Tracking physical statistics: man or woman?

[FTMax]

Howdy folks,

In preparing for bottom surgery, I've started actively trying to lose weight and have been tracking my weight and body fat percentage to assess progress towards my goals. For body fat percentage, I'm considered "average" for men, and "ideal/fit" for women.

But which one should actually matter to me? At what point do I make the physiological shift from female to male? I'm not super hung up on it as long as the numbers are moving in the right direction, but I'm curious as to what standards for these things other people are following and if there's a point in your transition where you made the switch to the opposite.

[KristinaM]

Well, being MTF, once I discovered I was trans I've desired to hold myself to female standards of physicality.  I'm only 2 months on HRT, but I've been striving for a better "figure" for years, since I started caring about my body more that is.  Originally male standards, now female standards.  But really it's kinda similar in some ways.  A slim waist and a plump arse are attractive on both genders.    Now instead of working on my arms and chest though, I'm concentrating more on the waist, hips, thighs and butt.  Hopefully my shoulders will continue to shrink.

I'd say, presuming you're on T (and if you're going for bottom surgery then you must be), then you should be striving for male physicality and fitness standards, especially since things like fat deposits and muscle structure are now being influenced by T.  Build up those arms, but don't be afraid of squats either.