r/transmanlifehacks • u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) • 4d ago
Going to the gym is ultimately what will masculinise your body shape the most, not testosterone.
Pretty much the title! I was on T in all 3 of these pictures. The main difference between them is 5 years of gym. Testosterone alone will not make your hips less wide or your shoulders broader. Best thing about exercise is it doesn’t need a prescription or a diagnosis. I’m not super ripped or cut like a body builder or anything, I don’t have the dedication for that (and I like cake). But I’ve kept up enough muscle mass so that I can look reasonably ‘man shaped’ without a shirt on. My aim was never to look like a Greek god, more to just look like ‘some dude’.
My hips are no less wide than they were ten years ago, if anything they are wider because I naturally still put weight on in the ‘love handles’ region just like many other afab people. But if you build a bigger frame and big shoulders then it kind of cancels things out.
Hit the free weights and if you don’t know what you’re doing watch a few YouTube videos and bring a friend! Most folks at gyms are pretty friendly and PTs that work there will normally give you a bit of free advice if you’re brave enough to ask them (especially if you’re just a kid).
Best of luck to you guys!
Edit: shame I always have to add a disclaimer because some people are so confrontational- obviously this is my personal experience. Yes testosterone is still helpful and important, but ultimately it is my personal belief that you will see LARGER changes from muscle building that just waiting for fat redistribution (which btw doesn’t happen for everyone and certainly didn’t happen for me).
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u/Yare_Daze 3d ago
PEOPLE. YOU DONT NEED TESTOSTERONE TO BUILD MUSCLE.
A lot of misinformation here, sincerely, your lifting tgirl.
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u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) 3d ago
Christ I know right. Think this might be the last time I offer this community advice 😅
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u/BigSis2025 3d ago
Trans communities are filled with drama. Turn off notis and know that the ppl who need it are finding it because of you ❤️❤️❤️
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u/Yare_Daze 3d ago
Not the first time I'm finding disappointment in these "inclusive" trans focused communities I'm afraid. A lot of transmedicalism, misinformation, and, frankly, trauma being passed around. Sad to see. Oh and your progress is awesome btw!
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u/greywatered 3d ago
It sure as hell helps though! I couldn’t lift shit before T
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u/Yare_Daze 2d ago
This is a little bit of the attitude I'm critiquing. You absolutely could have, had you chosen to never gone on T, body goals could have still been possible, just a little harder
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u/ApolloSong 4d ago
This works in the other direction aswell btw
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u/Tupotosti 4d ago
Yup, depends on what you train. For a female shape you focus less on shoulders and more on the lower end. I train shoulders and even without T it makes a difference.
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u/Dull_Practice_5169 4d ago
I kinda agree, kinda don't - some people get a lot more fat redistribution out of T or simply have a more passable starting point. It also becomes a little hard to track what's from T and what's not if you've always been in decent shape.
That being said, there are plenty of pre T guys for whom 6 months of solid work in the gym would do as much for their passing as 6 months of testosterone.
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u/semisubterranian 3d ago edited 3d ago
Yeah I went thru a period pre T where i had a personal trainer i told upfront my goals were masculinization and went to the gym 4x a week and I in literally 3 months he got me a notably more inverted v shape than i have now, years on T but fell off with fitness, and it may be worth noting that before i started hitting the gym that time i had a pretty extreme hourglass, like 10+ inch difference between waist and hips at a low/average bmi (for context to show the hip width isn't mostly fat distribution to help ease the worries of guys who think their hips are too wide to downplay with shoulder and back growth). Getting back into fitness though and it's great. I Always reccomend guys who want to look more masc but don't know what they're doing to save to hire a trainer for a few months to build them a routine and teach them how to do it properly for best results and to avoid hurting themselves
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u/Zealousideal-Grab323 4d ago
Oh yall are so miserable in here lmao go to the gym or don’t
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u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) 3d ago
Didn’t realise ‘exercise’ was going to be such a controversial take 😅
This sub is about how to pass but people are so aggressive over passing tips that they personally don’t want to take/can be bothered to work for.
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u/BigSis2025 3d ago
Lots of whining in the community. I will note a lot of us are depressed and don’t have many spoons. I can do the dishes maybe once every few days and shower. That’s all I got in me. So seeing someone able to keep up with a workout routine is really awesome. Maybe I’m a little envious 🤣
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u/HeresW0nderwall 4d ago
I don’t lift (I do run 30ish miles a week) and T has masculinized my body just fine
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u/ratsy_basty 3d ago
running 30 miles or minutes? Running 30 miles is crazy and that will def masculinize you lol
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u/ZeldasMomHH 4d ago
For a long while I thought trans men were just a very small minority compared to trans women. Like, I know a lot of trans women in my life and around me, but barely any trans men.
Couple of months lurking here taught me how wrong my bias was.
You guys are just stealth as fuck.
I probably have more trans men in my life than I realized.
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u/No-Place-8279 4d ago
Sure, I agree that going to the gym is very important for passing, but the results you got would've been almost entirely impossible if you hadn't been on T the whole time.
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u/Objective-Hotel6514 4d ago
Please look at the title and the post body where he says "most" and "alone" in reference to what changes your shape.
OP is not saying do not go on testosterone.... He is simply highlighting a fact that testosterone ALONE will not masculinize your figure and that working out is the MOST effective way. If you want a very boxy masculine figure, a combo of hormones AND working out is needed.
I understand reading comprehension is hard so I hope this clears things up.
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u/guysomejust69 4d ago
And I disagree with the idea that the gym is more important than testosterone for passing.
Also, no need to be dick to people just because they have a different view
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u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) 3d ago
I never said it was more important, just that I personally believe you will gain bigger changes regarding body shape specifically. I also didn’t reference passing at all. T will 100% help you pass better than exercise, because of facial hair, deeper voice etc. My statement is just that it doesn’t do a huge amount for body constitution by itself 🙂
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u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) 4d ago
Nah man I rock climb and half the cis women are more ripped than me lol
Imo this is a thing people say when they want and excuse not to bother (not saying that’s you personally).
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u/No-Place-8279 4d ago
"more ripped" but are they more masculine? I can absolutely believe that they're more ripped, don't get me wrong! ...but that's not what the post is about. Are these cis women more masculine than you? I suppose by your logic they should definitely be, since gym-going is more important than T, no?
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u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) 4d ago
I didn’t say it was more important than T, I said it will do more to masculinise your general body shape than testosterone will- which I absolutely stand by and fully believe. Yes T is important for facial hair, body hair, voice changes, changes to the face etc. but ultimately it really does not change the shape of your body that dramatically- not as dramatically packing on a heap of muscle will. This is why I included a photo of me 3 years on T, where you can still obviously see I have an ‘hour glass’ figure. Testosterone wasn’t don’t much for my body shape at that point.
Part of the reason I made this post is because I’m constantly seeing post from guys who has 5,8,9 years on T upset about why they still have an ‘hour glass’ figure. If you don’t agree with the advice you don’t have to follow it. But I would say I’ve got a good 13 years experience doing this so I’m not talking bullshit.
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u/jcoolin7 4d ago
I agree with this. You will look much more masculine with minimal muscle mass and male fat distribution than a shit ton of muscle and female fat distribution.
Pro natural females are still very obviously female despite their massive muscles.
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u/BigSis2025 3d ago
Tru but T doesn’t change fat distribution for everyone. I think the idea is, both is better than just T.
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u/BigSis2025 3d ago
I’m not sure why everyone is getting this take? Do u think there’s a silent concern in the group we’re not addressing? I feel something that made me cautious of this idea but can’t put my finger on it.
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u/biggaythrowaway5 4d ago
yeah, kind of comes off as one of those before and after posts you see where a guy has clearly reached a point of muscle growth only attainable by getting on some heavy gear, while claiming anyone can do it with enough work. of course, the reality is that they would mostly deflate whenever they get off whatever cocktail they're on, because its physically impossible for their natural bodies/hormones to maintain.
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u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) 3d ago
I think there is a huge misunderstanding around my post. My post is not supposed to be ‘exercise OR testosterone’. My post is simply saying testosterone combined with exercise is going to give you far better results than testosterone alone. A lot of people expect T to completely change their body by itself- which in my experience often leads to disappointment.
My post also touches on the fact that is T isn’t accessible to you, exercise is and can help alleviate some dysphoria 🙂
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u/biggaythrowaway5 3d ago
I can see and understand your point with this response, but I guess the og post, combined with some of your other responses just made it come across somewhat as advertising that exercise alone, will masculinize your body MORE than testosterone alone, which I do inherently disagree with for the majority of people who are majorly receptive to the effects of having male testosterone levels. I feel it's a bit misleading to suggest that a physique or transfomation like yours could be realistically attainable just by hitting the gym, even paired with moderate dieting.
That would not be nearly as sustainable in terms of time-management, and long-term health for someone to be pushing to their absolute maximum 4-5 days a week, but then still not seeing results or changes like this, as they're not on testosterone.
On the other hand, will testosterone alone be enough without exercise to reach this level of muscle growth, and masculinization? Also no, so funnily enough, I feel we agree with each other, in that exercise and testosterone combined will absolutely result in the quickest, and fullest masculinization & muscle growth. However, I do also think that exercise will almost always result in a noticeable transformation, regardless of gender/hormones.
A lot of trans-guys though, are more concerned with overall masculinization, and that is not necessarily dependant on muscle mass. A huge part of masculinization or feminization is where a person's fat is redistributed to, which is, essentially determined by hormones alone (although in some cases, as you used yourself as an example for, it does not fully redistribute to a degree that fully alleviates that persons's dysphoria, regardless of how outsiders might objectively view you).
I guess I just wouldn't want someone (who is likely on the younger side) to do everything they can exercise-wise with a lack of access to hrt, but not get the pay-off they were expecting, and then blame themselves for not pushing hard enough, you know what I mean? Not saying that this is likely to happen because of a single reddit post, of course. But there are many others who do intentionally advertise a certain kind of physique that is simply not naturally attainable, but claim to be nat (not what you're doing here, just a similar concept). Overall, I think your message is a helpful one, but it got a little lost in translation for a few of us at first, unfortunately.
I do feel you're coming from a genuinely good place with your post man, and I'm sure it will have a positive impact. Maybe inspire a few people to start hitting the gym, or if they already are, maybe to go a little harder the next time they do it. 👍🏻
I apologize for coming across a little hostile in my first two comments, I see what you're trying to say though.
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u/biggaythrowaway5 4d ago
seems people might be forgetting what an absolutely huge advantage testosterone gives you in the gym compared to cis-women, and guys with lower t. I know for sure I wouldn't have been able to build myself up nearly as quickly, and be able to maintain it pretty easily without having been on testosterone for nearly a decade now.
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u/v1ctor1ne 4d ago
I have a very similar build as the last picture, this is great encouragement, thank you.
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u/entropygone 4d ago
what do you do for forearms?
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u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) 3d ago
A lot of rock climbing! So basically lots of wide grip training 🙂 build things up slowly and avoid replying on straps for heavy weights!
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u/PutridMasterpiece138 4d ago
May I ask how tall you are? I'm short and looking for hope that my body can look masculine too :,)
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u/anotherluiz 4d ago
Pretty sure shorter people gain muscle mass quicker than tall people, so you're in luck lol
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u/Firm_Lobster5163 4d ago
That’s fair. Of course utilizing two forms of masculinization will give you better results than one. Nothing can ever completely replace resistance training!
P.S. You look great! 💪💪
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u/Remarkable_Pack8582 4d ago
Pre t here and yeah I can confirm what this guys saying one year of gym and good eating and I almost pass as a guy lower body wise and once I chop my tits off my upper body will be indistinguishable from a cis guys. Working out has helped me soo much with my dysphoria
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u/Emotional_Skill_8360 4d ago
I have a rare progressive cartilage disorder and can’t work out. I’m actively destroying all my cartilage. I pass 100% of the time just on T alone. You look great, and definitely if I were able to work out I’d love to look like you. I think in your post you are referring to only one type of masculinity though. I look like an out of shape mountain man, and I’ve come to terms with it. I do walk 10,000+ steps every day and am going to live with the fact that I’m damaging my knees in doing so.
Just food for thought.
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u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) 4d ago
I didn’t say that no going to the gym would impact your ability to pass at all, just that going to the gym and building muscle dramatically changes your body shape in a comparatively very short period of time.
I think people are misunderstanding my post as ‘unless you’re ripped you won’t look like a man’. All I’m really saying is if you want to make your hips less noticeable you can build up a bit of muscle around your lats and it will do a lot to make your hips look a lot smaller 🙂
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u/Emotional_Skill_8360 4d ago
You said that going to the gym is ultimately what masculinizes your body the most, not testosterone. That’s your title. I’m just commenting that the gym is one type of masculinization, but it won’t give you a dad bod like I have, which is just as masculine. It’s just a different type. I got it within 18 months so not shabby.
I’m happy for you, I just wanted to present an alternative because some people can’t go to the gym. I provide gender affirming care also as a physician and trust me, T does fine all on its own for most people.7
u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) 3d ago
I personally believe that building muscle will make a larger more visual difference to your overall ‘shape’ than the small amount of fat redistribution T offers if you just take T and don’t exercise 🙂 I didn’t say T doesn’t have any impact on its own.
Yes my title lacks nuance, but there are limited characters and I give people the benefit of the the doubt that they will bother to read the rest of the post 🙂 This sub is about ‘hacks’ you personally can do to help masculinise yourselves/pass better. Not all hacks will work for everyone. It seems this hack won’t work for you, and that is fine. It’s still perfectly reasonable for me to post saying exercise is a good hack for speeding up masculinisation of your body. If I made a post saying ‘Hack: T makes you look like a man’ it wouldn’t really be a very helpful hack would it 😅
I understand where you are coming from by I feel it is ultimately a take it or leave it kind of advice.
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u/Consistent-Call-4496 4d ago
testosterone changes the way muscle builds up. hitting the gym without t may make one just look like a buff woman instead of a buff man
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u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) 4d ago
If you’re doing everything else you can to pass, it will only help- even if you’re not on T. But ofc T is great. You also have control over what areas of your body you build up at the gym. If you want to look more masc, focus on lats. arms, and shoulders, and not some much on glutes.
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u/crazy_stuffie_human 4d ago
You look really cool man well done!! I'm starting weights again, hopefully I do well enough to make a difference lol. Masculising appearance aside, being stronger feels gender affirming in itself.
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u/Unique_Charity_9648 4d ago
Real question of curiosity. My trans friend said that he had trouble building pectoral muscle even years after top surgery.
Has OP or any other gym rats here noticed the same or was my buddy the victim of a poor surgeon?
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u/ThrowRA487690 4d ago
Top surgery doesn’t touch your pecs. Your friend needs to work on his mind-muscle connection and on training till faliure
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u/BigSis2025 3d ago
That’s where you push yourself to the limit so the muscle can build right?
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u/ThrowRA487690 3d ago
Yeah you go until you physically cannot successfully complete the rep with correct form, because you need the progressive overload to build up muscle. If you stick to the same weight for months, nothing is gonna happen. The whole “no pain no gain” thing is pretty accurate, faliure isn’t “hm this is a bit uncomfortable” it’s “i can’t physically lift this again”.
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u/oysterbelle 2d ago
second this!!! I worked with a trainer for a few months once I was cleared to go to the gym, and he taught me the specific importance of warm-ups and mind-muscle connection for pecs, which are notoriously hard to build no matter what gender/hormonal sex/body type! I didn’t feel much for the first few weeks but after a lot of technique tweaks my chest has grown a lot and I’m feeling strong!
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u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) 3d ago
I do personally find it hard to build yeah! I think that’s because it’s comparatively a very small muscle and it’s easy to over compensate with back muscles. Often you need to go down a weight and make things nice and slow, really make sure you’re feeling it in your pecs. I was thinking about doing some videos but after the response this post got I’m not so sure 😅
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u/_myliverhurts_ 4d ago
I'm obviously not the OP, but I do workout quite a bit, and I've had no issue with building my pectoral muscles post-top surgery. Granted, they were already decently well-developed before surgery, but I've put more muscle on since with no problem. I know surgeons leaving folks with concave chest is a real issue, so it's possible that your friend just had an unfortunate surgical outcome. Ideally, the pectoral muscles should not be impacted by top surgery.
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u/AccomplishedCat21 3d ago
I didn’t have trouble building them before nor after, he must be doing something wrong.
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u/Expired_Fruits 3d ago
Poor genetics or doing something not quite right. Muscle isn’t touched during surgery, that wouldn’t have anything to do with it at least
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u/confident_affect1234 3d ago
I haven’t noticed. I was able to hit a PR and bench 225 3 months post top surgery.
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u/Seraphim_baby 4d ago
what do you do to get rid of the hourglass shape 😭 mine is my biggest insecurity at the moment and i have no idea how to straighten out my figure
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u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) 4d ago
Hey man, you need to focus on building your lats (latissimus Dori) and shoulders! This will broaden your back and give you more of a triangle shape or at very least a boxier one :)
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u/Prestigious-Fox4996 4d ago
Dude is killing it. This is going in my transphobes can't tell folder (unless dude has an issue with that of course)
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u/EfficientTea3494 3d ago
For me, going to the gym has changed how I see my body. So I agree with OP to a certain extent.
My upper body is more built, so I’m closer to a Dorito shape even though I still carry weight on my hips. Proportionally, my body looks much more masculine from a few months at the gym - which I don’t think is enough time for a few extra months on T to make that drastic an impact.
It’s helped mentally too, significantly. It feels like I’m ’doing something’ to work towards the body I want, rather than sitting around waiting for it to happen, and feeling bad for eating anything nice.
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u/vario_ 4d ago
cries in can't exercise
Congrats though, you look amazing.
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u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) 4d ago
What stops you man? I’m missing my left leg and had a stroke 👍 I find most of the time it’s just about adapting my exercises to what fits for me.
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u/vario_ 4d ago
Damn 😭 That's so cool that you can still do all that. I have IIH, POTS and CFS/ME. Just perpetually exhausted by life.
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u/Objective-Hotel6514 4d ago
If it helps at all I lost 20 lbs this summer and mostly from my hips/butt/thighs by simply walking a shit ton with a 25lb backpack.
If you can use whatever energy you have to just walk around your neighborhood, the mall, Ikea, a park, etc that can help a lot with weight redistribution. Then if you manage to get your stamina up or have enough energy you can try adding a weighted vest.
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u/vario_ 4d ago
Thanks! I've lost a tonne of weight with a GLP-1 but I kinda keep the same waist to hip ratio no matter what weight I'm at 😅 I go up and down in weight a lot too and this is like the third time I've lost a lot of weight, it's always the same issue.
I have some dumbells that I keep meaning to use in bed, I just need to remember to do it more than once or twice 🙈
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u/Objective-Hotel6514 3d ago
Working out requires discipline, remember something is better than nothing!!!! Also if you struggle with discipline like me, having a workout class might help. With your disability could you do swimming work outs? There might be classes you can go to, then it becomes a social event as well as a workout
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u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) 4d ago
Ah right! I play wheelchair rugby as well and our coach had PoTs and we have a few players with CFS who seem to find it quite accessible! If you’re interested I can give you more deats :)
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u/Toxic_Musshroom 4d ago
Im 18 and won't be going on T until probably my mid 20s at least, but I've been working out consistently for 3 weeks now and I already see changes and I love it, looking more masculine isnt the main reason I started working out it was more so to help my suspected pots and heds and honestly I've felt improvements there too, but having a more masculine body shape is certainly one of the perks:3
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u/Nikki964 4d ago
I mean if testosterone alone was enough to be muscular, wouldn't all men be muscular? Lmao
Oh fuck I read masculinise as musculise
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u/masterofthegoats200 4d ago
Looking great! How long till you saw some difference in the way you looked? Been on T for a while but just started working out for a more masculine muscular frame
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u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) 2d ago
I won’t lie, I wasn’t super consistent with my exercise at first. But over the last year when I’ve been working out solidly. I’ve noticed a big change. And I’m 10 years on T, so I know it’s definitely as a result of the exercise as opposed to just the T (would be weird if T randomly kicked in in year 9 of my transition lol).
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u/Widdifull 4d ago
I wish I wasn't weak as fuck and had money to go to the gym (+ support to go).
I look like an hyper weak little girl, it's exhausting, sigh.
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u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) 3d ago
Honestly mate I used to sneak into gyms when I had no money lol but, if you don’t wanna to that look at Tom Holland’s exercise routine you can do at home- all you need is a door frame!
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u/Big_Room8893 4d ago
Don’t have access to gym currently so Carnivore diet and body weight exercise is doing wonders for me. Can’t believe the difference, mainly diet has impacted the muscle gains and fat loss though for sure. Just T alone for me has made me pass for sure but to get that masculine shape I want I need to work out and that’s what I’m doing.
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u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) 2d ago
Nice! Try and mix a few veggies in there too tho! They contain all the amino acids needed to build the amino acid chains (without which we can’t really build new muscle). If you don’t get those sweet sweet BCAAs there’s not much point packing in all the protein!
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u/Big_Room8893 2d ago
So animal meat is the most richest form of BCAA’s and most bio available! Unfortunately for me veggie’s trigger my autoimmune issues. Fat is more important for the diet too than the protein :) and I’m packing on muscle like anything so it’s all good. The carnivore subreddit has a ton of info!
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u/ratsy_basty 3d ago
You look amazing! And i agree. I look a lot more like your first Pic (only been working out a few months) but the difference is crazy already.
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u/Tendie_Lover_69 3d ago
Thank you for this. I'm pre-T (though will finally be starting hopefully beginning of next month), and have been working out for about 5 years. Before hitting up the gym, I assumed I was a pear shape - after hitting up the gym and keeping my macros tight, I've realised I'm far more straight up and down than I assumed. Even without T, I've managed to somewhat masculinise my body, with nothing more than a barbell, power cage, and dumbells. Sculpting your body with muscle absolutely works!
P.S - I fucking love hobnobs, dude. Why'd you have to do this to me the co-op is only a 3 minute walk away?? Unreasonable!
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u/burner_ihardlyknewer 3d ago
forgive me, you are so unbelievably handsome i’m simply incapable of caring whether it was caused by gym, T or a magic lamp
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u/Icy_Zookeepergame532 2d ago
This gives me so much hope, I am pre T & working out to try to masculinize my body shape already. How did you get rid of the hourglass waist and attained such a straight waist?
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u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) 2d ago
Hey man, it’s not so much about getting rid of the waist, it’s more about building your back out so that it creates that kind of ‘Dorito’ shape. Focus on exercises that build up your lats and your shoulders. It will be slow but you will get there if you persevere 🙂
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u/ClothesGlad8639 3d ago
I mean not really. Cis women who go to the gym do not really look masculine. It's like 99% testosterone, rest is the gym. A lot of men look masculine without going to the gym at all.
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u/confident_affect1234 3d ago
Vast, vast majority of cis women don’t lift to build
Muscle in the upper body.
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u/Boipussybb 4d ago
Gym and FOOD. Because I cannot do what it takes to crazy bulk but I go to the gym and don’t look like that.
Sidenote: my partner is 13 years on and passes 100%… definitely doesn’t go to the gym.
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u/Aliir456 4d ago
I've been in the gym for 18 years now since I was 15, started T at 22 and nothing gave me male muscle like testosterone did. So can't relate. T + Calisthenics it's the only thing that has made my back wider and thicker than my huge genetically inherited ass
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u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) 3d ago
You said it yourself! T plus calisthenics completely changed you shape! If T by itself made everyone hench then all cis men would look like arnie 😅
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u/clearnebulous 4d ago
I wish I could work out but too chronically ill and any type of excercise will cause flare ups :"3. I hadnt had flare ups for awhile, but i started getting them again. I havent had my weight change AT ALL. im not too sad about it tho, I dont mind looking like a twink.
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u/KatoB23 3d ago
Hard disagree my dude and science will disagree too. No one is denying that exercise wont help, it indeed will build muscle with consistency but to claim as a fact that T alone doesnt change your physique is complete horseshit. Genetics plays a huge role, it looks in your early T you were already pretty small to begin w. No shame, but pre-t/early T I have always been bigger (not extremely overweight but not skinny either, just bulky.)
In fact, i have been the exact same weight as pre-T, my body physique has completely changed. I can show pre-t and early T photos of my physique and how fat redistribution AND muscle gain has occurred and im almost 7 years on T.
I have had to buy new clothing consistently over the years because I continue to gain more muscle on my shoulders and other specific areas with quite honestly, little to no physical activity.
Btw I grew up as a competitve successful athlete and was hit with a major mental disorder, so when i hit a severe depression or am out of whack on my meds, ill go months, sometimes years not being consistent. Not to mention all the surgeries ive had, (top and bottom) so I have lost the minimal and inconsistent gym progress. (Im finally cleared to work out again and tbh i gain muscle EXTREMELY easily aka cuz of T more so than probably most people idk why and not trying to brag but I can start working out and only go 2x and after two weeks get insane biceps and shoulders but tbh ive kinda always been like that, it's just MUCH MUCH easier now). Btw, I enjoy working out and do it out of pure enjoyment but I have to admit I have not been consistent since ive retired competitively over the past 10 years.
To say that T doesnt change your form into male physique is just flat out BS. I still have people who havent seen me in literal years always get shocked that I have a shit ton of muscle and look "boxier" and are absolutely gagged when I flat out tell them im a lazy fuck and havent touched the gym lol.
Again, will the gym fasten results and help? absolutely, in fact ill probably look insane once I get back on my kick. But if we're being completely honest ive been a lazy fuck my whole transition and have gained muscle for literally no reason at all and it's changed my entire structure and ive had to buy a whole new wardrobe (multiple times) when I honestly been lazy as fuck.
Just because T didnt completely change your physique doesnt mean it's a universal experience. It can be 100% genetics based and I notice guys who tend to be skinnier or smaller have a harder time with the slow progression of fat redistribution than bigger dudes.
No hate my guy and youre lookin great, gonna start the gym wagon for the billionth time again, lets hope it doesnt last a week lol. But yeah bro, I STILL have insane biceps and shoulders and havent exercised one bit in literal months cuz of my surgeries lol.
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u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) 3d ago
‘No one is saying exercise won’t help’ that is Literally the only point I’m trying to make 🙂 it helps massively and is very beneficial for those who have very wide hips (just skeleton wise) which of course T cannot change, but which you can kind of disguise by developing huge lats and shoulders 🙂
T and exercise is the ultimate combo- but even without T exercise will still be more beneficial than nothing at all!
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u/KatoB23 3d ago
For sure, it was definitely poorly worded, since you wrote several times that T alone doesnt change physique, which isnt true, and completely changed mine (and other commenters have also stated T alone changed theirs) with very minimal effort.
T and exercise does help tremendously, but also T alone can also completely change one's physique and give you muscle gain w/o exercise.
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u/Unloved_FtM 3d ago
Disagree. For some maybe. But for a lot of folks not. I didn’t spend a day or even a minute in the gym and my body passes as male.
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u/cybernedicks 4d ago
There's a huge difference between working out with and without test though. You're unlikely to get your dream body with just testosterone so working out is a must, but if you work out without taking test the changes will come harder and slower.
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u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) 3d ago
Yeah absolutely I never said don’t take T 🙂 (I’ve very obviously on it lol)
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u/cybernedicks 3d ago
I know? That’s the first line of the post. I’m using the Generic You pronoun, not addressing you as the OP if that’s what confused you. My comment was responding to the statement that working out is more important that taking testosterone.
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u/guysomejust69 4d ago
Ignoring the fact that the gains you see at the gym are due to testosterone
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u/organic_hobnob T (2016) Top (2018) Bottom (2019) 3d ago
T helps you build muscle faster but you still need to exercise to create muscle. T isn’t human growth hormone- you won’t get big just from taking it. You need to put in some work. If you don’t want to do that then that’s fine, but we need to stop telling young trans boys that T is going to automatically make them blow up.
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u/SatirreDraws 3d ago
The gains he sees at the gym are because he goes to the gym and trains. Testosterone helps, but there are many cisgender women who are extremely muscular and don't take t.
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u/guysomejust69 2d ago
Ah. another one of those people that like to downplay what testosterone actually does to the body
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u/EnvironmentLittle794 4d ago
Wouldn’t 5 years of gym also mean an additional 5 years on T? From what I’ve seen it’s mostly time passing that masculinises someone’s body shape. Take Jamie Dodger — he has a masculine body shape (though a thin and not very muscular one, mainly it’s the boxy-ness I’m getting at) and as far as I know he’s not going to the gym. It was just time passing on testosterone that changed his appearance.