About 5 years ago, the company I worked out for 13 years decided to downsize and lay all of us employees, and to make matters worse, I tore my achilles tendon while playing basketball. Lets just say that my whole life to seem to just fall to pieces. And I completely let myself go. And I was already not in great shape to start. So I ended up being the biggest I have ever been. Fast foward, I found a new job, rehabbed my ankle and had a brand new baby boy! So everything should have been better, but looking in the mirror was a nightmare. Total bummer. After my wife telling me to quit whining and do something about it, I knew she was right. I couldn't be this way anymore. I have always been athletic and always loved to play sports and be active. I had to stop worrying about hurting myself, I already tore my knee up playing baseball 10 years ealrier. So I asked myself what could I do that wouldn't kill me but still give me that adrenaline and finish line that I so needed in my life. What could help me be a better person, What could help me be able to get healthier and stronger so I could be around to teach my son those sports I loved so much and to make sure that I would be able to be active with him when he was in his teens. I had him when I was 34, and I knew that by the time he reached 15 to 16 I would be up there in age. I wanted him to be proud of me and know that his dad could still compete and do all the activities that he wanted to do. So I researched and 2 things came to me. Lifting weights and long distance running. Two things I never did well. Two things I didn't know anything about. Two things that intimidated me so much. Where do I start?? No earthly idea. But as luck came to me, my new job had two new co-workers who I befriended and listened to what I wanted to start doing. They both did both and they both had done them for a long time. Boom! I instantly found two new coaches, trainers, modivators, and friends. David and Migule both took me to their gym and showed me the basics. And each day they told me we were going to do this or that. I was like these guys know their stuff. But they ended up showing me that I was doing a workout program called Kris Gethin's 12 week muscle building trainer. I was like who and what??? So they introduced me to Bodybuilding.com. When I first heard of it, I was like dudes, I don't want to bulk up and become a body builder. They laughed at me and said its not just for that. They introduced me to the website and told me it was for all types of people who want to get healthier and more physically fit. I was blown away by all the information that it showed and how it gave you game plans for workouts and food, and supplements. Which by the way was something else I had never ever tried. Supplements was another language to me. But month after month I got better, I got stronger, I even started to run 5 and 10k's. Goal was to run a marathon. But as we all know life gets in the way and I again got hurt training. 4 weeks til the marathon I rolled my ankle badly. High ankle sprain, I was not allowed to run for an entire month. Setback again, athletic wise and weight wise again. So in 2017, I made a promise to myself again, that I would get back on track, I would get stronger, I would lose weight, and I would run and complete the 26.2 miles on my to do list. So again I came back to Bodybuilding.com Started the 12 week Dymatize Transformed Program. Along with a Nike running program. And also started watching and following my guy Kris Gethin as he trained and prepared to complete an Iron Man. So much motivation and great tips for someone who was tyring to complete something similar. I ran a 5k, 10k, 10 miler, half-marathon, 15 miler, 20 miler, and then the 26.2 marathon. Which by the way was the hardest thing I ever did in my life. But I did it, in 6 and half hours. Was proud of myself, but I felt I could do better. So its 2018 and I have a new goal and a new workout program and joined for the first time in my life a transformation challenged by Bodybuilding.com It has been a long road to get where I am, but I couldn't be happier.

I love everything about working out now. I love knowing there is a goal down the road. I love the way it makes me feel mentally, physically, and emotionally. I like knowing I am becoming a healthier person, a better person. I love seeing others work hard and knowing that we all have the same goals to complete. I love how I have more energy, strength, and endurance to play with my 4 year old son and to help practice soccer with my 15 year old daughter. How my relationship with my marriage is stronger, because I feel better about how I look and feel for her. That I have more confidence in myself that it shows her that I will always be ready for any task or issue that comes up in our lives. Good and Bad. I love how my 4 year old son gets pumped to go to the gym, that when I pick him up from his grandparents that the first thing he asks me is if we are going to the gym and when I say yes, Hey pumps his fist. and if we can't, he gets sad. And I know its because he likes playing in the day care with all the other kids. But I also hope deep down, that he knows this part of an everyday routine, that when he gets older, he will know that going to the gym or going for a run or playing a sport or being active is as natural as going to school. That he sees his parents going to the gym, working hard, and eating better, that it becomes second nature. He won't know what life without this will be because he has been living it since he was a year old. It has turned my life around and I love that when you put in the work, you will see the results. I know I can't always make it. 2 teenage girls, 1 son, a wife, family, church, job, etc. But I do try and make it now something that has to be done, either early in the morning, right after work, or late at night. If you love it, you find a way. Happy to be a part of it. Happy to know I am making an effort to be a fixture in my families life for a long time.