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What moment in your life motivated you to peruse living a healthy lifestyle? 
 
 
I always loved being active, playing sports, and maintaining an athletic physique. It was not until I saw Angela Mraz on the cover of oxygen magazine which inspired me to take my physique and knowledge to the next level.   
  
She not only portrayed athleticism, she displayed cuts, lines, and curves which I have never seen in person until age 17…  
  
I wanted a new challenge and goal to reach!! I knew it was not going to happen over night so I started researching nutrition, training, and hired a personal trainer…  
  
From that day on I knew were my heart and passion belonged which lead me into my career as a personal trainer and a fitness marketing coordinator!   
  
I truly believe drive, passion, knowledge, set priorities and goals are the key to success!!! You need to learn who you are and what drives you as a person.. I know for sure that I have found my path in life at age 17!! THANKS ANGELA!!!   
   
What moment in your life changed you??

Somewhere around the age of 10-11 I figured out that I would probably have to lift weights if I wanted to be the strongest kid in school.

I actually WAS one of the stronger kids at my school (sad I know, I went to a really small school), but the day Susie Stephens dumped me for my friend Jack, I knew something had to change. That’s the day I decided to start drinking beer like Arnold. 4th grade, good times. I’m tearing up just thinking about it…

 

In the 4th grade the top dog spot was fought over by me and Dwayne Jackson…  he eventually played tight end for KU then a couple of years in the NFL.  We fought severtal times during the 4th grade with no clear outcome.  I did end up with a pretty good shiner once, but I have to say that our last fight, when the teacher came back into the room and found several desks overturned and me and Dwayne scuffling on the floor, I was on top when he pulled us apart!!!  After 4th grade there was really no further contact between us, I started wrestling, and he, of course, played basketball.  So, we moved into two completely different worlds.

I wanted to start on my varsity football team as a sophmore, I wanted to play college ball and try to make it to the pro’s.  At the age of 11 or 12 I made this up in my mind, I wanted to show the world what I could do as an athlete.  I succeded in all my goals but going pro!   damn!  Plus I was always active as a kid.  I grew up in the country on a farm so me and my sister spent all of our time outside playing from morning to night.  We did not even own a tv, my mom did not want us sitting around and watching tv, we had to go outside and play, it was not our option!  Even when I got older and we moved into the city and had a tv and video games and so forth I never stayed inside, I was always out causing hell with my budies playing paintball with sling shots or making ramps to jump with our bmx bikes!  lol man those were the good old days.  I thank My mom to this day for forceing me to play outside and to be active.  Your foundation as a kid is the most important thing in the world for being strong and healthy as an adult.  Not only did my mom ALWAYS have me and my sister in sports and made us play outside, but she made us eat well every day!  We all sat down as a family every morning, and night with good healthy foods, and we had to finish our plate or we were in trouble!   Every dinner we had some kind of meat, and veggies, and we had to drink at least two glasses of milk at dinner.  In the morning we had to drink all of our orange juice and eat all of our toast and eggs!  so thank you mom for making me strong!!!!!   I think that kids under 12 that are fat or obese is 100% the parents fault, and I think its child abuse and the parents should go to jail.  Thats just my opinion, parents these days need to do a better job keeping there kids healthy, active and eating right, ITS THERE JOB AS PARENTS!!  

I was sick of being a timid little and I mean little wuss. I looked like fred savage and had no luck making friends I think I had three in elementery school that were really friends. And dont get me started on the curled up in a ball but kickings I recieved.        
      Well my dad always said I would grow into myself one day. And at eleven I began my journey I began to train not lift weights but truely train I had good blood for this my cousins my uncles and my dad were all huge at the time. And wouldnt you know I entered and took second place at my first powerlifting meet at twelve years old (This ended the bullies) plus I had started martial arts .
     I went to a large high school and at this time I was a 13 year old freshman I had 285 under my belt and went on a quest to crush every school record I could. But guess what Columbus Ohio really breeds the monsters. But by the time I was a senior in high school I had at least the top bench spot at that time @ 17 with 365lbs. But believe it or not there were 6 guys benching over 350 and probably another 12 benching 300 in the graduating class of 1993. 
    I am glad I was picked on and I am glad I had been beat on. I really believe that those experience helped me become determined to make a difference in as many lives as I possibly can. I never turn anyone away and speak to everyone with the respect every living person deserve’s. And I will NEVER change as far as I am concerned my mission is only over when I draw my last breath.  This is my passion This is my life let those who stand in my way be warned.
 
 
Thanks
Butch
 

 
That’s awesome your mom set those ground rules. 
 
I was always outside playing with my friends… now in days kids have “play dates” SO lame! Usually that consists of video games, internet or watching TV. 
 
 
What ever happened to the good old days of man hunt, kick ball, soccer, basketball, roller hockey, and climbing trees?? Honestly it was not to long ago… Within 10 years so much has changed. 
 
I agree with you that it is definitely the parent’s fault that children are obese however times have changed… More processed food, lack of activity and most importantly BOTH parents are working.  Feeding children sugar filled cereal, processed food, fast food, candy, cookies and chocolate bars are far more convenient then cooking fresh vegetables, poultry meat ect.
 
What a shame! Even family values have changed.  It is not as common to see families eat dinner together and socialize about their day (work, school, after school activities ect)…