I was FAT and not taking care of myself ... already had a bad back and bad knees. I used to wrestle and weigh about 170, but I had become a clinically obese (250# of fat), unhappy person who had NO self-confidence. I was pushed into going to a personal trainer, and I didn't realize at the time how fortunate I was. My trainer earned my trust, learned who I really was and what I really wanted, and pushed me until I got sick, if that's what it took -- two hours a day, five days a week. I worked out with him for a year, and he both saved and changed my life .. with a lot of help from me. ;)

Bodybuilding centers me, tunes out the noise and stress of everyday living, gives me clarity, puts me in touch with my primal masculinity.

I like to sweat, lift, see the pump,push it to the wall if that's what it takes. I work really hard for every achievement -- in the weightroom, with nutrition, sleeping habits, and what I DON'T do anymore .. plus all the great new things in my life. I'm man enough to get myself in the gym when it's the last place I want to be, because I know it's where I need to be. But those times are rare these days.

I've gone from an unhappy, underachieving person to a confident, powerful, rugged, MAN. Though nobody can push me around in any way (literally) again, I'll do anything within my abilities to help others who were in the place I was -- so long as their motivated to work their asses off to achieve their goals and lead a healthy life.