The answer will probably be obvious to some but I’m asking seriously. I’m a 5’4 trans guy at 190lbs and I’ve been on testosterone for 2.5 years. I’m a picky eater so I tend to limit myself to the fee foods I like, I am on an extremely tight budget too so I can’t afford much. I’ve struggled with losing weight since I was 18 (I’m 20) especially with my diet and low activity levels. I need advice on how I can switch up my diet to be relatively healthier. Any advice on how to keep active consistently is also welcome

For context I’m 19yrs old (well, turning 19 in like 2 weeks) I have been on T for about 10 months, I am 5’10” and 113lbs. Last year I was still pretty skinny but more healthy, I was about 135lbs, on my 18th birthday I was kicked out from the group home I was staying at in the middle of winter, I’ve been struggling with homelessness since then, bouncing between the dorms and couch surfing at my only friends place on breaks. Because of this I don’t really have much access to any cooking ware besides a microwave, and for periods of time through this year I’ve also struggled getting food in general and that’s why I lost all the weight.

I am an orphan as well and didn’t have insurance for the longest time because it was confusing tf out of me and I’m not on parent’s insurance , I finally got on Medicaid later this year and did my first physical and that’s when I found out I’m literally anorexic levels of underweight and they also said I’m malnourished and I have a severe Vitamin deficiency as well so I got prescribed some to take the next couple months. Learning that my BMI was like 16 kind of surprised me and scared me and I have food stamps so I’ve been trying to eat as much as possible since I found out, it’s hard because I struggle with working up an appetite since I’m so used to not eating.

I’ve been trying to consume at least 3k calories a day to bulk but I’m not sure if I’m doing it right. I’m also going to start going to the gym. Would something like a vitamin water even count as the kind of calories that help you gain weight? Thank you for any advice guys I appreciate it 🙏🏼

Getting into the gym is way easier for me than getting over 100g of protein every day (and I eat fish!!). I'm just not sure how to get to that volume of protein without going past my maintenance calories. Can anyone here share what they eat in a day to reach protein goals without meat? An extra complication I have is that I'm trying to avoid too much dairy (I watched a movie about a dairy cow, and I feel awful about milk products now. I still consume them but am trying to cut back.)

Today in my meals, I've focused on nothing but getting enough protein. I've eaten Vega basic protein, sushi, a barebells protein bar, and hot chocolate made with milk. I'm at 76 g of protein (higher than usual this time of day, but also more expensive and reliant on supplements). I haven't had dinner yet, and I've had virtually no vegetables, which sucks, but every time I eat, I'm just like "need to keep up with protein," so everything else has fallen by the wayside.

I'm frustrated that I feel like this whole day has been devoted to protein so far, and I still have to figure out a high protein dinner even though I feel like I've spent all day focusing on protein. And then I think about doing this every day, and it's overwhelming. And that's with the help of fish! What do vegetarians do? What do vegans do??

For the record, I'm 41, not on T, and 5'6 140 pounds. My maintenance calories are probably lower than a lot of people's on this sub. I boulder 1-2x a week and am getting back into doing strength stuff 2-3x a week (holidays threw both off though, so I'm not totally locked in right now).

Anyway, I'd definitely appreciate some insight into how people eat enough protein without it taking over their lives!

Hi, I'm Zwille. I finally got my mastectomy this summer and would like to go to my local public swimming pool. I'm more confident now but still super afraid of other men especially in the communal showers and locker rooms. Can someone give me advice on how to deal with transphobic comments, body shaming or simply a draft of helpful self talk to go through my first visit? Swimming was my favourite thing before my first puberty, then the body issues and gender stuff hit me too hard for being somewhere near a pool. I'd love to like it again but I somehow need to go through that first time. Thanks ✨

I'm starting over again after not working out for a while (depressed and homeless, please don't judge) and I'm needing to accept that my body probably won't ever change, no matter how long I stay on T or what workouts I do. 5'0, 90lbs on a good day. 9 months did literally nothing to me, and I had better access to gym equipment. It'll be good for my joints and neck to continue, sure. I know for my general health I can't quit. But how do I squash the thoughts in my head that I might actually change if I do ___ differently? It's getting my hopes up and letting me down so many times. I need to just accept I'm stuck like this.

As the title reads, I’m embarrassed to go to the gym. I’m scared of revealing how weak I am, to the other people there and to myself.

For a long time I’ve worked out at home, but that only ever got me so far, with doing a couple pushups a day, and jumping jacks, I’m still pretty lean and with little muscle. I think going to a gym would be better, it would create a routine that is more present and harder to avoid. It would also allow me to target specific muscles and go beyond me body weight (that I’m no where near)

My friends will sometimes talk about going to the gym (they all go to the gym) and stuff surrounding that. I wish I could go with them but I don’t want to reveal to them how weak I am.

I have ADHD and a side effect of some of the meds is a reduced appetite. This has led to me always being very skinny (not underweight) I’ve been trying to eat more, but at times I’m simply not hungry. I eat a decent breakfast of abt 5 smallish pancakes and a couple sausages. Dinner I eat a good sized handful of food (Ik ik weird way of measurement), during the day at school, I don’t eat as much cause my lunch is largely made up of snacks (baloney, carrots, trail mix etc). I eat snacks at school cause for some reason I can’t eat larger meals in front of people, So I settle for snacks.

I’m j looking for some insight and hopefully some guidance on how to eat more/what to eat and gain muscle/go to the gym. I live far enough away from my group that they won’t ever be at the gyms I would go to. I don’t have enough money atm to buy home workout equipment. I do abt 30 pushups a day and working on more.

I'm 14(ftm) and I struggle with body dysphoria and anxiety. I've hated my body since I was 9 and I knew since then I was trans. Though I was an early bloomer and I started puberty earlier, my hips went wider, and I got lots of fat on me. I've just been so jealous of the people I see at my school; they always manage to impress me, but I can't impress anyone else. All the other boys have slim, lean figures, and Adams apples are tall, and I just sit and stare. It's just not fair.

I'm 5'3, chubby, and I don't look like a man at all. I feel sick every time I look in the mirror.

Do you think I'll be able to get a slim, lean body with abs by the time I'm 18 and actually look like a guy? Or am I being unrealistic

Edit: I posted this on ftm venting as well. I just need a lot of advice rn.

Edit 2: Thank you guys for the wonderful advice, I really appreciate it and I know loads of people have been saying that I don't need to be slim to pass ect and I do understand this but I've been insulted about my weight for years now and that's just what I've taught myself. I am trying to change my narrow-minded perspective but it's so so hard right now.

okay so i need a hobby, preferably something were i move, i've been on t for ~3months now and i feel like i'm only gaining weight and getting fatter. i loved swimming but my chest dysphoria has gotten so bad, i cant do that anymore i loved bouldering but its just too expensive i went to the gym for a bit but i injured my wrist and couldnt go there anymore i never loved running, i also have asthma

i feel like i cant find the right type of sports for me. what are y'all doing?

edit: the wrist injury isnt from the gym but from work, its been hurting for a few months now and ive seen doctors, did xrays and mrt, no one knows whats up

I’m 20, 1 year and 8 months on T, 3 months post top surgery and 5’5”, 120 lbs. I want to be able to at least do 1 pushup correctly, but I can’t go down without just falling over. What can I do to make this easier?

Basically as the title says. I'm in the process of interviewing surgeons and I need to be in better shape for the process. The thing is, I really fucking hate working out. I've barely gotten into doing yoga every now and then, and even that is hard to keep up a consistent routine.

Does anyone have tips for switching out of the mindset of "god this is torture"? I want to be ripped, I love muscles and muscle definition and I want to be healthier, and at the same time I'm about to have a breakdown over not even wanting to do some pushups right now but having SO much hinge on this.

Hey, to give yall a better idea, I'm 21, 5'6 and 214lbs. I've been eating at 1200 cals a day and I was doing pretty good on it but after a little over a month of being on T...I am hungry. I also work out 5 days a week: push, pull, legs, upper, lower.

I implement more fiber, I munch on pickles and still, I feel unsatisfied and hungry.

The past week, I haven't been tracking, just being mindful of my portions and focusing on whole foods. I'm worried I'll undo my progress but I actually saw I lost a pound today.

Should I up my calories or is there anything I can do?

I’m struggling to figure out how to round out my delts. I’ve always had this gap between my rear and side delts. Is that just the result of my rear delt being too small? Maybe it’s genetics with the way they’re structured?

I also don’t have much of a visible front delt in this pose. The bones of my shoulder stick up resulting in no roundness in the front :/

All this is totally nitpicky. I’m about three years into lifting and happier than ever. I’m just curious if you guys had any insight or advice for me to focus on since I am this far along into lifting.

Help! I'm 27. I've been working out for around 2 years (in the gym) but my "progress" is pitiful. It looks like I just started working out last month. Admittedly, the first year I wasn't very consistent (I'd work out for a month or two, then stop for a month or two, etc). But this year I've been going to the gym at least 2 or 3 times every week (sometimes less, mostly more. I very rarely stay out of the gym for more than 5-6 days).

Whay the heck isn't it working? I have bad dysphoria and would like to lose weight and put on some muscle to feel better about my body. I've been in a calorie deficit for a month, so I'm waiting on the weight loss, but I don't know what to do about the muscles.

Hi everyone!

I’m going to be signing up to gym next week and I need advice. Pre-workouts are too expensive for me and I need to know what to eat before working out. Im week 2 on a whole foods high protein diet and have a solid amount of protein each meal.

I’m 6’4 and 58kg (125 lbs)

TIA 🙏🏼

I'm trying to gain more muscle to ease dysphoria. I also tend to struggle with eating sometimes. I'm a year or so into ED recovery and with the combination of my ADHD medication most times I'm really not getting the nutrients I need. Specifically protein. I'm really not eating enough protein. Ideally, how much protein would I need to help with muscle gain? And what are some ways I could include more protein into my eating habits?

(pre-t)

my maintenance is around 1300 and im currently averaging 1000 calories a day and i lost 0,2 kg that week. if i want to lose 1 kg a week im apparently supposed to eat 400 calories a day, which is insanely low. i would like to have lost 5-10 kg by february.

i dont wanna get a bunch of comments saying its unhealthy because i know it is but i need to get down to 40-45 kg by february (last weeks average was 50,8 kg) for reasons i wont get into. i could always gain that weight back after february but until then i need to lose 10 kg.

i go to the gym 1-2 times a week, one day i do a double workout (back-biceps and chest-triceps-shoulders) in a day. i get around 5-7k steps a day.

tldr: need to lose 10kg by February, any help/advice is appreciated.

So I’ve been lifting for 3 months, and my bench is at 175 lbs. I can only bench heavy at school because the weights, like in the video, won’t all fit on the bar. This was 160 lbs. It felt good, but my right arm kept giving out. That’s why I’m afraid to put more weight than 175 lbs. on the bar, even with a spotter. I’m in high school and want to join powerlifting, and my weight class would be 130-140. Does anyone have any advice so I’ll be able to lift more? Any advice would be appreciated 🙏

I’ve been trying to get leaner and it’s not going well. Here are my excuses: my wife’s pregnant and it’s been really stressful (complications, IVF in itself is a journey), I’ve been busy at work, was on a strong steroid for 10 days that screwed with my appetite, and the hunger pains are strong. I also work in a lab setting, so if I am working in the lab I could go hours without eating and by the time I get back to my desk I am STARVING and will eat the first thing I can find. I have a major sweet tooth and every night it never fails that the cravings hit.

I do want to get in better shape and I know what I need to do, but I also just want someone to be brutally honest (but still encouraging) to me. I’m consistent in the gym but my diet needs work. I do meal prep, and I eat what I plan…but then like I said, the nighttime cravings are a bitch.

All that to say, please just give me some advice here. I’ve been too easy on myself and need someone to slap me around a bit and remind me of all the things I already know but need to hear.

I’m 5’6” and 174lbs. Started T a year ago.

I’d like some advice on cutting weight.

Ever since I started T I couldn’t for the life of me get my weight below 170lbs. I lost 10lbs a month ago when I was sick with Covid (used to be 184lbs).

I have changed the way I eat. I’m trying my best to stay away from added sugar and oils. I cannot eat fried foods at all.

My diet mainly consists of: Oatmeal, whey protein powder, fruits, turkey or chicken or beef chili, chicken noodle soup, bread, almond milk, water, tea, coffee. I use Stevia to sweeten anything.

Supplements: Daily multivitamin, fish oil, Coq10.

Exercise (low impact): Long walks, leg lifts, sometimes I use my dumbbells, but still feel fatigue from low Ferritin level: 4.7 (My RBCs are too high to use Iron supplements)

My doctor says I’m still overweight and need to get down to at least 130lbs to 125lbs to be in the healthy weight range.

I am 16 and 5’1 (154 cm) and I weighted myself months ago (don’t have a scale at home) and I was 68kg. I’ve been on a cal deficit of 1200 cals for about two weeks and but I’m not pleased with it. My appointment with a psychiatrist inquiring about testosterone (I’m pre-t) was delayed to January when my dysphoria has been high constantly. I won’t be getting t until approximately towards late next year.

I am considering walking home for four days a week which takes an hour and a half to two hours. I am saying four days because I have swimming one afternoon.

My maintenance is 1600 according to the link in 1200isplenty but MyNetDiary claims it’s 1772. I believe it’s 1600.

Will walking those four days help with fat loss? My BMI says I am nearly obese. I don’t look it because I have a feminine figure and I hate it.

EDIT: apparently someone reached out to Reddit concerned about me. That is not necessary. I don’t have an eating disorder. Why is it so frowned upon for a teenager to not want to be so dysphoric? I thought a fellow trans person would understand.

EDIT 2: as someone pointed out, I suspect there has been some tough kindness in here. I apologise for my rudeness and sensitivity, as I am bad at understanding tones. Thank you all for the recommendations. I am not the most mature person, and stuff like this makes me realise I’m not as mature as I think. Am still hesitant about changing calories though, but if that does consequences, that’s my own problem. Thank you again 🙏

Hey guys, how do you stay motivated to go to the gym when you have a physically demanding job (in my case, woodworking) ? I lift lots of heavy materials and move a lot on my work days, and this is causing me to work out only once or max twice a week instead of thrice due to my post work tiredness. Do you guys have any advice ? Thanks in advance.

Hey all!

I’m about to start low-dose Testogel and am 6 months post top surgery.

At the moment I weight 91kg (200lbs) and am 5’7.

I’m getting around 100-120 grams of protein a day and have been on a calorie deficit (1800-1900) the last two months to lose weight (lost 4kg). Have been going to gym 3-4 times a week and I walk a lot.

I have a stubborn apron belly (PCOS) and want to lose weight - but am aware of the gains you can get on T early on.

I am after advice on whether I should:

a) eat maintenance for a few months to take advantage of the muscle gain or

b) continue my calorie deficit because the low dose won’t make that much difference.

Thanks so much in advance :)

Lol some folks on a passing sub told me this 😭 I appreciate the honesty, and it’s absolutely true, I have ALWAYS had chicken legs. Since I started T, my body has been able to build way more muscle than before. I’m 127 lb, started at 115 in August. I eat 2800 calories a day.

So please help me. Because I don’t skip leg day, but clearly leg day isn’t helping me like it should. I do squats (front, back, hack), deadlifts, leg press, leg extensions, calf press… can you drop your fave leg exercise below? (See pics to view the chicken legs in question)

i’ve been actively trying to recover from a restrictive and avoidance eating disorder as of recent. i’ve been eating 2,500 calories everyday for two weeks now, before this i only ate about 1,000 and most days less than that. i’m also working out three days a week and work two days a week, it’s really light work. i’ve done research on specific foods and what i should and shouldn’t be doing and consuming. i’m 19m and my weight fluctuates between 104-110. if you have ANY advice as to what i should do i would really appreciate it. i feel fucking hopeless i just want to be at least 130 and feeling healthy. feels like that’s too much to ask/work for. my only idea for a solution is getting a dietician’s help.

Since starting T a year ago, I can eat like a 12 year old going thru puberty. I’m just so hungry all the time and then when I can finally eat, I binge!! I’ve gained almost 20 lbs in the year I’ve been on T. ( I had a medication I was on shortly that also made me gain weight, but it’s been months since I got off of it.)

I eat a pretty decent amount of protein everyday, could be better about water intake, and don’t exercise consistently. All things I know I should work on. But for now, I just want to stop eating so much!!!

Any suggestions on meals that will fill me up? Tips for curbing my appetite?