Before I've had top surgery do you think I should avoid the pool at the gym or wear a tank top binder that is made just for swimming with swimming trunks?

I don't understand what not having top surgery has to do with swimming. As long as you look masculine enough and act confident nobody should give you any trouble at the pool. You may get a few curious glances because people don't usually wear tops to go swimming; but it's not like people will give you the evil eye. A tank top binder with trunks will be fine. Although I'd check with the gym; some can be funny about wearing 'clothes' in the pool.

FWIW, I'm going the other way, but I've never been comfortable baring my chest, and have usually worn a T-shirt in the past, so I don't think people would think you're weird (for a guy) for wearing something that covers your upper body.  (Okay, some guys will, but then some guys will use any excuse to put another guy down, it's how they "prove their masculinity".)

As for pool rules, I believe there are (men's) shirts specifically made for swimming, and I would think they'd get around any pool rule about not wearing non-swim clothes into the pool.  So I would think a swim binder (which I assume just looks to the uninitiated like a shirt) would be treated the same.

I admire your courage.  I'm going to start dressing as a woman for swimming this summer (i.e., wearing a swim dress and cap), and I'm terrified that I'm going to get thrown out of places for it.

ETA: I'm not saying you're in any actual danger of getting hassled or should need any courage, it's just that I personally am always convinced I'm going to be and always have to repeat my "it is a good day to die!" mantra over and over again to get the courage just to do the simplest TG-ish things.  I'll probably be 90 (28 years from now) before I get the guts to go into the ladies' locker room.

As long as you act like you're supposed to be doing what you're doing, nobody is going to act weird around you at the pool if you're wearing a top and presenting as male. Underworks makes a swimming binder that has good reviews. I didn't use it personally, but I know there was a thread on here about it and everyone who owned it seems to love it.

I wear a tee shirt too at pools most of the time.  I'm so uncomfortable with a shirt off I actually have to stop and do some personal meditation to be comfortable.  Some times I just leave the tee shirt on and no-one, not one time, ever has said anything.  When I see it I assume a skin condition (sun sensitivity) or just self conscience (like me).  It really is NO BIG DEAL. 

Getting in the water is another challenge since "wet tee shirt" (content) is probably something you want to avoid.  (Just guessing)

I'm actually kinda giddy to start developing up top (MtF) so I can wear the proper top that I've wanted to wear for decades.  Can't wait!!!  (alas, it will have to wait until 2017, at least, as I start E in 25 days.)

I don't like summer and heat + sun make me feel sick. But one year I just wanted to go to the beach with my friends, just to spend some time with them. I wore a swimsuit (top like a sports bra + tight boxers) + a t-shirt (not tight but not too large either) and large shorts that looked like regular men's swimming trunks. The material of those clothes tends to dry easily. I had a friend help me choose them. No one said a thing. If anyone had asked questions I would have said I'm particularly sensitive to the sun (which is also true in a way, but I have no skin conditions). I acted confident, and didn't worry about what people thought. I shaved my legs but I never shave/wax my arms. It's now common for cis men here to shave their legs, so if I do it it's no big deal....unfortunately my mom kinda forces me to shave them. She thinks that with a female body it looks gross to have hairy legs. I disagree obviously, cause I'm still a guy, but she doesn't totally accept my transness and probably never will.

Quote from: Asche on May 01, 2016, 08:03:05 AM
FWIW, I'm going the other way, but I've never been comfortable baring my chest, and have usually worn a T-shirt in the past, so I don't think people would think you're weird (for a guy) for wearing something that covers your upper body.  (Okay, some guys will, but then some guys will use any excuse to put another guy down, it's how they "prove their masculinity".)

As for pool rules, I believe there are (men's) shirts specifically made for swimming, and I would think they'd get around any pool rule about not wearing non-swim clothes into the pool.  So I would think a swim binder (which I assume just looks to the uninitiated like a shirt) would be treated the same.

I admire your courage.  I'm going to start dressing as a woman for swimming this summer (i.e., wearing a swim dress and cap), and I'm terrified that I'm going to get thrown out of places for it.

ETA: I'm not saying you're in any actual danger of getting hassled or should need any courage, it's just that I personally am always convinced I'm going to be and always have to repeat my "it is a good day to die!" mantra over and over again to get the courage just to do the simplest TG-ish things.  I'll probably be 90 (28 years from now) before I get the guts to go into the ladies' locker room.

Thanks for the compliment. It sounds like you're not transitioning. Good luck on your journey.

Quote from: jossam on May 01, 2016, 05:01:58 PM
I don't like summer and heat + sun make me feel sick. But one year I just wanted to go to the beach with my friends, just to spend some time with them. I wore a swimsuit (top like a sports bra + tight boxers) + a t-shirt (not tight but not too large either) and large shorts that looked like regular men's swimming trunks. The material of those clothes tends to dry easily. I had a friend help me choose them. No one said a thing. If anyone had asked questions I would have said I'm particularly sensitive to the sun (which is also true in a way, but I have no skin conditions). I acted confident, and didn't worry about what people thought. I shaved my legs but I never shave/wax my arms. It's now common for cis men here to shave their legs, so if I do it it's no big deal....unfortunately my mom kinda forces me to shave them. She thinks that with a female body it looks gross to have hairy legs. I disagree obviously, cause I'm still a guy, but she doesn't totally accept my transness and probably never will.

That's just social conditioning. Shave them if you want.

Quote from: alienbodybuilder on May 10, 2016, 08:21:09 PM
Thanks for the compliment. It sounds like you're not transitioning. Good luck on your journey.

Nope.  I'm transitioning.  I expect to be full-time, name changed and everything, by the end of the year.

I'm just scared <insert (in-)appropriate adjective>!

I would love a swim binder but can't afford one. I love to swim (I used to compete as a child) and I still tend to get competitive as soon as I'm in the water... so I still wear a plain black women's speedo if I'm lane swimming. I move better in it than I do in loose trunks and I find that as soon as I'm swimming, I stop caring about my appearance. For fun swimming with my kids, I wear trunks and a rash guard over said speedo. I find it binds almost as well as a binder.

I have always wanted one of the suits that fits like a partial wet suit.

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Im mtf,but having breasts since puberty I quit going topless for I got stares and told to put a shirt on,I wear t-shirts all the time swimming to hide my chest. So of you want to swim in a t-shirt go for it.