I read an inspiring article in one of my fitness magazines, MUSCLE MEDIA. After reading the article, I decided to compete in their contest, the physique transformation challenge. I've lifted weights, since I was 16 years old, but a year of corporate lunches took their toll as you can see. I began the contest on Feb 1st.

Here is a picture taken in June with my girlfriend VICTORIA, and my dog KUMA. When I begain the challenge, I weighed 190 lbs. Now I weigh 180lbs but have actually transformed most of my mass into muscle.

Well, it's over now (thank THE LORD). Yesterday (Friday) I took my final pictures. They'll be developed today and I'll get them up as soon as possible.

Am I a stud? Hell no. I kept thinking, I should have done better, I should have done better. If you look at the before and after pictures, you should see a big difference, but for me it's not enough (will it ever be?).

Last night, I went out to dinner at the Olive Garden to celebrate my accomplishment. To be honest, I'm not sure if I like that rich food any more. I know it sounds wierd, but besides feeling guilty, my stomach was upset as hell. As I write this I'm eatinng a bowl of oatmeal (with some whey protien added) and it tastes pretty damn good. If you give it a chance, it really will change your life-style.

Thanks to all the people who helped drive me on. Thanks to John Fingerlin (training partner) and Reggie Grier (Dough Boy). Thanks to EAS for helping me with my nutrition and training program. Thanks to the misc.fitness.weights newsgroup for all of their expert advice. Thanks to my girlfriend for putting up with all my mood swings (funny how carb deprivation does that?). Thanks to the old man at Ab Class who I could never keep up with. Thanks to my family and friends for the compliments that kept me from giving up. Thank you all for helping me make a noticable improvement in mind, body and soul.

What's next? I've set a new goal of adding 10 lbs of mucle while continuing to get lean. I want to have shredded abs. Period. Abs are the last to appear and the first to go so that's when I know I'm in shape.

These pictures were taken on August 21st, 1998.