How did we get here?

This post has been a long time coming...

I was a teenager at the height of the greatest era of bodybuilding, the 1980's! We had the Arnold, Lee Haney, and many others competing on the Mr. Olympia stage, Corinna Everson was in the process of winning her 6 Ms. Olympia chanpionships, and Joe Weider's Muscle and Fitness was on newsstands everywhere. I got into weightlifting and bodybuilding as a teen, and thought I would continue on throughout my life. Unfortunately that was not to be the case, as so often happens. 

In my 20s and 30s I let myself get too caught up in real life of wife, kids, job, and eating too much. I discovered that if I was sad, angry, or depressed I could turn to Doritos™ to deliver me from what ailed me. I steadily gained weight, eventually topping out at 335 pounds in November of 2022. Then, in December of 2022 I found myself unemployed and depressed. I started walking around my town of Spanish Fork for hours every night, while eating very little. I have a post about it on my personal blog here. 

I went from the happy guy eating, drinking, and being merry, to the sad sack who wanted to never do anything again, and it made me realize something. Being out of shape wasn't just a physical issue, it was also a spiritual and mental issue. I wasn't able to be happy because I could barely get off the couch. I wasn't able to help and serve in my church callings because I would get winded just walking down the street. So, I decided I needed to make a change.

I started seriously working out. Not just cardio, but lifting heavy things (well, heavy for me!), and also watching what I was eating. Instead of heading to the pantry when I was sad or upset, I went to the gym, or for a walk. This change of relationship status with food (It's complicated) was a real game changer for me. I lost 100 pounds and gained some back in solid muscle. I feel better, and I feel like I can serve again in callings and just helping out my fellow man. 

I have created this site to help others on their journey; physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. At the end of the day, I want to be able to: 

2 Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God, see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day.