My​ ​journey​ ​started​ ​at​ ​a​ ​young​ ​age,​ ​long​ ​before​ ​I​ ​even​ ​knew.​ ​Growing​ ​up​ ​I​ ​was​ ​always looked​ ​down​ ​on,​ ​literally,​ ​I​ ​was​ ​much​ ​shorter​ ​than​ ​everyone​ ​else​ ​from​ ​elementary​ ​school​ ​all​ ​the way​ ​until​ ​high​ ​school.​ ​Although​ ​I​ ​was​ ​small​ ​I​ ​had​ ​good​ ​genes.​ ​I​ ​was​ ​very​ ​well​ ​in​ ​shape,​ ​always having​ ​a​ ​six​ ​pack​ ​and​ ​was​ ​very​ ​athletic.​ ​I​ ​was​ ​a​ ​three​ ​sport​ ​athlete​ ​my​ ​entire​ ​life​ ​playing​ ​football, wrestling,​ ​lacrosse,​ ​along​ ​with​ ​baseball​ ​and​ ​soccer​ ​for​ ​a​ ​few​ ​years.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​what​ ​I​ ​lived​ ​for, playing​ ​sports,​ ​being​ ​known​ ​for​ ​my​ ​athletic​ ​accomplishments,​ ​in​ ​high school​ ​it​ ​all​ ​made​ ​me​ ​feel famous.​ ​Although​ ​I​ ​always​ ​knew​ ​it​ ​would​ ​come,​ ​college​ ​came​ ​around​ ​and​ ​I​ ​was​ ​not​ ​ready​ ​for my​ ​sports​ ​career​ ​to​ ​come​ ​to​ ​an​ ​end.​ ​It​ ​was​ ​that​ ​time​ ​of​ ​year​ ​were​ ​normal​ ​I​ ​would​ ​be​ ​getting ready​ ​for​ ​the​ ​football​ ​season​ ​to​ ​start​ ​and​ ​I​ ​finally​ ​realized​ ​that​ ​I​ ​did​ ​not​ ​have​ ​and​ ​physical responsibilities​ ​like​ ​that​ ​anymore,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​missed​ ​it.​ ​I​ ​missed​ ​pushing​ ​my​ ​body​ ​to​ ​its​ ​limits, challenging​ ​it​ ​day​ ​in​ ​and​ ​day​ ​out,​ ​it​ ​was​ ​all​ ​I​ ​knew.​ ​Being​ ​I​ ​was​ ​a​ ​three​ ​sport​ ​athlete​ ​I​ ​was always​ ​in​ ​shape​ ​and​ ​knew​ ​my​ ​way​ ​around​ ​the​ ​gym,​ ​but​ ​as​ ​time​ ​went​ ​on​ ​without​ ​sports​ ​the​ ​gym became​ ​more​ ​attracting.​ ​I​ ​realized​ ​that​ ​the​ ​gym​ ​would​ ​be​ ​the​ ​only​ ​place​ ​that​ ​I​ ​would​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to constantly​ ​push​ ​my​ ​body,​ ​I​ ​knew​ ​what​ ​wanted​ ​to​ ​do.​ ​I​ ​went​ ​to​ ​my​ ​two​ ​friends​ ​who​ ​I​ ​knew​ ​were very​ ​into​ ​lifting,​ ​this​ ​is​ ​when​ ​I​ ​was​ ​introduced​ ​to​ ​a​ ​different​ ​style​ ​of​ ​lifting,​ ​bodybuilding.​ ​I​ ​looked more​ ​and​ ​more​ ​into​ ​the​ ​bodybuilding​ ​world,​ ​looking​ ​at​ ​shows,​ ​researching​ ​bodybuilders​ ​such​ ​as how​ ​they​ ​train​ ​and​ ​eat.​ ​The​ ​more​ ​I​ ​work out​ ​with​ ​my​ ​friends,​ ​the​ ​more​ ​obvious​ ​it​ ​became​ ​to me​ ​that​ ​this​ ​is​ ​what​ ​I​ ​was​ ​meant​ ​to​ ​do.​ ​For​ ​the​ ​first​ ​time​ ​in​ ​two​ ​years​ ​I​ ​felt​ ​that​ ​famous​ ​feeling when​ ​in​ ​the​ ​gym​ ​that​ ​I​ ​did​ ​in​ ​sport​ ​back​ ​in​ ​high school,​ ​it​ ​was​ ​like​ ​I​ ​was​ ​lost​ ​for​ ​so​ ​long​ ​and​ ​I finally​ ​reconnected​ ​to​ ​myself. 

Along​ ​this​ ​journey​ ​I​ ​have​ ​faced​ ​many​ ​challenging​ ​obstacles.​ ​With​ ​a​ ​struggling​ ​home​ ​life living​ ​with​ ​just​ ​my​ ​mother​ ​and​ ​brothers​ ​is​ ​not​ ​easy.​ ​The​ ​gym​ ​helps​ ​me​ ​cope​ ​with​ ​these​ ​sort​ ​of problems,​ ​I​ ​use​ ​lifting​ ​as​ ​a​ ​stress​ ​reliever.​ ​Although​ ​I​ ​deal​ ​with​ ​some​ ​sort​ ​of​ ​obstacle​ ​every​ ​day, as​ ​I’m​ ​sure​ ​we​ ​all​ ​do,​ ​there​ ​were​ ​two​ ​major​ ​setbacks.​ ​The​ ​first​ ​took​ ​place​ ​senior​ ​year​ ​of high school​ ​when​ ​I​ ​had​ ​to​ ​have​ ​my​ ​back​ ​operated​ ​on​ ​for​ ​a​ ​severe​ ​herniated​ ​L5​ ​disc.​ ​This​ ​was​ ​a 6​ ​month​ ​recovery​ ​period.​ ​I​ ​am​ ​currently​ ​dealing​ ​with​ ​a​ ​fractured​ ​hip.​ ​This​ ​recovery​ ​I’ll​ ​keep​ ​me out​ ​for​ ​around​ ​the​ ​same​ ​amount​ ​of​ ​time.​ ​Although​ ​these​ ​injuries​ ​placed​ ​major​ ​setbacks​ ​on​ ​my lifting​ ​journey​ ​they​ ​didn't,​ ​and​ ​will​ ​not​ ​keep​ ​me​ ​down​ ​and​ ​out.​ ​After​ ​proper​ ​treatment​ ​and recovery​ ​I​ ​will​ ​be​ ​ready​ ​to​ ​get​ ​back​ ​on​ ​the​ ​grind​ ​and​ ​continue​ ​to​ ​make​ ​gains. 

My​ ​motivation​ ​comes​ ​in​ ​different​ ​forms​ ​from​ ​other​ ​people.​ ​One​ ​form​ ​of​ ​this​ ​motivation​ ​is the​ ​fear​ ​of​ ​letting​ ​certain​ ​people​ ​down.​ ​The​ ​few​ ​that​ ​come​ ​to​ ​mind​ ​are​ ​my​ ​best​ ​friends​ ​Steve and​ ​Matt​ ​who​ ​introduced​ ​me​ ​to​ ​bodybuilding,​ ​my​ ​grandfather​ ​who​ ​was​ ​my​ ​number​ ​one​ ​fan throughout​ ​my​ ​sports​ ​career,​ ​and​ ​my​ ​great​ ​uncle​ ​who​ ​helped​ ​me​ ​get​ ​into​ ​college.​ ​These​ ​people, along​ ​with​ ​a​ ​few​ ​others​ ​are​ ​individuals​ ​who​ ​have​ ​helped​ ​me,​ ​are​ ​my​ ​motivation,​ ​I​ ​cannot​ ​let them​ ​down.​ ​The​ ​other​ ​form​ ​of​ ​motivation​ ​come​ ​from​ ​the​ ​individuals​ ​who​ ​hate​ ​and​ ​doubt.​ ​These individuals​ ​are​ ​the​ ​fuel​ ​that​ ​I​ ​add​ ​to​ ​my​ ​fire​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​myself​ ​going.​ ​I​ ​refuse​ ​to​ ​stop​ ​until they​ ​are​ ​all​ ​proven​ ​wrong.​ ​A​ ​pet​ ​peeve​ ​of​ ​mine​ ​is​ ​to​ ​see​ ​potential​ ​and​ ​talent​ ​go​ ​to​ ​waste,​ ​which is​ ​another​ ​form​ ​of​ ​motivation​ ​for​ ​myself.​ ​I​ ​have​ ​realized​ ​that​ ​I​ ​have​ ​good​ ​genetics,​ ​some​ ​that people​ ​may​ ​kill​ ​for​ ​and​ ​I​ ​refuse​ ​to​ ​be​ ​a​ ​hypocrite​ ​by​ ​having​ ​my​ ​body​ ​go​ ​to​ ​waste. ​ ​This​ ​comes from​ ​a​ ​quote​ ​that​ ​my​ ​grandfather​ ​used​ ​to​ ​tell​ ​me​ ​before​ ​every​ ​game​ ​ “everyone​ ​is​ ​given​ ​a​ ​gift​ ​in life...​ ​leave​ ​nothing​ ​on​ ​the​ ​table”.

When​ ​it​ ​comes​ ​to​ ​a​ ​weekly​ ​routine​ ​I​ ​do​ ​not​ ​have​ ​one,​ ​many​ ​people​ ​may​ ​disagree​ ​with this​ ​but​ ​let​ ​me​ ​explain.​ ​The​ ​main​ ​purpose​ ​when​ ​I​ ​work​ ​out​ ​it​ ​to​ ​aim​ ​for​ ​hypertrophy,​ ​I​ ​focus​ ​on getting​ ​an​ ​insane​ ​pump​ ​for​ ​whatever​ ​muscle​ ​group​ ​I​ ​am​ ​working​ ​that​ ​day.​ ​In​ ​order​ ​to​ ​achieve this​ ​at​ ​its​ ​maximum​ ​level​ ​I​ ​believe​ ​randomness​ ​is​ ​the​ ​key.​ ​Each​ ​day​ ​is​ ​only​ ​one​ ​specific​ ​muscle group​ ​such​ ​as​ ​on​ ​day​ ​will​ ​be​ ​chest,​ ​the​ ​next​ ​back,​ ​shoulders,​ ​arms,​ ​and​ ​legs.​ ​For​ ​each​ ​muscle group​ ​I​ ​like​ ​to​ ​switch​ ​up​ ​the​ ​order​ ​of​ ​the​ ​exercises​ ​and​ ​the​ ​variations​ ​in​ ​which​ ​I​ ​perform​ ​them. My​ ​reason​ ​for​ ​this​ ​is​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​the​ ​muscle​ ​constantly​ ​on​ ​edge,​ ​always​ ​throwing​ ​them​ ​off.​ ​The reason​ ​for​ ​this​ ​is​ ​because​ ​when​ ​the​ ​same​ ​movement​ ​is​ ​continuously​ ​done​ ​it​ ​become​ ​muscle memory.​ ​Although​ ​you​ ​may​ ​see​ ​a​ ​weight​ ​increase​ ​in​ ​that​ ​exercise​ ​it​ ​is​ ​not​ ​necessarily​ ​because you​ ​got​ ​stronger,​ ​it’s​ ​because​ ​you​ ​are​ ​becoming​ ​better​ ​at​ ​that​ ​certain​ ​movement.​ ​This​ ​type​ ​of lifting​ ​is​ ​seen​ ​in​ ​powerlifters​ ​with​ ​their​ ​maxes.​ ​I​ ​try​ ​to​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​isolation​ ​the​ ​muscles​ ​being​ ​used during​ ​the​ ​exercise​ ​the​ ​best​ ​I​ ​can.​ ​I​ ​also​ ​bring​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​emphasis​ ​on​ ​the​ ​eccentric​ ​part​ ​of​ ​the exercises.​ ​This​ ​really​ ​makes​ ​you​ ​focus​ ​on​ ​the​ ​muscle​ ​which​ ​causes​ ​a​ ​huge​ ​pump.​ ​I​ ​tend​ ​to​ ​stay in​ ​the​ ​gym​ ​for​ ​about​ ​2​ ​hours​ ​on​ ​average,​ ​making​ ​sure​ ​I​ ​warm​ ​and​ ​loosen​ ​up​ ​before​ ​lifting,​ ​and stretch​ ​after.​ ​Recovery​ ​and​ ​taking​ ​care​ ​of​ ​your​ ​body​ ​in​ ​these​ ​types​ ​of​ ​ways​ ​really​ ​makes​ ​the difference.​ ​I​ ​shoot​ ​for​ ​about​ ​6​ ​exercises​ ​and/or​ ​about​ ​200​ ​reps.

I​ ​plan​ ​to​ ​take​ ​every day​ ​as​ ​an​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​go​ ​out​ ​and​ ​better​ ​myself​ ​in​ ​some way.​ ​I refuse​ ​to​ ​stop​ ​the​ ​grind​ ​until​ ​I​ ​have​ ​made​ ​a​ ​name​ ​for​ ​myself​ ​and​ ​left​ ​my​ ​mark​ ​in​ ​a​ ​positive​ ​way for​ ​everyone​ ​to​ ​remember.​ ​I​ ​know​ ​if​ ​I​ ​continue​ ​my​ ​work​ ​with​ ​John​ ​at​ ​BBpics​ ​this​ ​will​ ​be​ ​very easy​ ​to​ ​achieve.​ ​He​ ​does​ ​such​ ​great​ ​work,​ ​the​ ​best​ ​part​ ​about​ ​it​ ​is​ ​the​ ​passion​ ​he​ ​has​ ​for​ ​it.​ ​He is​ ​very​ ​skilled​ ​and​ ​knowledgeable​ ​in​ ​his​ ​field​ ​and​ ​he​ ​showed​ ​that​ ​very​ ​clearly​ ​after​ ​our​ ​first photoshoot.​ ​It​ ​was​ ​my​ ​very​ ​first​ ​photoshoot​ ​and​ ​he​ ​made​ ​me​ ​feel​ ​very​ ​comfortable,​ ​is​ ​if​ ​I​ ​have done​ ​this​ ​before.​ ​He​ ​is​ ​very​ ​helpful​ ​and​ ​will​ ​not​ ​rest​ ​until​ ​the​ ​perfect​ ​photo​ ​is​ ​taken.