Ok, I can handle most of what I am encountering ... doing ok too :)
I need some exercise and right now my best choice and favorite is swimming. I haven't for some time and do love it. BUT obviously it does have some subtle problems associated with it ( can you say tucking issue of the month? ).
I have friends who wear swim suits that have a skirt like bottom to help with a little stealth. Other than that, do you folks have any suggestions about what I might run into and how to deal with it ? Experiences you've had ?
I live in a cold clim ... hence beaches are out right now.
Charlene
Tape and tuck before going to a indoor pool, wearing your suit under your street clothes. Change in to dry clothes in the restroom. Otherwise schudule private time at the pool, if possible.
Janet
My SO is a cis gendered female who can not stand the way she looks in swimsuits so she wears men's larger than needed swim trunks over her suit.
Myles
Can't do the private time thing ... public pools. I am looking into a swim dress, not cute, in fact down right matronly. Still, might just work ! This is definitely on the edge of the average RLE though !
Quote from: CharleneT on December 29, 2009, 11:45:19 AM
Can't do the private time thing ... public pools. I am looking into a swim dress, not cute, in fact down right matronly. Still, might just work ! This is definitely on the edge of the average RLE though !
The crotch area should be black - it will hide any unwanted bulges better-- as you swim the skirt will move around.
Good subject and something that also bothers me a great deal as I don't have a very big bust and I have a bit of a belly. So far I've avoided the swimming pools despite being full time for quite a few years.
I used to swim every day when I was 8-12 years old...
Every Day...
And I love the water.
A lot...
And I haven't felt comfortable going to the pool at all in a few years now..
I really miss it.. and I don't know when/if I ever will feel fully comfortable going back there again.
For me, even before hormones, things shrank quite a lot the more and more I lived as a woman, to the point where I could go out using only a panty and panty liner under a thick one-piece suit.....
It's all relative to what your anatomy will let you show (get away with)....
Quote from: Miniar on December 30, 2009, 06:12:15 PM
I used to swim every day when I was 8-12 years old...
Every Day...
And I love the water.
A lot...
And I haven't felt comfortable going to the pool at all in a few years now..
I really miss it.. and I don't know when/if I ever will feel fully comfortable going back there again.
I'm the same way. Can't wait for top surgery.
Yes for FtM is must be more difficult from a practicle point. Until surgery. BTW, sorry not trying to hijack the thread. How obvious is the scaring after boob surgery? Although lots of guys in Australia swim with a T shirt on for skin cancer protection so it may not be an issue. Also of course guys don't look at guys boobs. Guys look at girls boobs. And girls look at the budgie hunters :laugh:
I think an Aussie may need to explain that :laugh: :laugh:
Cindy
Quote from: CindyJames on December 31, 2009, 02:01:45 AM
Yes for FtM is must be more difficult from a practicle point. Until surgery. BTW, sorry not trying to hijack the thread. How obvious is the scaring after boob surgery? Although lots of guys in Australia swim with a T shirt on for skin cancer protection so it may not be an issue. Also of course guys don't look at guys boobs. Guys look at girls boobs. And girls look at the budgie hunters :laugh:
I think an Aussie may need to explain that :laugh: :laugh:
Cindy
If you take care of it, the scarring isn't so bad, and people usually don't jump to conclusions that you got chest surgery like that. You can easily get away with 'car crash' or such if someone does ask. My skin type requires I wear a shirt anyway, though.
Well ... I have found a decent suit. It is a "swim dress", kinda crazy name in a way, it is really just a regular one piece suit with a small skirt built into the bottom. Anyway, I should do for that issue... In the mean time I talked to the person in charge of the city pools and explained my circumstances. They have some experience with TS folks and have a work around. I can use the restrooms to dress, then go thru a staff door to get to the pool area. The downside is that each time I get to "out" myself to the staff by explaining why they need to let me thru the door, and I cannot take a shower before or after ( I can dry off in the restroom on my way out). The only other option they offered was using the men's locker room (I'm MTF). While I can barely get by right now with that, soon my breast development will make it too weird.
My other option is to go in stealth and see how it works. Officially, in this state, they are required to allow me to use the facilities for the gender that I am presenting in ... but they basically told me they do not plan on following the law. Their defense for this was simply put as "we need to take care of the needs and wishes of the average user of our pools..." SO, if I go stealth, maybe get in some sort of trouble and *maybe* become the test case for the new law. I really do not want to be the test case ....
Pondering what to do !
Charlene
Get some women's surf trunks and a rash guard. Feminine but acceptable.
Quote from: Bombi on December 31, 2009, 11:35:03 AM
Get some women's surf trunks and a rash guard. Feminine but acceptable.
women's surf trunks? never heard of them? are you serious? I want look feminine and I certainly don't want to look like a bloke? For someone like me it's got to be a complete swim suit which is tailored to the right shape.
Google 'rash guard' and you will see some great stuff.
Janet
Quote from: Lachlann on December 31, 2009, 01:44:12 AM
I'm the same way. Can't wait for top surgery.
Lachlann,
Not knowing what sort of size you are up top, I apologize in advance if my suggestion is useless. I had developed breasts during puberty (a decent sized a cup) and based on my experience, people go out of their way to explain away breasts on a guy. If ur blessed enough to only need a little tissue removed for surgery, you should be able to swim ok.
Back then, when I went swimming, I wore a thick black cotton t-shirt. Only occasionally was I asked why and a simple "I burn easily" ended any interest from people.
Post Merge: January 01, 2010, 09:55:26 AM
Quote from: Naturally Blonde on December 31, 2009, 04:37:43 PM
women's surf trunks? never heard of them? are you serious? I want look feminine and I certainly don't want to look like a bloke? For someone like me it's got to be a complete swim suit which is tailored to the right shape.
Look into them - they are becoming very popular. My girlfriend wears one and they can be very attractive.
Quote from: pheonix on January 01, 2010, 09:54:18 AM
Lachlann,
Look into them - they are becoming very popular. My girlfriend wears one and they can be very attractive.
Genetic females can wear anything and get away with it. But for a 'male to female' with very little female fat distribution and fat accumilating in the belly only it's really not an option. I need to keep the middle area covered and the best way to do this is with a tailored swimsuit that will pull in the offending area. For my situation a bikini isn't going to work either.
I've got some mad love for water, be it swimming pools, lakes or the ocean.
One of the biggest things I am looking forward to once I can afford top surgery is being able to go to the beach and take my shirt off and just enjoy the ocean in my trunks. That'll be real bliss. ;D (Admittedly I'd probably have to put a shirt on after about 20 minutes due to my cheap pale skin, but who's counting? ::) )
Sadly I find that I sort of avoiding situations where I might end up swimming because of the bathing suit issue.
When it's unavoidable/Ijustdon'tcareenough I wear an old female one piece bathing suit, with male swim trunks over it, and a dark T-shirt overtop.
It's not really the optimum solution, especially for passing, but I haven't really spent the time/money to figure out a better solution.
I hope that during my HRT, I can sufficiently hide any breast growth during the summer months of July and August. This will be trying :(, but I should be able to accomplish it :-\, despite working as a swim instructor... Too bad I love the water so much. I am also unsure that I will be able to 'completely' hide any changes from my peers in the summer time. Already, I see some minimal fat redistribution and I'm only on my 3rd week of HRT, so by the summer, who knows what could happen.
The only reason anyone takes off their shirt to go into the ocean here is so they can get the wet-suit on.
For me (and, I think, a lot of other trans women), the tucking issue isn't the only problem. I gather this is NB's situation. I have tried some styles, and anything too frilly just looks awful. My breasts are really quite small, especially for my frame, so that's another problem. (I'm not particularly complaining, since I have been on hrt only 11 months.) Anything to boyish just makes me look like, well, a boy, so the swim trunks and rash guard options are out. I haven't figured it out yet, but for my small breasts, triangle tops look the best of anything I've tried, or possibly one-pieces with some kind of patterened bust. And something that can hold a tuck reliably. That's tough. But I don't think the skirt is a really good answer.
As for the changing room issue, if you think you can do the "steath" option, perhaps you could start by going a few times with some girl friends. It's much more likely that nobody would care if you were in a group, and it could give you some initial sense of how people would react.
Quote from: Alyssa M. on January 09, 2010, 10:56:53 PM
For me (and, I think, a lot of other trans women), the tucking issue isn't the only problem. I gather this is NB's situation. I have tried some styles, and anything too frilly just looks awful. My breasts are really quite small, especially for my frame, so that's another problem. (I'm not particularly complaining, since I have been on hrt only 11 months.) Anything to boyish just makes me look like, well, a boy, so the swim trunks and rash guard options are out. I haven't figured it out yet, but for my small breasts, triangle tops look the best of anything I've tried, or possibly one-pieces with some kind of patterened bust. And something that can hold a tuck reliably. That's tough. But I don't think the skirt is a really good answer.
As for the changing room issue, if you think you can do the "steath" option, perhaps you could start by going a few times with some girl friends. It's much more likely that nobody would care if you were in a group, and it could give you some initial sense of how people would react.
That's right I never even thought about tucking? there's no problem in that department. My concerns are my body shape or lack of it and a belly like a tucker. I can't wear a bikini with the gut I've got and that has developed from HRT. Prior to HRT I had a much better body shape than I do now.
The best I could hope for is a contoured swimsuit which pulls in the offending stomach problem.
Quote from: Alyssa M. on January 09, 2010, 10:56:53 PM
For me (and, I think, a lot of other trans women), the tucking issue isn't the only problem. I gather this is NB's situation. I have tried some styles, and anything too frilly just looks awful. My breasts are really quite small, especially for my frame, so that's another problem. (I'm not particularly complaining, since I have been on hrt only 11 months.) Anything to boyish just makes me look like, well, a boy, so the swim trunks and rash guard options are out. I haven't figured it out yet, but for my small breasts, triangle tops look the best of anything I've tried, or possibly one-pieces with some kind of patterened bust. And something that can hold a tuck reliably. That's tough. But I don't think the skirt is a really good answer.
As for the changing room issue, if you think you can do the "steath" option, perhaps you could start by going a few times with some girl friends. It's much more likely that nobody would care if you were in a group, and it could give you some initial sense of how people would react.
Tucking alone will not likely work for an hour's swiming, I'll be taping and tucking ;)
As for going with other girl friends, I would love to do so, but the only one so far that is interested/willing is a post-op TS friend. She passes well, but even so, when you put two TG folks together, you'll get read a lot faster. I'm searching for a GG that likes to swim and will go....
The skirt really does help as it is feminine, hides any residual evidence of "bulg" and also makes me appear to have a little bit bigger bum than I do. That helps me out. I have quite small breasts, only 5 months on HRT and older, but they are apparent. In many ways, they better be, or I'll get read even more quickly!!!
I wear womens boardshorts and a surf singlet. The design is such that there are no illusions that it is a mans swim outfit. Seems to work ok, nobody says anything. Most people would be too terrified of jumping to the wrong conclusions. At my local pool they have a dissability room with a shower in it - I just use that. Also they have family changing rooms that I use to change when I go with my daughter.
You could always shower in your suit. Most people do that where I live.
Just really good tucking and or taping can work... I used Stephs invention in the site wiki under the same topic when I started swimming again. I even did it back in 08 when my band played at a water park... I just walked around and did my thing and went swimming.... Those that knew did freak alittle at the lack of bulges they assumed would be there XD It was awesome... <also caused a rumor among friends that I was post op LoL>
Quote from: pheonix on January 01, 2010, 09:54:18 AM
Lachlann,
Not knowing what sort of size you are up top, I apologize in advance if my suggestion is useless. I had developed breasts during puberty (a decent sized a cup) and based on my experience, people go out of their way to explain away breasts on a guy. If ur blessed enough to only need a little tissue removed for surgery, you should be able to swim ok.
Back then, when I went swimming, I wore a thick black cotton t-shirt. Only occasionally was I asked why and a simple "I burn easily" ended any interest from people.
Post Merge: January 01, 2010, 09:55:26 AM
Look into them - they are becoming very popular. My girlfriend wears one and they can be very attractive.
Yeah I'm only an A and they aren't going to get any bigger as far as I can tell. Still a bit hard to hide them even with a t-shirt over top, I might consider wearing a sport's bra with a t-shirt over top.
Quote from: Nicky on January 12, 2010, 01:03:14 PM
I wear womens boardshorts and a surf singlet. The design is such that there are no illusions that it is a mans swim outfit. . . . At my local pool they have a dissability room with a shower in it - I just use that. Also they have family changing rooms that I use to change when I go with my daughter.
You could always shower in your suit. Most people do that where I live.
I have done a little recon and at three of the four pools I saw only std suits... want to blend in ;) So probably no board shorts, this is Iowa in the winter, we're not very trendy. One of the pools does have a couple of "family" locker rooms, so that would be fine. The others just "binary"! Problem is that pool with the gender flexible locker rooms is 10 miles away and costs double the others. It is brand spanking new, hence the extra locker rooms. As for showering in my suit, that is part of the plan if needed, although I think most of the showers are individual stalls.
I appreciate all these suggestions :) :) :)
Charlene
Quote from: Lachlann on January 12, 2010, 11:45:08 PM
Yeah I'm only an A and they aren't going to get any bigger as far as I can tell. Still a bit hard to hide them even with a t-shirt over top, I might consider wearing a sport's bra with a t-shirt over top.
Careful with the sports bra, as wet cloth will stick, and it will be very easy to tell what you're wearing underneath the shirt.
Hi there,
You can buy swimsuits and bikini tops that have panels built in that with a little adjustment and needle and thread will accommodate those breast forms while your boobs are growing. As for the bottom part, wear sloggies a type of female underwear that is elastic in type it keeps everything tucked in place under a swimsuit. as for bikini bottoms well you have to find what works for you. I tuck and that seems just to work for me. I have had no problems stealth in swimming pools or on the beach even in female changing rooms.
Stardust
Quote from: stardust on January 16, 2010, 05:37:28 PM
Hi there,
You can buy swimsuits and bikini tops that have panels built in that with a little adjustment and needle and thread will accommodate those breast forms while your boobs are growing. As for the bottom part, wear sloggies a type of female underwear that is elastic in type it keeps everything tucked in place under a swimsuit. as for bikini bottoms well you have to find what works for you. I tuck and that seems just to work for me. I have had no problems stealth in swimming pools or on the beach even in female changing rooms.
Stardust
Stardust, your boobs look amazingly big and natural. Has that been achieved by HRT alone?
Quote from: Naturally Blonde on January 28, 2010, 07:42:02 AM
Stardust, your boobs look amazingly big and natural. Has that been achieved by HRT alone?
Hi Naturally Blonde,
Thank you, a bit off topic, but hope the rest will not mind me answering. Yes completely by HRT, I have been on HRT for just under 2 years.
Stardust
Startdust .... my my, you were quite lucky in the breast lotto of HRT ;-)
SO, I did end up choosing a pool and all and I've gone swimming a couple of times now. Currently have bad cold or it would be 4 times.... My little story -- ok my medium len story:
I won't bore you with all my prep, but I settled on a plain black one piece suit. "Racer" styled, with a low back with crossed straps from the sides, but fairly high and square bust line). A regular suit, no attached skirt or the like. No padding or built in bra. Made by TYR. Turned out to be a wise choice for several reasons.
I had already bought a month "pass". The pool that I went to is the one I likely will use the least (Mercer) - just in case there was trouble. A gal pal described the locker room situation well. I went in the morning around 9:45 am, figuring it would be pretty quiet. That part was not quite true, not "full" but every lane had a person etc. There are two women's locker rooms and I went in the farther one, hoping it might be less occupied ("B", important later). Indeed it was empty, got out of my clothes ( wore the suit under my street clothes), rinsed in the shower and put on my swim cap. Went out, signed in and found a place to put my towel and locker key. As I walked toward the pool a nice woman called out from the third lane in, that I should join her as she was nearly done. You have to ask to share a lane. Saved me from having to choose who to talk to :) :) :) She was very sweet to me, told me she was only doing another 300 yds, then I could have the lane to myself. Chatted just a little. She looked to be 30ish and quite a good swimmer. Around us were mostly guys, so I really appreciated her offer !
Started swimming and everything worked out fine. I could not quite keep up with my lane mate, but it didn't matter as we each used one side of the lane ( we are supposed to swim in a loop, staying on the right, but then you have to swim at the same speed). When she got out I realized she was wearing these tiny little swim fins, maybe 4 inches out from her toes, very cute! After she left I noticed the pool was getting busier. Almost all women coming in, and all much older than I. I swam for another 20 minutes or so and decided it was time enough. Just getting back in swimming shape, so 40 minutes was plenty ! I also realized that the water exercise class was nearly done I wanted to try and get into the locker before 'em, so I could stealth out.
Now came the first real problem. When I went back in I showered off, to get the bromine off of me. Then headed the locker areas, but I guessed wrong about which door (they are not marked). Walked into the "A" section and there was about 8 women getting undressed. I beat it back to the shower to let 'em get a head start. Both because of nerves and because there wasn't really much room (each locker area is pretty small, maybe 15 by 15 feet). One problem with my plan was that all my clothes were in that locker. I could go in and put them on over my wet suit - Gal Pal and others have said that is not uncommon - but I didn't want to if I could avoid it. After a bit I went back, they were still there ...arrggg... chatting away ! Started looking for my locker - I didn't want to keep walking in and out ... While in there I noticed that the locker key number was way off those in that room .... realized it was the wrong room. Went to the other room and there was my locker AND the room was empty. My lucky day ! Changed quickly and VOILA' successful trip. Kept suit on though, just in case. Next time I went I took panties and tank top in my bag out to the pool so I can change into them in the shower. Trying to change all clothes in a shower stall wouldn't work. Would make me stick out too. It was fine.
My nerves were pretty shot, but I did fine. Tried to just act naturally and I think I pulled it off. This may work, partially due to my breast development being enough that although really small, I do have female breasts now. Tucking and taping takes care of the "rest". I looked decent, although a certain curve isn't quite right. BUT fortunately women don't stare there and I don't care what the men think. I also have a suit with a little skirt bottom, but decided it might just call attention too much (if they were already half way to reading me). It was be better to go with the std suit. Once someone looks at you and sees a woman, they do not tend to re-evaluate their opinion. The std suit really helps with that first glance. I was nervous because I do not want to bother anyone, but I also have to use that locker room. Most pre-op TS folks I know stay away from pools. This pool does not have any unisex locker rooms and the men's is a bad idea. Gal Pal's both said most women would change in a way so that they weren't really ever naked, so just do the same and no probs. Well not these ladies! In the shower area at least, everyone was completely nude and not shy about it. They said hello etc to me and I didn't see any second glances or surprised looks, so I "passed" apparently. I just smiled and talked softly - and kept my suit ON. Thank GAWD for what has worked with the speech therapy folks.
Whew.... that was the hardest thing I have done yet in full time - or likely will do for a while. I'm going to try and go twice a week, hopefully it will work out. Oh, yes I wore just a little light makeup. Just to even our my face and hide any beard shadow (1/4 way thru clearing) - natural lipstick (water proof) and no shadow or other fancies. Pretty much the same as my "daily" makeup.
One fun little bit, apparently I chose well with the suit, about half the woman there were wearing the exact same suit - the others, one very similar. Almost all black and none with the little skirt thingies.
Ta DAH !
Charlene
Yay! Congratulations!