually be.  The one thing that did overwhelm me though when I woke up in the morning is the nature of how much work I have cut out for me.  I suppose that is what this website is for though!

[Mindy More]

Mindy, I also wanted to comment on an issue that you mentioned somewhere 'up there' about your concern with your musculature. I wouldn't give that much concern for the future. After you start HRT you will, more than likely, lose a lot of that muscle bulk as the hormones do their work. It may take 6 months or more, depending on how much mass you have, your diet and exercise routines. But, we all lose a lot of that muscle as the body reconfigures the fibers of the tissues to more appropriately align to the

chemistry. Also plan on becoming a weakling girl. Oh, and be prepared to cry at everything.

It is a wonderful journey, once you pass the speed bumps.

Deanna <3

I'll probably never tire of hearing about how the hormones contribute to muscle loss...it's probably the one thing I look forward to the most with the HRT.  I have no problem becoming a weakling, but I better not find myself trading my passion for sci-fi films for tear jerkers!  I have no problem crying through Aliens 1-4.

[Deanna_Renee]

I'll probably never tire of hearing about how the hormones contribute to muscle loss...it's probably the one thing I look forward to the most with the HRT.  I have no problem becoming a weakling, but I better not find myself trading my passion for sci-fi films for tear jerkers!  I have no problem crying through Aliens 1-4.

Mindy, your sci-fi affections are safe. I can assure you of that. Myself and many of my friends (more so them) are avid fans. That's not to say your tastes won't change in what you like/dislike in the genre. Speaking of taste, that tends to change a good bit as well. I may be more acutely aware of it, because I'm something of a gourmet. I have found myself like many things I used hate and disliking other things I used to devour. Overall my palate has become more developed in the past two years and that has resulted in my becoming far more creative in the kitchen. I know many artists and musicians whose interests have shifted and more refined one/or diverse.
You have so much to look forward to. It is truly a wonderful experience, in my opinion. As always YMMV

[Deanna_Renee]

Oh, also expect your skin to become much softer and thinner. You will become more sensitive to temperature (especially if you continue to lose weight - I've lost 95 pounds) and also a lot more susceptible to pain and cuts/injury. I used to have an enormously high pain threshhold - I've been beaten up, kicked in face by black belts, had concussions, burns and all and barely felt any pain. Now, I bump into something with not too much force and I'm writhing in pain and most likely bleeding. Still trying to get used to that.

Deanna <3

[gennee]

Hi Mindy and welcome to Susan's.

[Mindy More]

Mindy, your sci-fi affections are safe. I can assure you of that. Myself and many of my friends (more so them) are avid fans. That's not to say your tastes won't change in what you like/dislike in the genre. Speaking of taste, that tends to change a good bit as well. I may be more acutely aware of it, because I'm something of a gourmet. I have found myself like many things I used hate and disliking other things I used to devour. Overall my palate has become more developed in the past two years and that has resulted in my becoming far more creative in the kitchen. I know many artists and musicians whose interests have shifted and more refined one/or diverse.
You have so much to look forward to. It is truly a wonderful experience, in my opinion. As always YMMV

That is good to hear Deanna.  I'm a passionate person, but I'm always receptive to changes and refinements which come along the way.  Nice to hear how you have awakened your culinary flair!:) It will be a cold day in you know where before I can patiently stand in the kitchen and prepare something worth writing home about...but then again you never know.  I just loveee applying myself. I've come to accept. So hopefully I'll see a meaningful Renaissance in my own life, in whichever facet happens to be the one.

[Mindy More]

Oh, also expect your skin to become much softer and thinner. You will become more sensitive to temperature (especially if you continue to lose weight - I've lost 95 pounds) and also a lot more susceptible to pain and cuts/injury. I used to have an enormously high pain threshhold - I've been beaten up, kicked in face by black belts, had concussions, burns and all and barely felt any pain. Now, I bump into something with not too much force and I'm writhing in pain and most likely bleeding. Still trying to get used to that.

Deanna <3

and they say women have the higher pain threshold!  well leave it to a transgendered woman to set the record straight.  Of course childbirth is an arena you nor I could ever experience so they've got that on us.  I actually think I have a pretty high pain threshold myself too, or at least my reaction to pain has become more tempered over the years..as in, I will process the situation as follows: "OUCH, my arm has just been lacerated by a sharp door handle, I am in pain, but I'll smile, because people are watching me, even though that really hurt and I should be belting out at least one good profanity"-  So I guess now, going by your experience, I am going to be on the floor with a throbbing arm.   

Well maybe the upshot will have to be that with the added weight loss and restructuring, I could eventually gain a better sense of balance and hopefully develop a quasi-graceful manner of moving around obstructions......Maybe? I won't hold my breath, but I do have to recondition all aspects of how I move and use gestures.
Oh and congrats on your weight loss!!

[Mindy More]

Hi Mindy and welcome to Susan's.

Thank you Gennee!

[Deanna_Renee]

I don't know if I've become more clumsy/awkward/accident prone or if it is that I am now feeling every time I walk into something, bump something, or get within range of things.

[Mindy More]

I don't know if I've become more clumsy/awkward/accident prone or if it is that I am now feeling every time I walk into something, bump something, or get within range of things.

I'm pretty accident prone myself and I'll probably realize it more so going forward with the HRT as well.  A few months ago, I tore my meniscus literally by standing up wrong after repacking my bags at the airport security check if you can believe that.
On a side note, how do you insert and/or attach images if you don't mind me asking?  I might not have the right to do so yet and I couldn't find information on that in the rules section.

[Deanna_Renee]

When you're writing a post, there is a button in the toolbar (should be underneath the B - bold - button to insert image. You will need to have the image somewhere online, like Photobucket, I use one of my own websites, and you add the URL for the image "[ img ]" IN BETWEEN HERE "[ / img ]" no quotes or spaces. Now that you have 16 posts you should be able to post inages.

Deanna <3

[Mindy More]

When you're writing a post, there is a button in the toolbar (should be underneath the B - bold - button to insert image. You will need to have the image somewhere online, like Photobucket, I use one of my own websites, and you add the URL for the image "[ img ]" IN BETWEEN HERE "[ / img ]" no quotes or spaces. Now that you have 16 posts you should be able to post inages.

Deanna <3

That makes sense, thanks Deanna.

[soulfairer]

I'll probably never tire of hearing about how the hormones contribute to muscle loss...it's probably the one thing I look forward to the most with the HRT.  I have no problem becoming a weakling, but I better not find myself trading my passion for sci-fi films for tear jerkers!  I have no problem crying through Aliens 1-4.

Hi, Mindy, welcome to the great family

I'm also something like you. I am a computer programmer and nerd and nothing has changed in that aspect, but I am much more willing to work a lot because I found sense in life.

Physically, I'm a 'secure' person, so I don't mind being much, much more fragile than before (5'8" & 140lbs as a parameter) and my arms are much thinner, my upper body has lost a lot of muscles and so on. But I like it, it's just different.

And I'm also into women (androgyne ones or even FtM if it's close to A, as I am the opposite). That's also not going to change a lot, generally, because gender identity is completely separated from the sexuality.

Hope you have a great time

[Devlyn]

The fifteen post restriction applies to avatar pictures, pictures in threads are allowed from the first post. Hugs, Devlyn

[Mindy More]

Hi, Mindy, welcome to the great family

I'm also something like you. I am a computer programmer and nerd and nothing has changed in that aspect, but I am much more willing to work a lot because I found sense in life.

Physically, I'm a 'secure' person, so I don't mind being much, much more fragile than before (5'8" & 140lbs as a parameter) and my arms are much thinner, my upper body has lost a lot of muscles and so on. But I like it, it's just different.

And I'm also into women (androgyne ones or even FtM if it's close to A, as I am the opposite). That's also not going to change a lot, generally, because gender identity is completely separated from the sexuality.

Hope you have a great time

Hi Carolina,
Thanks for the welcome! 
Interesting to hear you address gender identity and its relationship to sexuality.  This was something my therapist asked me to reconsider in my last session.  That is, if your body will finally match the way you see yourself mentally, will that if at all, lift any road blocks for your sexuality.  To me, the answer to this question is really not going to be fully understood until some point during my transition but it never hurts to ponder a little.
Call me a noob, but I actually had to look up "androgyne" and double check that it related to androgyny the way I thought it did.  If I am getting it right, do yo mean that you are more feminine and prefer women with more androgynous features?
Have a great weekend,
Mindy

[soulfairer]

Hi Carolina,
Thanks for the welcome! 
Interesting to hear you address gender identity and its relationship to sexuality.  This was something my therapist asked me to reconsider in my last session.  That is, if your body will finally match the way you see yourself mentally, will that if at all, lift any road blocks for your sexuality.  To me, the answer to this question is really not going to be fully understood until some point during my transition but it never hurts to ponder a little.
Call me a noob, but I actually had to look up "androgyne" and double check that it related to androgyny the way I thought it did.  If I am getting it right, do yo mean that you are more feminine and prefer women with more androgynous features?
Have a great weekend,
Mindy

I had reconsidered some part of the sexuality thing. I like women with androgynous features. But if a woman changes her identity to a male one, but not too male-ish, why shouldn't I consider having a relationship with her/him? I am all into androgyny itself, which can be shown in a number of aspects. Regarding the "equipment", then I really prefer a female one.

You should, after changing a bit, reconsider all things again, because you yourself are changing. Then you may become more (or less) flexible about some things. Recently I was with a man, bearded one, but I just felt uncomfortable – and that discomfort hasn't happened before. So you may expect, oh yeah, some changes.

Love,
Carolina

[Deanna_Renee]

Changes in sexuality (orientation) do happen for many during transition, but certainly not all. For me my orientation only changed labels. I have always, and continue to be, attracted to women. Before, when I was labeled a man, I was considered heterosexual. Now that I'm a woman, I'm labeled a lesbian. I'm perfectly happy and proud to take that title, along with transsexual.

It seems to me that more often younger transitioners tend towards being heterosexual, while us older folks tend to be lesbian/gay. Of course I know many who defy the rules. Fortunately each and every one of us is a unique and complex individual.

There are so many things to look forward to in the years ahead. Sit back and enjoy the ride!