Losing muscles

[Vinya]

Hi, hope you are all having a great day. I was wondering how you all managed too get those great bodies? I'm so jealous of you all! Before transitioning I loved hanging out at the gym, not to get a bulky body or anything but i genuinely had fun working out. However this have now left me with a upper body that is rather bulky. I have been on HRT for 4 years and 4 months ago I had my srs, which has done nothing to shave of that upper body bulk. So I come across this article <link removed by moderator> and I have committed to test this diet and exercise plan as outlined in the article. Since I'm now finally serious in getting the body I want I was wondering I you could share with me what you did, if anything, to lose the extra muscles that you didn't want?

Thanks for this nice community!
Best regards
Sandra 

< Removed link contained dosages - Susan's Terms of Service #1 and #8c >

[Maid Marion]

Good luck!

It suggests endurance cardoio, which sounds a lot like what I do to maintain my large flower garden.  I go to work the next day to help the body recover.  I use hand tools to work slow and precisely in what I do.  Body control is the key.  Anyone can whack something off.  I can prune my plants with precision.

Lately I've been doing stretching exercises in the couch with minimal pressure on my joints.  I just want to stretch my muscles and get my heart rate up.  And it does that. 

[Kendra]

As a moderator I had to remove the link (contained dosages) but I'll summarize other parts of the article...  it covered a MTF who was previously a bodybuilder with 48" (122cm) chest, 17" (43cm) biceps and not much fat.  With a goal of losing lean body mass while gaining fat they increased carbohydrates and decreased fat intake, described as "the classic late 80s/early 90s diet."  They stopped weight training and switched to "Endurance cardio. Lots. Low-intensity endurance cardio is all about catabolism." Stationary bike for 30-60 minutes, 4 days per week.  In the article their upper body dropped from women's size 22 to size 14-16 and lost 45 pounds (20kg).

The article summarized a diet with these goals:

• 10 daily calories per pound of body weight (2,000 calories to maintain 200 pounds/90kg).  One day per week can be 15 calories per pound.
• Low protein and fat (10-15% of calories) with high carbohydrate intake. "Might be a time to consider a temporary vegan stint if you can hack it."
• 5-6 days/week, aim for 30-60 minutes moderate intensity endurance type cardio. They recommend walking up hill and bicycling.

Article mentioned their suggested protein and fat levels should be increased to 30% of total calories after the desired muscle loss is achieved.

-- Kendra

[GingerVicki]

I am trying the low protein high carb/healthy fats diets with cardio training. I've heard that it works and I am willing to give it a shot.

[NatalieRene]

I am trying the low protein high carb/healthy fats diets with cardio training. I've heard that it works and I am willing to give it a shot.

What has worked for me is primarily keeping the calories down around 1100 per day and waking/jogging daily. Make sure to eat lots of vegetables and fruits and dispense with the junk food and pop.

[GingerVicki]

What has worked for me is primarily keeping the calories down around 1100 per day and waking/jogging daily. Make sure to eat lots of vegetables and fruits and dispense with the junk food and pop.

I got a Fitbit because I need help. I lost 2lbs last week and I have 26lbs to go.

[NatalieRene]

I got a Fitbit because I need help. I lost 2lbs last week and I have 26lbs to go.

Personally I despise Fitbit because their customer service sucks and their devices fail in months rather then years. That said when they work they are ok.