This has to do with breasts as tiny as they are at this stage I keep SMASHING THEM GRARGAGH!!! there are other inconveniences associated with HRT that I'm appreciating now.
I had to reach across a workbench in a computer lab squished one of them on the corner of the table.
I catch myself on a door.
I pinch one on my backpack straps.
I walked into my room exhausted after a long day and an early start and I just flopped face first onto my mattress crushing them under me.
Double whammy carrying my shopping I'm no longer strong enough to carry my shopping bag with one arm. So I have to carry in a "bear hug" style infront of me and the bag rubs against my chest and rubs me red raw ugh!
I was playing "tennis" with house-mates involving pizza paddles and large foam footballs. Hehe :D I know I'm mature! Many Ouchies in this.
1: you jump to hit the ball feeling a distinct 'Ow bounce.'
2: You get hit in the chest with the ball.
3a: You hard backhand swing bringing your arm sharply across your chest crushing yourself.
3b: Aggravated by the fact that I'm weaker now so I have to "Hard backhand swing" more.
They all came together when we lost our ball over the fence and I climbed onto the garage to see if I could see it huge number of limitations appeared showing that I'm not 'designed' for this anymore.
1: I used to be able to lift 120% my own body weight I can hardly lift myself anymore.
2: I of course catch my chest clambering onto the roof.
3: my skin is thinner softer and weaker now my hands were actually bleeding from the small cuts caused by the coarseness of the roof something that's not happened before.
The worst part of all is if you hurt your boobies they ALWAYS become erect It's like "no it's not a man begin kinky it's just a door!" and of course they then chafe against your clothes as you move. Thankfully there not large enough to be noticed yet so I can actually put my hand up my shirt and hold them when they are hurt which helps.
I don't think I'm an A-cup yet but is it really already time for me to get a bra?
Just remember, you want those things :)
Yeah, get a bra. They make them for little girls who aren't A-cups yet, or you can get an A-cup and pad it, or just wear a sports bra (they start out fairly flat and stretch).
Your backpack straps are going to have to sit in a different spot, angled sharply off to the side into your armpit rather than lying flat on your chest. There are backpacks with straps designed for this, but I tend to find them even more uncomfortable.
For shopping, take a backpack or messenger bag or one of those reusable shopping bags that can hang off your elbow. Oh, and go laugh in the faces of those evolutionary psychology jerks who say that female-bodied people cradle inanimate objects against our bodies because we want to "nurture" them.
If you're going to stay active in the ways you normally are (climbing fences, etc) you'll get used to your hands bleeding - hand scars, cuts, and scrapes are one of the markers of a tomboy of any age. There's not much you can do about the softness unless you seriously work with your hands as a mechanic or something. And then once you stop they go right back to baby soft within a couple of months.
As far as the strength, you can maintain some strength but you have to work three times as hard, so get some weights if you want to keep climbing things. Don't worry, the estrogen won't let you get big (sigh) unless you make your life revolve around lifting.
I might recommend the sports bra approach as well. They were made for more physical activities, and there's usually some extra room to grow!
Aint puberty great!
-Sandy
Quote from: kyril on March 18, 2010, 01:32:29 PM
Just remember, you want those things :)
Good point! I've been working in my garden recently. It's pretty big and every year there's a lot of hard, physical work needs doing: digging, clearing undergrowth and small trees, pulling up brambles, ivy, etc ... And as I do it I've been thinking, 'This may be the last year I can do some of this stuff ... or at least, do it as easily; carry such big loads, etc ...' And there's a part of me that will miss that sheer basic male strength, just like I guess I'll miss the other benefits of male privilege ...
... but I'll be gaining so, so much more in return. So it's a swap I'm totally happy to make. And if I weren't totally ready and accepting of the things I have to lose, I wouldn't even consider starting the process of transition at all ...
Jars are my bugbear. Used to be able to wrench open pretty much any jar. They seem bloody tough now. Apart from that I don't have too many issues strength wise. Was always rather strong anyway, and much of that remains. But then it is early days.
I get the sore boob thing too. I pick up my 10month old and he always manages to grab them somewhow. They also get sore when I feel emotional.
I got an AA padded bra, that helps a lot.
Hope you enjoy your new 'girls'! I am.
Yep, lots of scrapes. I used to have all kinds of cuts and scars, and I wasn't even an active kid really.
Quote fron Nicky:
Re: New Physical limitations.
« Used to be able to wrench open pretty much any jar. They seem bloody tough now. Apart from that I don't have too many issues strength wise. Was always rather strong anyway, and much of that remains. But then it is early days. >
I'm getting this so much. At work the women would bring the jars etc to me to open if they could not. I think it is outing me that I can no longer open tight jars :laugh:
I've noticed in the gym as well that I'm decreasing weights and doing more reps, before I was increasing both.
As for the nurturing carry position. I do watch some of the USA gridiron games. The running backs seem to be very nurturing to a "pigskin?" :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Cindy
I noticed that I lost my muscle tone from swimming but, I did reduce the amount of swimming that I did. However, one thing that I can still do and that is open jar lids and friends and colleagues will bring them to me to open and if the question comes up I just say I am an ex swimmer always work because they end up saying oh.
I do bruise easily and cuts and scratches are a pain in the butt. However, as my mum says "sometimes you are heavy handed". I am always in a rush, so I say to myself slow down Sarah. But I must remember I am not a dainty, fragile type of girl, I used to worry about my shoulders being broad until I meet "Lisa Curry Kenny" (top international swimmer) oh boy she had shoulders just like me.
I have the same physical characteristics as my grandmother and my mum, with the exception that I am taller than both and they have bigger breasts.
Oh well you cannot have everything you want (sigh)
Kind regards
Sarah B
Just wait 'till you can use your breasts to carry things.. ;)
Quote from: no_id on March 23, 2010, 06:23:06 AM
Just wait 'till you can use your breasts to carry things.. ;)
O_O''
Is there some sort of hidden zipper that I've yet to discover? I can imagine using your bra to hide things like sneaky assassination weapons like all the other female superheros do.
Quote from: pebbles on March 23, 2010, 01:54:46 PM
O_O''
Is there some sort of hidden zipper that I've yet to discover? I can imagine using your bra to hide things like sneaky assassination weapons like all the other female superheros do.
If they get big enough for cleavage, you can shove things in between them - my mom used to do that. Very embarrassing, from my perspective.
Quote from: no_id on March 23, 2010, 06:23:06 AM
Just wait 'till you can use your breasts to carry things.. ;)
It's not a rack, it's a shelf...
-Sandy
I totaly sypathize with the OP on the boobs thing. I am always hurting my boobs and they are just bearly starting to grow.
Quote from: pebbles on March 23, 2010, 01:54:46 PM
O_O''
Is there some sort of hidden zipper that I've yet to discover? I can imagine using your bra to hide things like sneaky assassination weapons like all the other female superheros do.
Hehe like Sandy said; 'shelf'.
When I needed to do heavy lifting for work they came in handy.
I could rest boxes against my chest and have them lean on my breasts to take off some weight. Hips can also be useful like that. ;)
all of the above limitations, from not being able to sleep on my belly anymore to opening olive jars. I've lost significant muscle mass in my arms too (I think it all turned to fat and went to my butt lol). That's funny to me because my muscled up arms used to be one of the main reasons I thought I would never be able to pass as female. I even used to look at pictures of female bodybuilders trying to find the ones that looked feminine but still had muscles as large as mine, just to convince myself it might be possible. That was back before I had a clue that hormones could cause such drastic physical changes.
Quote from: no_id on March 24, 2010, 07:10:33 AM
Hehe like Sandy said; 'shelf'.
When I needed to do heavy lifting for work they came in handy.
I could rest boxes against my chest and have them lean on my breasts to take off some weight.
Weird. Doesn't work that way for me. xD They just get in the way, especially when I'm trying to play my ukulele and I can't position it against my chest with my tits in the way. Thank goodness for binders!
Quote from: LucienOctopus on March 27, 2010, 02:39:21 PM
Weird. Doesn't work that way for me. xD They just get in the way, especially when I'm trying to play my ukulele and I can't position it against my chest with my tits in the way. Thank goodness for binders!
Hehe at least I found some use for them back then. I prefer the flat(ter) chest and working out scenario better now though. ;)
However, I am now wondering if I could balance a ukulele on one though... :P
Quote from: no_id on March 23, 2010, 06:23:06 AM
Just wait 'till you can use your breasts to carry things.. ;)
Only thing they're good for IMO.
but yes get a bra. don't do what my mom did to me and try to put it off until you're a B cup
As FairyGirl mentioned, the only physical limitation that I miss is, being able to sleep on my belly. However, that is not really a concern now, since it was so long ago, I hardly remember ever sleeping on my belly.
Kind regards
Sarah B
Quote from: Sarah B on April 02, 2010, 04:32:24 PMI miss is, being able to sleep on my belly. However, that is not really a concern now, since it was so long ago, I hardly remember ever sleeping on my belly.
LOL! I know what you mean ;) A "boobie pillow" has been a necessity for decades! I started developing in my teens and somehow the 'fried eggs' developed into a full C that pretty much requires a bra for any activity.
Strength is another issue. I guess I don't miss it since I never had it and levers, pipes, and other mechanical aids can help most of the time but jar lids are another story! LOL!
My "boobie pillows" (like the term Northern Jane) are still not big enough and if I do lie down on my belly they end up under my armpits. Actually I tried it just a couple of days ago after reading this thread and I could not stay there long enough to go to sleep.
Kind regards
Sarah B