I grew up as "the fat kid" and had it in my head that it was always going to be that way forever. Everyday life was a struggle mentally and physically because of my weight. There wasn't a minute when I didn't think about it. Then, almost out of nowhere, something clicked.
I was 20 years old, in college, and should've been having the time of my life. Instead, I was miserable and covered it up with beer and marijuana. I finished everything for the day so I could light one up. It was the only thing I looked forward to during the week and the thought of pounding a case of beer on Friday was next. I remember saying, "I've always been fat and I'll always be fat." That line seriously sickens me today.
I made the decision right there that I was going to be happy and enjoy life the way I should. From day one, I dedicated myself completely to working out and eating healthy. I never made an excuse and always showed up, even if I let old alcohol habits creep in on the weekend.
I lost 100 pounds in the first 10 months and felt like a new person. It was the most incredible feeling. From there, I had to reevaluate and focus on conditioning and muscle development. There were times I fell off track, but I always got back on. This summer, I decided to make the leap and bulk up for the image I wanted.
I had no prior background with fitness and I wasn't about to enter the gym when I tipped the scales at nearly 300 pounds. This led me to a popular 90-day home fitness routine. It was intimidating because I had to buy it and hadn't worked out since high school (3-4 years prior).
I made the commitment and felt better within the first week. I dropped 40 pounds in the first three months and knew there was no turning back.
It's hard realizing how much this journey changed my life in more aspects than just the physical. I wasn't expecting to change and grow as a man. I learned who I am. I discovered passions and created goals for myself.
Realizing I was going to lose people along the way was difficult. I struggled with an internal battle because I felt alone and didn't know if it was worth it. Then I realized that I gained awesome new people in my life and changed for the better.
My plans are to keep growing as a person mentally and physically while helping others. I recently found this passion for bodybuilding and decided to enter my first contest. I'm easing myself into it and will be in a physique contest. I'm not training to look like a typical physique competitor, but I need to start somewhere.
- Figure out your "why." This keeps you dedicated and pushes you daily, even when you don't want it to.
- Find a mentor and a peer group to keep you accountable and motivated. There's no reason to do it alone.
- Don't half-ass it. If you're going to start, commit fully, because you'll get better and faster results.
- Experiment and find what you like. Don't train a certain way because someone else is. Find what fuels your fire and gets you excited.
- Visit Mind Over All Fitness for daily doses of motivation and some sweet gym gear.
The articles were vital to me. I'm all about new knowledge. Learning the science behind training and nutrition is huge. I'm always reading the new articles and searching the database. If I have a question about anything, I can find an article that helps me.
Bodybuilding.com is the only place I'll buy supplements from. They have awesome pricing and customer service to match it.