Working long hours as a professional restaurant chef, for most of my twenties I was able to burn enough calories to keep from becoming obese, despite eating like crap and a nonexistent exercise regime. But once I hit my thirties, my weight gain became more dramatic as an unhealthy lifestyle and diet started to take it's toll. Once my weight ticked up past 250 in late 2014, I realized I had to change something, and fast. My wife had been working out and running for several years, she dropped 60+ lbs since changing her lifestyle, and by way of encouragement she signed us up for a Tough Mudder event in September of 2015. Since starting my fitness journey I've dropped 40 lbs on the scale (basically lost 60 lbs of fat and gained 20 lbs of muscle over almost 3 years as of this writing). I'm excited to be on the way to having the fitness level and energy I've always wanted, both to keep up with my wife and set an example for my daughters.

I love having the consistent challenge of the iron, every week I can learn something new about form or timing, and push myself to work harder than before. Being a natural lifter also forces you into a more patient mindset, recognizing that this all takes time and it's a lifelong journey. Just like Henry Rollins says, friends may come and go, but 200 lbs is always 200 lbs.