Tips for those starting out???

[Alexis2107]

I see a lot of advocates for exercise. What is a good bmi for hormones to be most effective?

I wasn't aware there is one.  However, exercise just goes with the fashion thing I am thinking and possibly health related issues such as blood clotting, etc.  BMI, in my opinion, is a lot of waste of time to worry over.  According to my BMI i am overweight, but, all I have is a small muffin top and lot of people say I am skinny.  I've gained weight due to exercise.  At first, I was like 'HUH?! wth?!' but I did lot of research, it is fat turning to muscle as muscle is heavier than fat.  I have lot of muscles, so I am heavier.  I start HRT this week, so I will lose that 20lbs I gained and hope more, possibly.   My target goal is to be 140lbs and I am not far from it.

[ImagineKate]

For SRS some surgeons want your BMI within a certain range. Since hormones can affect your metabolism it's best to start off with a healthy weight.

[JulieBlair]

Completely unscientifically, I'd say that a good target BMI would be in the normal weight range (18.5-24.9).  Too much weight and the fat redistribution might not be noticeable, and too little weight could suggest there's not enough fat in the first place to make redistribution noticeable either.  While the hormones would work at any BMI, the outwardly visible effects might be most prominent in the normal weight range.

That's all cosmetic though.  Exercise is important to me because it improves my mood, stops my body from hurting, keeps my cardiovascular system in shape, and is the cheapest insurance for living a long, healthy life.  I want as many years as a girl as I can, seeing as I've wasted so many as a guy already.

YES!  My BMI is 22.4 and I think about perfect.  But exercise is a blessing in and of itself.  Just don't get obsessive.  There was a time when I was training for marathons and damn near became anorexic.

Julie

[Brenda E]

24.4 here - barely normal weight.  Everyone says I'm thin, but I think it's a perception issue - they're all a touch plump.  As long as I can get out and run once in a while and not come home feeling worse than I left, I'll be happy.  And being at the upper end of the normal range certainly makes it easier to look feminine; when I was at the lower end, I was truly gaunt and found it hard to look like anything other than a guy with makeup on.

[ErinS]

24.4 here - barely normal weight.  Everyone says I'm thin, but I think it's a perception issue - they're all a touch plump.  As long as I can get out and run once in a while and not come home feeling worse than I left, I'll be happy.  And being at the upper end of the normal range certainly makes it easier to look feminine; when I was at the lower end, I was truly gaunt and found it hard to look like anything other than a guy with makeup on.

About the same BMI here- although people usually guess I'm about 10 pounds lighter due to a mesomorphic build and just bring "dense" (I stop swimming I sink like a rock)

I'm planning to hit about 140 lbs, which should look great on me.

[JulieBlair]

I think Nicole has very good advice and she's doing quite well.
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apart from that, for late transitoners, should put aside enough savings for a rental or recurrent income type of investment. having funds is so very important... having income more so.
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anyway here's something trivial from me.
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1. buy an epilator. it's a mechanical hair plucker for the uninitiated. it's less costly than razors and plucked hair can stay off longer too. of course, don't epilate areas undergoing or targeted for permanent hair removal.
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don't waste money on permanent hair removal on legs until finances are good. plenty of cis girls shave or epilate their legs.
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do facial hair first.
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2. you can grab sections of your hair and squeeze them between the folds of a towel to dry them faster. using a comb with widely spaced teeth help keep hair untangled. using this same tooth to apply hair conditioner helps spread the conditioner more evenly than by hands alone.
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3. using leave - in conditioner as a hair protection prior to hot blow-drying not only makes the hair look sleeker but also protects against split ends and broken hairs from breakage due to tangling / friction.
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4. less is more. low key, low profile dressing is principal to blending in. wearing age appropriate clothes is crucial to not being noticed.
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5. think positive thoughts. hating everyone and their BMW and their cat isn't going to kill them or help yourself. any feelings of inadequacy should be translated into positive action like more training of voice or mannerisms etx
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hope it helps

Nice Post - Spot on and entirely helpful
Thanks,
Julie