Ok I used to be able to lift a 100lb futon no problem, but yesterday I was playing around with my fiance and I went for an impromptu test of strength.  With both my hands and the weight of my body i tried to push one of his hands down and i couldn't even when he was at a disadvantaged position his strength easily overpowered mine.  The thought of that was both interesting and scary.  Interesting in that he was strong and i liked that, but at the same time, i felt really vulnerable, thinking if i was attacked or something, i really didnt have strength I used to fight back....and that was a scary thought. 

I was trained in martial arts and I do know how to kill someone if i have to with little force.  My kicking strength can choke a heavy 100lb bag and lift it up, but to think there might be a situation where i couldnt do anything... frightening...

Anyone else feel this way?

I have lost not only alot of strength from HRT but some of my medical issues have weakened me also.

Scares the ->-bleeped-<- out of me when I think too much on it. I was a bit of a brawler for many years and the loss of my strength definatly has worried I will no longer be able to adequatly protect myself should I get into a confrontation.

Yea this is a huge concern of mine as well. In just a month I've noticed a decrease in strength. a 50lb bag is noticeable now when I move it where before I would just fling it around without much thought or effort.

The thought of being naturally weaker then our male counterparts is both exciting and scary for me as well. I love it because I know that's part of being a female, but am terrified because even with all of my training if someone manages to get a hold of me and pin me down...

Gabby

I used to lift appliances, transmissions, bags of concrete etc.  But how it is tough to life a 28 pound of cat litter.  Part of it is because of HRT, and part is because of my back.

Same here, although I don't think I could have killed anyone with my training as a man, I have been a body builder from late teens to early thirties and had pretty good body strength in fact my back (latissimus dorsi) were capable of 45 dead body weight pull ups. Not bad for 217lbs muscle weight. What is the most amazing lately that HRT (few little pills) can alter body chemistry to the point of total change from black to white. Now at 193lbs(still much but getting there) and strength that of female body builder, I can see even the simplest of weight challenge my resolve. Now I must result to alternate weight distribution where before it was just grip and lift. Endurance is good though slightly diminished. But after all isn't this exactly what the doctor ordered, soft, vulnerable, having the masculine help us out and hold the door

I am sad to say i can no longer brute force open a pickle jar.... I have to put it under running hot water.  Or ask the SO to open it for me....

A stereotypical milestone in my life...

@Izumi - this post makes me smile and excited about hormones (granted I'm only 7 weeks)... I don't know why but these small little things seem to make such a difference

I have a male friend who is abit weak for a guy quite bony however he's usually overly playful when drunk and I've noticed how he can actually seriously hurt me. It really hammers home how frighteningly strong men are.

When I hit him a direct hit on his bony ribs makes him flinch for a second but doesn't hurt him. before it would make him recoil and stop. He couldn't hurt me before now he can leave me reeling if he were to properly hit me and his playful hits often bruise me even if I block them.
He can also easily wrench my arms around now before I could overpower him easily now it's roles reversed. if he grabs both my arms I'm pretty powerless struggling or kicking just makes him twist my arms more.

There are other clear clues.
Hauling my grocery bags (40kg) home used to be tiring but good workout now it completely decimates me. There are a number of steep hills on my bike ride to uni that it's just easier to walk up now than climb. Although my legs arn't as weakened as the rest of my body.

I used to be able to lift or climb with 140% my own body weight now I'm barely scraping 100%

My father broke the bath tap by wrenching it shut (don't ask he's and idiot) I couldn't undo it neither could any other female in our family much to the complain of my mother in denial.

Based on these events I gather that my strength is reduced by 1/2 my legs and abdominal tho maybe only 1/3rd I guess I'm stronger than most females tho lower than most males as I can still hoist my own body and I could handle a 5ft power kite without any real difficulty most of the girls I know couldn't. Not had problems with jars yet tho ^_^

same here...I lifted heavy bits of engineering and furniture but now I have to really think about how to get some help...and as for opening jars! 

Me too... I've totally noticed a big loss of strength... Partly due to various injuries, but I really started to notice after I'd been on HRT awhile

I get frustrated with it sometimes because I also was rather strong... On the upside... I've noticed that guys are often quick to lift heavy things for me

And yes, realizing how weak I'd become does scare me a bit... I've become much more cautious and aware of my surroundings

I've always been fairly weak in my arms. Since I was small growing up (being rather girlish in grade school) I was picked on quite a bit. That also prompted me to learn some good defensive maneuvers. Izumi, what type of martial arts did / do you practice? I've learned a few Aikedo / Police moves that can get you out of just about any situation. You could probably youtube them if it concerns you so much.

Pebbles: if you want to hurt the guys ribs, punch downward, not into them. Try to catch between bones. The ribs are meant to go in, but not to spread out. When you punch the ribs directly with a straight punch they go in, if you punch at an angle, the ribs spread and causes pain.

Good defense is learning what spots hurt when only using a few pounds of force.

EDIT: Just be careful, don't punch him too hard like that, you might actually break a rib and I know yall are just playing around!

Yeah, I've never had a lot of muscle anyway. I worked out some off and on growing up and never really did any hard labor.

Now after 9 months of HRT, I'm surprised that I still have some upper body strength. I've noticed when it's time for pushups that a lot of girls can't do them yet I can do them just fine still. Also, when we were moving my stuff into my new appt, I was on one side of the couch and 2 guy friends were on the other end. Not sure why that is lol.

It has only been 9 months though.....

Quote from: Alainaluvsu on August 30, 2010, 05:33:54 PM
I've always been fairly weak in my arms. Since I was small growing up (being rather girlish in grade school) I was picked on quite a bit. That also prompted me to learn some good defensive maneuvers. Izumi, what type of martial arts did / do you practice? I've learned a few Aikedo / Police moves that can get you out of just about any situation. You could probably youtube them if it concerns you so much.

Pebbles: if you want to hurt the guys ribs, punch downward, not into them. Try to catch between bones. The ribs are meant to go in, but not to spread out. When you punch the ribs directly with a straight punch they go in, if you punch at an angle, the ribs spread and causes pain.

Good defense is learning what spots hurt when only using a few pounds of force.

EDIT: Just be careful, don't punch him too hard like that, you might actually break a rib and I know yall are just playing around!

I learned Isshinryu karate, aikido and jujitsu.

Oh, you'll be fine! You're trained in a good combo of stuff

I benched 180 lbs in college but I struggled with 65 lbs a couple of years ago.  THAT was an eye opener.

Quote from: glendagladwitch on August 30, 2010, 08:21:41 PM
I benched 180 lbs in college but I struggled with 65 lbs a couple of years ago.  THAT was an eye opener.

Wow.. but I bet you were so happy to see those muscular shoulders turn into something that would look good in a tank

Quote from: Izumi on August 30, 2010, 03:30:58 PM
I am sad to say i can no longer brute force open a pickle jar.... I have to put it under running hot water.  Or ask the SO to open it for me....

A stereotypical milestone in my life...

Sevan has been opening my jars lately.

women were weaker than man.

This thread is so cute, adorable even. Kinda gives off a warm fuzzy feeling. I'm prolly gonna get mod'ed for all this sudden mushiness.

Somewhat scary. Well men mostly move around things and such and keep on developing muscles unknowingly. For example helping moving things, carrying in heavy grocery shopping bags, and the list does go on. Apparently, carrying the shopping bags in from the car was often asked of me in the past for a while until mother realized that I'm much much more weaker than her. I can hardly lift and hold things that are any more than few pounds (2.5 liter bottle of water...), which worries me. I really am weak and would HRT add to that? Something to keep in mind I guess >.<