Cardio and fitness?

[Anastasia E]

Hi all! I'll start by admitting that for most of my life I've honestly never cared about fitness or body shape, I've gone running from time to time but that's the extent of my fitness adventures 

Now, I've been rather lucky with metabolism or genes or what-have-you, so I'm actually rather slim. At the endo I was weighed at about 61 kg (134 lbs) and I'm around 175 cm (~5'7"), while pretty much eating whatever I've wanted and doing no sports or fitness.
I do have a typical male-pattern layer of fat around my abdomen - that'd be #1 priority to get rid of obviously. Just putting it out there that I have no interest in weight lifting or gaining actual muscle   

So anyway! I recently started HRT, and I was surprised to find that.. well, turns out I actually do care if my body is/looks healthy as long as it's not male. Hah.


I figure it's too early for HRT to work it's magic, but it's probably never too early to start with some cardio routines. I was hoping someone with experience could chip in, too.. and should I start off with trying to limit my calories intake (to try and burn off male fat and muscle patterns) while starting regular cardio? Or is it better to just eat well, and the body will take care of the fat redistribution without any help  No one really covered this.. logically it'd make sense to me in a kind of "demolish the unwanted body shape and then let the correct hormones rebuild it", but it's probably not safe to starve yourself either   

So far I've started slow with an android app called 'Female Fitness - Women Workout', which is basically just ~20 different exercises of 30 seconds each that I do each morning and evening at home. No fuss, gets the blood pumping and no gym membership required. Seems okay so far, but i would love input on what you all do.

I'm also contemplating starting regular swim sessions, though that might become awkward as HRT does it's thing (still presenting male). On the fence here because that'd require a gym membership (expensive!!) and getting there regularly would be high effort. But from what I remember, swimming is great exercise for the 'investment'?

Would love to hear your thoughts ladies   

[CindyLouFromCO]

Well, swimming can build muscle in your upper body.  Personally I trail run.  I think running on the street is to bad on the knees and other parts of the body.

However you may want to look at breast sizes of most runners...  Mine shrank a lot from running.  My last mamo stated that I have a high density of breast tissue.  My previous ones did not state that.  Your boobs are made up of breast tissue and fat tissue.

So running shrank my boobs.  My thighs are smaller too.  But I have a great S curve body. 

Since you do not need to lose weight and are young I would just live your life.  Try to eat well and take care of yourself.  Cardio is good for you too.  So if you can live with a runners body then try running to keep fit.  Atypical cardio workout is keeping your heart rate elevated for over 30 minutes strait.

Just my thoughts and experience.

[Anastasia E]

Well, swimming can build muscle in your upper body.  Personally I trail run.  I think running on the street is to bad on the knees and other parts of the body.

However you may want to look at breast sizes of most runners...  Mine shrank a lot from running.  My last mamo stated that I have a high density of breast tissue.  My previous ones did not state that.  Your boobs are made up of breast tissue and fat tissue.

So running shrank my boobs.  My thighs are smaller too.  But I have a great S curve body. 

Since you do not need to lose weight and are young I would just live your life.  Try to eat well and take care of yourself.  Cardio is good for you too.  So if you can live with a runners body then try running to keep fit.  Atypical cardio workout is keeping your heart rate elevated for over 30 minutes strait.

Just my thoughts and experience.

Thanks! That's helpful. As you can probably tell, I'm totally clueless on anything fitness related.

Not really interested in upper body muscles (if anything I want to lose the ones i have! ), so regular swimming to keep fit probably isn't a good idea.

The only muscles I'd be interested in are probably abs, so I think I'll just stick to some various workouts and maybe do a bit of running   

This is the app I am using by the way, if anyone are interested. It seems to have good reviews at least 

[Rachel]

Hi, when I first went on HRT and had T in my system I lost a lot of weight fast. Then my T dropped very very low and my metabolism dropped. I cut my calories in half and started the eating super healthy journey.

I had a personal trainer for 2.5 years building myself up for surgeries. I stopped seeing her about 1.5 years or so ago. The LGBT gym I was going to closed at that time too. I started Rucking. I do 85 pounds 5.5 miles once a week. I joined a cis heterosexual gym about 6 months ago. I do spinning 3 times a week. I would love to have the time to do 4 times a week.

My membership includes all the classes and there are a ton of classes. I intend to incorporate some of the other classes into my schedule.

Spinning gives you a great lower body work out and some core. Rucking gives you a great lower body and core work out. My shoulders have never been so straight and my back so strong.

Anyhow, the classes are almost all woman run by mostly woman and it is a lot of fun. I have gained lean muscle and lost fat. My core and yes tummy are much leaner. Exercise is important. I do endurance and heavy respiratory exercises.

Good luck on your journey and remember a great body is made in the kitchen and honed in the gym.

I am pretty far along in my transition. I do not have dysphoria anymore and no suicidal ideation. I actually like myself and I love being in my gym cloths (work clothes and home clothes too), which are typical woman's form fitting gym clothing.

Rachel

[KathyLauren]

I have managed to cut my weight down a bit just with portion control.  My wife is a good cook, and I did gain a fair bit over the years, thanks to her cooking. 

These days, I resist the urge to have second helpings, and I don't finish the plate if there is too much on it.  That, and getting 45-60 minutes a day of vigourous walking, taking the dog for her walk, has gotten my weight back down to a better level. 

I could still stand to lose a bit more from my tummy.  It is a bit embarassing when it is bigger than my boobs!

[Angela H]

I signed up for once a week classes with a personal trainer a month and a half ago. I told my trainer Nick that I wanted to pass better (which means bigger hips/butt, smaller waist) and he made a routine for me.

So far I've lost two inches on my stomach and two on my hips... Nick said my hips might shrink first before they grow. Also, I was disappointed to find my breasts noticeably shrank; right now I'm really not satisfied with my results.

Sorry if that wasn't any help [emoji29]


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