I have always been a physical person. I was involved in little league
baseball from ages 5-13. Intramural sports after school was a big thing in
middle school. Playing everything from Volley Ball, Softball, Soccer to Flag
Football and having a great time. At the beginning of High School I was six
foot, two inches tall and growing, weighing in at about 150 pounds soaking
wet. I could easily hide behind a pole without being seen.

I really got interested in weight training my freshman year in high school.
One day I happened to stumble into the school weight room while the
weightlifting/football team was lifting. After seeing the ins and outs of
the weight room I was changed for life and my pursuit to be big and strong
had began.

I asked one of the lifters how he got that big and strong. He answered with
the obvious, "I workout, duh". My parents at the time were very reluctant
to go get me a membership at the local gym, because I was still growing at
a very fast rate they thought it wise to hold off until I stopped growing so
fast.

The next year I joined the football team. And my introduction to the weight
room and the world of weight training and physical fitness began. Progress
in weight training was slow at first. I was making minimal gains, but
carried on eagerly. My body started to react to the weight training right
about the time of summer conditioning. So the gains that I did see was
replaced with a lean muscle with high endurance.

During the off-seasons I lived in the gym. I recall putting on 28-30 pounds
one off-season with the strength coming with it. Only to loose it again
during the Football season.

Between my Junior and Senior year I qualified for the Junior Nationals for
Olympic Weight Lifting (Clean & Jerk and Snatch). I placed fifth overall.
Not bad for a first time competitor. I participated in a few inter-school
three weight lifting competitions (Squat, Bench & Clean). The Squat had
always been a weak point for me because I have long legs. The Bench
was about average. The Clean I could beat out competitors twice my size,
because I had good technique.

After graduation I kept on training for a year making pretty steady gains. Then I enlisted in the Navy. Twelve weeks of bootcamp, PTing everyday except Sunday. I got in really good shape. At that time, if you wanted me to run a few miles, no problem. If you wanted me to drop and do pushups until you got sore, just say begin. But during those twelve weeks I was itching for the weight room. I really wanted to lift. I missed it.

The twelve weeks of bootcamp came and went. Then I found myself in Florida for my technical training. They had a weight room and I went to work. In the three and a half months that I was there I was able to put on 24 pounds of body weight and had solid strength gains as well.

I received my orders and before I knew it I was on a plane to my duty
station in Japan where I would be home ported for the next thirty-eight
months. You can say that some of the regulars at the military gyms on base
considered me a yo-yo, because when I was on shore I would make incredible
gains, however, when I got underway I would loose most of it. Out to sea I
was generally on what is called a 'Small boys', like a Destroyer or a
Cruiser, where even little swells would rock the ship creating a hazardous
condition for weight training and high risk for injury. Also working long
hours all week, not sleeping well, constantly going through a bowel
adjustment from shore food to ship food, needless to say my hard work in the gym on shore was in vain.

This lasted for just about three years. Going out to sea for a few
weeks/months, getting weak and skinny. Coming back to shore for a few
weeks/months, working hard to get back what I had. I got off my last
deployment October 2001. And I dedicated all the spare time that I had in
the gym and it paid off. I went from 190-195lbs to 250lbs from October 2001
to March 2002. I attribute that awesome gain to a proper diet, the right amount of sleep, a great training regiment, and an intense mental attitude.  I maxed out on the Bench Press at 415lbs April 5, 2002, so I
was the biggest and strongest that I have ever been.

I received my next duty assignment which has brought me to Hawaii. Strict
shore duty. No going to sea. I took a week off when I go to the island to
visit with my wife, see the sights and get familiar with my surroundings. I
found the weight room that I currently train at (Bloch Arena).

When I went back to the weight room I wanted to do a few sets of five on
Bench Press to wake up my body. I put on 365lbs for my sets. I was shocked
that I could only do two sets of three, and a rough three at that. I
couldn't understand. I should have been able to lift that with ease. Over
the next three to four months every thing started to go down hill. All
aspects of my training in all areas I was loosing strength. I finally
plateaued and was able to start building again slowly. It turns out that
when I came to the island I was going from a winter climate to a tropical
climate and I failed to drink enough water which as a result gave my body a hard time to get acclimatized. Just recently, within the past five to six months, I have found that I have been making the gains that I used to. I am
currently on a fasttrack back, yet again.

April 11, 2003, over a year since I maxed out on the bench press, I was able to push 425lbs for a new personal best.

My strength goals are as follows:

Bench Press: 500+ lbs.
Squat: 405+ lbs. 1 set of 20 reps
Military Press: 315+ lbs.
Barbell Curl: 225+ lbs.
Dead Lift: 600+ lbs.

After I reach my strength goals I want to focus on my getting big:

Chest: 55+ inches
Arms: 22+ inches
Waist: 32-34 inches
Thighs: 32+ inches
Calves: 20+ inches
Body Weight: 275-285 lbs.

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