Quote from: Jennifer.Alexandria on June 11, 2014, 11:56:45 PM
So it seems I was misinformed.  I swore when I was researching before there were numbers to support roughly a 25% reduction in strength.  However, based on the results of these pushup self tests its more like >75% loss depending on how long you've been on HRT, with 75% being pretty close to the start of it. I'm also assuming this is also based on exercise as my 80% reduction is probably due to not working my upper body for 6mo.

Yes, 25% reduction is way to understated. I have a very close male friend and we are sometimes doing  "mock" armwrestling. I came out to him in August and we tried that for the first time a little bit afterwards - he could not beat me as I was just putting up all the resistance I could to hold on. Three months ago, he was struggling but he managed to beat me with both hands. Two weeks ago, it was me who was struggling to delay the inevitable - I lasted for about 3-4 secs and then went down. Next time, probably he will bend my hand like a twig .
Also, I never really understood how strong men are in comparison to women. There is also an extreme psychological advantage on their side, because now when I have shrunk, even quite average guy who works out from time to time, looks so much broader and bigger, and it has some sort of intimidating effect too... .  I never expected that HRT would reduce my strength so drastically and since safety was mentioned, I always assumed that if needed, I would simply push the bad guy away and if he insists and gets close, knock him out with an elbow. We tried that thing with my friend (not the elbow one, of course), so... I was pushing, he just would not move... then he grabbed my hands and I only escaped with knowledge that You need to twist against thumbs not the rest of fingers (easier to break away from one-finger hold than four-finger hold), then we decided to omit self-defence tricks, he managed to get into distance, grabbed my hands again, twisted them - again his force against my without soft escaping techniques - and pinned me against wall. I could not get any body leverage and this whole situation felt pretty helpless . I could try to reach out and kick him in the balls, but we agreed not to do that . So much about personal safety .
And the most ironic part is that 6-7 years ago this guy was taking martial arts lessons from me .

Yes Emily I can completely understand the intimidation factor that comes with being a women. Much comes from the size difference and I think this then leads to the psychological difference. If women have too, we will defend ourselves....but in a situation of a man being a bully or a man just being a man many will usually just say...whatever.

I never thought of myself as a petite women at the start of transition and I even have a hard time seeing myself that way now, but I am told by most people, men and women that I am petite. I know when it comes to physical interaction such as a kind nudge or a coworker pushing me around jokingly....it feels as if they are giants.

Even pre transition I always feared other men, physically and mentally.....I actually didn't enjoy most of the interaction I had with the few friends I had. Now, I really don't like most men and many even disgust me, this is on a friendly type basis....not a relation type....I'm still very attracted to men that way.

I haven't stop crossfitting so I can still do about 80 in 1 time

I regret trying!  It's been 2 days and I'm still feeling sore!

I guess I better start getting back into shape

Quote from: luna nyan on June 13, 2014, 06:12:17 AM
I regret trying!  It's been 2 days and I'm still feeling sore!

I guess I better start getting back into shape

LOL . I knew they would hurt when I tried... Well, they still hurt .

Quote from: ♡ Emily ♡ on June 13, 2014, 06:51:56 AM
LOL . I knew they would hurt when I tried... Well, they still hurt .

But it's so sad it's funny!
I used to get to 30 minimum even when I was out of shape!

I guess I can make myself feel even worse and do a count of how few half push-ups I can manage.  I never used to see the point of those. XD

Okay, so I'd been wanting to make a short video of my attempt at push-ups for a while since posting in this topic, but I had forgotten about it for a time, it just suddenly came back to me a little while ago so figured, why not, lets see how this turns out...



There you have it, I can't even do two lousy push-ups. And I'm ecstatic about it. 

20 minutes later, arms still hurt a little, I strained myself just going down on the first one.

I'm on antiandrogens since Mar 12th. I'm quite sure I can do whole 0 push ups. Which went down from... ehm... 0 :-D .

But then again I had, have and will have pretty much all physical exercises except walking, running and swimming (which is out of question thanks to obvious reasons :-) ) forbidden so that my retinas stay nicely in place.

Still I did notice a drop of physical strength. I can feel it when I carry a full backpack. I hate the sound of the suitcases on wheels but I guess I eventually won't have a choice :-) .

Still I walk 5 km per day on average. And I can still handle 10-12 km no problem. Just last Wednesday I walked over 10 km as I had quite some business to sort out after work.

Quote from: Megan Joanne on June 22, 2014, 10:22:45 PM
Okay, so I'd been wanting to make a short video of my attempt at push-ups for a while since posting in this topic, but I had forgotten about it for a time, it just suddenly came back to me a little while ago so figured, why not, lets see how this turns out...



There you have it, I can't even do two lousy push-ups. And I'm ecstatic about it. 

20 minutes later, arms still hurt a little, I strained myself just going down on the first one.

Cute video . But... I am tempted to make mine now . 

Um...for curiousity purposes i did some pushups this morning.

87 on my first set, 62 on my second and 39 on my 3rd.

Those numbers are WAY down from before, thank gawd. Im not even gonnasay. What i use to bench

^  Ooh, strong girl! 

I've did 2 legitimately perfect form pushups then gave up.    Like I've said before, I was never strong to begin with. When I was about 30lbs + heavier, it was mostly fat not muscle I had, and now I realize that more than ever. I was never meant to be strong, although I had a lot more power pre HRT and could move things around easier.

Whats' a push-up?  oh, a bra? 

I have to admit, my last pushup was probably in high school, just a little longer than last week.. I'm not flabby, and I really should work out more (spelled a-n-y), I'm older, and the exercise I get is from walking.  There is always the usual Jumping to conclusions, Flipping out, Running my mouth.. I think you get the idea 

Quote from: Megan Joanne on June 23, 2014, 07:47:09 AM
^  Ooh, strong girl! 

Hehe yeah!
Strong but not very buff anymore so am pretty happy. Getting weaker and weaker all the time. I dont mind.

Still if there is something heavy to lift I pretend I'm too weak so I get guys to do it LOL!