CrystalLake
06-11-13, 2:35 pm
I just want to take the time to thank Animal and some guys here, for who you are, and what you guys represent to me. You’re more than just a supplement company. You guys seriously change lives. First though, you’ll have to sit through a backstory on me, as not a whole lotta people know.
In High School I was ambitious. Star football player, weightlifter, artist and goal setter. Fast forward through College and till my mid-20s. Something went wrong. Drug abuse, alcohol issues, and just “got by” to graduate college and make my parents happy. I pretty much quit everything I did as a hobby and focused on what was going on that night in terms of partying. I spend my paychecks on booze then bills. I lost friends due to me being a jerk, my family was getting pissed, and jobs would be a blur.
I remember one year I was too broke around my Dad’s birthday, so I picked up 2 $10 tickets to the Arnold Classic since he was a bodybuilder for years (he’s 72 now). Due to his age and not being able to get around, he had to pass on the tickets. This was around the same time I met my (now) fiancé, so I asked her to go with me.
I really didn’t know what to expect since I was out of that scene for almost 7 years. I got there and saw The Cage. I recognized the Animal logo from tshirts on guys I’d see around town, but had no idea it was a weightlifting company. I just sat and watched what was going on for almost 2 hours, and I was more impressed then, than anything I’ve seen in my life.
I went home that next day and all I could do was hop online and just go through Animal articles, the FORVM, BB.com, etc. and just learn more. I was still in shock on “how cool” my experience was. I had to know more about the Animal brand.
That was when something just hit me. I wanted to prove to myself, and my (now) fiancé that I am that ambitious kid deep inside. Not some slouch that doesn’t deserve her. I hit up naturalguy on the BB.com forums since I recognized him from the event, and just started talking to him. I probably asked 100 stupid questions, but I was determined to gain the knowledge I needed. I started watching YouTube videos of all the pros and listening to what they were all about. I went back to the gym and got my life back together.
I truly believe through weightlifting, exercising and proper dieting, it really teaches you something deep down inside. Animal came in after and taught me one of the greatest lessons- Integrity.
3 years later, I am now training for my first NPC bodybuilding competition in 2 weeks. Also, I got that spark to pursue my art career, and most of all- the booze and drugs have stopped. All I think about these days is being a better person, and staying true to my word. Throughout the past 3 years, my journey couldn’t have been better. I can only imagine what the future has for me.
Special thanks to naturalguy for helping me out, and meeting with me at The Cage and the ABC in Akron, C.Coronato for the diet back in the winter that after a few months on, I knew I wanted to compete. And for House and Ox, as your YouTube videos, and meeting with you guys at events always made me feel like that there was more to bodybuilding than being in the gym.
And to everyone here that had the 10 minutes to read this, I thank you.
Just remember, it all started with a trip to The Cage that I didn’t know existed.
In High School I was ambitious. Star football player, weightlifter, artist and goal setter. Fast forward through College and till my mid-20s. Something went wrong. Drug abuse, alcohol issues, and just “got by” to graduate college and make my parents happy. I pretty much quit everything I did as a hobby and focused on what was going on that night in terms of partying. I spend my paychecks on booze then bills. I lost friends due to me being a jerk, my family was getting pissed, and jobs would be a blur.
I remember one year I was too broke around my Dad’s birthday, so I picked up 2 $10 tickets to the Arnold Classic since he was a bodybuilder for years (he’s 72 now). Due to his age and not being able to get around, he had to pass on the tickets. This was around the same time I met my (now) fiancé, so I asked her to go with me.
I really didn’t know what to expect since I was out of that scene for almost 7 years. I got there and saw The Cage. I recognized the Animal logo from tshirts on guys I’d see around town, but had no idea it was a weightlifting company. I just sat and watched what was going on for almost 2 hours, and I was more impressed then, than anything I’ve seen in my life.
I went home that next day and all I could do was hop online and just go through Animal articles, the FORVM, BB.com, etc. and just learn more. I was still in shock on “how cool” my experience was. I had to know more about the Animal brand.
That was when something just hit me. I wanted to prove to myself, and my (now) fiancé that I am that ambitious kid deep inside. Not some slouch that doesn’t deserve her. I hit up naturalguy on the BB.com forums since I recognized him from the event, and just started talking to him. I probably asked 100 stupid questions, but I was determined to gain the knowledge I needed. I started watching YouTube videos of all the pros and listening to what they were all about. I went back to the gym and got my life back together.
I truly believe through weightlifting, exercising and proper dieting, it really teaches you something deep down inside. Animal came in after and taught me one of the greatest lessons- Integrity.
3 years later, I am now training for my first NPC bodybuilding competition in 2 weeks. Also, I got that spark to pursue my art career, and most of all- the booze and drugs have stopped. All I think about these days is being a better person, and staying true to my word. Throughout the past 3 years, my journey couldn’t have been better. I can only imagine what the future has for me.
Special thanks to naturalguy for helping me out, and meeting with me at The Cage and the ABC in Akron, C.Coronato for the diet back in the winter that after a few months on, I knew I wanted to compete. And for House and Ox, as your YouTube videos, and meeting with you guys at events always made me feel like that there was more to bodybuilding than being in the gym.
And to everyone here that had the 10 minutes to read this, I thank you.
Just remember, it all started with a trip to The Cage that I didn’t know existed.