Bodybuilding is not just a sport, it’s a lifestyle. This means there are lifestyle modifications a person must make and adhere to for as long as he/she plans to be competitive in the sport. The most important attributes of a successful bodybuilder are commitment and consistency; these are primary principles that define the bodybuilding lifestyle. Bodybuilding is more of an independent sport which doesn’t appeal to the average person; it takes a special breed of person who can consistently eat the same meals day after day, year after year. You must possess the mindset to go to the gym every day, get underneath heavy weights and push your body to its limit; this is mentally and physically exhausting, but it defines a person’s character. Not everyone can do it and that’s why bodybuilding is not for everyone.

As competitions near, the extreme aspect of the sport presents itself and the weak are weeded out. Contest preparation is part of the workup to a bodybuilding show that pushes the body to the limit. Calories are gradually reduced. Cardiovascular exercise becomes longer and more frequent. Certain ingredients that make foods taste good are slowly stripped away. Sodium levels are decreased. Water is eventually decreased and at some point of the night it may even be hard to sleep, because the hunger has set in. This is all part of the lifestyle that many people don’t hear about therefore they don’t quite understand the sport. Bodybuilding is indeed an extreme sport because the human body is pushed to its limit time and time again and is forced to grow and become stronger day after day.

After describing bodybuilding, I can tell you I am in love with the sport. Some people think I’m crazy, but that would apply to all other bodybuilders as well because at the end of the day we’re all the same, striving to achieve similar goals. Bodybuilding was a sport I found when I wasn’t looking for it. When I first experienced the feeling of being in a gym and pushing my body to its limit I was hooked. Bodybuilding coupled with the Marine Corps made a tremendous impact on my life. Discipline and structure became ingrained in me and this led me to pursue the sport. During my years of being in the Marine Corps and serving as a contractor in Baghdad, Iraq, this pursuit has been a very difficult one. Having said that, it’s made me realize how much bodybuilding truly means to me.

Since the genesis of my initial interests in the sport, I have also become interested in the business aspect of the industry. The thought of being able to make a difference in someone else’s life while doing something I love is a dream; this would be a dream to most people. The difference between me and many other people is that I’m actively pursuing my dream. Success is affected by a person’s actions and willingness to overcome adversity. Pursuing this dream has been on my mind for years and I’m at the point where I have to go after it with everything I’ve got. I’m in this for the long haul and I’m trying to build a solid foundation and support structure that will enable me to share this journey with others. Having family, friends and fans share this experience with me is very important; it’s a once in a lifetime occurrence.

This is only the beginning… the best is yet to come…