Hello, its been a while since I've last posted here, but about 6 months ago I tried a one month time span of PM and I really felt like I've had results, such as my nipples will no longer be innies.

Anyways I've been wanting to start up again, possibly for a longer time period, but I haven't had the freedom to do so. Especially now, since I've started a job as a nursing assistant, being hired for my upper body strength. I'm worried that if I start up PM again I would lose said upper body strength. Is there a way that I can start taking PM, having it be effective, and still retain upper body strength?

PS; is anyone else here working in the nursing field at all?

Honestly, anything estrogenic or androgen-antagonistic is going to cause your strength to diminish over time. PM happens to be very estrogenic and an anti-androgen. Any dose of PM useful for NBE will affect strength over time. You can maintain it, but you'll have to deliberately exercise much more than normal.

I've been using PM + others for over a year and work in a field that is modestly physically demanding. I was afraid of losing strength but so far it hasn't been noticeable. I think the bottom line is if you use NBE but do "things" to maintain your strength (like your job or intentional exercise) you won't lose enough to notice. If you don't do anything or become sedentary, you'll probably lose some strength. ...But wouldn't that happen anyway?

Hello Opalescent,

If it's any consolation, simply getting older will eventually become an obstacle to maintaining your strength. I think Kari and Epicene offer some excellent advice.

You're young so you have one definite advantage going for you. When you already have a decent amount of strength and you're going to be continually "working out" so to speak, the amount of strength you may lose probably won't be so dramatic. I would advise though to avoid anti-androgens such as spearmint.

thank you everyone for your replies, its just that I was hired for the upper body strength for the heavier residents in the clinic (and I'm going to need to work on my leg strength also), so knowing that the loss would be benign and I could maintain it with daily work and exercise is good news.
also why would I want to avoid anti-androgens in particular, if I may ask?

also why would I want to avoid anti-androgens in particular, if I may ask?

Anti-androgens hamper the production and utilization of testosterone in your body. Testosterone helps to build up your muscle mass and physical capabilities. When you have less testosterone in your body, it's becomes more difficult to improve or maintain your physical strength. As men age and have lower amounts of testosterone, their physical capabilities also tend to decline.

The most obvious change of an anti-androgen (spearmint) I've experienced is a severe reduction in my libidio, which oftentimes occurs due to a decrease in testosterone levels.

The good news is it's certainly possible to achieve breast development with pm and no anti-androgen. However, when developing breasts, your breast buds are likely to be sore and tender for a while, so you'll have to be careful when you do heavy lifting and such.

I think it is fair to say that if you continue to use your muscles in a serious manner you will not lose strength. But I can also say that if you do not use them and continue a heavy pattern of PM usage, you will indeed see change in that area. Since achieving a more feminine appearance was my goal from the beginning I have deliberately avoided any exercise that worked my arms, chest or lateral muscles. As a result, while on herbal HRT, I have lost a great deal of muscle mass in my arms, shoulders, and especially my lates, which have essentially disappeared (Yay!).
Use it or lose it, I guess, which is fine with me...tee hee