In March of 2013 my wife and I quit smoking and I started hitting the gym regularly. While I was active when I was younger, I was always the "skinny kid" and most of the sports I participated in (tennis, cross country, track) didn't put much premium on size. Since we quit smoking, my focus has been not only on improving my overall health, but also on gaining strength and size.

One of my biggest motivators is my 7 year-old daughter, who has spina bifida and uses a wheelchair. I decided that, as long as I'm around, if she needs to be carried I'll be able to do it.

There's something incredibly satisfying about grabbing a hold of something heavy and picking it up. I love pushing myself, setting new PRs, and finding out what I'm really made of.