Muscle mass not increasing much

[Joey93]

Hi everyone, I've been on T for 8 months now and I noticed my muscle mass is not increasing, at least not in a noticeable way, is this normal? I gained some weight, thighs are bigger and it's something I like because I hate tiny legs, but my upper body isn't really changing. My arms were 11 inches cm before transition now they're 12 inches (contracted) and slightly more defined but nothing special. Shoulders are not wider at all. Overall, my body is still the same in terms of muscle mass. Everything else is fine: more body hair, my voice sounds definitely male (it's deeper than my cis brother's and dad's and some other cis males I know), sideburns are starting to appear but nothing too visible yet on my face.

I'm starting to work out regularly but unfortunately I wasn't very constant because I caught the flu and a few colds, but now I'm back to working out. I'm also trying to eat more, especially proteins.

Is this normal? I keep repeating myself it's not even been 1 full year on T so it's kinda normal. Is body shape shifting/gaining muscles a very slow process or is it just me?
At least my voice started dropping only after 1 month on T so there's that!

My hips give me a lot of dysphoria, I don't have fat on them, my hip bones are a bit large especially one (asymmetrical pelvis or something like that), I read I could work on obliques to get a thicker waist. I want to reduce my hip/waist ratio so I hope I can get some fat on my waist or some muscles.

P.S: I'm skinny. I was 105 lbs pre-T and now I'm 125 lbs and I'm 5.5" tall.

Advice (from specific exercises to diet tips) would be greatly appreciated!

I should add I'm seeing my endocrinologist next month for the routine blood tests, so far he said my T is ok but estrogen is still a bit high

[Maid Marion]

If  you are like most people working out regularly is easier said than done. 

So yes, maybe you just need to spend more time actually exercising to see results.
I just need to go  outside in the yard and there is always something to do for a few hours...

[Kylo]

If you're a natural ectomorph you will always have to work harder than mesomorphs and endomorphs to gain and keep any muscle that you gain. T makes no difference, there are skinny ectomorph cis men who also find it difficult due to being ectomorphs.

I would recommend to look up workout guides specifically for ectomorph body building

[V M]

Hi Joey 

Welcome to Susan's Place    Glad to have you here, join on in the fun

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Hugs

V M

[Maid Marion]

I am skinnier than you.  108 lbs and my biceps are just 9" 10.5" expanded.  I do have a good w/h ratio of 0.73.  AMAB, no HRT.

[Joey93]

If you're a natural ectomorph you will always have to work harder than mesomorphs and endomorphs to gain and keep any muscle that you gain. T makes no difference, there are skinny ectomorph cis men who also find it difficult due to being ectomorphs.

I would recommend to look up workout guides specifically for ectomorph body building

Sounds like it's my body type, because I don't have large bones. I'm not extremely small, but overall yes I am pretty small.

I will look for diet tips for ectomorphs too. I feel like I need even more calories than I expected.
I'm happy I gained weight but I feel like it's not enough so I have to try harder.