When do I start treating my body as "a woman's?"

[Lady Autumn]

So things have been going pretty well for me lately. I live full time as a woman now and most people in my life know about me. I've told my mother and she's "dealing with it the best she can." I go to Uni as a woman and HRT has really been working a treat for me! I've had to push back my wedding due to financial reasons and Uni commitments but other than that my fiancée and I still have a strong relationship.

But I've started thinking: At what point do I start following the "female" guidelines with regards to health and things. Like when do I have to start eating five hundred less calories, when do I regard three units of alcohol as a sensibly daily allowance rather than four and when do I start buying the lady vitamins instead of the male ones?

Do I start doing this now, later or never? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

[Ms. OBrien CVT]

You treat your body as you wish.  There is no guidelines for how to do it.  Just keep it healthy.

[Bookworm]

I was wondering this as well

[suzifrommd]

Like when do I have to start eating five hundred less calories

Those calorie counts are averages. The ranges of calorie needs for the two sexes are very wide, overlapping and heavily dependent on things like metabolism and activity levels.

This one's easy. Eat enough calories so that you're not hungry. Listen to your body.

when do I regard three units of alcohol as a sensibly daily allowance rather than four

When you drink, assess your functioning. Are you lucid? Have decent judgment? Coordination? If not, you're drinking too much.

when do I start buying the lady vitamins instead of the male ones?

If you eat a healthy diet, you should NOT need vitamin supplements. If you are concerned about some nutrient that you might be lacking, best to add it to your diet rather that buying pills that will just make your urine richer in whatever vitamin they contain. If your doctor suggests that you supplement, ask him/her how much to take.

Do I start doing this now, later or never? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Most of the differences between male products and female products is marketing. If you find a product that appears to work for you, stick with it. If you find one that works better, switch.

[Lady Autumn]

I was wondering this as well

Lol glad I'm not the only one!

[Bookworm]

Lol glad I'm not the only one!

I just did not think to ask. It is like well how do I treat my body. I know there are differences, but I dont know. I am pre-hrt and I wanted to know if there was a time. It is because I am pre-hrt that I did not think to ask yet.

[Beth Andrea]

I started treating my body as soon as I started learning about makeup, months before HRT was even considered. I was curious...but one of the first things the books said was, "Take care of your skin! When you're older, you will thank yourself!"

Protect against sun damage...don't be eager to get a "good" tan (i.e., a dark one). Whatever your natural skin tone is, that is natural, and good. Yes, if you're outdoors you will get a tan...but less is better. If you've ever seen a farmer or other outdoor worker, you will notice they age much faster than indoor workers do.

Sunscreen (30 spf is best, more than that isn't known to do much more protection) all exposed skin, wear light colored clothing, use skin lotion (I use the cheap stuff, but YMMV), don't expose your hands to harsh chemicals (oils, strong soaps, "Comet", etc) Your hands take a beating, and if you don't want "man hands" treat them like they're lady's hands ASAP. Even if you've been harsh to them for 30 years...start now, and the damage will stop where it is now. With luck, they'll heal some, too.

Pamper your feet, as well.

That's the outside...now pamper the inside too. Cut back on alcohol, don't think "I can have 3 drinks now, I'm a lady!", think "One or two drinks is enough for my 'needs', I love my liver!" Eat healthy. Remember that what is good today, will be declared evil tomorrow (Bran comes to mind, as well as every diet out there).

Be balanced in your food, in your life, in your private moments. Control your finances. (Yes, this isn't specifically a woman's issue, but if you haven't learned it as a man, you MUST learn it as a woman!) Don't buy things unless you truly need them. I don't even read the catalogs I get in the mail, I just chuck 'em. I know their marketing will persuade me to buy something...and I don't need that.

And finally...Be happy. Don't let contentious people into your life.

[Soren]

You really only should have 2 servings of alcohol/ 24 hour period.
If you are active, you'll need more calories.
If you take vitamins, you should already be switched- vitamins geared toward males have specific ratios to encourage androgen production. Vitamins geared toward females have specific ratios to encourage estrogen production. Standard "everyone" vitamins are just vitamins in average amounts for males and females.