I started lifting in high school to be a stronger athlete. The program was called bigger, faster, stronger (BFS). I started to see physical changes in myself and I was instantly hooked. I didn't know it back then, but the gym and working on myself, would be the one thing that kept me centered and grounded. It became my anchor. My stress reliever. My therapy. After high school, I joined the military, which is a very physical and active lifestyle. I continued to lift and work on myself. When things in my life got complicated or seemed to be too much, I knew the one way I could recenter myself was to challenge myself physically and mentally in the gym. I eventually found myself on stage competing in bodybuilding competitions and the rest is history. It's been almost 15 years, since I picked up my first weight and the feeling remains the same. I love working on myself. I am an iron addict. It is the anchor that keeps me grounded. As long as there is a breath in my body I will continue to develop the best version of myself.

I enjoy seeing the physical changes that come with bodybuilding/working out. But for me, the mental benefits of lifting fare out weight the physical ones. Lifting is such a huge part of my life because it's my stress reliever. It's my anchor that keeps me grounded and centered. When I working out, I get to push myself to the limit, my breaking point. Which then helps me conquer the stressors of every day life, because no one can push me harder than I choose to push myself and I know my breaking point.