I started weightlifting at 13 years old for high school football. During this time, I learned what it meant to train with a purpose but more importantly what physical activity/weightlifting does for your mind. I wasn’t a bad kid growing up, but I had, and still have, a lot of emotion, good and bad. I was never good at communicating these emotions so I would use them as a tool or a weapon if you will, to power and push my physical self beyond its capabilities. A phrase I use to describe this is, channeling your anger or emotions. Because each training session was emotional, it was passionate and a safe space to express myself. I didn’t just have to go to the gym; I needed to go to the gym. This mindset and way of expressing myself has now turned into a career of being a professional bodybuilder and a professional powerlifter. I used this weapon of emotion to become one of the strongest weightlifters in the world having the highest powerlifting total in my weight class and the fourth highest total of all time. Although I worked hard for the muscles and strength I have, they are just a side effect of the real reason why I train. Channeling anger.