I started working out to help reduce pain from my bulging L5 disc. The vertabrae there is malformed. It caused sciatica for about a year until I started working out. Now the pain is mainly in my back and has decreased quite a bit. Before beginning bodybuilding I was drinking a 6pack a night minimum. Now I barely drink once every other weekend.

At first I just wanted to lose weight and make my muscles stronger to help support my back. I noticed my strength went up. It's pretty addictive as that point. No matter how much pain I'm in I always want to work out. I. have also learned the hard way what lifts I should avoid.