Amateur Bodybuilder Of The Week: Henry Is Motivated By Muscle!

How did your bodybuilding journey begin?

After my son was born on June 29, 2012, I became stressed from dealing with deep emotional issues stemming from relationship problems with my father. On top of that, my stepfather's health was deteriorating and I was struggling to keep my marriage alive. These issues caused me to finally let go.

I stopped doing activities that I love like dancing, skating, and hiking and quit talking to lots of my friends. I even canceled my Facebook account. Luckily, I woke up and decided to do something about it. I got a gym membership and started working out every day. My approach was to focus on my weak areas which were my chest and abs. I spent 2-3 hours per day working chest or abs. After a few months, I saw minimal results and was frustrated.

I started researching on Bodybuilding.com and discovered that dieting was the key to success. I didn't want to accept that because I loved hamburgers, french fries, chicken nuggets, soda, and doughnuts. Being that I'm a certified hypnotherapist, I used hypnotherapy to change my diet and did a seven-day juice fast. That's when the changes started to happen.

Every time I went to the gym I saw my body change and noticed muscles in places I never imagined. It was exciting and fueled my fire. I lost 10 pounds in five months and now weigh 152 pounds with 7 percent body fat. I ran my first half-marathon last month, which is a major accomplishment because I have asthma and didn't need my inhaler. Fitness is becoming more engrained into my life every day.

Research shows that 1 out of 10 dads develop postnatal depression and that each child increases a man's risk of obesity by 4 percent. So I went back to the Hypnosis Motivational Institute in Tarzanna, California, to study the dynamics of hypnosis and weight loss. That inspired me to create Trance Fitness, a revolutionary mind/body weight loss and fitness program that combines hypnotherapy with personal fitness training.

Focusing on the mind and body creates a synergistic overall transformative lifestyle change that eliminates the frustrations of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I want to give dads across America and beyond hope and motivation to Trance-form their lives.

"The body is amazing, but the mind tells the body what to do."

How did your passion for bodybuilding emerge?

The results I see daily blow my mind. The body is amazing, but the mind tells the body what to do. The reaction I get from others is motivation to keep going. I want to inspire people through action. You can't motivate others if you can't motivate yourself. I focus on being the best I can be and live up to my potential. It's contagious and rubs off on people.

What/Who motivated you to be a bodybuilder?

My cousin Aebony Gibson lives in Florida and competes. I sent her my before and after photos and she went crazy and said I should compete, so I did.

Where did you go for inspiration?

YouTube is great for motivation. I watch fitness videos and workouts to get pumped up before a workout. Websites like Bodybuilding.com and its forums are very inspiring too.

What are your future bodybuilding plans?

I would love to compete and take home a trophy, but I try to avoid getting wrapped up in that because it takes my focus away from the pure enjoyment of training. I created my own company called Trance Fitness and my goal is to open a wellness center and build a team of elite personal trainers and holistic practitioners.

What is the most important bodybuilding tip?

One of my mottos is "slow and controlled." I see many people in the gym lifting like the gym is on fire and they're trying to get one more set in before the place burns down. Take your time. I also see people lifting too much weight with terrible form. It's not about what you lift; it's about how you lift.

Patience is the key. There are many get-fit-quick schemes out there. It takes time to get your body where you want it. There aren't any secrets to bodybuilding. It takes hard work and dedication.

"It's not about what you lift; it's about how you lift."

Who is your favorite bodybuilder?

WBFF champion Obi Obadike is my inspiration. I'm not trying to get massive; I just want to be lean and cut. Obi is the prime example. He also has a successful fitness company and brand. He believes in what he does and wants to help and share his expertise with people.

How did bodybuilding.com help you reach your goals?

Bodybuilding.com gave me the resources I needed to stay on the right path. The site saved me lots of time and frustration figuring out which direction I want to take my career. The site also saved me lots of money by providing the best deals and advice on supplements.

Chopper's Top 5 Gym Tracks

"Till I Collapse" by Eminem
"Let's Go" by Trick Daddy
"Bugatti" by Ace Hood, ft Rick Ross, Future
"Sail" by Awolnation
"Started From The Bottom" by Drake