Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transsexual talk => Female to male transsexual talk (FTM) => Topic started by: Contravene on December 22, 2016, 04:36:51 PM

Title: To bind or not to bind: working out pre top surgery
Post by: Contravene on December 22, 2016, 04:36:51 PM
Hey guys

I've been wanting to get back into working out and right now my schedule is perfect for hitting the gym in the mornings. The only problem I have is I'm not sure what to do about binding. I regularly pass as male now so I'm sure more than a few heads would turn if I wasn't wearing my binder not to mention I would just feel off because I can't stand my chest but somehow I don't think it's such a good idea to bind while I'm working out.

What do you guys who are pre top surgery do for working out? Have any of you tried binding?

I think my last option would be wearing a baggy hoodie and a sports bra or two to contain the beasts and I still don't know how much that would help.
Title: Re: To bind or not to bind: working out pre top surgery
Post by: Kylo on December 22, 2016, 05:15:57 PM
I found it more convenient to buy a set of weights and a lifting bench and do it at home... never been comfortable in a gym...

otherwise I'd go with the tight sportswear
Title: Re: To bind or not to bind: working out pre top surgery
Post by: FTMax on December 22, 2016, 06:07:49 PM
It really depends what kind of workouts you want to do. I was fine lifting in a binder. I was also fine doing cardio in a looser/older binder and I would generally layer that with a tanktop and a t-shirt to get as flat as possible. If it was some kind of endurance cardio, I might layer two sports bras to be on the safe side. Swimming I would layer an older binder and a rashguard.
Title: Re: To bind or not to bind: working out pre top surgery
Post by: arice on December 22, 2016, 08:55:01 PM
I do everything in a binder. I find it far more comfortable than any sports bra I ever had.

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Title: Re: To bind or not to bind: working out pre top surgery
Post by: lionheart on December 24, 2016, 11:46:14 PM
Before my top surgery, I would just wear a velcro binder that I adjusted to be a little looser than I would normally wear it. If you have an old worn out binder that's looser, you can just use that. Or, if you have a small chest, you can probably get away with wearing a tight sports bra.
Title: Re: To bind or not to bind: working out pre top surgery
Post by: Contravene on December 28, 2016, 01:29:02 AM
Thanks for the replies everyone. I'll try wearing my binder and if it gets too uncomfortable I do have an old loose binder I can use.
Title: Re: To bind or not to bind: working out pre top surgery
Post by: CursedFireDean on December 28, 2016, 09:54:48 AM
I personally have exercise-induced asthma so I have to be particularly careful with breathing.

Luckily I was blessed with an A chest (one of them might be a B but the other doesn't even fill an A cup- I did a drag thing recently and went bra shopping lol) so for me if I get a nice quality compression sports bra and wear looser shirts, it's not perfect but it doesn't turn heads at least. And at this point I 100% look male, thanks beard. I also take breaks often to catch my breath and make sure that I'm not suffocating myself.

I've heard from many running people that they wear old loose binders a size too big and that works for them. I would try it if it weren't for the asthma.
Title: Re: To bind or not to bind: working out pre top surgery
Post by: Noah on December 29, 2016, 05:12:44 AM
I wear the old loose binder, makes me feel comfortable enough to be in gym otherwise I dont actually think i could go