James

Male

36

United States

Private Security/ Government

Sep, 1990

I got started in weights in my high school years after my father passed. While in school I was always the fat shy kid. I had No friends but maybe two true friends that later in my life were killed. So, I joined the Marines and could not be that guy that went in and has to go away to FAT CAMP because he is over the % to weight ratio. I was not going to be that guy. I managed to get my weight down from then a fat 240 lbs to 200 within the two years left of school. I was shy and ended up getting married before leaving for BOOT. That would change my life forever! I would gradually bring my weight down to 198 lbs then back up to 310 lbs after a ugly divorce after only 3yrs. Depression set in and I had no hope, no faith in myself nor did I have any self respect or self confidence. After 5 more years in the service struggling to lose weight and pass the physicals required to stay in the Special OPs program I was in. I just started to train harder to lose the weight. To make a long story short, I started to get really serious about Bodybuilding when I met the greatest woman I have ever met and the one I wish I would have met back in High school. She is a bodybuilding and figure competitor and a Damn good one at that. She, whether or not wants to believe it. Is the greatest inspiration I have ever had This is why I think she has changed my life. She has helped me with diet and new ways of training. See, in the past my idea to lose weight was to starve my self or just eat one BIG meal and just not eat so much. She has taught me to increase my meals but lower the calories, change the type of foods I eat and to set goals. WOW!!! What a difference that makes when you diet correctly and train for a purpose. I now see a five pak and for me that is awesome!!! I haven't had abs since I was 4yrs old..lol.. Well, I told myself after my divorce "I'm never getting married again!""I'll never find someone to love me for who I am and not for the inheritance I had". I was wrong...I fell so in love with her that I want to spend my life with her. Sadly but Happily her & I are just Great friends. In a nut shell, she has been my inspiration into bodybuilding. I intend to make her PROUD! Yeah, Arnold, Lou, and all those greats are still an inspiration but they have never touch my heart and soul as she did. She will go Pro one day soon and she is going to change the world of Pro Figure when she does..This is how I got started and I have planned to stand on stage for the first time April 28th 2007 and I will come in looking better than I have ever look before in my life and it thanks to my hard training, her and the want to have self confidence in my life. Thank You Maria. I Love you still to this day and may God Bless You.

The feeling of accomplishing things that I didn't think I could do. I also like the fact my body changes for the better and I'm seeing it change before my eyes. I eat better and live better which makes Life, Love and Happieness all better. I enjoy everything about bodybuilding and will continue to make changes for the better.

I like to read stories of triumph over bad circumstances, cancer or a almost fatal accidents. Those bodybuilders that have lost a leg and they still to this day stand on stage flexing their muscles. That is Awesome!! I also read a lot of quotes from people famous and not famous. But most of all the woman who I believed changed my life for the better. Her name is Maria. She is my motivator and inspiration most of all! I need to build self confidence and show her I can do the things I say I can do. I will make Maria proud of me one day. When I step on stage, she'll be blown away! A good thing to remember is ""Live well, laugh often, and let your heart fall in love with the beauty in each day." And never frown because you never know who is falling in love with your smile.""

April 28, 2007 - Grand Rapids Mi Bodybuilding Championships 2007 Placing 8th Heavy Weight Class September 22, 2007 - Grandville Mi NPC Western Michigan Bodybuilding Championships (National Qualifier) - Placing: 1st Super Heavy Weight Class