Michael

Male

YMCA Lifeguard

2004

It started just cause I wanted to become more attractive. Also partly because I wanted to be the best at something so that my friends could not beat me in absolutely everything. Then I got a role-model, my eighth grade US history teacher, who worked out frequently. I started going to the Y every Saturday morning so that he would hopefully see me and be impressed or something. Then as I went through high school, I had a few more teachers that really influenced me to get bigger and stronger. That is basically where I am at right now. My current goal is to look like one of those ancient Roman sculptures.

I've always loved a challenge. Lifting always satisfied that challenge. For example, I can always get stronger, and a little bit bigger, and I always look forward to the sore feeling in the morning, followed by the results. It feels much more satisfying after you lift, than after you swim a few miles. Also, I always look forward to the end of the swim season so that I can start lifting more.

I just remember my role model, and think about how I want to be a teacher just like him. During the civil war unit, we had to do role call at the beginning of the hour, and if we didn't shout our assigned names loud enough our highest ranked officer could make us do push-ups. I was never afraid cause I worked out, and I knew I could do them. Then one day my teacher showed us that it was okay to make people do push-ups by doing, more than just a few himself. He stood by the wall, fell straight forward, then started doing push-ups, then he said "how many should I do?" He must have done like 50 push-ups, including like 30 clappers. He really amazed me and immediately, I thought "I want to be like him when I grow up." I've been after that goal ever since. And that is the thing that I picture in my mind when I'm struggling during lifting.

You look good. Keep going, and you'll look Great!