I've always been active. Always active as a child, always a gym rat in high school. Worked in the college gym and LOVED it! I met so many people and learned so many things. It's always been there, through the best and worse times in my life, working out has always been the option, it's a way of life.

So many reasons, but 2 that are the most meaningful for me.

In 1998 I broke my neck in a car wreck. Thankfully, I was in the best shape of my life, at that time, and going through surgery and recovery from all my injuries it helped having that knowledge and desire to get back to "normal". I went from working out all the time, playing in multiple basketball leagues to barely being able to walk. I spent weeks getting my stamina back from walking around the house to hours of walking the dog. I started lifting, just my own arm's weight, to get back to functioning. I went back to the gym after 2 months in a neck brace and started lifting 2 pd dumbbells. My left side had totally atrophied, my shoulder dropped off-it was disturbing to say the least. I spent the next year recovering, even to the point I could play again.
After my father died in 2006, I was at my heaviest, most depressed. I was over 260pds. I kept going to the gym, out of habit, but ate and ate and ate. Late 2012 I finally got sick of it. Still worked out, but had to move up another size in clothing, all my pants were so tight I could barely wear any of them. I bought a recipe book for working out, started a food diary, learned portion control, and calorie counting. I lost 40+ pds. Got under 200 pds for the first time in over 20 years, all while going through a very difficult 2013!
I feel better going into my 40's than I did going into my 20's or 30's! (: