I am not sharing this story in order to brag and if it sounds like it then I apologize in advance. I am only hoping that my story will encourage someone out there who is struggling like I was to step up and take their life and their health into their own hands. No one should listen to the negativity of others. If someone says you can't, then prove them wrong.

My entire childhood, doctors told me I was obese, that so would never play sports or be athletic. One even went as far as to say I would likely develop diabetes at an early age.

When I first started I couldn't do a single proper pushup and I could not even squat the bar alone. I was out of breath after walking up the basement stairs. Instead of giving up and saying it was hopeless, I decided to say fuck that and fuck what the doctors had to say about my future.

I am not going to glamourize The riggors of getting fit. It wasn't fun at first, in fact it was utter Hell. The first 2-3 years were spent just getting myself to the point where most healthy young men would merely start from. It was only after years and I mean years of hard work and patience that I began gaining a considerable amount of muscle and strength.

As if by a cruel twist of fate, when I finally got to the point of feeling good about myself and my body for the first time in my life, my body decided to give me the finger once again. I developed severe ulcerative colitis and lost it all. Ironically the child who once was extremely overweight was now the man who looked like a cancer survivor. I went from 210 pounds fairly fit to 160 pounds of skin and bone within 2-3 months.

Once again, doctors telling all the things I can't do and won't do anymore. All the things I won't eat anymore. Instead of resigning myself to the date they were projecting for my future, I made my own.

Once again, lifting carefully and methodically, working my way back up to where I once was and running more and more for greater distances and longer periods.

Now, at 205 pounds and nearing middle aged, despite all the bulls**t life and my body have thrown at me, I am the fittest I have ever been in my life. I can run a 5k in less than 28 minutes and can do 12 consecutive pull ups. I am also only 10 pounds away from a 1000 pound Powerlifting total.

Never give up! If I can do it then anyone can.