So. I'm afab and I like to train sport a lot. However, there don't seem to be enough resources on sport that are targeted at folks with ovaries, I'm afraid there are some differences, at least I see them during trainings sometimes. For example cis men have a better response to heavy training. It doesn't make them have irregural menstrual cycles, which are detrimental to both general health and training results. Their recovery after heavy training is better. Maybe there are differences in nutritional needs and in health concerns too? I also find that doctors misunderstand the fact that I do a lot of sport. I have BMI of 23 and I'm thin but muscular, I have a 6-pack. Some doctor told me I could weigh less as if any of it was fat. Moreover, I find encouraging me to lose weight harmful. I once lost periods because I had a lot of physical effort and ate too little for the caloric expense of it. This doctor suggested me to cut sugar and fat, however, I'm at risk of malnutrition if I diet more than avoiding highly porcessed snacks and Big Macs. I think that maybe referring to some resources could help deal with healthcare professionals better?
Hi there! Based on what you have written in your first paragraph, it might be worthwhile to speak with a nutritionist who specialises in nutrition and sports, rather than your doctor. Depending on the expertise of the doctors or whether they are practicing general medicine only, they might not be the best person to go to. It might also be good, if you could speak with a professional trainer who could provide you with some information on ensuring that your physical activity balances out with your body's needs.
Hey there. You might want to take a look at NRG Fitness on Instagram. (If you’re on there). They identify as non-binary transmasc and are a fitness trainer. They run regular online sessions plus do personal training. They’re in eastern Canada so I’m not sure how the time zone thing would work for you but if you take a look, you can see how they’ve achieved amazing results, naturally. It’s quite astonishing. They also do nutrition info as I think that was what their degree is in. Anyway, you can just look to see what’s out there. :} I’m not a client of theirs. I just follow for workout ideas.
Definitely. But I didn't ask the doctor about it. Doctors make uninformed uninvited comments like that all the time. About things that might not be like most people are, but that are healthy or just neutral, neither healthy nor ill. It mostly revolves around not fitting the expectations they have from a woman or society has and it somehow got into the definition of "health" and "norm". I think medicine should be more gender-inclusive and shouldn't reinforce gender expectations... Tbh, what I found already is: - supplementing iron or eating enough in diet (blood loss due to periods) - eating enough food. Female beauty expectations pressure women to eat too little for being able to keep up with sport and it can cause all kinds of problems.
How would you feel about speaking with a nutritionist, who isn't a doctor as such; you might not need a referal from a doctor. Usually nutritionists take a different approach that might be helpful.
I already did, but I spoke to someone who doesn't specialise in sports, so I got to know which vitamins to supplement and how many calories I should eat and what it means in practice. Tbh, my mom arranged it, because she's all into diets, and she's more concerned with health than sports, and she got the consultations for the whole family.
So, I work with a trainer who is also knowledgeable about nutrition. That’s probably more what you need. Not sure if your local gym has someone like that or if there’s a way to find that. To your point, I’d look for someone whose emphasis is fitness. The nutrition almost always goes part and parcel with it (especially, like, body builders and stuff) because your muscles can’t grow if you’re not feeding them right stuff at the right time. Serious body builder are SUPER particular about their nutrition.
That's good. It might be worthwhile to see if you could still speak with someone who specialises in sports. As mentioned earlier, a professional trainer might also be helpful to get a different perspective or more information from which could help you to make the best decision for yourself.
I would also suggest talking to a personal trainer as they could help you focus on your goals in training and nutrition on how to best achieve those goals. I know enough about it, to know that getting help with it from someone who specializes in it is the best course of action. I know here in the US most gyms have some staff trained to help you figure out what your diet and exercise routine should look like to reach a goal or benchmark, I would think over in Europe it would be similar.
https://www.otesports.co.uk/blog/performance-nutrition-for-women/ The most comprehensive site I've found so far.
