Transgender Man Cody Harman Becomes Ripped Bodybuilder With Six-pack abs After Being Filled With Regret As Bride On Wedding Day
A transgender man identified as Cody Harman, 30, from California, has spoken of his amazing transformation from a size 6 housewife to a hunk bodybuilder. Like most people on their wedding day, Cody looked the perfect bride but was ‘desperately unhappy’ because he identified as male. To please his religious family and ‘fit in’ he heading down the aisle in 2008. Unfortunately, the marriage collapsed in 2012 and the now aspiring personal trainer with a rippling six pack, began the transition process into who he is today. He participated in his first female to male transgender bodybuilding contest and came second.
On meeting his husband construction-worker husband Adam through an internet dating site, Cody (then 20 years) said:
‘It seemed like everyone was getting married and I wanted to fit in. I met up with Adam and we got on well.
‘My upbringing was very religious so I was worried that people would realise I was gay if I didn’t have a husband.’
‘I knew I was doing the wrong thing by getting married – but I didn’t know how to tell everyone. I’m so much happier than I ever imagined I could be now that I’m living as a man.
‘I can’t believe how different I feel both mentally and physically. I’ve always been into fitness and now I’ve got the body I’ve always wanted. When I meet people I haven’t seen in a while they struggle to believe it’s really me.’
On the challenges he faced when he started high school regarding the female changes that came with adolescence, it was incredibly tough for Cody. He said:
Watching my body change through puberty was hard. I hated it and just wanted to be one of the boys. I was lucky I was petite and didn’t have prominent curves
‘I also knew I was attracted to girls but because my parents were very religious they made me think it was a sin, so I dated guys instead.’
Cody and Adam got married in 2008 after a year of dating in a traditional wedding ceremony. Cody said:
‘I thought something must be wrong with me because I didn’t have any romantic feeling towards Adam. Even on our wedding day I felt uncomfortable in my wedding dress, though I pretended to be happy’.
‘Although I knew marriage was meant to be for life, I didn’t consider the future or the possibility of children. I was just going through the motions. I didn’t really know what love was.
‘After our wedding day, we moved to Germany, where Adam was based, I tried to make it work, but I was just desperately unhappy. I just wasn’t the person I was meant to be. I used to run for eight miles per day to cope.’
Cody told his family and friends in 2012 that he was a lesbian and a year later, told them he was transgender.
‘I waited to tell them I was transgender because I thought it would be too much for them to cope with. I don’t know when I realized it myself – it’s just something I’d always known.
‘My mum cried at first, but now she’s happy for me. I also met a great community of people online and I realised that I wasn’t alone.
Cody underwent a mastectomy in 2012 and started talking male hormones prescribed by a doctor. He also switched to lightweight training at the beginning of 2016 after undergoing a hysterectomy.
‘Working on my strength made me feel more masculine and my muscles grew quickly. I fell in love with it and in October 2016, I decided to enter my first female to male transgender bodybuilding competition.
‘I was training six times per week for two hours and ate a protein rich diet with lots of chicken and vegetables.
‘I was incredibly nervous but all my hard work paid off and I came second.’
Now Cody is hoping to become a personal trainer, providing online coaching and support to others who want to get their dream body.
‘Transitioning has been a huge lesson of patience. The same goes for working out. Celebrate the journey, as long as you show up and put in the work, you will get there.
‘Time is going to pass anyway, you might as well spend it working towards your goals. Keep going.’
Cody is going through the final stages of gender reassignment in June this year, when he will undergo a phalloplasty.
Cody Harman is now single and hopes to find love again after he recovers from his surgery.
‘I’ve had a few short relationships with women since becoming a man but I’d love something more long-term.
‘But right now, I’m happier than ever. My message to others is that life is too short – you only get one chance. Don’t give up.
‘I let fear take over my life and now I will never do that again.’
