Sorry I'm sure this has probably been brought up before but I didn't wanna get lectured for necroing so I figured I'd start a new one.  So as the title suggest, my quest pertains to HRTs effects on specifically the back and the shoulders.

I know shoulders don't shrink, but would the loss of fat make them appear more feminine? Same question with the back.  I've read the wikis and several accounts from different MTF but for the most part it sounded like biased responses, or idealized ones that weren't followed up with any pictures.  As many people transition I'd kind of figure this stuff would be everywhere, I know i'll be thorough.  I'm kind of looking for some first hand accounts here, I'm a pretty thin individual, small hands feet body frame etc EXCEPT my shoulders/back/chest naturally look....well muscled.  Shoulders not so much since my arms are twigs but if i were to take a pic with just the chest and back it would appear as if I worked out.  I noticed this before when wearing girl clothes, hell I noticed it in guy clothes.  My shoulders were meant to be in the NFL, breaking jaws and crushing dreams, and my back was meant to lift the burdens of the world one person at a time.  However I don't wish to do any of that >.>

So pretty much im feeling self concious like most of the people on here probably are and i'd like to be humored

Quite a bit of muscle tone can be lost in the chest and back - and that includes rib muscles and all the ones under the bigger ones, so there's quite a lot of scope for narrowing down. Obviously, bone structure is unaffected (though if you're young and on hormones, you won't get broader as you age as you would as a man), but I'm noticing a reduction in chest and shoulder muscliness. I've been taking regular measurements, and my chest measurement has remained the same in spite of growing boobs, so the muscles must have lost some bulk.

I lost muscles in all kinds of places and my shoulders look more feminine now, bone structure does not changes though.

Thanks for the advice~

I also have a lot of muscle in my back and shoulders and around my upper arms. My bones are not big, so I hope to see some muscle loss in those areas soon, I have been on HRT for about 4 months now. Ohter than my upper body, my body is naturally more feminie in nature and look. Time will tell I guess.

I developed definition

One nice side effect for me is that I'm missing some muscles on my right side, and as my body loses muscle tone, the sides are evening out more, so it's less noticeable .

I do not know my BMI.  Im about 5''8 or 5''9, normally 145 pounds but i had dental surgery and haven't been able to eat so currently sitting at 133.  I lose weight rapidly if I dont eat a ton ><.  I'm worried because I don't weight alot, so im not sure much can be taken away and its concerning.

Quote from: Haven on January 18, 2012, 03:20:25 PM
I do not know my BMI.  Im about 5''8 or 5''9, normally 145 pounds but i had dental surgery and haven't been able to eat so currently sitting at 133.  I lose weight rapidly if I dont eat a ton ><.  I'm worried because I don't weight alot, so im not sure much can be taken away and its concerning.

Using BMI can be dangerous, remember it was some government egg head that came up with it using poor research data, having said that I am 5'9" and weigh 175lbs. (I don't own a scale I use one at the gym for a base weight only) muscle has a greater density then fat I have 11% body fat, which is high for me but I'm off season, it takes about 30 minutes to measure and calculate body fat, in our fast paced world we want a simple formula and waa laa BMI. If you look in the mirror and you like what you see continue with what your doing, if not make a change.

In answer to the OP, I have lost one dress size (easily, maybe some more), from a size 16 to size 14.

So, to loose one size seems pretty normal over 1 1/2 years HRT, as it is in my case.

In fact I have gained weight from 73kg to 76.5kg whilst loosing bulk on top.

At the same time my size 10 bottom, is now clearly gone to a size 12 and tight at that! It would be also about a size 35 - 36.

All sizes are female SA and/or UK sizes.

Axélle

Quote from: Beverley on January 19, 2012, 10:29:01 AM
FWIW = BMI 26.2 same as me

Beverley

LOL ya and according to that I'm overweight



Maybe they can show me where?

I was lucky having narrow shoulders for a male but my arms from all the manual labor were not small and dainty, neither were my shoulders. After about 10 months of hrt my forearms are still larger than stereotypical for a female but shoulders and upper arm are smaller from muscle loss. What you are describing about your body is why fashion choices are so important for us. Do NOT wear sleeveless or crop sleeve tops if your shoulders and upper arms looks like a guys. Look for styles that cover those area's up and draw attention elsewhere.

I feel tiny compared to everyone here. o_o

My BMI is 17.9 kg/m^2, and measurements are:
Shoulders: 39
Bust: 34
waist: 32
hips: 34

And I am not sure now, but I could fit into a size 5, and my jean size is zero if I want tight pant to do my body rolls in.

Oh and now that I am on hormones I weight 125 pounds. I'm kind of boney to be honest.

Thanks for posts guys, I Don't exactly have large muscley arms or anything, In fact mine are as small as most girls or smaller.  Its just my shoulders that stop me from wearing the stuff I want >>

I wear for lack of a better term, rags.
They are damn nice rags, but nothing more that ripped, and torn, cut and tied skirt and pieces of various fabrics.
Maybe you could utilize such an approach? Wearing black may also help cut the look of the size a little, maybe.
You know, the whole, Black is slimming thing.

Quote from: Beverley on January 19, 2012, 12:15:34 PM
We, like GG's. have to make the best of what of what nature has given us. There will always be clothes that do not suit you no matter how much you want to wear them.

Yes! We have to have realistic expectations. How many GG's who suffer with weight issues would die to look good in a bikini? Some women will never look good in a tight sundress. You have to choose your battles and wear what accentuates what you have been given.

Quote from: Stephe on January 19, 2012, 12:48:42 PM
Yes! We have to have realistic expectations. How many GG's who suffer with weight issues would die to look good in a bikini? Some women will never look good in a tight sundress. You have to choose your battles and wear what accentuates what you have been given.

Amen sister, and honestly it wasn't until I came to that realization that I would never be a girly girl did I feel comfortable in what I was becoming, OH sure I can wear a spaghetti strapped tank or sundress but the trick was learning to also wear a button up shirt over that, two issues solved cover manly shoulders/arms and manly tats and it's a nice style