For the first time in five years, i tried to pick up my table saw. I couldn't even move it. I use to be able to carry it up and down stairs.   

my arms died a couple of months ago

I can't carry anything anymore. My boyfriend HATES it

Quote from: Hideyoshi on July 04, 2014, 07:46:52 PM
I can't carry anything anymore. My boyfriend HATES it

Hey, aren't that's what boyfriends are for

Quote from: Dianne on July 04, 2014, 07:51:40 PM
Hey, aren't that's what boyfriends are for

Lol you stole my words. Most boyfriends remove the physical work and you get the annoying bits left... Oh and the ..... Moments at night 

Welcome to being a woman.

I used to do a lot of work on cars and I developed strong large arms from doing that. I rarely ran into any fastener that I could not remove no matter how tight/frozen/rusted it was. I even broke tools on occasion when I was working on stuck fasteners.

Today I had to make a major repair to my car involving some very large, tight fasteners. It took me twice as long as it would have in the old days and most of those fasteners were so tight that I really struggled to remove them. I finally dug out the tool that gave me the most leverage to get them loose. I could barely pick up my own tool box. It was eye opening - I am now a weakling.

Maybe I need to practice that eye batting thing to get help with stuff needing strength now 

Yesterday I changed my desk in the office. I always had weak muscles as pretty much all physical exercises are forbidden by my doctor (if I want to keep my retinas in place). Still, I could barely lift a display from the desk and before it wasn't a problem. So I just ask the colleagues to move it for me.

Muscle loss is one of the effects of becoming a woman. The weight distribution is quite different: more water and fat, much less muscles. I wouldn't even believe that both my arms and legs could get any slimmer. Well, I'm glad I was wrong :-) .

You have two options: try to exercise (effect will be small and slow) or find someone else to do it (my solution :-) ).

I have been noticing similar effects over the past couple of weeks, a full year into HRT.

Not entirely happy with the loss of strength.  But definitely not going back.

Quote from: Misha on July 05, 2014, 01:13:40 AM


Muscle loss is one of the effects of becoming a woman. The weight distribution is quite different: more water and fat, much less muscles. I wouldn't even believe that both my arms and legs could get any slimmer. Well, I'm glad I was wrong :-) .

You have two options: try to exercise (effect will be small and slow) or find someone else to do it (my solution :-) ).

I will follow your solution. : ) Find someone else to do it .

Quote from: TessaMarie on July 05, 2014, 03:32:58 PM
I have been noticing similar effects over the past couple of weeks, a full year into HRT.

Not entirely happy with the loss of strength.  But definitely not going back.

I am not happy with the loss either, but I have found that if I have tasks I need to accomplish, I can ensure I remain strong enough to accomplish those tasks without help if I just practice at them/exercise for them. What I have noticed is that now when gaining strength in order to do something again, I don't really ever gain size, which is perplexing but, it is welcome.

I strongly value my independence, but I am certainly not going back either.

Quote from: Eva Marie on July 04, 2014, 09:20:21 PM
Welcome to being a woman.

I used to do a lot of work on cars and I developed strong large arms from doing that. I rarely ran into any fastener that I could not remove no matter how tight/frozen/rusted it was. I even broke tools on occasion when I was working on stuck fasteners.

Today I had to make a major repair to my car involving some very large, tight fasteners. It took me twice as long as it would have in the old days and most of those fasteners were so tight that I really struggled to remove them. I finally dug out the tool that gave me the most leverage to get them loose. I could barely pick up my own tool box. It was eye opening - I am now a weakling.

Maybe I need to practice that eye batting thing to get help with stuff needing strength now 

That is EXACTLY what I am going through now! Since I have cursed myself by knowing how to work on cars, I try to do all of my own repairs and maintenance. Things that used to be easy are now a major struggle for me. Even jacking up cars or taking a tire off to do the brakes is a huge effort. Saves quite a bit of money and time though.

Quote from: Christine Eryn on July 06, 2014, 09:25:19 AM
That is EXACTLY what I am going through now! Since I have cursed myself by knowing how to work on cars, I try to do all of my own repairs and maintenance. Things that used to be easy are now a major struggle for me. Even jacking up cars or taking a tire off to do the brakes is a huge effort. Saves quite a bit of money and time though.

Saving money - exactly. When my wife left me she took the good car and left me with the derelict one. I am now a broke girl driving a 15 year old high mileage car so I have to be able to fix stuff on it. Luckily I know how.

Turns out that it's not a bad skill for a girl to have - recently I was out with some friends and we all happened to be talking about cars and a one of my guy friends was very impressed that I know about them and that I can fix them, and that I like to do a lot of the same stuff that he does. We are going to a car show in a couple of weeks - maybe a budding romance is in the works?   

Eva Marie, it is a good skill to have indeed. I've caught mechanics try to fool me with their phantom diagnosis of parts and services I don't need.    I replaced a busted suspension part on my car over the weekend, and boy howdy, was it ever a pain in the ass. It even literally brought me to tears. I gave up a few times, but took care of what I needed to. Things like that sure let you know what you're made of.

Good luck on your budding romance!