Measuring from the beginning of HRT

[n00bsWithBoobs]

I'm just curious because I recently started HRT the right way (after an illegal bout of it 8 years ago). What are some of the things you keep measurements of to keep track of changes over time?

I've got a spreadsheet for the following measurements:
Weight
Bust measurement
Waist
Right bicep
Right thigh
Right index finger

I'm also taking one picture per day of my face that I'll turn into an animation of my face changing over time.

[CaitJ]

I've been taking photos of my breast development ever since I started HRT. It's not regular, it's pretty much been whenever I remember to, but all the photos are dated.

[Janet_Girl]

You might want to included hips and butt too.

[n00bsWithBoobs]

Oh! Forgot, I'm doing the butt too.

I'm also dieting like crazy too, which will skew the expected results.

[ClaireA]

I only keep record of weight. The rest is just I just make mental notes about.

Right index finger

Is the index finger supposed to change? I thought that was bone and was set for life after you're finished growing.

Oh! Forgot, I'm doing the butt too.

I'm also dieting like crazy too, which will skew the expected results.

If you have a smartphone, try MyFitnessPal - great for keeping track of your weight and calories.

[n00bsWithBoobs]

None of the bones change, but the musculature is supposed to change. I think I read it on one of the more in-depth transgendered hormonal changes websites. I figured it would still be interesting to keep track of because... who does keep track of it?

The website also mentioned the muscles in your feet reduce, too. I couldn't think of a good way to measure that, though.

[nicksy23]

,i dont realy measure anything on me. To see some parts of me growing and developing, im contented. My breast is more noticeable, and i see some fat redistribution on the both sides of my waist, im not sure though, coz its not yet so noticeable. I guess, i have to monitor my weight from now, i started gaining weight since i started spiro month and a half ago.

[Keroppi]

*Open spreadsheet*

Height, weight, nipple (both the diameter & projection), areola, hand, feet, bust, waist, hip, different part of the genital area, leg & thigh. Picture of my face & chest from the front and the sides.

I was hopping / planning to record it weekly, but I've already missed week 2 measurement. Oops!

[caitlin_adams]

To measure the feet you could draw an outline of one of them on a piece of paper and then measure it.

It's not perfect, but it would be reasonable indicative.

[n00bsWithBoobs]

Excellent ideas, Caitlin and Keroppi!

The reason I think measuring is important is because I eventually want to create a site kinda like this that the community could find useful. I'd like to include more in-depth measurements of the effects of hormones as a sort of semi-scientific practice. For instance, it's mostly anecdotal that you start to "smell men", but you rarely come across that information when reading up on HRT. How about the effects of on-again/off-again HRT? Even things like measuring the hands and feet is important so people are better informed.

'tis but a dream at the moment, though.

[HitOrMiss.]

I figured it would still be interesting to keep track of because... who does keep track of it?

I made a list of things I would measure when I started HRT. I too, decided to measure that. 

[Virginia]

Don't forget underbust, chest and shoulder width. A year of HRT has had more of a demasculinizing effect that a feminizing one for me. Although my bust increased initially, it has gone back to it's original size. But the decrease in chest and underbust have given me a perky set of A-cups. I am a 5' 10" 146# beanpole so the decrease is shoulder width has made a huge change.

[Nobuko]

Is there really such a big change in shoulder width from HRT?

[Virginia]

It certainly has for me. PreHRT I wore womens XL/large tops and a guys medium. A year on HRT and I wear  juniors XL/large, misses medium/large and guys small. My shoulders are only 15" across and they used to be close to 17. I think making a conscious effort to maintain better posture has also played a part. But the demasculinizing decreases are across the board; biceps down from 12" to 11" and waist from 31" to 30 with no change in weight. I pretty much had to chunk all my clothes.

[CaitJ]

Is there really such a big change in shoulder width from HRT?

Yes, if the person was overweight or muscular.
Otherwise, no. It's not physically possible as bones do not grow smaller.

[Virginia]

Hum, at 6'1" 162 pounds I wasn't overweight or muscular-
I guess a picture is worth a thousand words (images scaled on distance from outer edge of eye to outer edge of eye to correct/allow direct comparison). Bones themselves don't shrink, but the cartilage between them does (think old people). A quarter inch here, an eighth inch there, can add up to a noticable difference.

[Stephanie.Izann]

Hum, at 6'1" 162 pounds I wasn't overweight or muscular-
I guess a picture is worth a thousand words (images scaled on distance from outer edge of eye to outer edge of eye to correct/allow direct comparison). Bones themselves don't shrink, but the cartilage between them does (think old people). A quarter inch here, an eighth inch there, can add up to a noticable difference.

Gawd! I hope that happens to me. I feel so big around my shoulders! I've gotten some nice curves but the top portion of my body is driving my dysphoria nuts!