Quote from: lionheart on January 02, 2016, 12:51:19 PM
I don't personally have the underworks swimsuit, but I have a friend who does and he didn't like it. It didn't bind as well and it just flat out looks out of place unless you're surfing or something. I think you're better off just wearing a regular binder and a rash guard.

I saw that somewhere else online today about the binder and rash guard. Thanks for the input. I think I'll probably go with that since you're right it does seem like it would be quite out of place at the local pool.

Quote from: SamKelley on December 30, 2015, 05:19:27 AM
As a rule in life I do try and only do one thing at a time, and be fully in the moment whatever I'm doing. That includes eating... But I've built these several habits one at a time over the years. You don't have to do everything at once .

It's probably not the best analogy here, but how do you eat an elephant... One bite at a time

xox
Sami

Lol, I like that analogy. I've heard it before and it's always a welcomed reminder as I am the kind of guy who tries to do it all in one sitting even if it kills me [emoji16]. Patience, is a virtue I have yet to fully obtain. Obviously, it doesn't help with dysphoria and body image problems out the wazoo.

I have PCOS and I was wondering has anyone here had an experience with HRT that was a positive? A lot of the issues those with PCOS have is a chemical imbalance and I've always struggled with weight. As many people as I hear about gaining weight in the middle, I already have weight there.

Quote from: KoreyCabra on January 14, 2016, 10:03:22 PM
I have PCOS and I was wondering has anyone here had an experience with HRT that was a positive? A lot of the issues those with PCOS have is a chemical imbalance and I've always struggled with weight. As many people as I hear about gaining weight in the middle, I already have weight there.

My PCOS was discovered when my endo checked my hormone levels before starting HRT. T made everything more stable, I experienced less mood swings, and the fat in my stomach area became less prominent. Still have fat there but it sort of evened out and I don't have that beer belly look anymore thank god. I wasn't technically overweight, but a serious case of skinny fat lol. The horrible cramps stopped. Only positive changes for me.
If you feel like you want to I suggest taking the opportunity to get in better shape. It's only my personal experience but I found i way easier to loose fat on T.

Quote from: KoreyCabra on January 14, 2016, 10:03:22 PM
I have PCOS and I was wondering has anyone here had an experience with HRT that was a positive? A lot of the issues those with PCOS have is a chemical imbalance and I've always struggled with weight. As many people as I hear about gaining weight in the middle, I already have weight there.

Yes. I had PCOS prior to starting HRT. Everything has improved, I've lost weight, shark week has stopped, and I feel better. I'm getting everything taken out next month, and I'm sure I'll feel even better then.

Quote from: FTMax on January 15, 2016, 08:01:16 AM
Yes. I had PCOS prior to starting HRT. Everything has improved, I've lost weight, shark week has stopped, and I feel better. I'm getting everything taken out next month, and I'm sure I'll feel even better then.

Quote from: Carbonated on January 15, 2016, 05:15:48 AM
My PCOS was discovered when my endo checked my hormone levels before starting HRT. T made everything more stable, I experienced less mood swings, and the fat in my stomach area became less prominent. Still have fat there but it sort of evened out and I don't have that beer belly look anymore thank god. I wasn't technically overweight, but a serious case of skinny fat lol. The horrible cramps stopped. Only positive changes for me.
If you feel like you want to I suggest taking the opportunity to get in better shape. It's only my personal experience but I found i way easier to loose fat on T.

This does give me a lot of hope. I am still going to keep trying to lose weight before hand and probably while on T. Thank you both for sharing with me, it means a lot!

Quote from: KoreyCabra on January 15, 2016, 10:51:38 PM
This does give me a lot of hope. I am still going to keep trying to lose weight before hand and probably while on T. Thank you both for sharing with me, it means a lot!

I will tell you that coming out as FTM then getting on T has done more to motivate me to work out and eat right than anything else.  If you had told me before I came out as FTM that I would give up McDonalds and Pizza Hut for a high protein, low fat diet where I religiously count my calories, I would have laughed at you.  But the possibility of actually looking the way I WANT to rather than being seen as a chick have made me happy to completely change my lifestyle.  I went from sitting on the couch all day, every day to lifting weights two to three times a week, riding horses four to six times a week, and running three times a week.  I never had a weight problem--I always maintained the same weight which wasn't much for my height--but I was super weak and could barely jog a hundred feet without stopping and sucking in air.  A couple months later I can easily run a mile and a quarter then go climb on the rowing machine no problem.  I guarantee if you really focus on the fact that being who you have always wanted to be is within your grasp, all of the tough stuff that seems like it's impossible to do will come much easier than expected.  You can do it!

Also, if I were you, I wouldn't wait to get on T until you've lost weight (if that is the reason you are waiting).  People scared me to death with all the talk of the "T 10" or whatever and for the first month I was counting every ounce I gained, terrified T was making me gain weight.  Now?  I'm having to eat over 2,000 calories a day just to maintain the weight I'm at, and you can visibly see how I am dropping fat and gaining muscle.  Part of it is working out and a good diet, but I am sure part of it is the T, also.  I will be 3 months on T next week and while I am not pleased with my lack of body hair, fem face, and still high voice, my body shape has already changed quite a bit.  All the weight I had was in my hips, and it's been seriously reduced while my shoulders and arms are getting bigger every month.  So yes, some people gain weight on T, but if you work out and eat correctly then T will definitely help you out in your weight loss endeavors.  Of course, this is coming from someone who was pretty tall and slim (but with a very feminine figure), so people who needed to lose weight obviously have more accurate knowledge in this area than me.  But I really feel like T is more of a help than a hindrance in getting in shape/losing weight as long as you are willing to eat correctly rather than binge on crap.  (Because the appetite increase was very real for me, and I am sure that if I wasn't monitoring my calories I would be eating like 4,000 calories a day by pure accident as I binged on pizza and burgers rather than chicken breast and Greek yogurt!)

Quote from: FtMitch on January 16, 2016, 03:55:44 PM
I will tell you that coming out as FTM then getting on T has done more to motivate me to work out and eat right than anything else.  If you had told me before I came out as FTM that I would give up McDonalds and Pizza Hut for a high protein, low fat diet where I religiously count my calories, I would have laughed at you.  But the possibility of actually looking the way I WANT to rather than being seen as a chick have made me happy to completely change my lifestyle.  I went from sitting on the couch all day, every day to lifting weights two to three times a week, riding horses four to six times a week, and running three times a week.  I never had a weight problem--I always maintained the same weight which wasn't much for my height--but I was super weak and could barely jog a hundred feet without stopping and sucking in air.  A couple months later I can easily run a mile and a quarter then go climb on the rowing machine no problem.  I guarantee if you really focus on the fact that being who you have always wanted to be is within your grasp, all of the tough stuff that seems like it's impossible to do will come much easier than expected.  You can do it!

Also, if I were you, I wouldn't wait to get on T until you've lost weight (if that is the reason you are waiting).  People scared me to death with all the talk of the "T 10" or whatever and for the first month I was counting every ounce I gained, terrified T was making me gain weight.  Now?  I'm having to eat over 2,000 calories a day just to maintain the weight I'm at, and you can visibly see how I am dropping fat and gaining muscle.  Part of it is working out and a good diet, but I am sure part of it is the T, also.  I will be 3 months on T next week and while I am not pleased with my lack of body hair, fem face, and still high voice, my body shape has already changed quite a bit.  All the weight I had was in my hips, and it's been seriously reduced while my shoulders and arms are getting bigger every month.  So yes, some people gain weight on T, but if you work out and eat correctly then T will definitely help you out in your weight loss endeavors.  Of course, this is coming from someone who was pretty tall and slim (but with a very feminine figure), so people who needed to lose weight obviously have more accurate knowledge in this area than me.  But I really feel like T is more of a help than a hindrance in getting in shape/losing weight as long as you are willing to eat correctly rather than binge on crap.  (Because the appetite increase was very real for me, and I am sure that if I wasn't monitoring my calories I would be eating like 4,000 calories a day by pure accident as I binged on pizza and burgers rather than chicken breast and Greek yogurt!)

I think a large part of my problem relates to that. I do not think I've never wanted to work out because I am a bigger guy, but because I knew if I go work out I'm going to be labeled as "female". Or the fact that I do eat like garbage, McDonalds is on the way home from my college and I always try to think, "no just eat yogurt at home" or something, but then I do not have a reason to focus. Because when I get home I'm just going to be a "female" eating yogurt. I hate the body I am in and that is why I have not been doing what I need to do to succeed.

From my experience the problem with overeating is common. Before decision to be myself I was going out nowhere and overeating. I was 98+ kilos last year about this time. Since I took my life in my hands, I got it all in order. I am 73 kilos now and counting down. The fact I am kept on T for way too long ironically helps with doing nothing but eating well and losing weight.

steel86man, if there are problems you think are best dealt with by a therapist, I would do one thing at a time. I'd invest time in the therapist thing first and then make next change once that step is done or has taken clear course.

But if you think you could do more than one, just go for it.