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Competing costs tons of money, takes you away from friends and family , makes you drag your lifeless, sore, depleted body for yet another cardio session. It is a JOB in itself just making food for the next day. You watch your friends talk about how much fun it was dancing at the new club and how drunk they were and remember what that was like.......so why the HELL do I compete? No one has ever PAID me for ANYTHING. My mom thinks I am crazy, she thinks I should take my degree and get a JOB that will pay me enough to buy a house and car and act more like my friends who are making over $50,000 a year. My friends think I am crazy for bringing food everywhere I go and reading Muscle and Fitness. So why do I do it.........
.....I do it because I shock myself each time by what I put myself through and how rewarding it is to be incontrol of my own body. I do it because my view on life changes making me think that I can do ANYTHING I put my mind to. I do it because I practice what I preach and it helps motivate those I train. When people tell me that "I" am motivating then "I" am motivated to be the best I can be in everything I do.The things I used to think I missed out on I don't seem to miss anymore. With that said I try and balance my life between friends, family, and fitness. You can't shut everything else out, just prioritize. There is always room for improvement in all aspects of life but as long as I keep moving foward I will keep going.
If I can find a way to do what I love for the rest of my life I will be happy. And competing makes my happy. I haven't won big money or lots of fame, I do it for myself, so I know it's for the right reasons. I want to thank all of the support from friends in the industry, photographers, and American Physiques. I want to thank anyone who has believed I can achieve the unachievable. I hope to move foward in the industry and help others reach their goals also, whether big or small. We all need something to move us foward. :) -V
