What to do While Transitioning

[RedheadWhovian]

Hi, everyone! I've been on HRT for a little over a month now, and something I keep hearing more and more is how transitioning is a lot of work. So far, I feel I haven't been doing the necessary things to ensure I transition as well as I can. I've heard that exercising, certain diet choices, and sleep patterns helps a lot. What are some of the things you do? And what are some things I should consider doing?

I am a pretty slim person, bit of a beer belly going on though. I also wish I could get my legs to look better. My diet is almost whatever I want to eat. I have a good metabolism, but I am finding I am more tired since starting HRT, so maybe my diet is affecting it? I uuuuh also don't have the best sleep schedule. Maybe some exercises can help? If anyone has any tips and suggestions, let me know.

[Ms Grace]

I don't know about sleep...other than you should try to make it regular and enough...

As for exercise, a good daily walk helps, or any regular aerobics.

Are you working on beard removal? Believe me you'll want as much of that gone before you go full time.

Consider trying to build up your wardrobe and shoes and accessories. That way when you go full time you'll have a good starting point.

[kaitylynn]

For sleep, I am finding that I have to cut any caffeine intake a long while before I lay down to slumber or I cannot slip into dream land well.  This is despite being tired from the spiro which seemed to sap energy for the first month...getting used to it now though!

You might want to consider yoga as a form of exercise.  It will keep your core strength up without bulking up muscle, if you are concerned about muscle bulk.  It is also a great way to work out the tensions that can build up inside with all the internal changes of transition.  Walking/strolling is also really nice for keeping in motion and can help right before bedtime.

At month 2 now, my yoga teacher noted the first "girl fat" buildup and we discussed diet.  She suggested a paleo base for my diet, so it might be something worth looking in to.

Ms Grace brings up a really good "time passer" for transition too...hair removal.  Worth it to get as much done as possible while you can get away with having facial hair showing.  A good friend of mine held off on electrolysis and is now having to deal with it while being full time.  She really stressed to me a few weeks ago how that is not such a good thing for us, having to deal with a beard late in life.

[RobynD]

The items you mentioned are keys often in feeling better and maintaining good habits as we age. One of things that i attribute my youthfulness to is regular sports and exercise. My diet is good at present but has not always been so, exercise covers a lot of that sin. These days, my diet is pretty good and i definitely have seen the difference in how my body reacts to injury, sickness and other changes.

HRT brings on some pretty dramatic system changes, so exercise becomes even more important. It does not have to be drastic but 20 mins a day or an hour every other day of light to moderate exercise, will make a lifetime of difference if you maintain it. Less sitting at the computer or in general is another important thing.

[Lagertha]

Starting facial hair removal asap if you havent already. Take proper care of skin and hair especially when you are growing it longer. Learn and master make-up skills, etc... And maybe most important, find a way to earn and save as much money as possible. You are going to need it. Prices of transition related surgeries like SRS and FFS are very high. 

[RedheadWhovian]

I don't know about sleep...other than you should try to make it regular and enough...

As for exercise, a good daily walk helps, or any regular aerobics.

Are you working on beard removal? Believe me you'll want as much of that gone before you go full time.

Consider trying to build up your wardrobe and shoes and accessories. That way when you go full time you'll have a good starting point.

Oh darn I definitely don't have the money for full hair removal of any kind yet. I guess I'm at least lucky that I've never been able to grow a decent beard. My facial hair is pretty light and grows slow. I can shave it every couple of days maybe? Either way, thank you!

For sleep, I am finding that I have to cut any caffeine intake a long while before I lay down to slumber or I cannot slip into dream land well.  This is despite being tired from the spiro which seemed to sap energy for the first month...getting used to it now though!

You might want to consider yoga as a form of exercise.  It will keep your core strength up without bulking up muscle, if you are concerned about muscle bulk.  It is also a great way to work out the tensions that can build up inside with all the internal changes of transition.  Walking/strolling is also really nice for keeping in motion and can help right before bedtime.

At month 2 now, my yoga teacher noted the first "girl fat" buildup and we discussed diet.  She suggested a paleo base for my diet, so it might be something worth looking in to.

Ms Grace brings up a really good "time passer" for transition too...hair removal.  Worth it to get as much done as possible while you can get away with having facial hair showing.  A good friend of mine held off on electrolysis and is now having to deal with it while being full time.  She really stressed to me a few weeks ago how that is not such a good thing for us, having to deal with a beard late in life.

Oh so it's possible the spiro may no longer make me so exhausted. Yay! And yoga sounds like a great idea! I really need to work on my stomach. Wanna get that flatter female tummy, and let all the fat go to my hips and bum instead. Nothing's really happening down there yet. Would lay ups help at all? Or would that give me muscle in unwanted areas?

Also, I'm getting more worried about the hair removal now. :/ But thank you so much for this advice! ^_^

The items you mentioned are keys often in feeling better and maintaining good habits as we age. One of things that i attribute my youthfulness to is regular sports and exercise. My diet is good at present but has not always been so, exercise covers a lot of that sin. These days, my diet is pretty good and i definitely have seen the difference in how my body reacts to injury, sickness and other changes.

HRT brings on some pretty dramatic system changes, so exercise becomes even more important. It does not have to be drastic but 20 mins a day or an hour every other day of light to moderate exercise, will make a lifetime of difference if you maintain it. Less sitting at the computer or in general is another important thing.

20 minutes a day is more than doable for me! What kind of exercises would you suggest? And thank you so much. ^_^

[RedheadWhovian]

Starting facial hair removal asap if you havent already. Take proper care of skin and hair especially when you are growing it longer. Learn and master make-up skills, etc... And maybe most important, find a way to earn and save as much money as possible. You are going to need it. Prices of transition related surgeries like SRS and FFS are very high.

Oh no! I don't think I have the money for facial hair removal. D: Now I'm really worried.

[RedheadWhovian]

I'd like to mention some of the other stuff I do. I take a Biotin vitamin each day, to help with skin, hair and nail health. I also use a skin smoothing cleanser on my face each day, and shave every 3 days. Lastly, before I go to bed, I usually massage my breasts, because I've heard it helps stimulate healthy growth.

[Ms Grace]

Even if you do a little bit of beard removal it's better than doing none. At least yours is light but it will be a pain dealing with its removal once you transition to full time since, with electrolysis, you need to let it grow for several days before treatment and your face is a bit of a mess for a few days after.

Specific exercises like sit ups don't get rid of fat from any particular area, and they certainly don't move the fat elsewhere. An overall reduction in calories, eating a healthy diet and an increase in physical activity is the only way to reduce weight.

[Tessa James]

Some of the "work" people associate with transition has to do with changing identification papers and all those places of record to fit who you are.  Of course prior to that you might want to figure out your name.  That can be fun too.

[RedheadWhovian]

Even if you do a little bit of beard removal it's better than doing none. At least yours is light but it will be a pain dealing with its removal once you transition to full time since, with electrolysis, you need to let it grow for several days before treatment and your face is a bit of a mess for a few days after.

Specific exercises like sit ups don't get rid of fat from any particular area, and they certainly don't move the fat elsewhere. An overall reduction in calories, eating a healthy diet and an increase in physical activity is the only way to reduce weight.

Okay, thank you so much! That is very good to know. I won't be full time for a while unfortunately. I have to disguise myself even around the house right now. :/ Also, I find that doing sit ups seems to tighten my core a bit, but maybe that's just the post-workout pump.

Some of the "work" people associate with transition has to do with changing identification papers and all those places of record to fit who you are.  Of course prior to that you might want to figure out your name.  That can be fun too.

Oh okay. I couldn't be certain what it is everyone refers to when they mention the work. And I've had my name in my head since 2004 actually. It's Katie.

[Tessa James]

Oh okay. I couldn't be certain what it is everyone refers to when they mention the work. And I've had my name in my head since 2004 actually. It's Katie.

Alright Katie!  Certainly there is profound work some people do to accept themselves and figure out where they are going with who they are.  For others learning how to live as someone they have never shown to the outside world is huge.  You know coming out can be dramatic and just talking to people about it can be an emotional trip.  Some of us literally take lessons on how to talk, walk and dress!  The ID thing can be daunting especially for older people, like me, who seem to have a million places to change our name and gender marker.  The advantages of your youth can also include more energy to get er done

[RedheadWhovian]

Alright Katie!  Certainly there is profound work some people do to accept themselves and figure out where they are going with who they are.  For others learning how to live as someone they have never shown to the outside world is huge.  You know coming out can be dramatic and just talking to people about it can be an emotional trip.  Some of us literally take lessons on how to talk, walk and dress!  The ID thing can be daunting especially for older people, like me, who seem to have a million places to change our name and gender marker.  The advantages of your youth can also include more energy to get er done

Of course. I believe I was looking at "work" in too literal a sense. I've already came out to all my friends, and half of my family, and... Wow, was it indeed difficult at times. I'm so blessed, however, that only two of them responded negatively. I worry at times the ones who say they are accepting may be fibbing, but I believe they love me enough to be honest.

[Rachel]

I will add go to a trans group and make some friends. If you are not seeing a gender therapist consider it, especially for later procedures letters.

[iKate]

Start saving money for any surgeries you want.

[StillAnonymous]

Speaking of belly:  I was not very big and my metabolism was pretty good, but I had a little belly too... it is definitely not a very attractive feature for both men and women.

I highly recommend eating a good diet, and remember that healthy ≠ starving.  Eating had a larger impact than exercising, but I still exercise too.  I would make more specific recommendations for you, but I think there really are no secrets so far as losing a belly and getting into a more desirable shape....  cut simple sugars as much as you can, pick healthy alternatives instead of starving yourself, and exercise a little bit.  HRT is pretty magical, but it can't do everything.

I hope this may be motivating, or at least I feel good about it:

~ October 2014 (~ 165 lbs.)

(My face is blatantly showing, and the shirt gives away my location.  I cropped and cover them out.)

January 2016 (today) (134 lbs.)

(Side to show proportions)


(Left side is resting the stomach muscles, and right side is flexing them.  I show a comparison to emphasize that it is not very masculine)

[KayXo]

I'm about the same height as you and at that weight, my face looked too angular, cheeks were sunken, didn't look healthy...for me, 150-155 lbs is ideal.

[Emily-G]

Speaking of belly:  I was not very big and my metabolism was pretty good, but I had a little belly too... it is definitely not a very attractive feature for both men and women.

I highly recommend eating a good diet, and remember that healthy ≠ starving.  Eating had a larger impact than exercising, but I still exercise too.  I would make more specific recommendations for you, but I think there really are no secrets so far as losing a belly and getting into a more desirable shape....  cut simple sugars as much as you can, pick healthy alternatives instead of starving yourself, and exercise a little bit.  HRT is pretty magical, but it can't do everything.

I hope this may be motivating, or at least I feel good about it:

~ October 2014 (~ 165 lbs.)

(My face is blatantly showing, and the shirt gives away my location.  I cropped and cover them out.)

January 2016 (today) (134 lbs.)

(Side to show proportions)


(Left side is resting the stomach muscles, and right side is flexing them.  I show a comparison to emphasize that it is not very masculine)

This is really, really motivating for me!

I'm going to start getting more into my diet, I've just been eating very little everyday. I know that's not good, but I'm trying to get rid of my broad shoulders and muscle mass.