I know from other threads that some of you waited to go full time, sometimes for years.

I'm currently doing the same thing. Electrolysis is the big one, three days of bread growth really shows up and makeup doesn't cover it. That only gives me a day or two where I don't have bumps or stubble. I'm also waiting for the hair transplants to fill in and my hair to grow out so I can get a more feminine hair style. When I get it cut in December I think it will look much nicer.  Hormones are really starting to show results but it seems like it's happening slower than other people I've talked to so I want to give it a little more time. I was a late bloomer during my first puberty so why not during my second. Outside of work my style is more androgynous but at work no one would even notice if I wore women's clothes, the few women I see are dressed exactly like the guys. Work clothes are t-shirts and sweatshirts in high visibility colors, work boots, jeans, a hardhat and no jewelry.   

I expect in six months it will be time to go full time but my question is about what you did during your wait. Were there things you worked on? Your weight, voice, wardrobe, makeup? Did you change the way you behaved? Did you find support groups? Did you just start to flow into a more androgynous or feminine look and behavior? How was this waiting period of your transition or would you even call it a waiting period?

I'm barely part-time right now. And I won't be full time until I fix my voice. I've been trying for months and months on my own, but nothing has worked. So, I know that when I nail my voice, I can finally be full time. Oh, and get some laser, that might help. lol

Quote from: A_Dresden_Doll on October 06, 2011, 11:49:31 AM
I'm barely part-time right now. And I won't be full time until I fix my voice. I've been trying for months and months on my own, but nothing has worked. So, I know that when I nail my voice, I can finally be full time. Oh, and get some laser, that might help. lol

Judging by the photos you've posted I figured you were full time already. You look really good. I understand wanting the voice right, my whole presentation changes when I use my voice and it makes me feel good about myself.

i was a girl outside of work at all times. i worked on everything that you mentioned during this time. at work i still acted like a guy, as hard as that was sometimes but my appearance was changing drastically. It was hard to really keep it  a secret for very long cuz everyone was already questioning my gender when i started there. I was pretty androgynous when i started but eventually customers were referring to me as she and coworkers started seeing through the lines, i had no choice but to come out, cuz it was getting pretty obvious that i didnt look like a boy anymore.

Hi Hannah,
Congratulations on the mighty job you are doing. Keep up the good work.
"what you did during your wait". Essentially. I studied feminine form,attitudes and behaviour. Particularly movement and gestures. Am now spending a lot of time looking into Catherines' new career. As I don't see her current one being what she really wants to excel in. Catherine is much more a relational type person than an 'arty' techo type.
"Were there things you worked on? Your weight", Definitely. And shape. Particularly the hips and bum.
"voice," Absolutely; and continue to practice, practice, practice. Essential to get a good voice training programme together. There are many to choose from on the net, I suggest you sample a few and find the one you are most comfortable with.
"wardrobe", Had to stop looking like my grandmother. Found a shop in Goulburn that offered the best advice based on my body type and style. I was amazed when the woman introduced me to a most gorgeous set of legs that I'd kept hidden for years. WOW! Also took several classes from a design boutique on colour and style. Very refreshing.
"makeup?" Still a work in progress, but yes. Need to get this right.
"Did you change the way you behaved?" Not really. Catherine has always been the dominant behavioural character. This has made it difficult being a husband and father. As in almost all situations I've had to stop and think,"What would a man do/react in this situation?" And I'd have to look to, the male role models I've had at the time.
"Did you find support groups? " Yes. Rejoined a club in Sydney I was a member of many years earlier. As well as joining small groups for regular dinner/coffee events during the week.
"Did you just start to flow into a more androgynous or feminine look and behavior?" Not really. I think HRT will, to a degree start that process. Particularly the look side of it.
"How was this waiting period of your transition or would you even call it a waiting period?" Long, (still is) sometimes frustrating, definitely a roller coaster, enjoyable, exhilarating and cathartic to watch and enjoy the continual evolution of a spectacular woman.
Be safe, well and happy
Lotsa luv
Catherine

I have been focusing on voice and make up.  I am currently in guy mode most of the time, but I am slowly starting this process.  I have been watching makeup videos on you tube for help.  I also have been people watching a lot.  I think this is extremely important to developing female mannerisms.  I also have been focused on social roles in the professional field in which I practice.  Females in my field still are in a different role than men.  (not fair, but true) especially in my geographic location.  My female wardrobe is and prob always be somewhat boring.  I am a jeans and tee type.  I like this and it is comfortable.  Not to mention it is easy to cross back and forth while I am in this in between mode.

Good questions Hannah

Hormones DO take a while to really make a difference on your appearance.  How long have you been on them?  Let those hormones, electrolysis and hair transplants do their thing while you relax.  I started estradiol in June of 2010 while my hair was still quite short.  It was probably down to my ears or shorter.  After 2-4 months, I needed to start wearing a sports bra to hide the breath growth and my skin started to look nicer but people still always perceived me as male.  After 6 months of hormones, people started to think I was a girl a lot.  At about 10 months I stopped wearing my sports bra completely and started to wear more flowy/loose shirts with v-necks.  At about 15 months I started wearing a padded bra!  See?  These things do take time, unless you want to jump in head first, which is fine too.  Sometimes people want to skip the baby steps and get right into full time. 

Weight is a good thing to work on!  It's not good to be too skinny or overweight.  Starting hormones I was 115 pounds and I'm now 125 or 126 and that extra 10 pounds has definitely helped me look softer.  Just do what you want to make you look how you want.  Though, the weight distribution thingy of hormones is pretty random.

Wardrobe - Mine was pure fail until about 3 weeks ago.  It was just a few t-shirts and camisoles and one pair of girl jeans and a few bras.  Nothing was versatile or wearable in public;  just very basic pieces.  Recently I knew my full-time time was getting closer and realized that a wardrobe was necessary to go full time!!  It really is.  So, I started to shop at goodwill.  You never know what you'll find there.  Of course, Goodwill certainly doesn't have everything you need, so shop at nice department stores and clothing stores too. Anyway, I started shopping for versatile wardrobe basics and good shoes that would last me and not kill my feet.  Start researching fashion and save pictures of the outfits you like in your picture file or wherever you like.  Maybe check some wardrobe basics lists.  I wrote down a wardrobe basics list of about 20 items and over the past month have gotten a lot of them.  It's also good to buy clothes that you can mix and match as opposed to buying pieces that are beautiful but don't go with anything.

Makeup - It's a good idea to practice makeup application (mostly eyeliner) and stuff.  Also it's fun to look pretty while you're just relaxing at home. 

Calling it a waiting period is a really accurate way to describe it.  Waiting for your hair to grow out, waiting for electrolysis to help, waiting for hormones to help you attain a more feminine appearance.  I've wanted to go full time for the past year but knew that it was a bad idea with short hair/no breasts/not a very feminine appearance, but the effects start to hit you before you know it.  7 days ago is when I went full time and I am NEVER looking back.  Do you mind waiting or would you rather just go full time soon?

  6 months will fly by and you'll be full time before you know it   It feels liberating, but so does taking little steps during this "waiting period" to look and act more feminine.