I am joining the Army but still want to look feminine...

[Mazarine_Sky]

Hi everyone, this is my first post here.
Well, I'm joining up with the Army, and I want to still look as feminine as possible, while still being in excellent shape and still able to kick serious butt.
My question is, can I still maintain a feminine form in the Army? Or will I just naturally become more masculine as the days go on?
How can I maintain a feminine styled body while in Infantry? Is there no hope?
Thanks for your answers in advance!!

[Stealthgrrl]

Er...good luck with that.

[je]

 

[trbrink]

Never been in the armed forces myself but I have had a few close freinds that were.  I would guess that if you are not on HRT or don't stay on it while while in, you are going to have a difficult time with you goal.  The workouts are rigiorous/brutal and they are designed to make you strong/bulk you up.  One of my friend's was a cisgendered female who went to the Navel acadamy, when she came out, she was stronger than any cisgendered guy I knew.

[lady amarant]

Do ALOT of yoga and martial arts and stretching to keep your body lean and toned. When you do have to do weights and strength training, go for ultra-heavy - 1 rep sets in collections of 5 with like 5 or so minutes rest inbetween, maybe once a week or so. That pushes you more into the muscular neuroproprioception area. You get bigger because of total load - your muscles are damaged by repetition and repair themselves when you rest inbetween. By keeping your load very low, but the intensity high, you increase how efficiently your muscle fibres are recruited without actually damaging them much. Going a few rounds on a HEAVY punching bag once a week is also a very good way to develop strength and power without bulking up.

If anybody questions your training methods, simply say that you've been getting into martial arts, and that your sensei said that this was the best way to train to stay light and supple while developing speed and power.

Really though, the best you can hope for is to stay lean while you are training.

Oh, and read up on a technique called dynamic tension. Also, google Pavel Tsatsouline. He's a trainer formerly from Russia with a martial arts and special forces background. He specialises in fitness and strength development for martial artists, and his books are well worth a read. PM me if you need more info or advice.

~Simone.

[Suzy]

I hope you think this through a little bit.  Sounds like you may be miserable with two competing purposes.

Good luck.

Kristi

[je]

lol... The army and feminine? I don't think those two words can be connected together like that.

[vanna]

Hrmmm i think it may take stealth to a whole new level to pull off.

Good luck hunny i really hope it works out for you.

[myles]

I was in the USMC and an say there are ways, and we are a pretty bulky bunch. I was going fo rhte opposite, as I'm FTM but there were plenty of people I was, was stationed at a base with all brancehes at one point, that were not bulky at all. If its not too late maybe you can switch to the Air Force? After basic training some of the exercise, or more of, will be left up to you. Therefore you can do the uoga mentioned above. I have seen some pretty scrawny looking people in the military (wouldn't say feminine) so there is a chance.
Just do as little as possible and wehn given a choice take the least iron pumping one.
Myles

[Stealthgrrl]

Look, if you want to send a transgirl to a living hell, make her enlist. I know whereof I speak. My family had hoped it would make a man of me. (I guess it's obvious how fruitless that was!) I wanted to kill myself every single day. Eventually, I managed to cause enough trouble to get out on "inability to adjust" after nearly three years. I wouldn't wish the experience on my worst enemy.

[Mazarine_Sky]

Well, thank you everybody for the answers! I've decided to instead join the Coast Guard, so I can still get college money and all other good stuff, along with saving people. Which is totally cool.
I already practice Hatha Yoga and stretch every day, so just keep on doing it and I should be fine, right?

[Mazarine_Sky]

As an update, my parents really want me to join the Army now, which has created a slight dilemma- as my friends don't want me to join, some of them do, but mostly my parents do, and it's pretty crazy. : /
I am joining, though. But I will heed everyone's advice and not get too manly looking.
Isn't it possible to still be able to kick ass AND look feminine-ish???
What about all of those woman fighters who kick every guys ass they come across, yet are totally girls?
I hope there is hope.

[lady amarant]

What about all of those woman fighters who kick every guys ass they come across, yet are totally girls?

Different methods of training hon, plus, they don't have testosterone cruising through their veins building muscle and growing hair.

~Simone.

[tekla]

In the long run - if not the short run - the Army is not really in synch with men in touch with their fem side, much less trying to reach it.  Two very different goals.

[Mazarine_Sky]

Yeah, it's pretty complicated, and I have mixed emotions. As an Androgynous guy, I want to join to be more of a guy, to become disciplined and all that. For the girl part of me, I don't want to join at all. To conflicted sides here.
However, in the future (10-20 years) when the revolution happens, I'll be able to have a whole bunch of military knowledge to help the rebellion. (half joking, by the way) And, as a person in the rave scene, I know I definitely won't have any body fat, I'll have a good build, and that bad ass lone wolf feel that works for both genders, so I'll look awesome on the dance floor with my shirt off, as well as just being generally awesome.
But I don't think that's a good incentive to join up, which is another reason why I'm conflicted...

[tekla]

Good reasons to join...
- to serve your nation
- to get some special training or skill they only have there
- because it seems like something you would be good at and enjoy

Bad reasons
- to be more of a man
- to escape
- to look good

[Mazarine_Sky]

I know I didn't seem very serious when I gave those reasons, it's because they were just mainly jokes.
The reasons I do want to join-
- Become disciplined
- Money for college
- Do something for my country
- Get in great shape
- Use the skills I learned to use at a later date, like leadership, or if there is in fact a revolution, I'd be of some use.

Reasons I don't want to join-
- I might die
- I am against the war
- If I die, my parents and friends will be hurt beyond comprehension

Perhaps I'll try to join something besides Infantry? That way, my friends and family won't have to worry.

[tekla]

Just remember, it ain't like my job where I can go in and tell the boss to stuff it whenever I get tired of it.  When you're in that, it's hard to get out.

[Mazarine_Sky]

Yeah... I've also been told that I won't be an individual anymore, I'll be a number. That's why I'll shoot for a high score on the ASVAB, and get a good job in there.

[Mazarine_Sky]

Whoa. That sucks...
I think something with computer technology would be alright, wouldn't it? That's what I want to do when I get out of the military, so...