As a child I was your typical 98lb weakling. Between illness and genes from the wrong side I was tall but you could almost play a tune on my ribs I was so skinny. For Christmas when I was around twelve my parents bought me my first piece of exercise equipment. It was the Weider Pocket Gym which was a long piece of rubber with thick rubber ends. It was used similar to cables but could fit in your pocket. I stayed up for hours that night doing every concievable exercise with it as well doing numerous pushups. It was the first time I achieved a pump which any bodybuilder will tell you is a great feeling. Recently I was able to obtain this same piece of equipment(box and instructions) to add to my collection of old time training equipment.
When I was around 16 I started working out in a gym my brother had set up in our basement. Between working out and taking some horrible tasting supplements I began making some good gains. After seeing the movie Hercules and buying my first muscle magazine I went all out on my training developed a great lifetime interest in fitness.
Unfortunatly at around 18 or 19 my interest shiffted to fast cars and motorcycles as well as constant partying. The weights were put on a back burner. I lost some of gains I had made but because of my high metabolism I didn't gain weight. When I got married I was 6'2 and 175 lbs. Being married and settled down I went back to training and in the enclosed picture I was around 215lbs. Not a 98lb weakling anymore. Anytime I have taken a layoff I simply drop bodyweight(which has always been easy for me). Once I start training again I slowly build up my bodyweight so as not to put weight around the midsection.
At 64 I still love training and am never ashamed to take my shirt off. I plan on training as long as I can lift any weight no matter how light for the rest of my life.
