I played sports when I was younger, and then started working out with weights when i was 15. I was a constant presence in the gym for the next 20 years. Then I settled into sort of a maintenance mode, and hit the gym occasionally, not moving forward and beginning to move backwards. Eventually I became pretty sedentary. In 2008 my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and my Mom with Parkinson's. Working full-time, taking care of them in the evenings and managing their affairs, and trying to manage my own home proved to be more than I was equipped to handle. Lack of exercise, poor eating, little sleep, and lots of stress took their toll on my body, but deep inside I longed to be my old fit self. I kept telling myself I needed to get back with it before it was "too late." January of 2014 I set a goal to lose 40 pounds. My journey began with a change in my eating. I initially lost weight by cutting out grains and refined sugars, but it stalled. I then discovered carb-cycling which kicked in the weight loss again. I began working out again at home, but missed being at the gym where I had always found lots of motivation. I work on a university campus which began offering free membership to their wellness center for employees. I seized the opportunity. I began reading everything I could get my hands on to learn how to fine tune my diet, and workout routines. I am on a new carb cycling eating plan that I learned about here on bodybuilding.com and eat 5 meals a day plus supplemental shakes. My diet and workout plan have kicked my progress into high gear. I turned 48 in 2014 and I couldn't be more excited about my future. I do plan to defy the status quo. I cannot accept being out of shape with possibly 40 more years of life left, and I don't want anyone else to be either. I want to be lean and strong, motivate others, and lead by example. If you're over 40 or 50 is sneaking up on, it's up to you to take control. It's not too late. I'm proving it every day! I'm not where I intend to to be, but I'm well on my way!

It changes everything. It spills over into every area of your life. I'm no longer afraid of getting bulky and as a result I am lifting heavier than I did in my twenties. I lost over 30 pounds in 2014 and the compliments I get from people are, " Wow, you've gotten fit!" Not, "you look like you've lost weight." I owe that to weight training. I'm 48 and I'm still working on my goals. The results don't come as quickly as they did in my twenties but the do come. I'm stunned by what I've been able to accomplish this last year at this age. Looking forward to what 2015 has in store. I would not have achieved what I have this year without weight training and good nutrition.