Cody Harman, 30 was racked with fear and worry when he walked down the aisle in a wedding dress seven years ago and always felt like male.
Cody Harman looks like the epitome of confidence with a six-pack abs and rippled muscles all over his body.
“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 the wedding the couple moved to Germany, where Adam was based, and Cody became “desperately unhappy” as he tried to make things work.
He said: “I just wasn’t the person I was meant to be. I used to run for eight miles per day to cope.”
In 2011, Cody moved back to his hometown in California and went to cookery school, hoping that a new career would help.
He said: “I told Adam I would come back once the two-year course was over but our marriage fell apart and we divorced.”
Once back in the US, Cody decided the only way to live a happy life was to stop repressing his feelings.
In 2012, Cody told his family and friends he was a lesbian and a year later told them he was transgender.
He said: “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 realised 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 realized that I wasn’t alone.”
Cody underwent a mastectomy in 2014 and started talking male hormones prescribed by a doctor.
He also started focusing on his fitness and doing a lot of Crossfit training as well as running.
Cody underwent a hysterectomy the following year and started lightweight training in 2016 when he was advised that it would be better for his recovery than running.
Cody said: “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.”
Cody is hoping to become a personal trainer so he can provide online coaching and support to others who want to get their dream body.
He has been recording his transition on his YouTube channel “Cody_Talks” to help others.
He adds: “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.
When he recovers from his surgery, Cody, who is single, hopes to find love.
He says: “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.”
