A Chat With Transgender Fitness Guru Chris Tina Bruce

Chris Gary Bruce was the All-American male high school and college football player from Georgia who married his college girlfriend, had two kids and pursued his interest in fitness and bodybuilding. He eventually achieved 230 pounds of muscle over his 6-foot-1 frame and became a successful multi-million dollar entrepreneur. Bruce enjoyed the role of public speaking, doing so regularly before the National Association of Home Builders and National Association of Remodeling Industry, in addition to multiple national corporate builder and remodeling organizations. However, as Bruce explains to The Rage Monthly, "something just wasn't right, there was always something missing in life." Yet, he never could quite put his finger on it.

After a long process of deep soul-searching, a realization occurred that some personal remodeling and building of sorts needed to take place. That is when Bruce proudly and bravely transitioned from 230 pound male bodybuilder Chris Gary Bruce to 180 pound female fitness guru Chris Tina Bruce. As the first transgender bodybuilder to compete as both male and female, Bruce began her work in support of LGBTQ rights and social justice soon after coming out. Since then, she has spoken at numerous LGBTQ events, educational and business organizations.

While Bruce finds great fulfillment in her work as an activist, her true passion lies in reaching out and raising awareness through lecturing on college campuses. She also facilitates workshops in conducting tolerance in the workplace for major companies and corporations. At the podium, Bruce candidly shares her personal journey of abandoning a 20-year lucrative professional career to "stop living a lie and start living a life." Bruce, who moved to San Diego in February 2011, continues to thrive, gaining acceptance with her transition in the health and fitness industry. Here she talks with The Rage Monthly about her making the transition from male-to-female and offers some health and fitness tips for the New Year.

At what point did you decide to transition?

I started taking hormones around Thanksgiving 2008. The summer of 2009, I didn't do anything except stay home. I had my kids over the weekend and I went to work and to the gym, nothing else. I took time to figure myself out. I realized that no amount of money or job was worth my happiness. I needed to be happy with who I was. I didn't think that two-and-a-half years later, I'd be having surgery, moving to San Diego and have a successful fitness training business. I just figured I needed to go with it and find out who I was. I didn't date and was celibate for a year and spent time with myself. That's what I needed.

Then in Dallas, articles started popping up and there was news interest. I never asked for it, but people were interested. It's nothing more than me being me. Yes, I was born a male and body who transitioned to who I am as a female body builder, but that's just who I am. I've been dealing with it for years, I'm not wanting to say, "Look at me, cause that's the next big thing." However, I get letters from people everyday who are transgender and appreciate me sharing my story because they cannot. They say that have the same feelings, but they don't want to be a girl all the way.

Your story carries an inspiring message for those in the transgender community and for the world in general, elaborate some more on that message of "Be Bold. Be Proud. Be Yourself."

In the transgender community all you really have are the people who are really passable, who can blend in and they don't want the attention. I don't blame them, if they can do it and get away with it that's great. If I could I would, but I can't. It would be so much easier, but I couldn't go get a job at my old workplace. I had a 20-year career, making a lot of money that I can never go back to. Still it doesn't change my work ethic and it doesn't change my performance. Just because I'm being who I am, I can't turn back. So why would someone want to put themselves into this? But if it's someone who has their act together and who can blend in then you don't hear about it. What you see are the freak shows on reality TV. That's the wonderful thing about what Chaz [Bono] is doing. I'm trying to do that any way I can. Saying you don't have to go into porn or be in escort service, but you can be who you are and it's gonna be hard, but there are people like you out here who have been through it and will help you with it. If I can do that then I'm more than happy to do it.

It's very clear that you are brave and bold, with no desire to go stealth by pursuing your passion as a bodybuilder. What's been the transgender community's reaction to you?

You know it's funny because I do hear more complaints about my voice from the transgender community than from the outside. Now, not all of them, there's a stereotype and we can broad-brush every group because not every gay is the same and not every transgender is the same. But who I hear complaints from is the transgender people saying I'm doing a disservice because I shouldn't be body building and I should try and change my voice and develop my body as a woman. To them I say, 'Are you kidding? I'm fighting and demonstrating exactly what you should want me to do. I'm showing that you should be able to do whatever you want to do as an individual and you shouldn't have to follow what everybody else wants you to do. You don't have to copy me either and can be whoever you want, whatever direction you want to go, that's your choice. My mission and my goal is to say judge me on my behavior and my actions, not on my outside appearance. Being transgender is one of the unique characteristics that is part of who I am, but it doesn't define who I am as a person. I'm a bodybuilder, I'm a fitness model, I'm a father, I'm a writer and I'm a pilot. Those are the things that define me, along with how I treat other people-my character. I'm not defined by whether I have a wiener or I don't, whether I have boobs or I don't, whether my voice is high pitched or deeper-what difference does that make? That's what I try to communicate to others. So in the transgender community, some of the response is very, very positive and people are very happy because it gives a light for those who don't want to completely change who they are to go along with the rest of society. Most of the transgender male-to-female, when they transition and their body shrinks in size, they feel they can stand up for themselves. It's sort of like the confidence and the courage also shrinks in size. As for me, I'm just gonna continue to be who I am-that's where I get my love and where I exist. It has allowed me to take my business and what I love to do and make it flourish. Quite honestly being transgender is actually an asset.

You have a unique perspective from several angles as a male and female, how has that helped your endeavors as a personal trainer in health and fitness?

I get a lot of attention as far as marketing goes because I get a lot of attention from people even in Hillcrest. I get calls that say, "I heard you're the transgender trainer?" I say, "Yep that's me and what can I do for you? How can I help you?"

Everybody knows that I'm the bodybuilding guy, turned to the bodybuilding girl. I get a lot of people who say "I saw what you look like as a guy and I saw what you look like as a girl, and if you can do that, then you can basically help anybody." And it's true, because I know everything about how to manipulate the body. I've done it for clients and I've done it for myself. I'm a walking billboard, which has been helpful to appeal to people no matter what their gender or sexuality. They just want someone who knows their training type, who they can talk to on any level and one who they'll automatically have an advantage with because I understand everything, including the transgender stuff.

Once you walk in my gym, I tell you upfront, I am the HR department, so if you get your feelings hurt easily than you need to turn around and walk out, because we talk about anything and everything as long as you're not mean. If you're the type of person whose panties get in a wad, you're in the wrong place. I'm open to having fun, learning new things about different races and cultures, but just do it from a loving perspective-that's all I ask and all you'll ever get from me.

What are the top health and fitness issues transgender people face?

The number one is losing weight, losing weight, losing weight! It doesn't matter which side you're on, you will look better, but especially if you're a male-to-female, like myself. Unless you're lucky and started transitioning when you were 12 or 13 years old, you've built this muscle mass and look like a guy. We're lucky in Hillcrest we have a lot of hot looking guys who work out, but in most of society they're not-they've got the beer belly, been eating too many buffalo wings, drinking too much beer or whatever. You will look more feminine quicker with the more weight you can lose. It's just better, because it takes it off your face, you look leaner and that's important.

What advice can you offer anybody who's looking to get fit in the New Year?

Having some sort of nutrition and exercise program in your lifestyle is most important. You're going to feel better, look better and you'll have more energy. It doesn't just have to be in the weight room-you can go hiking, go backpacking, go to the park, ride your bike-but you need to be getting 30 to 45 minutes of physical activity at least a couple times a week. At least an hour 4 or 5 time as week is what you really should be doing and do something that you enjoy. If you don't like the weight that you're at, then the question that must be asked is "What do you like to do?" There's got to be something, after all if you don't like anything, then you must be the most boring person in the world and you're just gonna sit there and die and it's not going to matter.

Everyone is welcome to try my Fitness Fun Camp, which truly is fun because I'm not a drill sergeant, but I change things up and we truly have fun. This time of year the camp is open to anybody. I challenge everyone to try it for one week for free. If they don't like it then they don't have to come back!

For more information about Chris Tina Bruce and her Fitness Fun Camp, visit hillcrestfitness.com.