Curt

Male

26

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Customer Service

Sep, 2006

How I Started: I grew up in a really small town in northern BC. Not too much to do there, except being outdoors. I Did tons of hiking, mountain climbing, camping and so on. The town was so small only a couple thousand were there. Did not have any sport teams to join. Originally I started going to the gym just to get into shape and did not want to be the skinniest teenager in school. Other kids would bug me about how thin I was, and it really did bother me. For the longest time I did not eat right, and did very little exercise and I was a smoker. I tried numerous times as a teenager and in my college years going to the gym, and never could keep with it. Then couple years ago I finally decided that I wanted to change my life around. I was a smoker for 8 years and started feeling the effects from the smoke. My lungs were becoming very weak, and I started having a hard time breathing. Sometimes even gasping for air when I was sitting down. I was only 23 years old at the time and knew that if I did not make any changes; my health would rapidly get worse. So I did quit smoking, and started going to the gym and this time I have been sticking to it. Ever since then I have noticed a major change. I have gained a good 40 lbs of muscle. My lungs and overall health and improved. I can finally run again without loosing my breath. When I first started I would only run for 2 minutes before I was wiped out. Now I could run easily for 45 minutes. Thanks to the years in the country, I have some really good legs too. When I got my first trainer I was able to lift 3 times what he was lifting. I may be a little guy, but I've got a lot of lifting power and strength in there. My friends and family are very supportive and love hearing their comments. Those comments keep me going. Weightlifting is my new passion and could not imagine a week where I did not work out. I have been going regularly 3 to 5 times a week for the past 2 years and counting and smoke free the entire time as well. Now my goals have changed from being fit, to bodybuilding. I would like to build and eventually compete one day.

Why I Love It: I love going to the gym to workout the stress and love making them burn and getting that good sore afterwards. When you get that sore you know you've hit it right. Lift hard and heavy or go home!

How I Stay Motivated: Keep imagining the build I want, and remembering how small I use to be. Never want to be that thin again. Comments from friends and buds online here really help.

-Gained 40 pounds. -Started bench press at only 20lbs, and now up to 140lbs.