2016-2019

I recently hit a milestone of 3 years of training. Looking back helps me review my progress and all the changes that have taken place over the past 3 years.

I started training in 2016 because I wanted to feel a better connection to my body. Quickly… I realized something else was going on with my body and mind connection. I put the pieces together and figured out that I had been experiencing gender dysphoria. It came to me like a lightbulb moment and suddenly I was able to make sense of so many things going back all the way to childhood.

For the rest of 2016, I decided to explore my gender identity and continued to lift throughout. The more I expressed my masculinity, the better I felt. Lifting was a big part of that, it gave me confidence in my body. By the end of that year, I knew I wanted to fully transition from female to male.

In 2017, I started hormones and began my transition. My body kept improving in ways that helped my with my gender dysphoria. By April of that year, I was going as River full time and out as transgender. By the end of the year, I had top surgery and was finally free from my chest dysphoria.

I started off 2018 by healing from top surgery but then was quickly back in the gym. 2018 was a big year for me in terms of body changes, I worked hard and put on a lot of muscle/size. By the end of that year, I really felt like I was starting to see the physique that I set out to build.

2019 is a year for me that is all about size, I want to get BIG. My goal is to hit 205 lbs by the end of the year. I’m stronger than ever and I expect big changes to my physique by the end of this year.

When I first started lifting, I committed myself to 5 years of training before I would even think of quitting. I’m 3 years, with 2 to go and I have no intentions of stopping. Bodybuilding has changed my life for the better and I wouldn’t be here without it.

My bulking progress:

2017 Start - 134 lbs
End of 2017 - 156 lbs
End of 2018 - 182 lbs
End of 2020 Goal - 225 lbs

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I am not a certified personal trainer, but do seek to motivate and inspire others on their fitness journey. My experience is limited to myself. If you are new to lifting, please seek out resources online and the help of a trainer or experienced friend before embarking on a new fitness regime. If you are looking for a training program, click here.

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TTYL