I'd like to post some encouragement for anyone looking into getting into weight lifting, body building or just generally trying to be healthy. Whether you're overweight or 10 lbs underweight many of us have been there.

Background:

Three years ago, I was skinny, wore glasses, had a shitty mile time, hunched back and outside of academics was really not doing much with my life.

I only went to the gym because my research mentor did and I thought well if I'm on company time I might as well use it. At first I only used the treadmills, fooled around with the leg machines, but I stuck with it for the summer.

The next year came and went and I decided to go back to my summer routine. However I did a body fat test beforehand and read out 20%. I was pissed, as someone who had never been fat this was the unhealthiest I had been in years.

Fixing my physique:

It started with running, everyday I forced myself to run. When it was too hot I ran on a treadmill, when it was cool I ran up and down hills. When I couldn't run I did lunges.

Within a month my posture went from hunched to straight back, I cut a 3 lbs of fat and went to a better physique.

After that I got a pull up bar for my door, they're cheap 40 dollars. When I got it I could only do 1 pull up with shitty form. So every time I had a break, every time I was free at home I did one pull up.

I found friends who went to the gym, if they didn't have a ride I gave them one, find people who encourage you and support good workout habits. Yeah it cost me a little gas and time but it kept the motivation going.

Gradually my routine turned into a habit, then into something I couldn't live with it.

On the advice of a few girls, along with getting annoyed at my glasses constantly fogging up in the gym I switched to contacts.

Benefits:

Working out improved my looks, my confidence, my stature, my coordination, I get sick less and in a pinch I could kick the ass of most people I see on the street.

My closest friends also started working out and lifting. They saw the improvement it had on my life and wanted that to translate into their lives.

Quick Story:

My car battery died the other day, so I called a friend to help give me a jump but his cable wouldn't reach. My car was parked with the hood facing into a parking spot, other cars around it. I put the car in neutral asked him to manage the parking brake, got behind my 4000 lb car and just solo towed it by hand out of it's parking space.

This was something that I wouldn't have even dreamed of being able to do two years ago. Now I don't see any limits.

Conclusion:

I was in my early twenties before I shaped up and fixed my physique. But it was without a doubt one of the best decisions of my entire life.

It's helped with grief, anxiety, depression, sleeplessness, confidence, I can't list enough benefits.

I encourage you surround yourselves with the right people, find friends who workout and lift, if all you can do is run that's okay, hell if all you can do is walk do that. I've gone to the gym with multiple sprains to the point that all I could do is jump in the pool and kick my feet but don't let that stop you. If you're angry then use that to motivate lifting. I was angry for a long time at my bad physique but all it did was make my workouts better.

This is your life and no one is going to live it but you.