I never had a role model for fitness growing up. I had only a dim understanding that a body could be sculpted at all, thinking it was mostly dependent on genes. Then I went to college and watched one of my friends grow from a skinny guy into a shredded beast, and I knew that's what I wanted to do, too. I spent the next 3 years or so stopping and starting several different programs until one day I decided I wasn't going to mess around anymore. I got serious, dedicated, and went for it. Once I dropped the first 40 lbs, I knew there was no going back.

Like anything that I love, it's never just one aspect of it. I love working out because it makes me feel good; because nothing tastes as good as skinny feels; I like looking good; I like being healthy; I like saving money (going out all the time is expensive!); I like reaching new achievements such as 1-arm-pushups; I like being active; I like challenging myself.

The only thing I don't like about working out is that it's so hard to get others around me to want to do it, too!