Growing up I was always the smallest kid in my class. I always had a library book in one hand and had the top marks in the class. Throw in a nice case of adolescent acne and I wasn't exactly your prime male specimen. This made me an object of ridicule most of my life and I felt very insecure about the person I was. I found my solace in my books and in video games (especially MMOs). I joined the Air Force right out of high school for several reasons: to get money for school, to develop a professional foundation and to grow as a man. I got based in Mountain Home, ID which is like the boondocks. For the first three years of my enlistment I found myself constantly gaming online and it wasnt until the last year of my enlistment that I decided to finally make a change in my life. I began lifting weights, exploring all the outdoors that Idaho had to offer (which its actually quite amazing)... for instance I was a white water rafting guide, safety kayaker, avid snowboarder and during the summer I would hike into the middle of nowhere to find the perfect campground.
The last year of my enlistment and the first year of my undergrad at the University of Tennessee found me transformed. I went from the 105 lb nerd to a solid 185 lb athlete. Since my time in school and graduation, I have moved up to as high as 230 lbs and now currently hover in the 205 lb mark due to contest season. At heart I am still the nerd I always have been but have learned to find balance in my life as well as knowing I have the power to become anything I choose. It's my life and I live it in a way that makes me extremely happy!
Several reasons. One it changed my life dramatically and has since kept me in a place of happiness. I also love how I look and feel. It provides stability in my life as well as an outlet for burning stress. It provides a source of confidence and security as I place goals for myself and continually push through obstacles to reach them. Working out is a metaphor for life for me. You have the ability to shape and transform your life in any way you see fit!