joining a health club

[Anita43]

Hello,

Ahhh, winter is nearly upon us, I live in a cold state and hate the cold so I just can't workout outside in winter. I am considering joining a gym. I have been a member of many types of health clubs so am comfortable with differences between them. However, I'm now close to beginning HRT.

On one hand, I'd like to join one that is more on the higher end, with steam rooms and all that because, well, I love steam rooms and swimming. But, I've been telling myself I can't do that while in transition, but before making up my mind I thought I'd ask here some thoughts from people with experience on this front. In addition, because of location and other stuff, for this option I wouldn't be able to show up already in workout clothes.

My other option is to join one of the cheaper ones with just workout machines, so that I can enter already in my workout clothes and just do my thing and leave without even needing to use the locker room; I could do this at this location because it is close to home.

I'd rather do the gym with the amenities I love, but I'm guessing there would be ... well the typical problems a transitioning female deals with. I was working out at home, but I've changed my focus off of weights and I don't have the space for stuff like stationary bikes etc... at my home so I'm not sure if a home workout is any longer an option. Also, it is just a good excuse to get out of the house more often, which is especially important for me in winter or I just end up hibernating and thats not good for the psyche...

Any opinions/suggestions/personal experiences would be much appreciated.

Sincerely,
Anita

[Northern Star Girl]

@Anita43
Dear Anita:
Here where I live, an indoor gym is a necessity for about 8 or 9 months of the year.  The best thing that I did is that I developed 4 or 5 cis-female friends that we all have a day each week that we go to the gym together.  I have been living as a full-time female and passing is not an issue, but certainly the women locker room gauntlet is a scary hurdle to overcome.  Until you can pass realiably, it is best to stay away except perhaps.... when you are presenting there as a female....   for a quick restroom visit.

The good thing about going with a group of good friends is that we can all look out for each other, particularly when we get approached by the occasional creeper guys... we can act as each others body guards..

The biggest advantage of going as a small group is that you can bond with and develop good friendships and of course the old adage of "Safety in Numbers" comes into play.

Since you apparently are nowhere near going full-time I realize that what I stated above will probably not apply to you but do keep all of that in mind as you progress in your transition journey.   For now if you can find a gym buddy, female or male...  that would be a good thing.

Good luck to you and I am wishing you well.

OH, a question for you:... when are you planning to start HRT?   That will be an exciting day for you for sure.   Please keep us all updated.

Hugs and well wishes,
Danielle

[Rachel]

Hi,

Years ago when starting transition I joined an LGBT gym. It was very trans friendly. I emailed the owner and he took me around. I was not expressing full time and just starting HRT. I used a private locker room. I was offered the staff locker room, the men's and woman's locker room.  To use the woman's locker room I had to be full time. I had a long way to go in my transition and I did not feel comfortable in the female locker room.

The gym had all kinds so expressing there was a non issue.

Later post op ( I was full time a year before GCS and I did not feel comfortable going into the female only spaces) I used the woman's locker room. I felt comfortable enough at that time. I still had to get two rounds of hair transplants in order to feel more comfortable.

During the years the relationship with my trainer and I changed and it was time to leave the gym. Odd that as I transitioned she became more and more aggressive toward me. In the end it became on the verge of abusive. I had a past and well as she and I understand the dynamic now. As I transitioned and was more and more accepted as female she became aggressive toward me. I think it was her way of pushing me away. Later I realized she had all male clients.

Fast forward a year and I joined a cis gym. When I toured the place it was with a female worker and was toured to the woman's only gym, woman's locker room and sauna. I have never had an issue there. They do not have a pool there but I would swim there if they did.

It took me a long time to get to where I am and most of the issues were in my head and not other peoples. I never had a comment said to me. I had some looks in the LGBT gym's female locker room when I first started to go in there. I had FFS and GCS and then two rounds of hair transplants.

later I had a BA and more time on HRT and I lost 40 pounds ( in a very healthy way) . I have extreme body issues and am just starting to like and more importantly appreciate my body. Everyone is different and although it took me 5 years to become comfortable with myself everyone is different.

[TonyaW]

Check around at the fancier clubs.  Two that I previously belonged to before I moved had family changing areas with private showers available. 

I've had no issues using the ladies locker and restroom at the purple club, but I only use the locker room to change my shoes and hang up my coat, etc. 

It might be possible to shower and change behind a curtain, but with out a lock on the door I'm not doing that since I've not had GCS.

Sent from my SM-G930T using Tapatalk

[KathyLauren]

I used to go to a gym back in my pre-transition days.  But now, being full-time and pre-op, there is no way I would use a women's locker room.  If I went, I would go already dressed and come home still dressed, and just use the weight machines.

[GingerVicki]

Oh no! Not me. I workout in my apartment watching my YouTube videos. So much safer.

[epvanbeveren]

I recently joined Gold's Gym in Richmond Virginia and have only been here 5 times so far, in my first two weeks. I must say at this time I have a perfect feeling of acceptance. Both male and female responses to me are not disrespectful at all, as a matter of fact they are positive. I haven't noticed anyone staring at me either.

I am using the locker room and restroom, have not yet used the showers, as I come dressed etc. But in one location they have a swimming pool which I would love to go to one day and then I will have to use the showers. Although I am post-op, I still have a little weird feeling of using the showers. But I should be fine.

[blackcat]

I joined a pretty nice gym because I wanted to do all the group classes.

I use family bathrooms. So do lots of other cis people.

[sarah1972]

I have joined a gym when I was close to 18 month on hormones and one-year full time. My documents are still al male but when signing up, they did enter female in their system. During the tour, they also sent me through the female changing room, something I was very scared about.
Unfortunately, they don't have any family changing rooms, so I continue using the female changing room and never had any issues. I usually try to find a less frequented corner somewhere so I can change into my gym clothes and change back. I have showered a few times but usually, try to avoid it. They do have single stall showers with doors and I can wrap a towel around my waist and keep wearing panties to hide things.
During my facial hair removal weeks, I usually do not use the locker room at all. I have also skipped gym to avoid being seen as the bearded lady. Lucky enough, that is over soon.

A lot actually depends on the state you live in. E.G. in Washington, DC it is perfectly legal to use bathrooms and lockers matching your gender identity. In Virginia, it is not regulated at all and most likely questionable.

In general good advice is to use the facilities you are presenting as. If you have a few gyms around you, you can always switch to another gym and start as yourself there once you are a bit further on your hormone treatment.

Good luck and enjoy your workouts!

Hugs,

Sarah

[Ms. Bee]

I'm full time but not on any hormones.

Advice: Use the family or unisex bathroom is preferred. (LA Fitness has them with a private shower).
If you are not 100% fish, the women will clock you then complain. Anywho they did about me.
Best experience is to arrive dressed, workout, then leave.
If you must shower or get dressed use a unisex bathroom.
LA Fitness bathroom policy is based on the gender marker on your gov't ID.
I didn't realize how sensitive I was to M/F bathrooms until I was asked to move my items from the female locker to the male side .

The workout area is free for all. Workout however you wish

[Anita43]

Thank you so much to everyone for all of your responses. I truly, truly appreciate it! It has given me some clarity and things to consider as I make my decision(s) and on what to expect over the next several years.

After several more days of thinking about this, considering the responses to this thread, and exploring my options, I think I have a plan which does not involve joining a health club.

My plan is to continue working out at home; also I'm going to start a dance class offered at the local municipal center. That sounds a helluva lot more fun, its cheaper, and none of the problems I had been worried about. I think it is better for me to go this route. it is a belly dancing class, I'm so excited to begin! lol I'm not a dancer at all, but always dreamed of trying, so this is also in a way a kind of therapeutic decision and fits with me finally being able to be me anyhow. Also one of my dreams is to become a yoga instructor, so I'm going to get back into doing yoga more frequently and add to the wonderful journey I've started.

hugs all around !

-Anita

[sarah1972]

I do think it depends on the health club. Many actually have include policies and do stand up for transgender members:

https://www.metroweekly.com/2017/06/woman-sued-planet-fitness-transgender-policy-loses/

I also found a similar story about my gym chain where one of their Vice Presidents clearly states that a transgender woman with similar issue "is to be treated as the woman she is". This was in 2009 and a lot has changed since but it is an indicator that not all fitness clubs are like LA Fitness....

Hugs,

Sarah

[RobynD]

After briefly using the family - single use, changing rooms at my gym, I contacted management about wanting to move over to the women's locker room and their response was basically "Of course you can if there are any issues we will deal with them and you will always be welcome". Pretty cool!

I moved over there and never looked back. I've never had any issues outside of a few quizzical looks. I handle myself discretely and efficiently in there including showering.

[Northern Star Girl]

After briefly using the family - single use, changing rooms at my gym, I contacted management about wanting to move over to the women's locker room and their response was basically "Of course you can if there are any issues we will deal with them and you will always be welcome". Pretty cool!

I moved over there and never looked back. I've never had any issues outside of a few quizzical looks. I handle myself discretely and efficiently in there including showering.

@RobynD
        Exactly correct !!!!!
Danielle

[Jin]

I go to the university rec center to swim laps. Except for breasts, my body looks mostly male so I use the male locker room. I switch swim suits around, male trunks, female one-piece or bikini, even topless with only the bikini bottoms. And I walk around the changing area in my panties. Never had any problems.
Just go in like you belong there and guess what? you do belong there!