Exercise to help keep that feminine figure

[Amy R Lynn]

Three years ago my buddy (the same one that just came out to me) talked me into running with him. He had been bugging me for about a year to go running with him. So I finally gave in. The first time out was a disaster. I couldn't even run a mile. I think we walked most of the trail. I remember being a wet sloppy mess by the time I got back to the car. We did about two miles. I was really out of shape. I had started to gain some weight and didn't like how I was looking. I tried to convince myself that my boobs would get bigger, and that was ok. But that was a lie. I really didn't like it. So I kept on running.

As of 2016 I have ran in two Marathons, two half marathons, and about a dozen other races of varying length. I never in a million years thought I would love to run like this. I hated it when I started. Now I miss it when I don't.

As an encouragement, I have noticed that I really don't look bad in a dress. I add a little bit of padding where needed, but love how I feel and look. I look and feel more alive than I did before.

Has anyone else experienced this? What type of exercise do you do, and does being a cross dresser encourage it at all? :daydreaming:

[Rosemary+]

Hi Amy,
I'm another runner who can't live a day without it. In my mind without a doubt it the best way to take off weight a around the shoulders and waist.
And so true I fell my dresses look better on me without the big shoulders

[Nataliebabe]

I was never a runner. I always had a better time on a bike. I used to ride everywhere as a kid. As an adult I have had few mountain bikes and have ridden alot. I need to get back to it! I have put on quite a bit of weight! I have also hit the wieghts quite a bit. Nowadays, its high reps, low weight to tone!

[Dana44]

Hi Amy, I do cross-fit to keep my figure and part of it is running, jumping rope and exercises. It keeps me in shape. I do like to run. So sometime I run for a couple miles.

[immindy]

That is awesome Amy ! For me it is walking ! I walk and hike in the parks when ever I get a chance . I also love to wear short shorts tanks and sports bras ! I do enjoy the free feeling and it sure does help keep the weight off to maintain that girly figure !

[Adriana Moretti]

YES!!! I run 6 miles a day ! Some days 10.....but running took 40 pounds off me when i first came back from my purge !

[sometimes_miss]

Arthritis means lower body exercise is limited. I use a rowing machine. So I've got the biggest shoulders of any 'girl' I know. But swimming is boring, so there's not much else. I watch TV while I row.

[kayegirl]

Not running. I'm a cyclist, have been for 50 years now. But today with a howling wind blowing, and rain falling horizontally, it will be on the static bike with the telly on. Stay safe.

[Leslie Mary S]

at 73 and 240 pounds, I have trouble with running. I also suffer arthritis, and form of inner ear problems that makes it so I have to see to keep from falling over.
In my bucket list for this year, I am aiming at 200 pounds if not 180.

chuckle; loosing that much weight will mean I will have to get a total new wardrobe, maybe shoes too.

Hey, if I lose that much weight will it mean that I will have to get new wigs too? : )

[prettytoes]

I went from 240 in September to 215 now. Lots of exercise and less eating. It's like getting a whole new wardrobe when I go through the drawers of clothes that "shrank" over the years. I have lots of cute activewear outfits...it really helps motivate me when I know I get to wear a cute running skort and racerbback top for my workouts. I especially like the bright cheery colors!

[Traceyjo]

Being a tgirl is a great motivator to exercise. What better reason to stay trim , shapley and younger looking than to know you look good in a bodycon mini dress. I exercise hard and often. I do sprint intervals on my bike at high intensity, similarly with my swimming, do 6-7 km runs at a good pace and my walking is done twice a week playing golf. I would never have believed I could have been so fit at my age and it is not time consuming or arduous.

[DIANEF]

I used to cycle a hundred miles a week, but then I got a car and it made me a little lazy. Got to admit I hate exercise, but I keep in trim by not eating very much (still healthily) and I'm on my feet and active most of the day.

[MissTee]

I use to do triathlons, as well as half marathons. Ran a lot, probably about 5-6 days a week. Combat injury ended that, and I switched to recumbent cycling and still do that.

[Tracii G]

I studied martial arts most all of my life so I do Tai Chi most every morning.
Its a great stretching, physical exercise and it helps clear my mind and keep me in touch with my chi.

[docrobbysherry]

Excersize is NOT a long term weight loss tool. Plus, my muscled arms and legs said, "Man" to the world!:sad:

The best excersize for weight loss is pushing yourself away from the dinner table. 7 years ago I made gradual, but permanent, changes to my eating and drinking habits. I lost about 20 lbs and they r gone for good! I find it's easier to ADD padding where Sherry needs it than having that immovable spare tire around my middle---:straightface:

The only excersizes I continue to use that actually help Sherry's figure r the 100 modified crunches and stretching routine I do every morning. :battingeyelashes:

[Sharon B.]

I used to do a lot of walking but that hasn't happen for the last couple of years. I am going to buy a bicycle and start riding in the city and parks. I have gain a few extra pounds since I quit working and the two surgeries I had on my shoulder this past year hasn't help in losing any weight.

[jennifer0918]

Great thread I find it very motivating being at 240lbs now I hope to be at 200 or 180 by next year.My plan is this cardio low weight high reps focus more on squats and more cardio.90% of fittness is in the kitchen and 10%in the gym so changing my eating habits is something I will be incorporating into my routine .

[Sissy_Michelle]

Amy,

Mostly free weights... Lots of leg exercises to keep my form and spin classes for endurance and to keep my butt looking good.

@--}----
Michelle

[Antron III]

Love to walk and I use the Treadclimber just about every day. I've never been big but was starting to put on a few extra pounds that set new records for me. One week of one small meal a day and exercising twice a day took off the biggest chunk of the weight gain. The rest has come off slower but at an acceptable pace. Less food, more movement. The days I start to feel lazy I just remind myself that Any walk is better than No walk. At this point I'll always look like an old guy in a dress. I just don't have to look like a fat old guy in a dress. :)

[ronda]

I used to run every day but 3 back surgeries later running cause to much pain so have to go to the gym all low impact stuff

[irene9999]

I find exercise has been a bit of a double edged sword, my arms/chest have gotten a little bigger and where I used to fit into a women's M size I now need an L or XL, I'm naturally on the smaller side so I don't see myself getting much more muscular than that (unless I really start increasing my protein intake). That said, my legs look better than ever! They're very toned and muscular and look great on a dress/skirt. I do weights about 3 times a week and go for a 1hr run from 1-3 times a week as well.

[Aunt Kelly]

Hate...to...run. I do bike from time to time, and will be doing more soon. Also joined WW last week. Fitting into smaller sizes and having more selection is certainly a motivating factor.

[KimberlyJean]

I have at least 20 more lbs of muscle to lose so lots of running for me.

[Kandi Robbins]

First off Amy, we may well have run in the same race(s) as I live in northern Summit county. I would speculate we may have run the same half marathon this past October(?).

Three years ago, at the ripe old age of 52, I rarely ran. Coincidentally I finally accepted who I am.

While I have not yet run a marathon (well done Amy!, I'll do that in 2017), I ran two halfs last year and about 50 5Ks over the past 2 years, winning my age group probably 45 times. The self acceptance, as well as the training, has me looking pretty good in a dress, if I say so myself!

[Genny B]

Having my knees replaced ended my running days, but one day I started just trying to get a cardio heart rate for 40 minutes five days a week. That and watching what I eat helped me lose over 100 pounds two years ago. Now I'm into maintenance and love the new outfits!

Genny B

[Tracii G]

I'm not sure any of us have a feminine figure so all your running and weight training or cardio aren't going to give a feminine figure.

[Amy R Lynn]

First off Amy, we may well have run in the same race(s) as I live in northern Summit county. I would speculate we may have run the same half marathon this past October(?).

Three years ago, at the ripe old age of 52, I rarely ran. Coincidentally I finally accepted who I am.

While I have not yet run a marathon (well done Amy!, I'll do that in 2017), I ran two halfs last year and about 50 5Ks over the past 2 years, winning my age group probably 45 times. The self acceptance, as well as the training, has me looking pretty good in a dress, if I say so myself!

Kandi,
There is a good possibility our paths have crossed somewhere. I do the three Akron Marathon races every year. 8K in June, Half in August, and Full in September. I've also done several of the Western Reserve Racing runs. They have lots of different races year round.

Its so great to hear about all of the ways that you ladies are keeping fit and looking good! We are all different and not everyone likes or does the same things. It does seem to help keep me happy with who I am. I hope it does for all of you as well! :hugs:

- - - Updated - - -


I'm not sure any of us have a feminine figure so all your running and weight training or cardio aren't going to give a feminine figure.

It sure sounds good though, doesn't it? We can only do the best we can with what we have. Being born male, exercise only goes so far.

[immindy]

I'm not sure any of us have a feminine figure so all your running and weight training or cardio aren't going to give a feminine figure.

Actually Tracii , I lost a lot of my male tummy and now have a 29 inch waist . Exercise , hormones , and dieting have helped me to have less muscle mass on my chest , more on my thighs and some fat on my bottom and hips > It does make a differance :)

[Becky Blue]

Excersize is NOT a long term weight loss tool. Plus, my muscled arms and legs said, "Man" to the world!:sad:

The best excersize for weight loss is pushing yourself away from the dinner table. 7 years ago I made gradual, but permanent, changes to my eating and drinking habits. I lost about 20 lbs and they r gone for good! I find it's easier to ADD padding where Sherry needs it than having that immovable spare tire around my middle---:straightface:

The only excersizes I continue to use that actually help Sherry's figure r the 100 modified crunches and stretching routine I do every morning. :battingeyelashes:

I have to agree with you, I went on the 5 2 fast diet and lost the 12 extra pounds I was carrying. The best part of the diet is that it attacks the excess fat wherever it may be, so it took a lot of weight off my middle, I dropped 2 sizes. Once I lost the weight it has been very easy to maintain by cutting back to a 6 1 instead of 5 2.

As for exercise I am very careful not to do anything that creates muscle bulk, so i limit myself to short rides on my exercise bike, walking around a lot and working standing up.

[Sherrii]

I am 67, and have mountain biked for years, (since about 86) and although I don't go out much in the winter now I do pedal a Ryan recumbent set up on a trainer inside in the winter. I have been doing 1 hour 4 times a week this winter. From March or so to Nov. I try and get out on the bike 3 o more times a week for 1 to 2 hours. I used to run some but couldn't get into it. I envy those who can and do run. And to do a marathon, that's GREAT. I don't know anyone who exercises that I can go out with. My friend who would has a &itch of a wive that doesn't let him get into anything but staying home on the couch. Anybody in the eastern CT/western RI area who would be into trail rides? I think the biking gives me more muscled legs that are more feminine and I know being active is good for me and I enjoy the biking.

[Gabby6790]

I was doing crossfit and running. The crossfit toned up my legs but bulked up my shoulder and arms. I DNF'd my first marathon (It was one of the hardest trails races in the east). Injury sidelined me most of last year. I plan to get back at it soon but I think I will be sticking to trail running and diet to not gain the bulk.

[TheHiddenMe]

I've always said I fluctuate between chunky and extra chunky.

I used to be extra chunky (225 ish) but now I'm only chunky (187), and I'd like to reach the 170/175 area (a/k/a size 12 land).

I exercise a LOT, including basketball, tennis, running (marathon planned for 4/9), biking, and swimming (I do sprint triathlons too).

The exercise keeps me fit, but if I want to lose weight, I have to count calories (I use MyFitnessPal). The only diet that works for me is the math diet; eat less calories than I burn. I try to limit my calorie intake to around 2,000 a day, and with the exercise burn 3,000+ a day. I've got a triathlon watch that tracks steps, heart rate, and calories burned, so between counting the calories in and the calories out, I have a good way to actually lose the weight (even though I have days where I eat more than I should).

[Karine]

Count me in. I always love sports. For crossdressing, it's good for the silouhette and the face.
So for me, working out is combining the the pleasant and the useful.
I run regularly (goods for legs and lose the belly) and play soccer times to times now (ankle injury).
I try to tone up the lower body (I also do squats exercises) and slimdown the upper body (works abs and obliques, gainage).

[Tracii G]

Actually Tracii , I lost a lot of my male tummy and now have a 29 inch waist . Exercise , hormones , and dieting have helped me to have less muscle mass on my chest , more on my thighs and some fat on my bottom and hips > It does make a differance :)

The key item for you is you are on hormones.
90% of CDers here aren't so its a safe assumption that it won't be the same for others.

[Erin77]

I'm 190 lbs now down from 200. It's a small gain but I'm dedicating this year to getting rid of my belly. I found this when I was Googled Cross dressing 101 http://www.reneereyes.com/Crossdress%20Survival%20Guide/Crossdresser%20Transformation/Crossdresser%20Exercise%20Tips/. I have started started following the tips. I'll keep people updates as to if it works if you ladies would like

[docrobbysherry]

Erin, the site mentions an ab roller for abs. I used an ab roller for years. Until my physical therapist got me doing something better. Crunches!:thumbsup:

They r much better work out. Do the modified ones that I do and they won't hurt your neck. Cross your arms on your belly while doing crunches lying on your back. I do 100 every morning. Because I do them and an entire stretching routine every morning, I could probably do 200. But, a 100 keeps my abs rock hard!:)

I don't think developing rock hard abs will remove your belly fat, but I promise it won't hurt!:heehee:

[Tracy Irving]

I once heard that you lose pounds in the kitchen and ounces at the gym but when I am there it is mostly on the elliptical machine.

[Erin77]

I always thought the ab roller was kinda funny.. remember the thigh master?! I am subing in crunches. Thanks Sherry. :)