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| AGE 22 HEIGHT 6'0" WEIGHT 233 lbs BODY FAT 30% |
AGE 23 HEIGHT 6'0" WEIGHT 191 lbs BODY FAT 5% |
I wanted to be the best version of myself. I was in shape, but due to personal issues I became depressed, stopped working out, and ate junk food for an entire year. It came to the point where I was unhappy and didn't enjoy a day of life. I was sick and tired of feeling depressed and crappy.
It happened overnight. I decided enough was enough and I wasn't going to live like that anymore. It was hard to break bad habits like laziness, gym avoidance, and unhealthy eating, but I pushed through because I knew happiness was at the end of the tunnel. Five months after I decided to change, I became the world's youngest pro at age 22. Every area of my life improved physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially.
It was the best decision I ever made, and anybody who wants to make the change will feel the same way in the end. You don't remember the times you denied yourself junk food because proud feelings outweigh them.
I surrounded myself with the right people. You are an average of the five people you spend the most time with. If the five people you hang out with eat wings every night, you most likely will too. Second, I held myself accountable, posted progress photos, and used BodySpace to post my stats and images. There were days I felt lazy, tired, or hungry, but I constantly reminded myself why I started, which kept me going.
I enjoyed every minute of it. Many people think fitness is a destination, but it's a journey. Enjoy the process of getting in shape; enjoy the workouts and the food you eat. When you think that way, it becomes much easier.
My biggest challenge was to take the first step. It only gets easier. The hardest part of any goal is starting. Once you get the ball rolling, momentum carries you; you become more and more motivated from results. For the first few weeks, it was hard to commit and stick to the diet, but after three weeks it became fairly easy and I replaced my bad eating habits with good nutrition.
This past year, I placed fourth in the world in the WBFF Pro World Championships. My next goal is to earn my IFBB pro card and continue working as a coach for many individuals around the world.
My advice to anybody who wants to transform is that it all starts with your mind. You don't get what you wish for or want in life; you get what you work for. Your body is an accurate indication; what you put in you get out. If you put in 50 percent effort, your results by the end cannot be better than 50 percent.
My top three pieces of advice are to stay consistent, maintain high intensity, and balance your life so it's remains enjoyable.
I used BodySpace to stay accountable and updated it on a weekly basis. I updated my stats through my iPhone and knew if the graph wasn't changing, I wasn't progressing. I also used the Bodybuilding.com store to purchase supplements.