My story begins with my grandfather, who tragically passed away from a heart attack at just 35 years old, leaving my mother fatherless at the age of nine. Although I never met him, his early death has profoundly influenced my journey.

In 1968, when I was 10, my mother suffered her first heart attack at 36. With her in the hospital, my father, a bodybuilder, took on the responsibility of caring for my siblings and me. He introduced me to the world of fitness by placing a barbell in my hands and teaching me to work out. By the time I was 13, I was engrossed in bodybuilding magazines and had set a goal to win the Mr. America title. That same year, my mother had her second heart attack.

Driven by my passion, I continued to work out and learn everything I could about the human body, training, and nutrition. At 15, I entered my first local bodybuilding contest. In 1974, my mother faced yet another near-fatal health scare. With the knowledge I had acquired, I helped her lose almost 180 pounds, transforming her health and life.