I have always been the short kid who looked up at my peers and noticed it—not only in stature, but size in general. I felt defenseless and that I needed to compensate somehow. I went to the person who I felt could help me, my dad. He's the muscular military man of the family. I was 14 years old when he agreed to let me work out with him. To my surprise, he greatly approved and has been pushing and motivating me since. I would not be where I am today without him.
After working out with my dad, I branched off and started figuring it out for myself. By age 15, I worked out alone, researched constantly, and changed my entire life without knowing it. Bodybuilding.com taught me so much throughout the years and I owe most of my knowledge to them. It was the only place I had to turn to because my little town isn't known for its surplus of bodybuilders. I knew I was doing something right when my peers, parents, and friends started to recognize my improvements.
I wasn't in it alone for long. My friends started coming to me for help. The feeling was amazing, but helping them achieve their goals was even greater. I took a big jump from "working out" to "bodybuilding" during the winter of my sophomore year. My friend Mitch and I started working out daily. He worked out to build muscle on the off-season because he played soccer. That's when I decided to become a bodybuilder. Mitch went on to play college soccer. What my friends don't realize, though, is that they inspired me in ways that no one else could have. I honestly don't know if I would've ever competed without them.
I try to keep my training level when it comes to compound and isolation movements, but I favor isolation workouts and switch up my training regimen frequently. I always warm up on the elliptical for five minutes while I drink my pre-workout supplement.
I competed at my first show in October 2012 at the NPC Natural Northern USA in the men's physique division. Intimidated is an understatement for how I felt backstage. I was obviously the youngest one there and everyone knew it. I was blind going in, but fell in love when I stepped on stage. I was part of first call out and placed fifth at the show.
The results motivated me. I loved waking in the morning to see improvements from yesterday's workout and stepping on the scale to see how much I gained. The people around me said how proud they were of my accomplishments, which made it all worth it.
I hardly have to "look" for motivation with friends like mine. They woke me up from countless naps to drag me to the gym on days I felt too tired. They push me without knowing it.
I'm cutting for my next and third physique show at the 2013 NPC Natural Ohio where I will compete in a teen and men's class. I will get my personal training certification soon. To further expand my education, I will attend college in California and major in muscle physiology. My two top five finishes at local shows enabled me to compete in a national NPC show. I would love to have a sponsorship by this time, which I'm currently looking for. I plan to accomplish this within the next three years and receive my pro card. I will be a part of the IFFB one day and hopefully become as notorious as my idol, Steve Cook.
Try new things. Listening to the experts is a good way to get started, but nobody knows your body like you do.
Steve Cook, hands down. His Swoldier Nation videos are awesome and he's an overall good person. I met him for the first time last year at the 2012 Arnold Classic.
I learned most of what I know from Bodybuilding.com. My diet and workouts would be nothing without Bodybuilding.com. One thing that sets Bodybuilding.com apart from everyone else is the fast shipping.
- "One More Time" by Daft Punk
- "Reaching Out" by Nero
- "Don't You Worry Child" by Swedish House Mafia
- "Someday" by Flipsyde
- "Long Time" by John De Sohn