I studied geography & geology at university, which meant that every week I faced a 3-hour statistics lecture/ workshop. During one of these, my flatmate and I chose to sneak out of the lecture and into the university gym next door... I had never been in one before but I enjoyed it - it was miles better than conducting correlation analyses and non-linear regression.

So I kept returning... I haven't stopped.

It brings me a sense of courage - the courage to face my imperfections with honesty - and to accept that something can be done to improve upon them, even when there are no guarantees of it working at the outset.

http://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/from-nearly-rip-to-ripped-how-mike-got-a-second-chance.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qOV_pY8URQ&list=FLzZ9bLP8nZSu9joAC8xjc0w

At 2:14min into this TED talk - I get mentioned... But I warn you now - he shows the 'before' pictures of me. Before I started the low carbohydrate diet that I discovered being utilised by bodybuilders and following their approach to training and general living.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fM9o72ykww&list=FLzZ9bLP8nZSu9joAC8xjc0w&index=1

And even in more recent times, the guys I met through bb.com are talking about me: https://youtu.be/u93oh9kC-rU?t=3m51s