I'm a personal trainer at the YMCA. I'm only 17, I weigh about 120 which is too much muscle for me. I have been on hormones before and am about to recontinue. I've put a large amount of studying into this and have concluded that there relaly IS a best way to stay in shape as a transsexual.
Losing the weight!
Running:
Running is a hassle for the transsexual. Why? Well if you've got boobs, you know one reason. If you're wearing a gaff or 'tucking,' that's another reason. Also there's wigs and messes and just all sorts of icky things. But, running IS excellent, it works your legs, abs, and most importantly, your HEART. Don't jump onto a tredmill and think you can go running for half an hour when you're just starting! Walking doesn't do much good, so RUN. Set it at a pace half-way between jogging and sprinting, and go as long as you can. Set a goal for 5 minutes or something. Each weak, increase your time by a minute, after a year I promise you'll have a much healthier heart!
Biking:
Biking is different from running because of how much more muscle in your legs you actually use. I have been running all my life, but when I started riding my bike to and from work every night I was throwing up and passing out shortly after dismounting when I got home! It's much more fun if you're actualyl biking around because of the sights, and you can make progress on it too! I think if you combine biking with running each day, you'll be doing excellent.
Others:
Jumping jacks, SWIMMING, those cardio classes at the gym, those are all good and excellent, but all of those have a tendency to develop your lungs a bit more so your upper body gets larger which is something most MtFs want to AVOID.
I also feeling everyone should do strength training, ESPECIALLY those concerned aobut their weight. Why? More muscle burns more calories, so a big bodybuilder can do the same amount of cardio as I could and get 8 times the results. You're using the same muscle, just a bigger one than someone else, so you burn more stuff. Granted none of us 'girls' are looking to have any bulges, there are places to bulk up that are GOOD.
Legs:
What's the largest muscle in your body? Your legs. So work your legs just makes sense for burning. Same goes for building them up! It takes a lot of weight to get any mass built on your legs, atleast twice your bodyweight on a leg press and the same amount on the squat, but building up your legs actually makes them look nicer and keeps them toned. If you have bigger and heavier legs, your center of gravity will also be effected, and you'll be contributing to a feminine figure. Work them twice a week or like I do, every 3 days.
Abs:
Very important for everyone, work them EVERY SINGLE DAY!
With cardio and ab workouts, you can have one hell of a sexi stomach!
Situps, crunches, leg raises, and if possible machines!
EVERY-SINGLE-DAY!
I hit the gym daily. I run for half an hour, with a dumbell in each hand, and increase the speed and weight I'm carrying weekly. I then hit the weights, doing a back day, a chest and ab day, and a leg day. I focus on 4 exercises and do a set of each and switch to the next one, not resting so I can keep my heart rate up.
I'm actually going to be taking out the back day and replacing it with a heavier cardio day due to bulking up too much on my shoulders. Anyways, I'm not really good at putting these thigns together so I did my best!
For more questions, email me!
