how severe is the loss of strength on HRT?

[Serena]

I dont know really, I was not really strong even pre-hrt, so maybe that's why I don't see a huge change, but maybe I've not been on hrt enough time to see a big impact, but I am noticing I get tired easily.

[ImagineKate]

I have lost a bit in just a few months.

I also have big winter coats that look ridiculously huge on me like if a kid is wearing her daddy's coat. In women's clothes I went from barely squeezing in a size 12 dress to being loose in an 8, pants I went from size 10 to size 8 and now I'm 6.

[MugwortPsychonaut]

I have experienced noticeable loss of muscle mass, but not a whole lot of strength (I think ). I do still skateboard and play guitar regularly so my arms and legs are what is exercised the most. I am also only about 8 1/2 months on HRT. Here is some pics for comparison of my arms....
       Pre-HRT                      About 5 month on HRT

AAAAAAHH! Another skater on here! Yes! I have to know you.

I had been getting noticeably weaker on HRT, but I think it also had to do with inactivity. Two months into it, I lost my house and didn't really have a place to call home. Nowhere I felt comfortable working out. Then I broke my wrist skating a bowl and couldn't do much.

A year into HRT, and my wrist has finally healed completely. I've been working out all winter, doing various squats, lunges, and plyo jumps, as well as rehabilitating my body after some gnarly shi... stuff I went through as a small child.

Anyway, after a long, icy winter, I went out skating the other day. I couldn't believe how strong my legs feel. Every time I ollied, I felt like I was going break my damn board. This has never happened before. Now I have to adjust to it.

So to answer your question, I've gotten softer and curvier, but I'm much stronger.

[cindy16]

So to answer your question, I've gotten softer and curvier, but I'm much stronger.

Let me put it this way You wont feel those changes that much drastically - does that sound better? Probably it is .
making a difference with things we are struggling with is about choosing the right tools and approaches. And sometimes it requires to change the way of thinking .

Thanks. These do sound reassuring.

With as much as much as most SUV's cost, shouldn't they be able to change their own tires?

LOL

[Eva Marie]

I used to be a bit of a gearhead and I used to routinely tighten fasteners to high torque values (160 ft. lbs) and move around heavy things like crankshafts and cylinder heads. I used to carry two 50lb bags of fertilizer on my shoulders from my driveway to the back yard, and I used to walk 3-4 miles every day at lunch. Well, those days are over with LOL.... Today I struggle to get a 35lb jug of cat litter into my cart at the store, and my legs shake and I am gasping after walking that first mile. My arms and neck have shrunk down but my legs have not.

Since I have no strength now I have discovered the power of being a damsel in distress with a smile .... works on the big strong guys every time and I can get them to help me 

[cindy16]

Since I have no strength now I have discovered the power of being a damsel in distress with a smile .... works on the big strong guys every time and I can get them to help me 

I can see how that would help
But the reason I asked this was with reference to the tasks that my wife and I divide between ourselves and have no help with, not with stuff I can get help with in public. And I have no interest in guys so I wouldn't want to attract too much attention from them.

[ImagineKate]

I am still stronger than my wife... for now. I can carry more firewood than she can, for example.

[cindy16]

I am still stronger than my wife... for now. I can carry more firewood than she can, for example.

Yes, that won't be a problem for me I'm sure, being over 60 pounds heavier currently and maybe ~30 pounds heavier even after weight loss. It is falling below some absolute level (don't know what exactly) that may be more of a problem. But from what I gathered from the rest of the posts, I think that a certain acceptable level can be maintained by just keeping fit.

[ImagineKate]

Yeah, I hit the gym a lot but I don't lift as heavy or as often as I did.

[mfox]

I just failed to open a jar of olives that I used to open easy. 

[JustASeq]

AAAAAAHH! Another skater on here! Yes! I have to know you.

I had been getting noticeably weaker on HRT, but I think it also had to do with inactivity. Two months into it, I lost my house and didn't really have a place to call home. Nowhere I felt comfortable working out. Then I broke my wrist skating a bowl and couldn't do much.

A year into HRT, and my wrist has finally healed completely. I've been working out all winter, doing various squats, lunges, and plyo jumps, as well as rehabilitating my body after some gnarly shi... stuff I went through as a small child.

Anyway, after a long, icy winter, I went out skating the other day. I couldn't believe how strong my legs feel. Every time I ollied, I felt like I was going break my damn board. This has never happened before. Now I have to adjust to it.

So to answer your question, I've gotten softer and curvier, but I'm much stronger.

I have started to excel at skating since HRT. I was always pretty good, but my balance has improved and my legs were always super gnarly strong but still feel even better too :p  If you ever come to the SF bay, HMU girl!

[MugwortPsychonaut]

I have started to excel at skating since HRT. I was always pretty good, but my balance has improved and my legs were always super gnarly strong but still feel even better too :p  If you ever come to the SF bay, HMU girl!

I would love to! And the same goes for you if you ever come to Philly! Do you know about Paine's Park and FDR? I mean, everybody knows FDR, but do you know about Paine's?



Some rollerblader made this, but it's a good capture of the park. Six granite benches actually from City Hall, three very long granite benches actually from Love Park, tons of granite ledges everywhere, endless flow and lines, and it's a real, actual public space instead of just a skatepark.

Some friends and I have an all-girl skate group called Shred the Patriarchy.

Edit: I use the word actually too much.

[marsh monster]

After just about 11 years on hrt, I can still lift my arms and they weigh about the same as they did before.

[Christine Eryn]

I had a pretty good loss of strength myself. When I used to jump, especially for hoops, I was able to float and jump much higher than I can now. My quads were defined and ripped, they are now more smooth but toned. My upper body is especially weak, arms are nice and thin and my fingers are nice and bony. Polish actually looks good on my nails and I have gotten many compliments lately, even from strangers!

[Lady_Oracle]

I didn't really notice a big difference in loss of strength since when I started hrt I was super thin and wasn't very strong to begin with, even when I tried body building. I was never in the male standard of strength or fitness. I was always matched up with the girls cause of my small frame. But for comparison's sake, my younger sister is stronger than me now.

[cindy16]

Thanks everyone.

I can carry more firewood than she can, for example.

Didn't notice this earlier, but... why would you need to carry firewood in NYC?

[FrancisAnn]

For myself after a year & a half of HRT there has been some loss of strength however I cannot imagine life without nice estrogen. My body has improved so much.

[Spicy]

I find that I can't go up on weights as quickly when I work out now, but I'm still doing about the same weights now as I did before hrt (~1.5 years). If it matters at all, my typical weekly workout regimen is 1-2 cardio sessions and 2 body pump group weightlifting classes. I feel like my muscles now strengthen in a more lean than bulky manner but without measurements that is just a subjective opinion.

[ImagineKate]

Thanks everyone.

Didn't notice this earlier, but... why would you need to carry firewood in NYC?

I don't live in NYC. I live in a rural part of NJ. Our heating bill can be $400 a month and the wood burner cuts that substantially.

[cindy16]

I don't live in NYC. I live in a rural part of NJ. Our heating bill can be $400 a month and the wood burner cuts that substantially.

Oh ok. Makes sense.