I have been fat most of my life. I'm also in the military, so while I'm not really obese (can pass the PT Tests), being fat in a world surrounded by extremely fit individuals is tough because you definitely get judged by your appearance. I have a buddy who I work with...he looks like a body builder/competitor to me, his dad is Mr.whatever-state-he's-from...this guy brings his food into the office every day and uses his lunch breaks to go hit the weights. One day I was watching him return from the gym while eating my to-go Taco Bell and I realized this guy didn't get his physique by accident. At that point I put down the fast food, starting hitting the weights during my lunch breaks and started my own path towards self-improvement.

Specifically strength training...I could go on an on about all the benefits, but the thing that keeps me most motivated is progression. Being able to work to add just one more pound to the bar, mastering a lift, honing in on your form...there's much more to weight lifting than I ever imagined. Walking out of the gym knowing you were stronger than the week before? It's hard to put into words how badass that can feel!