importance of V shape to passing

[stavraki]

Having wider hips has made me really self conscious, specially when around skinny guys. Wider shoulders would help, but as others have pointed out, working too hard on them might do more harm than good.

Form.  Form during exercising.  Highly protective.  As you bulk up and accumulate muscle mass, that protects against certain kinds of injuries, especially knee injuries.  Good quads and leg muscles are protective of the knee joints for example.

I've been pushing myself at gym for over 20 years (not quite true--I took 4 years off when I was 33 while I studied--when I was single at 39, I went back to gym for obvious reasons).  I've done minor injuries to myself.

It's my understanding that T itself might be helpful on getting the V shape, so I'll just hope for that and try exercising to keep fit.

I suspect that there's a high-risk window shortly after starting testosterone, where you'll be able to push the muscles in ways not possible, previously.  Once the muscle tissue adapts and as you redefine the body, a new equilibrium will emerge at a new capacity.

There's a 'rule of thumb' we toss around at the various gyms I've been to, 'your own weight and not more' for keeping away from injuries.  So--at 72 kg, 72 kg of lateral pulldowns, and any more than that *take greater care*.  I got the lat machine up to 105 kg at top end, for a low-fat 72 kg body, and then I hurt myself, in a minor way, so I took the weight down.  I've healed the injury, but learned the lesson.

For most of the other weights, like dumbbell flies, tricep curls, and those weights where your top end's about 20 to 30 kg (50-70 lb), it's hard to damage your body.  It's the back you have to watch the most and is most susceptible to damage.  Form.  A personal trainer for a bunch of sessions for first month,  then a break as you go solo, then return to perfect technique with another set of sessions with a personal trainer to get the form right.

Cheers
stav

[Nygeel]

I am not sure your analogy really works.

A gay person that is called a f** is getting insulted for being who they are. A straight person getting called a f** is insulted by being compared to a gay person.

A straight person getting called that and then using it it,  is not 'reclaiming' it like a gay person is.

And the T word has historical significance to trans women just in the same way. So although a person who is not a trans woman is being called that word, it doesn't mean they can reclaim it.

[stavraki]

just re-read the opening post....push ups - are really really good for the 'core work'.  Core work's about all the 'stabilising muscles'.

There's two basic sets of principles they speak about during body building: 'isolated muscle work' versus 'whole body work'.

The machines in the gym for specific muscles tend to do the isolated muscle work...one muscle at a time.  Roman rings, rope work, sit ups, chin ups, push ups--they do core work.  Also, free weights do more of the core work...

I highly recommend combining both kinds of work.  Free weights/core work + machine work.

Also - *rotate* your routine.  I work the bod in three 'parts' 'upper/chest' work one day 'mid' the next and 'leg/lower' third.  And a break  off after the third day.

I'm getting MDL phalloplasty in August, so, I've stopped the chest work!  It's a *great* way to get that extra 30cm of skin they need for the surgery.  As my pecs shrink, the skin loosens....you'll find with gym work that as you bulk up, you will stretch the skin to your new body shape (not badly, and it does shrink back, somewhat, if you stop).

Again, though, that 'V' thing you are looking for,

Lats+deltoids+pecs+*thicken* your waste with core work.  For your legs--as you go on T, you'll strip a lot of fat.  You will most certainly still look very 'V' like even with thicker legs!  Rugby look, after all--

Thicken your waste as you build the top...I've seen some absolutely amazing post-surgery muscle development on FTM!  Really!  Way better than a lot of guys who *do* work out.  It's the *sculpting* of the muscles and tone and stripping fat that gives the look you seek......

It's *discipline*.  Gym is *discipline*.  The disciplined gym guys are the ones who get the body development result they are looking for.  Also, I highly recommend combining an *aerobic* component, not by sitting there on a machine.  Choose a gym 30 minutes away by bicycle, and use the opportunity to ride too and from.  I ride, 1.5 hours a day to and from gym on gym days, and do a 30 to 45 minute routine--*seven* exercises.

You will *not* know yourself.  If you do this right, on Testosterone, expect - a V
cheers
stav

[stavraki]

are pictures (jpg) files of body building exercises allowed, on thread?  I'd love to share how to do this with some pics.....

[Simon]

Sweet, so if I'm a straight guy who didn't meet a standard of macho, I can call myself a f*g because I get picked on about not being masculine enough? These words have history as well as a common usage and that is not with us.

Not if you're straight you can't. You could call yourself a sissy though because that is the word used to demean effeminate men. If you were a gay transman you could call yourself a f*g but then again if we used your argument you couldn't because it belongs to cis gay men because they are the ones who have been subjected to it being used against them the most often.

[Nygeel]

Not if you're straight you can't. You could call yourself a sissy though because that is the word used to demean effeminate men. If you were a gay transman you could call yourself a f*g but then again if we used your argument you couldn't because it belongs to cis gay men because they are the ones who have been subjected to it being used against them the most often.

I'm just going to have to shake my head, smile and deal with the fact that some guys just aren't going to understand why that word isn't theirs to reclaim.

[stavraki]

hi there -- check the last post, bottom of last page peoples.....

[Simon]

I'm just going to have to shake my head, smile and deal with the fact that some guys just aren't going to understand why that word isn't theirs to reclaim.

Why not just admit that you realized your argument is weak.

It is mine and I reclaimed it long ago...without your permission.

[Nero]

It's a word for anyone who has had it used against them to reclaim. I had it used against me many times when I worked third shift weekends in a 24 hour diner. One too many drunken rednecks have used that word against me before I passed. Such can be life in the deep South. I've been known to use it around my gf when referring to myself (not when I am referring to others) and will continue to do so.

Sweet, so if I'm a straight guy who didn't meet a standard of macho, I can call myself a f*g because I get picked on about not being masculine enough? These words have history as well as a common usage and that is not with us.

Not quite the same thing. The 'T' word has its roots in trans* which is a word for both trans men and women. Sure, it's mostly been used against trans women but it's also sometimes used against trans guys. And while a straight guy being called a F*g is not gay and knows its used for something he is not, calling a trans guy the T word is using a slur for what he is.

Oh, apparently someone already pointed this out upthread. That's what I get for not reading  Anyway...

[Nygeel]

Why not just admit that you realized your argument is weak.

It is mine and I reclaimed it long ago...without your permission.

Go get back on topic.

[Nero]

are pictures (jpg) files of body building exercises allowed, on thread?  I'd love to share how to do this with some pics.....

Sure. As long as they're safe for work. 

[stavraki]

Sure. As long as they're safe for work. 

k - lemme know if any are inappropriate for other reasons too that I'm not seeing that you are -like 'discordant with forum ethos'...these are body pics and I'm very mindful that body's can be a sensitive topic.

Kind Regards
stav

[stavraki]

First.  When you see this pic!

1.  he's been photoshopped to the *bleep* - the indentations are exaggerated, and Mr KenDoll would not look like that live.  He's been 'beautified' muchly by the cameras, lights, oil, photoshopping and makeup artists....but.

2. Look at his waste, and note the muscle bulk at the top end, (deltoids) and how much extra 'width' across the shoulders that gives.....

3. I'll get pics of the exercises for this kind of shape, and dietary requirement and so on....

[stavraki]

Beginners Body Building Program – Steps for Shape





fixed link

[stavraki]

1. Deltoid Work (see how he's standing up--do this exercise *leaning forwards* AS WELL

[stavraki]

2. PEC WORK!  See Mr KenDoll and his pectorals - they also add to the buking into a 'V'.  You can also do *BENCH PRESS* for this one....

[stavraki]

3. And *This* one is the more deltoid work *he's pushing upwards*

[stavraki]

4. THIS ONE - is the most 'V-ing' of them all (don't forget to do pushups and *core* work alongside all these exercises....loosely "chest and shoulder work"



Out Lateral Pulldowns

[stavraki]

and lots of situps and seated rowing to get abs like Mr KenDoll, but

about abs:

everyone already has them.....the key with abs (you don't actually need to do much work on them) is to strip fat to get your abs to show.......

Testosterone accelerates fat metabolism, majorly.  Since going onto supps after losing my gonads, I'm on 'prime-of-life levels' (Testosterone drops over your life cycle) and the test-boost has meant that I'm stripping fat by doing nothing!  It's a most excellent way to lose fat.

Remember though:

1. No more Coca Cola, sugar hits (okay, some chocolate once or twice a week--don't turn into a zealot)).
2. No more simple carb foods (brown, wholegrain breads, not white.  Brown rice, not white.  Sweet potatoe [yes sweet potatoe] not normal potatoe.  Complex vegetable carbs.
3. Stay off alcohol.  It's *fattening* and triggers *estrogen* production if you have too much.
4. Stay *off* diet sweeteners.  They've found they trigger insulin release (fat deposition rate increase) even though it's not calorific.  So, your pancreas starts releasing more insulin and you deposit more fat from what you eat.
5. EAT BREAKFAST.  It kick start the metabolism--broom--your engines start burning earlier in the day.
6. A FULL NIGHT's sleep.  Sleeplessness is associate with weight gain--cause you're sluggish during the day and  don't burn as much calories.
7.  Eat three good *balanced* meals.  Lean meat.  Stay away from processed meats.  Rule of thumb "if you can't catch it, eat it and grow it--don't eat it".  I.e. keep away from processed, packaged ffoods as much as you can.

And - *do* have about one half pint of milk or protein food *after* a workout, to prevent your body going into 'insulin resistance mode' (i.e. increasing insulin to resist starvation, by triggering diversion of incoming foods into *fat deposition* not muscle building.  You build muscle when the body goes 'ah, yes--lots of food around--grow--grow--grow.  Insulin resistance is 'starvation mode--store food).

And - rest at least one day in every three.  Every other day is best.  Your muscles need to grow.  They grow *between* workouts.  If you're not sore after a workout (day later)  you are *stable* and *not* growing.  Yoou will get to 'maintenance point' where muscles no longer hurt after a workout.  If you want to grow them up the weight, about 2 to 5 lb and see what happens.

Get the form right and be kind to yur body

[stavraki]

...and most of all--you can love your body, as your body is, and embrace the form you have.  At the end of the day, the 'visuals' can be part of body-esteem, but remember that self-acceptance is simpler....I've been at my happiest when I was a student, with a tummy and long hair in my early thirties.  I've also been incredibly happy with a buff bod.  I've also been incredibly unhappy with a buff bod.  That was when I was in my 20's.

Gym is not for everyone.  Gym's for some people.  Really, gym can get incredibly boring.  But, if you build gym into your life as part of your daily life, okay, great.

Be kind to ur beautiful body - feed it good foods.  Don't get mean on ur body.  Use ur mind to be kind to urself...and if u do do gym, celebrate every gain.  It's a journey, not a destination.  Celebrate the direction, not the KenDoll.

Having said all that, for my MDL phalloplasty, having the health and fitness of an 18 year old (at my last assessment and I'm in my 40s) was comfort.  I can go into surgery with good health, and hopefully that will assist me to get through without complications.  Surgery is a big stress on the body....

Kind Regards
stav