Male

39

Hotel Management

It started when I was about 17. Myself and two friends joined a local Nautilus (yes, dating myself with that one) in B.F. New Hampshire. And under the loose guidance of a native american guy that worked there my love of the sport was born.

For me it is two-fold. First off, I like the solitude of it all. The day-in-and-day-out challenge between yourself and the weight. Sometimes you pass the test, sometimes you fail, but hopefully you go back in and try again the next day. For me, stepping into the gym is stepping into my own world both physcially and mentally. The second aspect is all ego. Yes, I said it. It is ego driven. I like how I look and I like how people look at me. I like to be in the shape that others label me as "that guy" and know they are impressed by the motivation and dedication behind it. Narcissistic? Maybe. But honest.

Motivtion is the single hardest thing for me because for me, it comes from seeing results. Concrete, visual, pysical results. That's what makes stepping back into this world as hard as it is. But I know if I can find my way through the first month or so I will be back on track.

Never having competed (actually never thinking I had the body for that even at my best) my major accomplishments are much more personal. I remember the first time I weighed over 200# and the first time I leg pressed over 1,000#. I remember the first time someone I did not know referred to me as a "body builder" and the rush that went with that. I remember being at my best condition ever a number of years ago (5'09", 212 and less then 10%bf) and how it felt. Hence the goal in this. That "best condition" for me was when I was in a much different place in my life. Now, a few years older and with more stresses of life, I truly feel I am in an even better place. My motivation to do this comes from a place of peace rather then rage and I now that with the knowledge and focus I have I can again find myself with that label.

Never Settle For Mediocrity!