As the son of a powerlifter, bodybuilder, and personal trainer, I’ve spent my entire life around the fitness world. In fact, I probably spent more time hanging around the gym as a child than most. While eating all of the junk foods every kid loves, I would joke with my dad about all of the chicken and tuna in his diet and the endless hours he spent sculpting his body to perfection. I suppose I always considered “working out” to be something that was more about vanity and competition than health and well-being. Perhaps back then it was. Somewhere along the line, everything changed. First, I discovered that I loved to exercise. Even without considering all of the cosmetic, physical, and medical benefits, the stress-relief alone was enough to get me hooked.

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When I turned sixteen, I expressed an interest in learning my father’s profession. I followed my dad around the gym for a summer, watching and learning. I hit the books (and the gym), got certified as a fitness trainer, and by the next summer I had four clients of my own.