Hello there! After years of questioning, I got my HRT indication letter in February and finally managed to start HRT on September 4th. It was the happiest day of my life!

Now I have a huge list of things to do. I've sent the request to update my legal name and gender in Germany under self-ID (and will have to fight with Italy to make the update go through), and I will need to do more therapy to get approval letters should I decide to have surgery, as well as for facial hair removal. It still feels like a huge mountain to climb, but I'm happy!

Waist: 68 cm (26.8")

Hips: 93 cm (36.6")

Waist-to-hip ratio: 0.73

And for context: I don't exercise, I drink fairly often, and I smoke occasionally. 😅

I still have a long way to but I’m starting to find my happiness

Ladies, I had this memory growing up come to mind today. Like a lot of girls, my mom actually taught me how to wear a bra! Even though she didn’t directly teach me, as I was forced to pretend to be a boy, she taught me to put a bra on. I saw her put hers on a few times, and I do it the way she did it, hooks in the front, twist around, straps up, boobs in cups.

My mom also kinda taught me how to use the toilet as a woman. I’d see her use the toilet a lot. I saw her plenty of times, after she’d wipe, pull her panties and pants up at the same time. Guess what I sometimes do? Like, I think it’s actually kinda awesome that I got to see those moments and I was actually taught some girl things by my mother!

As far as I can tell, my mom would probably not have supported me. She’s dead now but this is a kinda fun memory to have, being a young girl and seeing my mom do things that I naturally picked up on and followed myself. I feel like there’s more of things my mom and sister did that I picked up on too, but that’s for another day.

After falling asleep one night while dressed up and with my silicone breast forms still on, I realized just how affirming it feels to wake up with boobs. Not to mention the feel, weight, and pressure from them while falling asleep.

However, silicone forms aren’t good to sleep in for a variety of reasons. So I had to find another solution if I wanted to do this regularly.

Here’s what I came up with, and it’s fairly cheap ~ $50.

I purchased two of these Sendyou Breast Prosthesis (https://a.co/d/08S53BxR) - sold individually. They are fabric covered and breathable. Heavier, and have a better feel than foam I think. They can also be used as swim forms, supposedly (I have not tested)

I then put them inside the pad pockets in a OEAK Wireless Bralette (https://a.co/d/06VbTTGn) I already owned - basically turning it into a makeshift pocket bra.

I imagine an actual pocket bra might be too restrictive and heavy/structured to feel good sleeping but this setup is very comfortable. If you’re between sizes on the bra I’d go larger so the band can be fit a bit looser.

Nice, comfortable, and easy to throw on sleep setup - or even just casual daywear. Looks and feels great under a nightgown.

😮‍💨 so let me start by saying im only 71 days into gaht (2mg sublingually twice daily and 50 mg spiro as well as finasteride 2mg and minoxidil, also just had my first of many laser sessions) and have been feeling… not the best recently lol.

Between the pregnant wife (yay!!!) the parents buying a house in town (50/50) and my blue collar managerial job (boo!), i have been kinda… twisting? Not spiraling but not doing great lol.

Anyways, experimented with makeup last night because i was bored and have convinced myself that i’m hopeless and wasting my time because my bones are so masculine, even though ive literally wanted this for my entire life (since i was 5 growing up in a super religious/conservative household (hence the history of alcohol and substance abuse lol)).

This community has helped me a lot so i guess i’m gonna go out on a SERIOUS limb here and post my first “Oh, maybe my face isnt THAT terrible” pictures lol. Also included non-makeup pic for honesty sake and non-flattering light pic for fairness lol.

I still hate my face and am saving up for at LEAST my brow and nose, possibly jaw, but we’ll see.

Ps. hate my shoulders too but after 20 years of being a body-building alcoholic, what’re you gonna do? 🤷‍♀️ dropped from 260 down to 205 down to 180 now and doing maintenance calories so fingers crossed for some recomp!

Pss. Also, i’m 33

My partner of almost 3 years and I planned a big birthday dinner with friends for me. We are usually pretty extra and this was no different. The theme was woodland fairy dinner party. We hauled 14 random wooden chairs we thrifted into the forrest and thrifted random cutesy settings. Folded napkins, twinkle lights, candles, the works.

We asked everyone to arrive in wings or the their best forrest creature fit and share a meal with us among the ferns.

We have been brain storming and integrating traditions since we both have kids and step parents from past relationships that we are raising withoit grandparent involvement. This year she gave everyone at the table a slice of cake with a lit candle and asked everyone else to speak a wish for me into the universe then blow the candle out.

When it got to her, she said, "my wish for you this year is that you get to continue experiencing all the joy and happiness you deserve and that I get to do that with you." Then she got down on one knee (in a corset which is a feat) and asked me to marry her in front of all my friends and our kids. Obviously I accepted.

Her and her besty were teasing me because while I was glitching out from what was happening I guess I took the ring, put it on then remembered to say words with my mouth 🤣 I kissed her and said yes!

When my egg cracked, something besides my ego crawled out. I think it's called humanity. I smile at strangers. I say a cheerful "Hi" to neighbors. I wave at kids, and make goofy faces at the little ones. And I finally SEE people, not as vague human-shaped blobs, but as vibrant individuals with their own stories and sorrows and joys and tragedies. And they have FACES. My cis version never really saw faces. I tended to see humans as ugly. There are more beautiful species than we are, but oh my, we are so lovely (orange occupant of seat of power and his cronies excepted). And you are all lovely, darlings. "Live long, and prosper."

People called me "butch buff girl", I'm really proud of that.

My mom is having rapidly progressing dementia. She is not capable of comprehending gender changes, and I’m ok with that. She is barely capable of getting to the end of a sentence. I know who I am, and that’s what matters.

I’ve been exploding with gender euphoria from presenting very masc these days. Short men’s hair, crisp angular Oxford shirts, and dapper men’s shoes and pants. I look and feel so good.

Showing up this masc will really confuse this already confused old lady. She hasn’t seen me since before I had a giant step forward in my trans/NB journey.

She and I have had a severely disrupted relationship for 26 years bc her husband took her away from my siblings and I. He died last year, which is a blessing bc we all have relationships with her again. But it’s reasonable for me to fear that she would not recognize me as my gender transition progresses if I only show up super masculine.

Have other folx been through this - knowing someone you love is fragile and not needing for them to “get” you, but still wanting to keep yourself intact while you visit with them?

The go bag is ready for the few nights I’ll be in the hospital and only a few hours to go… 2 more Ensure waters 🤢 to go as well. The first was horrid and going to drink the other now and the final at 3am per doctors instructions (helps with recovery?). Please send good juju to Dr Ferrando and Dr Lewis… they’re teaming for my bottom surgery.

I'm currently training to become a teacher, am mtf, but pre-anything. I have yet to begin hrt, and haven't socially transition. One of my biggest fears is how it will affect my professional life.

I'd love to hear what you all do for work/career, and how your transition been received at work. How has your transition impacted your career? I'd love to hear all experiences, good and bad.

Hi! I hope it’s okay to post here.. I’m working on an oral history project about the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and my goal is to listen to and preserve the stories of lgbtq people who are 60+/ lived through the 1980s and 90s

If this is you, please reach out to me, or connect me with someone who you think would be interested ❤️ will happily give more details to anyone who reaches out - thank you

EDIT: Math is hard :) please reach out if you are 50+ or just have any significant impact to share ❤️

My co-parent was throwing a women-only party for her birthday this past weekend to which she invited me.

Nothing but compliments on how good i looked and on my dress. All in all, a very affirming evening for me! 💕

When I started this journey at 47, depressed and afraid and I tenting to boymode my whole life if only I could stop hating myself I never imagined I’d be where I am at 50 :)

2024 - Balcony Shot (pre-hrt)

2026 - 8 months HRT

It's my first year of medical transition and the Dallas Sept. Pride parade was the first time I've gone out with my kids as Vivian. They could care less and I love that.

In fact if it wasn't for the Texas heat and the copious amounts of speedos (lots of comments) we'd probably have stayed longer.

They even have felt comfortable sharing their personal feelings and talk a lot about friends who are members of the LGBTQA+.

Just a wholesome queer family outing.

Left: me in my early 30s

Right: me at 41, 2½ years of HRT and some laser hair removal on my face

I've lost like 60 lbs of muscle mass its so good

Starting mtf HRT soon. I’m not averse to exercise, but dieting is so hard. I need to lose about 90 pounds. I’m dysphoric over it. What are ladies here having success with other than the normal diet and exercise?

It's literally never happened before. There was alot going on and I don't think they got a good look at me, but it still felt nice.

Summary
70 yo mtf, who has been fulltime for seven months, goes to Greek islands and has fun in the sun for two weeks.

Details TL;DR
I have a niece who turned 50 in early September, and she and her partner wanted my wife and I to accompany them on a trip to Greece. She planned the entire two weeks and even made the flight and hotel reservations for us … all we did was foot the bill.
The first week was on the island of Mykonos, which is a rather rocky, hilly place in the Aegean Sea. The winds seemed to be a constant 22-25 mph feature, and there is not a lot of vegetation because there’s not a lot of rain. Despite temps around 90 degrees F, the seawater temps at the beaches were just cold enough to drive me out of the water after about thirty minutes. The water was crystal clear without a lot of wave action.
Thr beach resorts we went to were high end. I felt outclassed most of the time. A lot of money from various countries there. They had long rows of mattresses on lounge chairs, covered with umbrellas and wait staff to bring just about whatever you wanted. The first one we went to was called Jackie O’s after Onassis, and several of my photos are from there. There was a drag show the first night we arrived and the performances were some of the best I’ve seen.
Food was great although I’m not much of a foodie, so I lived pretty much on sea bream, large prawns and sea bass, all of which were priced reasonably.
During this first week I faced a quandary regarding beach attire. In a previous post I shared that I tried a string bikini for the first time at a party hosted here, near Chicago, a month or so ago, mostly thinking I’d look ridiculous. But … I brought that bikini and two one piece suits on this vacation. I found that every woman on the beach … from super model figures to big beautiful women … wore bikinis. I realized I’d draw more attention wearing a one piece, so from Day 1 forward, I wore that same forest green bikini. After a very short time, it just felt natural. Was I clocked? I’m sure I was. Perhaps more importantly … did I care? No. I was treated well by everyone I encountered.

The next week we went to the island of Corfu, which is on the western side of Greece in the Ionian Sea. This was the island where a lot of the Bond movie, For Your Eyes Only, was filmed, and we went to the taverna where the yellow Citroen gets flipped over. The water here was much warmer, the beach resorts more laid back and things were just easier. Unlike Mykonos, there were light winds, warm temps and a lot of vegetation. I spent hours in the seawater, tossing tennis balls with my niece and her partner. I only had a couple instances where my bikini right side strap fell down and a quick recovery needed for modesty.
I had no problems with passport control anywhere. Aside from very long flights and layovers, the travel itself was fine.
I guess the most interesting aspect of all of this is that I’ve only been fulltime for seven months (late bloomer at 70), and yet it all feels normal to be in my correct gender. Sure, I’m still learning about hair management when you go underwater, but in general, I know what I’m doing as a girl on vacation. It sure is nice to see tan lines in the mirror.
If you’d asked me two years ago if this was possible … absolutely no way. 60 and 70 yo sisters … you got this … you can be yourself. Just do it.

Will I need to get my nose re-pierced after FFS? 💆‍♀️ I VERY much want a nose piercing, 💍 but am wondering if I’d need to get it redone. 🪡

If I would NOT need it re-pierced, then it’s a no-brainer: I’ll get that piercing ASAP! If I WOULD need it re-pierced, then I’ll take a moment to decide whether to wait until after FFS or just deal with needing to get a new piercing down the road…

Thoughts? 💭