vii: Transitioning

Body building is a pastime that many people take very seriously, often to extreme levels. Mostly this is a male dominated sport, and like most sports there is often controversy regarding the use of steroids and enhancing drugs. I have never been the athletic type myself , but since I have started my physical transition with hormone replacement therapy I have developed a sudden interest; borderline obsession with working out and weight training.

Testosterone had already started to change the shape and overall appearance of my body. I have all but lost my curves and now have a much more masculine figure. For the first month of my steroid cycles I included absolutely no exercise as part of my routine. Somehow despite my lack of effort whatsoever I still noticed significant muscle gain and felt encouraged by the results. 

This led me to wonder about how significant the results would be if I added a weight training program to coincide with my steroid cycle. It seems like I would be wasting an oppritunity if I didn't put fourth t least some physical effort . 

The trouble with hormone replacement therapy is how quickly my muscle mass increases. My muscles are capable of handling weight that my tendons can not keep up with. So I must resist the temptation to show off or lift more weight than I have previously. My doctor put it this way in clinical terms I would be "screwed" if I pushed myself too hard and snapped a tendon. So high reps low weight is my mantra for the time being. 

My doctor doubled my dose of testosterone for each weekly injection, and my energy levels have surged along with my confidence. I also recently met the first other transguy I have ever encountered personally. He has been on hormones for over a year and I was so encouraged by his results. He had transitioned so completely that I assumed he had been born a natural male, it was not until he asked if I was attending pride that I put two and two together. 

Not much else to include in this transition update other than the changes in my voice. It has lowered significantly and I am proud to report the first signs of my newly developing Adam's apple. I am a musician and song wroter but I have had to relearn how to use my deeper voice. Singing is out of the question right now as it causes my voice to crack and makes me sound like a 15 year old. Even though I know I sound ridiculous I am thrilled to finally have my voice drop.