Training To and Through Transition
Quick note: Estrogen-based/dominant bodies and Testosterone-based/dominant bodies are the terms I use when I discuss hormones. Those terms keep things inclusive and keep the focus on the discussion.
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Hormone replacement therapy, HRT. The painstaking and ever so rewarding process of transitioning to your complete self through hormonal (and sometimes surgical) intervention. Some people call it second puberty, or the transgenderfication process (no lie, read that one once). The process is always a wild ride of emotions, self discoveries, and metamorphoses, but I wanted to take a moment and talk about a very practical application: Training your body to, and through, transition.
This applies to absolutely all of you, so let’s put it simply: when one trains their body, they put themselves in a rebuilding state, primed for growth, shifts, and physical improvement. When one begins their HRT, they are putting themselves in a rebuilding state, primed for growth, shifts, and physical improvement. See where I’m going?
Essentially, when the body’s hormone balance is shifted, it immediately switches gears. On the very first day, you’ll notice scent and sensory differences, and by a month, you’ll notice skin and hair changes. By six months, the fat and muscle on your body has begun to redistribute, giving estrogen-dominant bodies curves and shape, and testosterone dominant bodies bulk and density.
The key there: I said fat and muscle. Here’s where the training comes in. Let me preface: there is very little research on how training affects the transitioning body, but I can speak from personal experience, speaking to others, and knowledge of the current science. Regardless of the body in training, the end result is microscopic damage to musculature. This causes soreness, and wakes up the body’s regenerative cells to begin to build back that muscle to withstand what damaged it. Lift 20 pounds, the body adapts to lift 20 pounds better. This, of course, results in denser, fuller muscles and tissue.
I argue that training your body could speed up the fat and muscle redistribution process, and the hormonal transition as a whole. On its own, the hormones will change the body without help. However, by adding in any form of training, the body will utilize those bioavailable hormones faster and more efficiently. If the body already wants to send muscular tissue to the chest, back, and shoulders, transmascs can train those areas and further stimulate growth and development. If the body wants to build a butt and thighs, transfemmes can train to do the same. Each side has it’s own quirks as well: transmascs need to take advantage of excess testosterone in their systems, and transfemmes will need to train to maintain a small baseline of strength. My strength dramatically dropped, and I had to basically go back to the drawing board to start powerlifting.
By a year in, younger bodies will see shrinkage (estrogen) or growth (testosterone) of connective tissue throughout the body. Think hands, feet, height, limb length. Training and food are important here too, to make sure that these tissues are healthy and strong. This is literally your second puberty, you have to grow up a healthy kid right? Bone density will also increase and decrease at varying measures, that’s hormonal too, and doctors will push transmascs to train their chest, as it prepares them for top surgery!
All of this is why it’s so important that we each find some form to train our bodies. Whether it be Yoga, Lifting, Running, Team Sports, or any other activity, all of it has benefits to every body, and everybody. And for my fresh-into-transition siblings, get out there, find a safe space for you. I promise there’s one. Get in and mold your body how you want it. Because everything is possible for you, I promise.
Arkangel
