MTF HRT... Must I get weaker?

[Robin Mack]

Deleted this post from general MTF, since this forum looked like a better fit (still learning my way around, sorry!

I have always been slender.  I have, since my mid-twenties especially, been unwilling to do any body building because (now I realize) deep down I knew one day I would transition.  I'm quite tall, and lengthy muscles are useful (more leverage) so while I'm not exactly a body builder, I can lift and move objects that surprise some people.

Searching these boards reveals a number of women who are very happy to lose muscle mass on HRT, helping their bodies become more feminine... but I haven't seen any posts showing loss of muscle to be avoidable.

Once on HRT, is loss of strength inevitable?  Can I fend it off with weight training, or just get used to needing help for things I used to cheerfully do myself?

Any insight is greatly appreciated...

[pebbles]

You can but you have to work twice as hard as you used to just to keep it.

I noticed the muscle mass loss, when I was cycling to uni there was this big hill, I normally got the bus in the misery of winter, and I'd started cycling again in the spring, it starts out hard then normally would get easier the more times I made the trip as I'd get in shape again, however with HRT it got harder and harder over time. The same thing happened with chin ups and climbing over walls and stuff (I did Urbex stuff) it became worse where my boobs were growing in and how much softer my skin was, I'd graze and bruise so much easier.

I tried exercising and building muscle mass but it really was an uphill struggle (lol pun), and your working hard to simply not become weaker rather than seeing any return. without any real benefit to your efforts it quickly seems senseless, I eventually gave up and accepted what was happening. Now I can't even do a single chin up.

It's listed there in the few things I miss (or will miss) about begin a Guy.
1: Jizzing.
2: Super strength.
3: Peeing standing up.

[suzifrommd]

Prior to transition, I had begun lifting weights at the suggestion of my doctor. I've continued at my current level since starting anti-androgens. Still can lift the same weights I lifted before, so I think it is possible to train to maintain muscle mass.

There are female body builders, after all.

[Hideyoshi]

I work valet, and my legs are ripped, but the rest of my body's muscles seemed to greatly weaken since I don't use my upper body.  I can't playfight with my bf without instantly losing now. 

I think you lose mass but keep the tone of muscles as long as you still use them.

1: Jizzing.

wat

[Robin Mack]

Hrm... I guess I've been "lucky" in that while I've made a living sitting on my (alas, quite small) backside, I've been able to be relatively strong, and I'll just have to buck up and work to maintain, then.  While I need this transition, I also need to maintain a sense of independence (although maybe having to ask for help once in a while *would* be good for me).

It's listed there in the few things I miss (or will miss) about begin a Guy.
1: Jizzing.
2: Super strength.
3: Peeing standing up.

Well, #2 on that list is the only thing I can imagine missing... I guess I'll just do my best to fight to keep what I have.    Thank you, ladies!

[pebbles]

wat

Ya know Jizzing... :/ aka Skeeting.

Uhh... To squirt fluid out of ya penis when you go O!
Orgasms are still good and all but some of the pleasure comes from the sensation of fluid moving through you.

[Mariax]

It's listed there in the few things I miss (or will miss) about begin a Guy.
1: Jizzing.
2: Super strength.
3: Peeing standing up.

1. Trans Girl Diaries. Google it!
2. Being pre hrt, I am actually afraid of my strength. I keep telling myself I can't be this strong. The world seems fragile, and that can be scary.
3. Convenient in nasty train station toilets, but even then... no.

But hey, so much of this is individual.

I am looking to start an exercise routine that will help maintain some muscle, but really, losing some of it for me would be a blessing. I have trouble now keeping what I have, even with T screaming through my body. Maintenance workouts should be enough.

[Bardoux]

High protein diet, decent rest and sleep, and a regular high load/ low rep workout regime will help a lot to keep the muscles and your strength to some degree. But the flipside presumably is that working out with heavy weights will naturally increase T levels.

[Robin Mack]

High protein diet, decent rest and sleep, and a regular high load/ low rep workout regime will help a lot to keep the muscles and your strength to some degree. But the flipside presumably is that working out with heavy weights will naturally increase T levels.

Ack!  Definitely do *not* want to do *that*... I already have a problem getting into a angry/petulant mood on occasion, hoping HRT will help with that.  When I get that way I do not feel at all myself.  :\  I guess maybe I'll just try to keep reasonably active and accept what comes naturally.  If losing some physical strength is the price of transition, I will pay it gladly.

[Horizon]

I've definitely been losing my "natural strength" over the past couple months.  My backpack has become nearly unbearable, and brute forcing doors with my arms/shoulders causes pain and cramping - planting my feet and pulling with my hips, thankfully, came pretty naturally.

This is with no workout routine (aside from walking at night) and an attempt at a high-fat diet.  Working out can help, but...is it really worth it?  The drop-off is exponential - it becomes significantly harder for less overall results.  Not to mention that it may or may not elevate testosterone (I've seen studies that have gone both ways), which, assuming it does, would put you on a higher dose of AA's, requiring more of a workout to get the same results, which...would require a higher does of AA's.

[decepticonLaura]

i never HAD any muscle mass to lose, so i can't be very much help in this discussion
but it's a fascinating aspect of most girl's transition to me
mine has been all about putting some small amount of fat on my bones for the first time in my life
seeing how drastically other girls change makes me feel really weird in a lot of ways. like i'm somehow missing a chunk here.

having said that, even i have grown noticeably weaker, and it seems to be pretty unavoidable... i guess it's just a fact we must deal with?
positives; shoulderless dresses, YES PLEASE.

[JLT1]

Prior to transition, I had begun lifting weights at the suggestion of my doctor. I've continued at my current level since starting anti-androgens. Still can lift the same weights I lifted before, so I think it is possible to train to maintain muscle mass.

There are female body builders, after all.

Eight months HRT and some loss in size, no loss in strength.  Working out regularly with weights.

[Cindy]

I've worked out 3xweek right through my transition for years before. My legs have lost little strength. Upper body has dropped by about 20-30%.

I struggle to load the weight machines now. But the guys have been cute and help me out which is a great way to perve on some hot bods and get chatted up!

[Tessa James]

Gravity will eventually have its way with us and we wont get that weight up so easily.  Good time to practice asking for help and looking for leverage while we are cute?

Maintaining tone, balance and flexibility may serve you as well?

[Jenna Marie]

I also wasn't very strong beforehand, so I didn't notice much change. One thing I did realize, though - losing muscle mass is NOT the same thing as losing muscle. I used to have much bulkier, more visible muscles; that disappeared, but the abilities (such as they were) that I had remained. Basically, estrogen just meant that I no longer put on muscle in a male pattern, but there are plenty of strong women.   I was thrilled, since that allows me to have the more feminine frame without getting weaker.

(Watching the Olympics brought this home to me, too. Sure, there are a handful of women who can look like bodybuilders by a combination of genetics and incredibly hard work. But there were also a lot of tiny, fragile-looking competitors who went out and lifted hundreds of pounds. Similarly, women who start weight training are often afraid they'll bulk up, and it rarely happens.)

[Robin Mack]

Thank you all so much... I'm not nearly so worried now.  I'm only hoping it isn't academic... time will tell if I can get a note and an endo. 

[Christine Eryn]

I will add, I was never strong to begin with pre HRT. When I "worked out" I had trouble bench pressing anything more that the bar itself plus the smallest weight. I used to play basketball alot and had strong leg muscles. Now when I flex my thighs, I can't even tell where my quads are. My shoulderblades barely have anything on them, and shoulders are getting smaller still. As for strength, I could never lift or push or pull anything worth a ->-bleeped-<-, now I can do even less. I don't have any excercise routine though, I need to change that. I have fat around my stomach that I need to get rid of and I'm around 140lbs.

For me, I am VERY pleased at what E & Spiro have done for me. I do like to be fit, but personally, I don't like to look buff or muscles popping out.

[Harlow]

i never HAD any muscle mass to lose, so i can't be very much help in this discussion
but it's a fascinating aspect of most girl's transition to me
mine has been all about putting some small amount of fat on my bones for the first time in my life

Same here. However I've always shocked people at how strong I am. For having little to no biceps and triceps I can lift very large heavy objects with little strain. Will be interesting to see how much strength I will lose. If so I'm kind of nervous as I have NO muscles, I hope I'm not completely useless in a few months

[Sophia Gubb]

I want to lose strength; I've always felt this sense of "wrongness" at my excessive strength, ever since (the wrong) puberty. Sure it's practical to be strong, but since when did we transition for "practical" reasons!

[Robin Mack]

I want to lose strength; I've always felt this sense of "wrongness" at my excessive strength, ever since (the wrong) puberty. Sure it's practical to be strong, but since when did we transition for "practical" reasons!

*heh* Good point about the practicality.  That's one of the things that kept me from embracing my nature for so long.  :\  Still, I'm grateful for the suggestions, since I know that I will continue to be independent through and after the transition.  I have some people in my life who can help me, but I can't count on them always being there throughout the process, and this girl may very well have to move her own couches for some time to come.