Not for its intended purpose

When I first assembed my Bowflex I realized that I wanted to do a chin up on what's referred to as the "Lat Tower".

On January 16th, 2005 I tried one chip up and completely failed. I never tried again because, really, I was a bit heavier and I didn't want to damage my equipment even before I really got the chance to use it and get in shape.

Over time I completely forgot that I had wanted to do a chip up.


I used my lat tower as a lat tower performing my "wide lat pulldowns", "narrow lat pulldowns" and "standing tricepts pushdowns".

7 months and 5 days later I remembered my failed chin up. I thought to myself "just once".

Much to my huge surprise I was able to pull myself into chin up position with next to no effort. I had done my first chin up and kept holding on.

I was giddy with pride at what seems to many like a small feat but I had never in my life been able to do this and it wasn't something I was practicing. It was something that simply "became" when I decided to make better use of my body.

The next day I made, Karla, my wife watch me as I performed chin ups. She told me she was stunned with the muscles revealed in my back and wanted to take a picture.

At this stage in my body's development I almost feel defensive. I'm certainly not huge by any stretch of the imagination. I do however think I look fit and healthy. And, when you consider where I came from, this is a big change.

Now, if you've been watching me over the course of the past few months you'll realize that I certainly haven't "popped". I don't think I'm genetically predisposed to get big muscle growth and it's something I work at very diligently for every pound of muscle I've put on but I believe all of the hard work has been worth it.