Muscle loss

[Jamiep]

@ riven1

I am experiencing the same as you. My fingers have never been that strong & less so now. When it comes to jar lids if I couldn't get one open, my wife has strong hands so I pass the jar to her, I think I will be doing that more often now.

[Jennygirl]

I have been skinny all my life too. I have always had skinny arms that I feel embarrassed about, I hope mine don't diminish or they will look like a toothpick. Yikes. Jenny, my upper arms look similar to yours.

Well that is partly because I do have rather smallish arms but also partly because I know how to take a flattering photo. My arms look best when in that position. If they are laying at my sides, they look rather normal sized as they squash out. There is still quite a bit of lean male looking muscle there that I hope goes away. I usually just pay attention to what position my arms are in... There are more feminine positions for sure.. I.e. when holding onto a hand grip standing in the subway.

[Alainaluvsu]

Jamie: being so drained of energy is so not how I've been in the past either. It got so bad, that a few weeks ago I was seriously thinking about going to the doctor and asking about it. It's been getting a bit better though, so I think I can put it off til my next doctor visit in June.

Well that is partly because I do have rather smallish arms but also partly because I know how to take a flattering photo. My arms look best when in that position. If they are laying at my sides, they look rather normal sized as they squash out. There is still quite a bit of lean male looking muscle there that I hope goes away. I usually just pay attention to what position my arms are in... There are more feminine positions for sure.. I.e. when holding onto a hand grip standing in the subway.

For 5 months in, you don't have much muscle at all. Unless you started out without much, HRT has really skimmed your muscle down exceptionally well so far. Regardless of what your arms look like when put to your side (it's common for cis women to look a bit muscular when they do that, too), the trapezius muscles don't look big at all.

And I love the dress. If I could rock black I'd be asking to borrow it lol!

[luna nyan]

I'm at close to 15 months on low dose HRT - I'm due for a blood test in the next few weeks but I can say that my T levels were just under the male range of average.
Even so, there have been some changes - I've lost a bit of muscle definition, and there has been a small amount of shrinkage on the arms.  The trapezius muscles have definitely shrunk a bit.  Much more noticeable is the loss of endurance - any physical sort of work will have me tired fairly quickly.

[misschievous]

You should feel lucky I just measured mine and it is at 14"

[Jamiep]

@Alaina, You bring up a good point which I should ask my Dr. re energy loss when I see him May 30. I love your avatar you look so awesome femme & you look Happy in Love with life! I absorb like a blotter all your thoughtful input. Appreciate your responding.

@Jennygirl, Appreciate your response. I love that black dress, you rock female, I saw your video & an amazing transition in 5 months!

Have a Great weekend!
Hugs
Jamie

[Jennygirl]

Alaina- well I think the combo of upping my E pellet dose by over 40% and not lifting ANYTHING heavy fairly strictly for two+ weeks after doing that did make a large difference. Lately though I've been lifting stuff because I have to.. I mean luggage for 10 days? That requires pretty much my whole wardrobe

I hadn't actually tried to flex in a while, so I just tried. I spoke too soon or something.. Or maybe just thinking about it is making them go away because that bicep bulge is looking way punier than it did even last week before I left on my trip.

Jamie- I always appreciate your responses glad you enjoyed my video, hugs back at you!

[Jamiep]

@ Jennygirl. Aww, thank you doll. Now you have given me something to think about on my next vacation. Maybe at home I will have to rely on my wife to help lift down & up stairs. The luggage is on rollers so okay on the ground. If I am stuck at the airport I could always get a sky cap. All the best for a a successful surgery & speedy recovery. Safe travels. Listen to your body & be good to yourself.

This is a brilliant site & I cherish every slice of life shared here by all my new friends, you are all an inspiration especially you young ones that are leading the way for this oldster here. I have learned so much about myself in the last 12 years instead of going downhill, I am excited & energized with life, I feel a lot younger than my years.

Love all of you.

Jamie

[Kristen Wave]

I mentioned earlier that a women with normal female levels of T or a trans person with female levels of T and E will not be able to bulk up. Here are examples of a women on steroids (T) and then a girl who is extremely fit without steroids.

With Steroids


Without Steroids


Notice how the woman on steroids has a more masculine bone structure (directly caused by to much testosterone) :S

[JennX]

No added T (Toni West):





She's pretty bulky & cut in my book. YMMV.

[Kristen Wave]

do they have blood tests to prove that she didn't use steroids? Because I'm looking at her face and either she has a super bony facial structure or she's been using some type of steroid or supplement to boost her testosterone. I find that the body building community is a lot like the porn community. They all tell everyone their "all natural" but frequently they are not. For instance Jordan Carver and Denise Milani both claim that they are all natural curvy women but they both had breast augmentation done.

[Kristen Wave]

I watched some videos of her working out I think you're right on her being steroid free. She doesn't look like she does in some of those photos where her chin looks really broad and she doesn't have steroid voice. She must just be one of the few that work their asses off and have the genetics for it.

[JennX]

, <hidden member>
do they have blood tests to prove that she didn't use steroids? Because I'm looking at her face and either she has a super bony facial structure or she's been using some type of steroid or supplement to boost her testosterone. I find that the body building community is a lot like the porn community. They all tell everyone their "all natural" but frequently they are not. For instance Jordan Carver and Denise Milani both claim that they are all natural curvy women but they both had breast augmentation done.

Yes. She does. WNBF drug tests all competitors. Trust me... It has a lot to do with genetics as well as training, diet, and exercise. I used to be big in to weight lifting, and some of the biggest/strongest guys were all natural (T free).

Just because you're a MTF on HRT you can still build muscle mass. Myself and a few other people I know are proof.

[MaidofOrleans]

I'm close to 8 months hormones and I've lost quite a bit of muscle mass in stages. At about 6 months a noticed a very noticeable loss in both mass and strength especially. it sucks because a lot of people at work still know and view me as male and they think I can lift things for them.....I can't  Things that use to be pretty easy to lift and carry are much heavier.

[A]

Sigh, why am I not noticing any capability differences? My mother is still stronger than I and has always been, but I'm still not weak by my standards and haven't gotten weaker. :c

[misschievous]

Sigh, why am I not noticing any capability differences? My mother is still stronger than I and has always been, but I'm still not weak by my standards and haven't gotten weaker. :c

Are you more feminine? Why would you want to be Weak? That is saying that women are weak?

[Seyranna]

Ironically enough I lost a lot of strength but no muscles AT ALL... Maybe in the thighs a little. I was already on the puny side for males though so now as a woman I look like an Olympic swimmer  but my upper/lower body ratio is well within female range nonetheless so I don't mind all that much I was already weak enough as a guy so yeah =P

[Nicolette]

Ironically enough I lost a lot of strength but no muscles AT ALL... Maybe in the thighs a little. I was already on the puny side for males though so now as a woman I look like an Olympic swimmer  but my upper/lower body ratio is well within female range nonetheless so I don't mind all that much I was already weak enough as a guy so yeah =P

Ditto.

Pre-transition, I used to do a lot of cycle racing, great thighs with little upper body strength. Although puny looking, my power to weight ratio was greater than well seasoned, muscular male types and I used to be able to beat them uphill, astonishing many. I no longer race, or even cycle for that matter, because tucking and narrow hard seats aren't compatible. Post-op, I'd love to cycle again. I relate to the Olympic swimmer sentiment. But I can't lift a thing for shoot.

[A]

Are you more feminine? Why would you want to be Weak? That is saying that women are weak?

I want to lose muscle, because it looks and feels awful. I don't especially want to be weak, but the way I understand it, it's normal to lose strength when you lose muscle. So I'm sad that I haven't lost any strength, because it might mean my muscle loss is even less than I imagined.

[Keaira]

<hidden member>
I mentioned earlier that a women with normal female levels of T or a trans person with female levels of T and E will not be able to bulk up. Here are examples of a women on steroids (T) and then a girl who is extremely fit without steroids.

With Steroids


Without Steroids


Notice how the woman on steroids has a more masculine bone structure (directly caused by to much testosterone) :S

EUGH! why the hell would you want to bulk up like that first woman? that's horrible. Guys look weird enough when they do that but when women do it.. her breasts look like bubble wrap bubbles held in place by her bikini top. I'd rather look like contestant number 2. Healthier and trim without being scary creepy.