Today we’d like to introduce you to Cil Winton.
Hi Cil, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My story starts 30 years ago when a 7-year-old little girl decided she was done with dresses, long hair & doing girly things. I remember thinking, ‘I don’t want to be a boy. I just want to look like one’ Ever since then, I have been on a journey of learning, and evolving as a human. I identified as a white cisgender female all through high school & into college, with my main identity as an athlete. During my senior year of college, I discovered girls liked me, and I liked them. So now add to identity resume, Lesbian. At the age of 28 I cut my hair short again, much like I had when 7-year-old me was trying to be my true self. That’s when a lot of anger surfaced with being misgendered as a male in restrooms consistently. I would get mad if people thought I was a man, I would get mad when people called me ma’am. I didn’t know why BOTH things hurt so bad. It wasn’t until I was 32 that I found the word non-binary and finally had an answer to how I felt inside. I didn’t feel like I was a man or a woman. I was just Cil!
I started making an effort at work and on public platforms to educate people about my story. How I found this new word and identity of being Non-Binary, my new pronouns (they/them) & hoping to be a voice for those who can’t be heard yet & being visible for those who still needed to hide. Having social media platforms and seeing other humans with beautiful scars on their chest from gender-affirming surgery got my queer wheels turning. When I was 35, I started seeing a therapist, got diagnosed with gender dysphoria, started HRT, met with a surgeon (Dr. Marie Buckley) and scheduled my gender affirming top surgery for August 2021.
I started seeing my new body how Lil Cil saw it 30 years ago post-surgery. It now matched how I felt like I was supposed to look. But something was still not quite right. To be around the queer community more, I started working at Lush Lounge & Theater (Gay Bar) at the beginning of this year. Through the eyes and hearts of my wonderful friends, co-workers, and owners, something clicked for me. The reason I never wanted to ‘be a boy’ was because I had been one this whole time, I just needed to find him again.
Now identifying as a trans man, using he/him pronouns, and being visible on social platforms with my beautiful scars, I hope I can help other trans kids/adults live their best lives as their true, authentic selves.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No. Bathrooms were the worst. I am tall & built, so even pre-HRT I was not very feminine presenting. So, I would often have to change how I walked, talked, or made extra effort to smile/make small talk with a female if we were walking in together to demonstrate I wasn’t a threat or illiterate. It wasn’t until 2 years ago I started to strictly use men’s restrooms, and haven’t had a problem since.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I own my Personal Training business, Coach Cil! I have clients all over the United States who I train virtually and guide with their customized nutrition strategies. I also have 1:1 clients here in Minnesota. Through strength training, nutrition, and habit coaching, I help my clients lose weight, get stronger and form better habits to live a happier, healthier life! I also work with trans clientele to help them build muscle to help them with gender dysphoria and build the body they have always wanted!
How do you define success?
I think there are many ways to define success, but my mantra is that ‘I’m a success in progress’ So I think ultimately, what makes someone successful is always to keep progressing, learning, changing, and adapting. That’s a success.
Pricing:
- Virtual Training $125/week
- 1:1 Training Sessions $125-$100/session
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @coachcil
- Facebook: Coach Cil
- Email: Coachmxcil@gmail.com
Image Credits
Angela Lisa
