Any FTMs or masculine-identified individuals struggle with this? I mean, having dysphoria about the inability to build muscle just like a biological man can because of deficiency in testosterone levels (or being biologically female)? Mine's gets so bad, that I will sometimes opt out of bodybuilding altogether or won't want to go to the gym out of sheer jealousy of a biological man's build and ability to generate monstrously massive muscle. Ya'll feel me, yo? I think even for guys that are on T cannot ever build up their strength and muscle mass exactly like a bio man can. Yeah, that's a downer but I'm just bein' real. It's a hopeless and inescapable fate of the transman.

-Sparky

Yeah, I wish I had bigger muscles too so I know what you mean. If you're uncomfortable going to the gym, you can buy some free weights or other workout gear to have at home. With a good workout and diet, you'll definitely build some muscle.

Quote from: XanderTheGreat on April 22, 2016, 11:01:36 AM
Yeah, I wish I had bigger muscles too so I know what you mean. If you're uncomfortable going to the gym, you can buy some free weights or other workout gear to have at home. With a good workout and diet, you'll definitely build some muscle.

That kinda sounds like the "better than nothing" solution. It's just not sufficient enough. I mean, what you said is a great idea though, don't get me wrong.

-Sparky

Yeah, I hear you. It can suck when you're just getting started.

A couple of things, though. First, if you train consistently now, it will pay off later, because even if you're not building much muscle, you'll be getting stronger. When you do get on T, the stronger you are, the more weight you'll be able to lift, and that will help you bulk up faster -- you have to be able to lift significant amounts of weight in order to add muscle.

In fact, at this stage it may be better to focus on a program designed to build strength (higher weights and fewer reps), rather than a body-building program. Concentrate on learning the correct form for the different lifts to start with, using lower weights, rather than pushing yourself to lift as much as you can with poor form.  That's what leads to injuries; if you're injured, you can't lift at all, and THAT, more than anything else, will slow your progress.

As far as those bulky guys in the gym go -- keep in mind that many of them are probably doing supplements and even steroids on top of whatever natural T they have going, and that stuff can cause major health problems.  Be very wary of bodybuilding nutritional supplements; many if not most of the "cocktails" are spiked with illegal steroids and amphetamines, which can and will cause liver and kidney damage. If you go the supplement route (and many of us do), stick to whey protein, creatine, and maybe one or two other single-ingredient supplements, and get them from certified sources.

Try to remember that your goal is to be the guy you are supposed to be. I know it's hard, but comparing yourself with others isn't nearly as helpful as measuring your own progress and seeing improvements, whether those take the form of increased strength, a drop and shift in body fat, having more energy -- it's all good. Take notes, and set simple, short term goals.

Strangely enough I've always been able to build muscle quickly and easily. I do not know why because I'm pre T. But surely if you take male levels of T then there's no reason with sufficient training you will not be able to achieve a male physique. I've seen many pictures of transmen that seem to prove this.

Male bodybuilders are sometimes taking higher levels of T than is normal or safe. They may be getting extra-ordinary results because of that.

I get this a lot, not even that I want to be huge like a body builder, just that average guys' strength and definition is so much more than mine. I lost weight, and I've been doing some training but my arms and legs have just got skinnier and probably look more feminine. it's really hard to even be in the gym without getting really depressed

It's especially annoying because if i say this to anyone, they think i just want T so i can be ripped. Really what i want is to be able to do something basic like going for a jog without lowkey wanting to die. i have sedentary job and lifestyle and that's not healthy. i only managed to get the motivation to go to the gym and loose a bit of weight once i realised i could do it for transition and not to just make my body look more conventionally attractive for a female. but the motivation isn't lasting :/

hopefully T will make these things better. i'm sorry i don't have any solutions for us :C

Not all men can build muscles. Both my brother and I had thin arms and no visible muscles even after years of natural T. In my case, I could never chin myself and I was lucky if I could do 3 pushups. It didn't stop me from doing physical labor but I needed to use my head instead of my body to get the job done.

Quote from: Tysilio on April 22, 2016, 11:41:36 AM
Yeah, I hear you. It can suck when you're just getting started.

A couple of things, though. First, if you train consistently now, it will pay off later, because even if you're not building much muscle, you'll be getting stronger. When you do get on T, the stronger you are, the more weight you'll be able to lift, and that will help you bulk up faster -- you have to be able to lift significant amounts of weight in order to add muscle.

In fact, at this stage it may be better to focus on a program designed to build strength (higher weights and fewer reps), rather than a body-building program. Concentrate on learning the correct form for the different lifts to start with, using lower weights, rather than pushing yourself to lift as much as you can with poor form.  That's what leads to injuries; if you're injured, you can't lift at all, and THAT, more than anything else, will slow your progress.

As far as those bulky guys in the gym go -- keep in mind that many of them are probably doing supplements and even steroids on top of whatever natural T they have going, and that stuff can cause major health problems.  Be very wary of bodybuilding nutritional supplements; many if not most of the "cocktails" are spiked with illegal steroids and amphetamines, which can and will cause liver and kidney damage. If you go the supplement route (and many of us do), stick to whey protein, creatine, and maybe one or two other single-ingredient supplements, and get them from certified sources.

Try to remember that your goal is to be the guy you are supposed to be. I know it's hard, but comparing yourself with others isn't nearly as helpful as measuring your own progress and seeing improvements, whether those take the form of increased strength, a drop and shift in body fat, having more energy -- it's all good. Take notes, and set simple, short term goals.

I'll have to give that a shot. This makes alot of sense. Now that I think about it, I remember Ayden, an FTM from youtube talking about this. I forgot about it because I get so jealous of these dudes, that even though I know they only want to help, for the most part, I can't bear to watch them. But yes, he mentioned these tips. I will have to ask my dietitian, but I think I have to avoid creatine because I am a dialysis patient and I have too much creatine already. I can take whey protein for sure and I already do after every workout or right before bed. I would take two servings, but again, kidneys are an issue and I have to limit my potassium intake. Bummer, right?

-Sparky

T is definitely a huge factor...as is genetics.

But outside of that, eating right (bodybuilding diet) and working out right will get SOMETHING going at least.

Start by calculating your Macros (Macronutrients): http://www.iifym.com/iifym-calculator/

Ugh, I definitely get that. Though I do tend to prefer less muscly builds, which means I probably have an easier time of it.

It doesn't bother me that much unless I'm actively trying to build muscle (which, if I think about it, is all the time >~<). I usually give up fairly quickly because I know the harder I try without seeing progress, the more of a complex I'll develop and the more I'll obsess. I have twice the muscle I had this time last year, but you still need a pretty hefty magnifying glass to see it.

My sole comfort is my legs - I walk a lot (too cheap to spend money on public transport) and they're SO muscly. Compared to the rest of me, at least. I put my hands in my trouser pockets if I'm feeling sad about my upper body so I can feel the muscles flex as I walk along :p

One potential bright side we have - the shorter you are, the less muscle you need to look shredded. If, like me, you're a little on the stunted side, it may one day work in your favour. Good muscles trump towering height! He says, possessing neither >.>

Yes. I am a swimmer and my poor butterfly stroke often leaves me dysphoric, especially when I see cis men who I out swim with every other stroke doing it. It makes me want to stop attempting the fly.

Sent from my SM-G870W using Tapatalk

Quote from: Debra on April 22, 2016, 07:59:41 PM
T is definitely a huge factor...as is genetics.

But outside of that, eating right (bodybuilding diet) and working out right will get SOMETHING going at least.

Start by calculating your Macros (Macronutrients): http://www.iifym.com/iifym-calculator/

Ah, macronutrients. I heard of that from this awesome movie on juicing called Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. I forgot all about them. Thanks for the link! I'll bookmark this right now.

-Sparky

What Dena said.  I was a competitive cyclist in my twenties, and I ended up being the team's hill climbing specialist and track sprinter because I could never build muscle.  No matter how much I trained, I just got more scrawny and wiry, and faster.  And back then, when I was keeping my girl side buried and overcompensating by trying to be macho, believe me I wanted muscle.

Diet helps with definition.  Cut out the potato chips and soda, and you will start to see the layer of body fat over the muscles disappear and you will start to get cut lines if you keep working out.

Have you heard of the endomorphic, mesomorphic and ectomorphic body types? It's supposed to describe the types of bodies that find it hard to gain muscle and keep fat on, the types that find it easy to build muscle and retain fat, and the type in the middle of those. I know that my own body type corresponds to the endomorph that can gain fat very quickly if I eat too much junk, but also I gain muscle quick if I work out, and it sticks around. My partner's body type is ectomorphic since he finds it easy to stay thin, but has difficulty building and retaining any significant muscle mass.

There are special diet and lifting routines available online for each of these types. If you identify which type you are, perhaps some of these tailored routines will help you.

Quote from: King Phoenix on April 22, 2016, 11:59:03 PM
Ah, macronutrients. I heard of that from this awesome movie on juicing called Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. I forgot all about them. Thanks for the link! I'll bookmark this right now.

-Sparky

YW Yeah macros are a great way setup cuts, gains, and maintains but there are also a lot of good articles out there about what to eat and when around your workouts as well. I feel like if you want to put on some serious muscle, sticking to a type of bodybuilding diet and workout will help get you in that direction.