muscle mass loss and fat re-distribution from HRT in mid forties.

[roxie rudi]

Can I expect anything from HRT in this regard during my mid forties (especially concerning my face) or have I left this too late in my life?

[Lyndsey]

Hi Roxie

Everyone reacts differently to HRT That Is something that you will want to talk to your Doctor about. There is usually a lot of changes that happen but then the age factor comes into play. Mood and comfort in your mind is the biggest thing that may help you as it did me wonders.

Hug's
Lyndsey

[roxie rudi]

Thank you so much Lyndsey, I will take note of what you have passed on. I am now happier but also a bit more apprehensive about my expectations but that's okay because it adds to the excitement of what is to be the start of the most beautiful staging point of my life's journey!

Hugs Roxie.

[Deborah]

I'm 56 and my face has changed at 11 months on HRT.  My profile pic is only a couple of months old.  I've lost about 35 lbs and my face is a whole lot less gaunt than it was before at this weight.  Muscle loss is different in different places.  My neck is 2" smaller.  Arms lost over an inch.  My back and lats seem to be shrinking much slower though and my legs are still about the same size, thighs at 24".  A lot of that is genetic though.  My daughter who is a whole lot shorter than me and is a really in shape fitness instructor has 23" thighs so I expect mine won't get any smaller there.


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[roxie rudi]

Wow! Lyndsey and Deborah if I can look only half as soft and feminine as you two girls I will be able to live as the woman that I know myself to be!
Hugs to you.

[roxie rudi]

so In answer to my question I now have a REAL hope for a REAL ANSWER from HRT. I should also mention that you girls are also gorgeous to a point that I can only hope for once I start my HRT. I just hope you can tolerate me gushing from hope and excitement while not thinking of me as just a foolish newcomer.

[Deborah]

Thank you.  :-). But like Lyndsey said, the mental changes are really the best and quickest.  For me it lifted a nagging very long term depression/anxiety so that for the first time in many years, maybe forever, I know what it means to be happy and not always on a knife's edge of anger and cynicism.  With that gone my brain seems to function more clearly allowing me to concentrate on tasks much better.  Maybe coincidentally, maybe not, my ability to instantaneously  recall "the right word" when speaking is improved drastically.  I used to stumble over that a lot.


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[Lyndsey]

Wow! Lyndsey and Deborah if I can look only half as soft and feminine as you two girls I will be able to live as the woman that I know myself to be!
Hugs to you.

Thank You Roxie
You will find your happiness and I know that I did and as Deborah said the mind set is the best part! I know that I'm a very calm and relaxed women now and very happy with how things have worked out for me. I'm 58 years young and I did not come out till 2011 so It will be 5 years sense I started and I happy Here is a link to some of my pictures that should tell you. how much change there can be. I have one brother that had not seen me sense I came out and he was standing at the deli in the local shopping plaza talking to me and didn't know who I was. Check out this link.

https://www.pinterest.com/burke1060/the-old-me-over-the-years/

Hug's Lyndsey

[roxie rudi]

You are so right Deborah and Lyndsey, I have finally made my decision to become myself after decades of confusion and struggle. While I realise that this leg of the journey will potentially be abjectly (or horribly) difficult I know that its destination will deliver me to a place of which I have dreamed of for the past 15 years. I am a traditionally classified "late onset" transgender woman because I grew up having a masculine role reinforced by my family and peers, which I ignorantly accepted, but I have always known that something has been there within me. NOW I am going for it! Thus now I will start to find peace and happiness.     

[roxie rudi]

Far out Lyndsey, the bodily change from June 2011 to July 2015 is no less than amazing and your face has become beautifully feminine beyond words.
Your own brother? Wow, that is an awesome tale!
Unfortunately because the endocrinologist with whom I am due to start consulting with is still on holidays I have to wait until mid February before I commence HRT but you make me want to start RIGHT NOW.

[iKate]

I barely got any mental effects from HRT but I'm 37 and HRT has been very good to me physically. Muscle mass reduction in particular has been very noticeable.

[vickym]

For me it was mostly mental.I was really slim before and I'm really slim now(think boyish,endurance athlete) but more feminine.

[roxie rudi]

Thank you both, Kate and Vicki, for between your variant takes on your changes you have given me two positive things to look forward to. At present I am in the process of losing weight and studiously remaining fit and healthy, ie not smoking, very occasionally drinking and undergoing calorie burning routines at the gym while trying to simultaneously avoid muscle building. I like your red hair too Vickym, it looks lovely in a "now I'm jealous" kind of way! As far as your stated happiness with the physical effects of HRT I'm not surprised given your dusky and feminine beauty Kate. 

[MichaelaLJ1972]

I just started at 43 years old. Only a couple weeks in, but I can say that the mental changes come quickly, even on the lower dosage that I started with. I'm not sure if it's actually the HRT or the feeling of being free because I finally started my journey. Physically, my skin has already started to feel softer, which is nice and there is a lot of sensitivity in my chest, which I wasn't expecting so soon.

Reading these forums gave me a lot of courage to get started. One thing I learned is that it's never too late. That was always my major excuse. I wish you well on your own journey.

[allisonsteph]

I am 47 and have been on HRT for almost two years. I have lost 3" in my neck and 4" in my chest. I now have a visible collar bone and wear a 40C bra. The belly fat is slowly making its way to my hips and butt. As others above me have pointed out everyone is different. I will agree that the most positive impact of HRT has been an improvement in how I feel about myself.

[roxie rudi]

Thanx Michaela and Allison Stephanie, the knowledge that I am gaining about HRT calming my emotional and psychological needs to physically change is great but to be honest I certainly don't mind the hope of gaining some hips, boobies and a butt! Together these things are overwhelming me in a good way!

I think I will have to learn to become a redhead because I love your long russet hair Allison Stephanie and thank you very, very, very much for your wonderfully kind encouragements Michaela. By the way Allison, you have a very handy grasp of Latin which is great in, and of, itself.

Additionally I must thank ALL you girls who have replied to my post/question and thus shown me examples (through your photos) of some of the feminine beauty that I can hope to realise.     

[Lyndsey]

Far out Lyndsey, the bodily change from June 2011 to July 2015 is no less than amazing and your face has become beautifully feminine beyond words.
Your own brother? Wow, that is an awesome tale!
Unfortunately because the endocrinologist with whom I am due to start consulting with is still on holidays I have to wait until mid February before I commence HRT but you make me want to start RIGHT NOW.

Hi Roxie

You will be fine and try not to let others take over with your transition as remember you are doing this for yourself and know one else. It can be a hard journey but you will need to block out the negatives and stick with the good that you are doing for you. You will always have my blessing and feel free to PM me at anytime. If I can't answer something for you I'm very sure that someone here can help you for sure. Susan's it full of wonderful people and I'm sure you will get all the support that you can use.

Big Hug's
Lyndsey

[allisonsteph]

I think I will have to learn to become a redhead because I love your long russet hair Allison Stephanie and thank you very, very, very much for your wonderfully kind encouragements Michaela. By the way Allison, you have a very handy grasp of Latin which is great in, and of, itself.     

It took two years to grow it out this long. I am a natural blonde but have wanted red hair since the first time I say Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again" video back in the 80s. Took me 30 years to get there, but I love my hair colour and wouldn't give it up for the world.

[Lyndsey]

Far out Lyndsey, the bodily change from June 2011 to July 2015 is no less than amazing and your face has become beautifully feminine beyond words.
Your own brother? Wow, that is an awesome tale!
Unfortunately because the endocrinologist with whom I am due to start consulting with is still on holidays I have to wait until mid February before I commence HRT but you make me want to start RIGHT NOW.

Thank You Roxie
You are so sweet. It is amazing the changes that can happen over time all you need to do is be patient as it will come in time. The only surgeries that I have done at this time is VFS and I did have SRS but the SRS does not make you anymore of a women! I did it because I felt that I needed to do it for myself. I now have a boy friend who it a striate man and he doesn't care that I'm trans. He said Im a women to him because I now have the right parts and he Does't consider himself gay because of that. BUT like I said I did it for myself not him and the ones who don't have SRS are no less of a women. That is a decision that only you can make and for yourself.

Big Hugs
Lyndsey

[roxie rudi]

Hi again Lyndsey and Allisonsteph, you girls are the MOST encouraging women I could meet! Yep', long and lovely red hair for me so I guess further impetus to growing my hair out has been given but it will also allow time for me to learn the ways of choosing and applying hair colours/dyes alongside my hopefully developing makeup skills. Thanks!

Because I am a newcomer Lyndsey, I am still obsessing about being passable and so forgive me if I cause any offense. From what you guys have told me HRT will most likely relax my mental and emotional needs to be a woman but I am, at present, feeling the need live as the woman I know myself to be and "passability" seems, to me at least, intrinsic to this because I wish to be SEEN as this woman in order to live as her! Remembering none of us live as islands. My question is this; is FFS likely to be necessary for a 46 year old to be passable? (I don't know what VFS is Lyndsey, sorry!)

Big hugs right back at you guys,
Roxie.