Story Time
For anyone that cares. I've been lifting since I was 12, so 20 years now. I got serious about it at age 15. It was all consuming, my life was lifting, learning, eating, researching, and posting on an old forum I belonged to. I remember my log was like the second biggest on the forum, I had an absurd amount of posts. I made a few friends that to this day I keep in contact with on social media.
This is why I don't really want to be on a forum. I'm only doing this to be able to order from the church. I don't agree with the prerequisite to order but rules are rules.
I was 16 years old giving out advice to adults. New members weren't aware I was a child lol, but people seemed to respect my knowledge and contributions to the forum. I was on every day, jumping at every opportunity to teach. Looking back it seems so stupid lol.
As a teenager I competed in powerlifting and totaled something like 1050 at 165 and 1125 at 181. For a short while I held the CA stated bench press record in the 165 junior class. I ran a few 5ks and half marathons, in 2008 I got into CrossFit (before it turned into a clown show) and qualified for regionals in 2010. I herniated two disks in my lower back in a stupid accident lifting in my garage. I was out of commission for months and at the same time my first daughter was born.
My love of alcohol switched from college kid fun to alcoholic adult. I developed an addiction to Norcos after going through a few prescriptions for my back. For the next few years my lifting was off and on. It seemed like every year I would deteriorate down to 145-150lbs, get back into lifting, strength skyrocketing and weight shooting back up to 165-175.
In 2016 I got my personal training license and started my own business. It lasted about a year. I struggled with alcohol and drug addiction through my entire 20s. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in my late 20s but didn't fully understand what that meant. It's hard to accurately diagnose someone who is off and on drugs and drinking heavily.
About 11 months ago I got a DUI and checked into rehab. I got sober and quickly realized that I was in fact bipolar and just how devastating this disorder can be. It explained so much of who I am and how my life had been for so long. All my sudden sparks of motivation to get back in the gym were episodes of mania. Every time, without fail, I would lose interest and slowly drink my gains away in the depressive portions of my life.
I had a bad relapse in October and was finally put on medication. The longer bipolar disorder goes untreated the worse it gets. My manic episodes were so destructive and chaotic. Every time I seem to get my life headed in the right direction, boom. Manic. Boom, life ruining decision. Boom, back to depression picking up the pieces, just waiting for that next spark of mania to come along.
Being medicated, I've been consistent for 7 months now (minus 3 weeks in October). This is the longest I've ever stuck with it since my early days and hopefully I can keep it going for a long, long time.