Julie

I've been looking for something like this now that I'm getting back into fitness!

I do want to mention that the article's advice on tucking feels a bit unsafe, though. I personally avoid tucking when working out because if something gets uncomfortable or hurts during some workouts, you can't always do something about it right away. Like, if you're lifting or using some machines, it's can be hard or impossible to adjust.

Always remember safety first, especially when exercising! Tuck responsibly!

Probably my mental state. My first week on HRT was miserable because I was already super depressed, but I also had TONS of uncertainty about my identity and anxiety about the future for trans people in my country. All the HRT did at first was make me feel more numb and give me a lot of sexual complications, so it felt like my body wasn't working and it was maybe the most dysphoric I'd ever been.

But then, on week 2 I suddenly wanted to get out of bed? And I could feel emotions again? Food tasted better!? Idk what it was that first week but I'm glad I struggled through it, because now it feels like I'm actually LIVING for the first time in my life. I don't think it would be an exaggeration to say that every aspect of my life changed for the better. I can enjoy even the mundane, I suddenly have goals I could achieve, I feel closer to all of my loved ones, I can laugh, I CAN EVEN CRY NOW!

Other than that, the sexual changes were very unexpectedly intense, and I mean that in the best way possible haha.

I'm coming up on one year. Being so far out from where I started, I almost forgot what life used to be like, and how much better it is now. I've recently been in a bad headspace, but this helped remind me of some of the good things I have going right now, and why I'm transitioning. Thank you, and congratulations :)

I haven't heard of this one, but I'll check it out! Thanks for the rec, and the warning!

I read this manga a while ago and was really conflicted about the story, author, and representation (non-binary rep specifically). A lot of those worries went away in the last two volumes or so, but regardless of my overall feelings, the trans rep gave me a big dumb smile and I actually cheered during a specific scene :)

A few recs if you're hungry for more trans rep in manga after reading this:

Skip and Loafer: cishet romance but the main character's aunt/guardian is a trans woman, and has some of the best introspective scenes and subtle characterization I've seen for trans characters and felt intensely relatable to me, in a very sobering way.

Hourou Musoku/Wandering Son: this one's about two trans kids, and while a lot of people are very critical of it (myself included), I haven't really seen any manga that follow the lives of trans people so closely for so long. It also has an anime, which I haven't seen, so I can't really speak to its quality.

Bokura no Hentai warning, this one is HEAVY, but it stuck with me for a long time. It was thought provoking and had just enough wholesome moments to make it super memorable for me. CW for sex, abuse, and r*pe

And if you're interested in reading some manga that are memoirs about the authors' own trans experiences:

Hanayome wa Moto Danshi/The Bride Was a Boy: The auhtor shares her experiences as a trans woman in Japan, from childhood, coming out, getting health care, and eventually marrying her husband. Includes a lot of information about Japan's views and laws (at the time of publishing) on LGBTQ culture.

Umareru Seibetsu wo Machigaeta!: An autobiographical essay/manga about the author's experience getting sexual reassignment surgery in Thailand. This has less to do with the broader transgender experience, and focuses instead on a more detailed account of what the surgery and recovery was like. Lots of details here that I hadn't read anywhere else before, and the author is very charming! There's also an insane Grappler Baki reference that made me laugh so hard I almost cried.

Otokonoko Doushi Renai Chuu: former porn star Kaoru Ooshima shares the story of his life and career as a popular cross-dressing porn actor. I was skeptical about this one since its kind of about cross-dressing porn, but I actually really enjoyed it and found it super interesting (and there are also trans people, and we hear a bit about their experiences too!). Also, it was illustrated by Fumiko Fumi, the author/artist of the aforementioned Bokura no Hentai, and I love her art :)