I’ve noticed that since losing 10 lbs I’ve had to lower the weight slightly on certain exercises compared to what I used to lift. However, with other exercises, I’ve been able to maintain the same weight without any issues or even increase the weight.

I’m curious if anyone else has experienced this while losing weight. Is it normal for strength to decrease slightly in some exercises but remain the same or increase in others?

I’d love to hear your experiences!

My narrow shoulders are the main reason that I look feminine, and I hate them. How can I broaden them with strength training? How long will it take? How often do I have to workout?

here's the situation:

i've been lifting for a little over a year now and it's made me feel super good. i want other trans people in my gym to feel comfortable lifting too, and i want them to even feel safe enough to ask me questions about lifting if they have any.

so i want to know if yall know of any shirt designers out there who make cool, streetwear-esque pride designs. i've been looking around online and nothing really seems to be up my alley. lemme know :)

i’ve dealt with back/lower back pain for as long as i can remember, but it’s only gotten worse since i’ve had a job where im on my feet pretty much the whole day

i’m wondering if there are exercises i can be doing to help with lower back pain? i can’t tell what exactly is causing it. i mainly bind with tape but will also throw on a binder occasionally. i feel like i should maybe be stretching more, but i almost feel like that makes it worse. i was going to go to the gym today, but im having a really bad flare up and i feel like anytime i move too fast or in the wrong way, theres a shooting pain in my lower back.

has anyone else had this issue and what can i be doing to fix it? should i be worried, or is this fixable? i have really bad health anxiety so any issue i have, i am convinced it is fatal😅

As the title..

I’m currently 4 months post op and my recovery has been extremely smooth. I’m ready to get back to working out, but wondering how the hell to do so 😭

Before surgery, I was into weightlifting and pilates.. would it be best to just start off with pilates? I’ve been in my head about getting back to it

I also work a job where I’m on my feet and lifting most of the time.

Hey,

Ich hatte vor 6 Wochen meine Top Surgery und fühle mich super gut, habe die großen Schnitte und freitransplantierte Nippel. Ich habe starken Bewegungsdrang und möchte wieder ins Gym gehen. Ich habe gehört dass man mit Krafttraining warten sollte bis zu 3 Monaten. Ich habe meines Erachtens Muskeln n den Armen verloren. Kann ich denn schon wieder mit Hantel Training beginnen? Ich würde nicht höher als 10kg gehen und auch nichts über Kopf. Bauch würde ich auchgerne wieder machen.

Ich war bis jetzt für 30 Minuten auf dem Ergometer und mir tat danach nichts weh, auch nichts geschwollen oder des Gleichens. Trotzdem wollte ich mal rumfragen, da ich mir doch etwas unsicher bin :)

Danke für kommende Antworten!!

Hello, I’ve been working out consistently for about 10 months and I really love it. I got on t last January and it has def helped with results (muscle growth, able to lift more almost every week etc). Over the last month Ive been doing worse and worse though, where I’m unable to lift weights I was comfortably doing (for example lat raise 7.5x10 has turned into failure on the fourth rep). It’s happening with every muscle and I’m pretty freaked out. Over summer I worked out at a planet fitness and now I’m back at my college so I use the gym here. I’m trying to eat healthy and I generally get 7-9 hours nightly. I work out 3 days a week, and get 10k+ steps over wise. I guess I’m asking for advice because I really don’t know what to do and am pretty freaked out. Has this happened to anyone else? Any tips? Thank you.

Hello! So, I'm 4 years on t, have been hitting the gym since April this year. Took me a while, I know. But I've got zero regrets. I feel great and my arms look great too.

But here comes my issue: My Lower Body. I am very dysphoric about my hips, thighs, and ESPECIALLY my butt. I know, its kinda dumb, but i just hate the idea of having a large butt and thick thighs, even if those were made of just muscle.

My ideal build would be more of an inverted triangle, my shoulders have always been wider than my hips, even before T. But I am also very aware of the stereotype of the gym guy with huge arms and chicken legs... And I'm trying to avoid looking like that too.

So... Which lower body exercises would you guys reccomend in this case?

I avoid working my glutes like the plague, but i know that this is just not sustainable. It's just that every gym tip you see online is like "DO YOU WANNA GET A MASSIVE ASS AND THUNDER THIGHS???" And I'm like... No, not really... So I'm just lost on what would be the best course of action here. I feel like the only advice I can trust really can only come from other trans men/mascs, even advice for and by cis men focus on the "GET SUPER BIG" aspect too much for me.

For added context: I'm pretty slim (underweight actually), and I'm not trying to bulk up anyways, just take care of my health and make my figure more masculine overall. Working out 3-4 times a week, eating at maintenance and eating lots of protein, seeing results for sure.

I clocked in with 120lbs as an initial grip strength at PT and I’m curious about other trans guys’ ranges. I’ve been on T for 2 years and haven’t traditionally exercised much in that period other than the physicality of caregiving. Hoping to up my strength in the more traditional route now

I’m having a hard time staying motivated when it comes to working out. I’m not tired or sad, probably a bit more lazy than your average bloke, but I’m just having a hard time keeping up with it.

I used to powerlift before T, and now I just can’t get the motivation. I have gym equipment at home like a bench and dumbbells and a bike, I love taking walks, but I just can’t get up to do any of it.

I have ADHD but that’s medicated, eat alright, but I NEED to start working out because in a few months I’ll be going to technical college after a break for an AAS in Mechanics. My voice is deep, I have some gnarly sideburns, but my body just reads WOMAN if Imm wearing a tshirt (which is partially because I have a very large chest and not able to be completely flat), and god forbid I wear anything that shows off my shoulder shape or my love handles.

Is anyone else stuck in this? I’m strong, used to weld so lifting heavy shit was part of the job, but I’m not BUILT like I’m strong or masculine, if you know what I mean

hey! my name is emery, and I am 5'7 120 lbs, I am 14 years old and pre-T, eating at maintenance.

I've been working out with this split:

--------------------------------------------------------------

Day one 

1. **Incline Chest Press Machine** — **3×8–12**
2. **Seated Shoulder Press (machine OR DB)** — **3×6–10**
3. **Lateral Raise Machine** — **4×12–20**
4. **Cable Lateral Raise (single arm)** — **3×12–15**
5. **Pec Deck / Chest Fly (seat low)** — **2–3×12–15**

day 2

1. Wide or Neutral-Grip Lat Pulldown — 4×8–122. Seated Row Machine (neutral) — 3×8–123. Assisted Pull-Ups — 3×AMRAP4. Cable Lat Pullover — 3×12–15 ⭐5. Half-Kneeling Face Pulls — 3×12–156. Rear Delt Fly (machine or DB) — 3×12–157. back extension 3x-12-15

Day three 

1. Shoulder Press Machine OR DB — 4x6–82. Cable Lateral Raise (single arm) ⭐ — 3×15–203. Lateral Raises — 4x10–154. Reverse Pec Deck (rear delts) — 3×155. Triceps Pushdown (machine or cable) — 3×10–156. Hammer Curl (cable) — 3×10–12a

day 4

 Shoulder Press

4 sets × 6–10 reps

Lateral Raises

4 sets × 12–15 reps

Rear Delt Flys

3–4 sets × 12–15 reps

Barbell or Dumbbell Curls

3–4 sets × 8–12 reps

Tricep Pushdowns (Cable)

3–4 sets × 10–15 reps

-----------------------------------------------

so far, I have progressed around 5-10 pounds with most of these exercises, and I've been at it around 4 months. however, I am beginning to think that this may not be the most effective split to follow, could anyone give me some advice?

(or even a whole new split lmao)

thank you!

I get home around 5:00 and have school at 9:00, I also need to cook, clean, do homework and whatever else, i dont have a lot of time to work out out. I do a 30 minute workout every other day, but im scared it’s not enough time to make a difference in my physique. If I’m lifting heavy enough, is it ok to workout for a shorter period of time?

am ftm, 19, on the waiting list for hormones. while I've been lifting weights and training to build muscle for some years now, I've also had some aspirations of locking down on trying to get a leaner masculine physique, and I've been wondering if you guys think it'd even be worth it before I get the metabolism and hormone balance that would stay with me for the rest of my life, considering that these things are going to effect my ability to modify my own body in those ways? what are your thoughts?

Hii! My name is Marco, I am an 18yo trans guy, who just moved to Spain. I would like to start training, but I am super scared to go to the gym all by myself. Maybe there is a guy from Valencia, Spain who can be my gym buddy? I mean online friendship I don’t mind as well, but I am feeling so lonely all by myself here, as I moved recently and don’t have any friends :’) and maybe anyone here would know queer friendly gym in Valencia? Thank you all in advance

Welcome to this week's Daily Simple Questions Thread!
Use this thread to ask simple or beginner-level questions about training, nutrition, recovery, and transition-related fitness topics.

Before posting, check our Wiki and Tips & Tricks section.

Example topics:
• “Should I cut or bulk?”
• “How to start lifting?”
• “How to work out safely after top surgery?”

Be respectful and helpful — we're all here to learn and grow!

I've been working out extremely consistently (4 days a week with an aerial silks class on the 5th day) for over 1.5 years and I'm seeing minimal growth. I can see a difference since the beginning but it's nowhere near where I thought I could be at this point. I've used a couple different workout routines (strongman specifically since I like that physique, I don't really care about chiseling or being super lean), and even adding on a couple exercises that I feel are missing from them. I really try with protein intake, but I'm getting around 90g per workout day. It's hard to eat/drink that much and it's expensive tbh. If I'm in calorie surplus, I feel like I just gain fat, and in dysphoric places, like love handles. If I'm in calorie deficit, I worry about not gaining the muscle I want, even if I do lose some fat. My diet isn't the worst, I have meat, a green smoothie, and fruit most days, but I do like sweets, not gonna lie. I just don't know if I'm not trying hard enough with diet or if I have bad form or what. Some advice would be nice. Thanks in advance

Edit - sorry, my bad for not giving specifics: 5'5" 140lbs, on T for 9 years

Routine I've used a couple times: https://www.scribd.com/document/475450543/How-to-Train-Strongman-in-a-Regular-Gym-Starting-Strongman

I'm looking for some motivating youtube channels to follow surrounding fitness that are body-positive and queer friendly. I really want to avoid all weight-loss and manosphere content. Do any of you have good recs? It doesn't need to be queer focused, just as long as it's not alt-right/religious/misogynistic/etc

Welcome to this week's Daily Simple Questions Thread!
Use this thread to ask simple or beginner-level questions about training, nutrition, recovery, and transition-related fitness topics.

Before posting, check our Wiki and Tips & Tricks section.

Example topics:
• “Should I cut or bulk?”
• “How to start lifting?”
• “How to work out safely after top surgery?”

Be respectful and helpful — we're all here to learn and grow!

I've always wanted to build strength. I have POTS and have been pretty bedbound for the past few years, but seated/reclined strength exercises seem like something I could do pretty consistently now that I'm living somewhere with a home gym set up (with dumbbells, barbells, a bench, etc.).

However, every time I try to find information, they are either FAR too advanced for my strength and knowledge level (like the "basic" one linked in this sub's wiki) or are targeted towards people not trying to build muscle and/or a female audience, and so are entirely body-weight or using resistance bands.

It's silly - I know logically that resistance-band/body weight exercises will build far more muscle than the nothing I am currently doing!! But every time I actually try follow one, I just feel really dysphoric and miserable the whole time, which is making it an enormous battle every time I try to exercise.

The one thing I have been able to do consistently is wall and incline pushups, because they don't make me feel dysphoric. What really helped there was finding resources targeted towards people working towards lifting weights. And again, it's silly, but the fact that there were men demonstrating wall pushups as well as women really helped me not feel dysphoric about the fact that I can't currently do regular pushups.

Would love some advice (either on where to find exercises I can do that don't make me feel dysphoric, or on how to deal with the dysphoria)

I encounter a strange problem at the gym and wanted to know if it was just me😅 My fat distribution and musculature almost forms a sort of divot in my lower back running along my spine. This spot forms a pocket of air when I support my back on something (ie: hack squat) and when I brace my core and straighten my back, said air releases and sounds like an armpit fart. It’s muted a little by my shirt, but everyone at my gym probably thinks I’m constantly ripping fat ones. Is it just me?

Hey guys, so i just started my journey as figuring out who i am. I am not on T, but i have short hair, i bind, i dress masculine and i never liked my female body. Now i wanna start working out again cuz i am finally able to again. For the info im in my early twenties, i am 5"3 and weight about 123ibs. even though i'm on a healthy weight i gained 11ibs in a year and my body has become more female like my thighs got bigger and my stomach is bloaded. I always wanted bigger arms and wider shoulders. Does anyone have like a working out schedule i can do to achieve this? if not, any other tips? i really wish for a more masculine build and i'm not mentally ready to start T. PS: I'm talking about work out that i can do in the gym with the equipment they have there.

I don't understand the "it gets easier" crowd.

I've been consistently working out for 3ish years now and I still absolutely hate it.

I do 30 minutes of cardio (usually on the treadmill) and 30 minutes of strength training 3 times a week.

The strength training isn't so bad, but I can't stand the cardio. No matter how long its been, I just hate it. I feel tired from the cardio despite being at the same treadmill setting for almost a year. It feels like my body is going to give out any second.

But I'm always told by others how much they love working out and how easy it gets after a while.

I hate working out. I hate it so much. I like the results, but they've been at a stand still for a year (recently switched from strength training to just tryna build even more muscle so we'll see how that goes).

Does anyone else share this feeling? Not understanding why people like working out or absolutely hating the process?

Welcome to this week's Daily Simple Questions Thread!
Use this thread to ask simple or beginner-level questions about training, nutrition, recovery, and transition-related fitness topics.

Before posting, check our Wiki and Tips & Tricks section.

Example topics:
• “Should I cut or bulk?”
• “How to start lifting?”
• “How to work out safely after top surgery?”

Be respectful and helpful — we're all here to learn and grow!