I started messing about with weight training 5-6yrs ago. At that time I never really understood the importance of nutrition and just thought I could take care of business by drinking protein shakes and not worry about my bad habits. It came to a head in 2009 tho when I strained my rotator cuff (not knowing what a rotator cuff was at the time :-P) and didnt do anything about it. Several weeks later I had to get physical at work and ended up ripping the tendon in half and off the bone. 6 months of immobilisation later my physio was the one who really taught me about patience in gym and listening to my body. For years everytime I did something physical you could be sure I would pull a ligiment, strain a tendon or just hurt something. Combine that with the middle age spread (peaking about about 30% bf - see my before pic), continuing to spread I figured I could just go with it and "get old" or I could do something about it.
That was when I hit the gym in earnest. Over the next couple of years I made what I thought were pretty good gains but always plateaued at about 25% and 80kgs.
20th June 214 and enter Jake Campus Nutrition and a whole lot of new learning. Suddenly all those things I had read about the importance of nutrition started to make sense. I went from 81kgs / 29% to 70kgs/15% in 3 months. I still find it hard to believe how quickly the bf melted.
September 2014 and I started to learn about lean bulking and the importance of carbs. Over the next couple of months we sorted out a few digestion issues and then the gains began. Since mid January and now I have put on at least 5kg lean mass at a rate of about 1.2kg every 3 weeks!! I have gone from a 1600cal deficit diet to now, a 3800cal diet and still losing bf. I never once thought my problem would be maintaining body fat!!
The upshot of all that? At 50 years old I am in the best shape of my life and looking forward the next chapter. If I can maintain these current gains the idea of a competition is no longer just a pipe dream. Who would have thought?? No me 10 years ago thats for sure.

All of the reasons above but also the fit fam's. Not just here on Bodyspace but also at the gym and all throughout the fitness community. Obviously just having my overall health is great but beyond that, the sense of achievement, self confidence and self belief is life changing. Not just the cliche life changing but really life changing. It has meant that as my wife and I enter the next chapter in our lives, with our kids leaving home and starting their adult lives, we dont have to sit back and grow old. We can get out and enjoy ourselves and each other and do some of those things that you tend to put aside whilst raising a family.
On that note, thank you to all of you on BB.com who have inspired me and helped me remain transparent and committed to the cause. A special mention to Dr Stacy Peterson who's personal journey has not only inpsired me but my wife as well. Thanx Doc!!
Also Kris Gethin, who's video trainers make you feel like you have your own personal trainer with you every day.
Also my recent inspiration, Gert Louw, (Soobymuscle) who, at 50, would have most 20y/o's green with envy.
To all my other fit fam friends, thanx for being there and for the support. Keep knocking it outta the park and smashing your goals!! :-D