I first started working out seriously when I was seventeen. It was with my older brother. He had gotten home late one Saturday afternoon, and when I found out he had gone to a tae kwon do class, I insisted I go with him. After that, he and I went consistantly for about 2 years together. I also got involved with our Church's softball team. Over the next 2 years I went from a chubby 240 down to a much leaner 200. Never really did anything with my diet, though at that time I ate mostly food my mom cooked so while it was not a strict diet, it was pretty healthy. In fall of 2003 I went to college joined the football team (I sat the bench) and was introduced to the weightroom. I learned a lot of lifting techniques and enjoyed it, but at the time I could take it or leave it. I actually got involved with a friend who was teaching a Kung Fu class at college. However, in my Junior year I began working a lot with a guy who was a big time lifter. We got to work the overnight security shifts together and became great friends. He is the one who really helped me fall in love with weight lifting and I remember regularly working all night then going to the weight room at 7am and working through some pretty grueling and awesome routines. I learned a lot from him and was introduced to bodybuilding.com through him. So that is where my passion for weightlifting and moving heavy objects comes from :) and man some days I absolutely LOVE lifting. I can leave all the stresses of school and work and everything at the door and when I leave any problems I had seem much smaller and more easily manageable

I can leave all the stresses of school and work and everything at the door and when I leave any problems I had seem much smaller and more easily manageable. I also love those rare days when you just feel it and you jump up in weight or reps or are just booming with energy those lifting sessions are a blast!!! I also love the fact that through weight lifting I can get stronger and if I am stronger, than I am gonna be able to help people more. Like this last January I was able to go to Haiti with a group from my Church and we were able to build a third floor on top of a school. I was able to push myself harder b/c I had spent the previous 3 months working out with the one goal of working hard in Haiti. I train so I can serve God better.