Nothing has come easy to me in this life. I grew up on the tough streets of Washington Heights in New York City, getting into all kinds of trouble as a kid and teenager. I was also a fat kid most of my young life and the weight made it very difficult for me to breathe when I was trying to be active. So, I was getting even bigger because I was becoming more inactive plus I was eating everything in sight. But things would start to change around the age of thirteen when I started taking an interest in football. Football gave me a reason to start moving my body for the first time in my life. Once I started playing football I started to loose some weight and a few years later I got so good at it that I became the captain of my high school team. To take my game to the next level I knew that I had to loose more fat and gain more muscles so my friends introduced me to the neighborhood gym. For the first time I saw really fit guys and I wanted to be part of that team. Things would really change when I met Charles and other members of City Gym Boys. They had the best bodies and the best attitudes. They started helping me physically and spiritually and I never had that kind of love before from strangers. Charles let me realize that the treadmill has to become my best friend to loose the fat and it's my best friend now and forever. I now have a six pack; the fat kid that thought he was born to be fat is now part of the fittest group in America. I'm living proof that we can always change our lives and bodies if you're ready and willing to do so. My journey has only just begun, I know I have a lot of work to do, but I feel so blessed.

-Luis