mostly to keep fit in my early 20's while i was in the navy.i got more serious after i left and worked in gyms instructing and became a qualified personal trainer.now i just enjoy the lifestyle and challenging myself to improve.While in the Navy i had surgery on both my shoulders fer concurrent dislocations both these surgerys were to contribute to my unfortunate position today with 2 shoulders that i'm told can only have total replacements to rid myself of the poor movement and pain, the massive peice of information with replacements is that lifting weights would be totally out of the question while there would be alot greater range of motion again they would be very weak so for now i want to avoid this for as long as i can ..i'm only 40 this op is usually for the elderly!.It has been over ten years since i've been able to do any exercises that place my hands above my head or out to the side away from my body such as side raises etc upright row is out of the question as well, i especially so miss shoulder presses! For ten years my left shoulder has had only about 50% movement through the joint it has effectively frozen over time the joint space closed and formed together i'm told this is what the body will do over time to restrict the pain in an abnormal joint so i do have less pain and strength, but range of motion is quite poor. Now if this wasn't hard enough and frustrating enough to handle and manage along with finding how i can put together a training plan. My right shoulder is following in the lefts path, about 2 years back after finishing up on chest dips near the end of a chest workout it became very painful this was the start of my right joint falling apart and giving way to the degenerative arthritis as well.Up till now i do my best with the pain (mostly in my right as i still have more movement in it as the joint is unstable and there's bone on bone pain especially in certain postions)i am more proactive about keeping the movement keeping at least what i have as much as i can.I guess i am aware of how my left went and i'll do all in my power to put up with the pain and keep more movement.So as you can see i'm in a very precurious position to keep bodybuilding and you must wonder how , against everyones advice i could not give up what i love and live for too do. i believe i am testement to what determination and complete desire is when you are face with forces out of your control that will get in the way of your passions and what makes you happy and satisfied in life. So for now some sessions are better than others somtimes i am training with quite servere joint pain other times it is not to bad i have probably exceptional pain tolerance.i have to very smart and careful about my technique and exercises, over the years i have developed good sense about what i can and cannot do.The hardest is having to pull back on weight sometimes because i find my heart and muscle can push certain weight but of cause my joints cannot so the ego has to be pushed aside but for now i'm training and beleive it or not still able to make some gains though it damn hard and getting harder but at the end of the day i'm still doing what i love so i take every day in the gym as a blessing while i can because i don't know exactly how long i may have until the inevitable.keeping the faith!

the feeling of being in shape,the confidence it gives you,the pump,having a body that feels strong and is ready for anything.