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I’m watching a short Youtube video about bodybuilding. It occurred to me that this is like crossdressing. In both cases, there are people who enjoy achieving a certain appearance. They’re modifying their bodies, or at least their appearance, to look a certain way they see as beautiful. Many devote a lot of effort and time into achieving this.
@samantha1975 I agree! It's like any form of physical betterment. We need to be very dedicated to our feminiety and make significant sacrifices to achieve our end goals. It is also not a singular thing but rather it is a process with individual milestones on the way to our end goals.
@samantha1975 Great point Samantha. We work very hard to achieve a feminine look and most of us have challenges to overcome, body hair, height, etc. so it is not easy. I also agree with Kris on eating properly, exercise to look as feminine as possible when we can dress. The side benefit is our overall health is also better.
@samantha1975 Wonderful analogy. I absolutely agree. I myself, am a former amateur competitive bodybuilder. I met my wife, now of many years, at a bodybuilding competition. She was well used to seeing men clean shaven in posing trunks (actually string bikinis) before we ever went out together. She was the force behind my eventual crossdressing. She purchased my first pair of women's jeans and panties for me. As a side note she was a bit surprised that I and bodybuilders in general didn't wear panties as our normal underwear given what we wear on stage during competitions.
@audreyw Have you seen the documentary Transformer?
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7935784/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_10_tt_8_nm_0_q_transformer
@samantha1975 Many crossdressers and trans women struggle with the concept of Passing, but imagine if you were starting with the 275 pound body of a competitive power lifter. Very unique and compelling story of how Matt Kroczaleski became Janae Marie Kroczaleski.
@flatlander48 I just watched the trailer. Wow what a compeling story. I can absolutely see both sides of this. The feeling of wanting to be strong and physically capable is something I can identify with. While at the same time being soft and vulnerable. Ive noticed women that have wanted to be jacked, but still feminine. The reverse, well im surprised at myself for not recognizing it sooner. Thanks for opening my eyes.
@erikabell Yes, it is a VERY interesting story. It highlights a number of important points: overcompensating, facing a VERY uphill struggle to be who you are, being fired from your job after coming out, acceptance by family members, etc. I’m sure that MANY of us would watch the documentary and think that, by comparison, our situations are quite a bit easier. I am reminded of this:
”I cried about the pain in my leg until I met the man who had no legs…”
@flatlander48 Oh yes and it was very interesting to me. So wonderful that being so very muscular, she made it work for herself. She is about two body sizes larger than me I'd say. Ive really tried over the years to reduce my upper body size while keeping it fit and concentrating on my hips and booty. I don't think I'd ever be passable. My facial features, shoulders and arm size are just so unladylike. While I'd love to appear as a beautiful and attractive woman and I'm so very envious of the beautiful ladies here, I guess at this point, I'm content being an underdresser.
I have full liberty inside the house to dress as I please. My wife likes certain outfits and enjoys suggesting my wardrobe for the day at home or if we go out. Being stealth outside the home while not perfect, isn't so bad either for me. Everything I own from the waist down is from the ladies section. So I'm partially dressed every day.
One thing in particular I find quite amusing. Seems some people like my taste in sneakers and sandals. I frequently get compliments on my footwear from both men and women. When some guy says, hey nice sneakers, I get a chuckle inside, oh if he only knew.
@audreyw One of my take aways from that documentary is all the discussion and distress around passing in the community. It is something that many crossdressers and trans women struggle with. To me, the undercurrent of the video is: “Do What You Need To Do!”. We have to remember that we can NEVER control what others are going to think of us. What we can control is our attitude and how we approach and appear in the world. That is all we can do. Considering what Janae Marie has to overcome, let that send a message to “Just Do It!”. The other part for her to overcome is the notoriety. Kroc was an internationally known power lifter and bodybuilder as well as being a spokesperson for body building supplements. I’m sure that the reaction of many people was WTF?
For anyone whose resolve is wavering, revisiting her story could be helpful.
@samantha1975 I voted “no”. I can see the similarities that you bring up Samantha, but I think there is something much more deep seated and compelling with crossdressing. I’m not a body builder, so I am only guessing, but I think crossdressing is who we are whilst body building is who someone wants to become. The first is an innate need (at least in my case), the second a choice. But if there is anyone out there who is a body building crossdresser, perhaps they could give more insights.
Sincerely I don't think CD and Bodybuilding can be compared.
I know many female bodybuilder athletes who, despite having totally changed their physical appearance, despite their physicality, have damn feminine attitudes and I know some CD MtF bodybuilders who sway in a miniskirt in a more feminine way than a woman.
Just as there are MtF or FtM CDs who, beyond their personal pleasure of wearing clothing created for the opposite sex, remain fully consistent with their birth gender.
XOXO from Italy 🇮🇹
Greta🏳️⚧️❤️
You may be right on this Samantha because I concentrate on a work out the pectorials muscles as well as hips and tush. Most important also is toning the bellly to keep it as flat as possible. I just avoid weights that built up the arms keeping in mind of the figure I want
Samantha - for me I'd say very much. I've been working to tone all aspects of my body through various exercises, especially tightening the core and firming and shaping the legs to the best of my ability. It also gives me motivation to keep my weight down and eat properly in order to maintain a size 10. Not only does it help my feminine appearance but I feel much better overall because of it -a most desirable side effect.
I can see the body building reference. I just think of that avocation as a little towards taking health to an extreme (caveat, one my daughters dated a bodybuilder/gym owner for a while and while in our limited interactions I thought him a decent guy, I did think his regimen a little extreme). I could easily eat my way through massive amounts of chocolate in no time, but I want to keep my body reasonably fit so I can still slip into some of my outfits. Just regular workouts and keeping the goofy goodies to a minimum.
ChloëC
In my opinion, yes. The art of cross-dressing is a powerful motive to exercise. This is one of the reasons why I like to exercise. It's not just to stay healthy, but to keep my slim, trim, girly figure. 🙂
Rev
While I can extend the metaphor to say the body builder does it for physical health and the crossdresser for mental health, I'm going to have to disagree, at least to some degree.
I'll often wear a skirt, dress, or woman's top at home because I like the tactile sensations of these garments on my skin. I usually am not wearing a wig, makeup, or breast forms, or doing anything to modify my body. I'm crossdressing because I like to wear the clothes and not necessarily to "let my feminine side out" or change my appearance. I'm not trying to make myself look beautiful. In this regard, I go against your theory.
I said yes, with the caveat that we're talking solely about the group of us that CD for comfort, stress relief, fun, self expression, etc. As opposed to our TG sisters who are striving to present their authentic selves full time.
That said, I feel like CDing is like any other thing you come across in your life that you find you enjoy - golf, fishing, painting, etc. "I've found this thing that makes me feel happy when I do it!" 😉
Not sure in a way..I guess it can be I do enjoy working out and keeping fit! Love the outfits!
Grew up Loving Aerobics in the 80's;)
If you look at bodybuilding as a stress modulator, then yes! I guess that there is a similar vanity component as well LOL!
Dear Samantha,
Absolutely yes! They are both forms of self care.
"In both cases, there are people who enjoy achieving a certain appearance. They’re modifying their bodies, or at least their appearance, to look a certain way they see as beautiful. Many devote a lot of effort and time into achieving this."
Though I feel a even more specific example would be road cyclist or track motorbike riders. The way they dress up in all sorts of tight and colorful branded outfits, wear special shoes and gather together on the common interest. 😉
These are acts of transforming ones physical appearance to soothe or develop their internal and emotional. What we do is not very different, often misunderstood at worst.
I adore this topic and can go on, thank you Samantha for bringing it up!
Gracefully and glamorously,
The Bluest Belladonna
One might say crossdressing is an art and a work-in-progress, striving for perfection but never achieving it. Most of us want to improve our style, looks, and overall female image.
OTOH, I was in a group years ago where most of the members were satisfied with wearing a dress and wig, and one member wore the exact same wig, dress, and shoes to every single meeting and event. None of the group members had any interest in improving their female style or appearance or learning more about the female arts.
Yes, crossdressing is similar to body building in that one has to be motivated and dedicated, as well as have goals. But hey girls, we are in this for fun and relaxation too!
And don't forget too, many of us have kept the girl closed up inside us for many years. Our female self needs to be set free and expressed in order for us to be whole and complete.
