This is another reader success story that revolves around weightlifting but before I delve into this, I know women reading this might not be inclined to read this because it talks about lifting weights so they think it doesn’t apply to them. They don’t want to gain huge muscles. They just want to “tone” down so they choose to lift really low weight with high reps.

May I STILL encourage women to lift weights because it’s the way to go to lose weight and tone efficiently.

I point you to a recent article in the NY Times that discusses just that.

The Claim: For Better Muscle Tone, Go Lighter and Repeat

Before I go on too, I again want to extol the many benefits of lifting weights as I have in many previous articles. There's nothing quite like it once you get into it. The benefits you get from doing it - you can't even begin to imagine how great they are. It really is unbelievable.

As you’ll read Red’s story below, you'll see some of those benefits and begin to realize it’s not just a hobby.

It’s a way of life that you will never turn your back on.

He sent me his reader success story and I think the way the story progresses and the experiences he had when he was first starting out will easily be relatable to all the fellow men and women who have come to love the iron weights as he and I have.

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Hi Brian,

As promised, below is my story on how I lost weight from 200 lbs down to 175 lbs through weight training.

The year was 2003 when I made a decision to shape up and hit the gym.

It was January 3, 2004 when I first visited a village gym and entered the world of weight training. The decision was triggered by the fact that I had been prone to cold and flu due to my poor immune system, brought about by my being overweight. Not to mention that I looked awful with a man’s boobs and flabby tummy. As I first walked towards the Reception Area of the gym, I felt intimidated by those hard core gym buffs as they stared at me, and wondered if I can even lift a 5-pound dumbbell.

My First Day at the Gym:

I could not afford to hire a Personal Trainer, and besides, I was not sure if I can make it to the finished line. All I was after then was to feel the grip of the dumbbell. I tried the bench, inclined bench, leg press, wow ugh!!! cling!!! clang!!! Oh I saw this on tv blug blag ouch!!! Terrible!!! Let me try this t-bar with plates.. ahhhh!! Uhhh!! Hey buddy can I try that pulley!!??? No, pal I still have to complete my last set!!!! What!!! Set!!!???? Gosh@@ what is he talking about!!!!! Oh I wanna try that barbell oopss ahhhh…ughhhh.

My Second Week:

I fall off the wagon, I felt the world on top of my shoulders due to muscle soreness…I quit for a week.

My Third Week:

Back to the race and ready to give it a second chance. That time I met my very first Gym buddy, John. He taught me all about proper execution and walked me through the process of body fitness, nutrition and muscles recovery.

Six months later, I noticed the change in my body, I saw a little curve in my triceps, decrease in my waistline from 39 to about 37 inches. Every time I finished my workout, I felt like a beast ready to explode.

It was then I got interested in supplements like amino acid, creatine and whey protein. I invested on those stuff and found them great. I started searching in the internet to enhance my knowledge about bodybuilding and by chance, I encountered the site of my idol, Hugo Rivera.

Now, it has been six years since I lifted my very first dumbbell. I weigh 175 lbs from 200 lbs six years ago. Weight lifting has done a lot for me. I became more confident, healthy and pro-active. I appreciated life more because I don’t catch cold and flu very easily anymore. I can wear my body-fit t-shirt and Levi’s jeans without inhibition. If I may borrow the words from one of the success stories I have read in this site, “I feel like a million bucks Brian!!!” in my Nike muscle shirt, jogging pants and training shoes.

At present, I hit the gym 3 to 4 times a week without fail. I also teach my gym buddies about the importance of proper form, nutrition and rest. I rolled out to them what I have learned from John, but this time, for a fee (minimal though). I made my passion to be one of the sources of my income.

Weight training to me started as an idea. Until that idea has turned into action, action into a hobby, hobby into a way of life. No regrets Brian, no regrets. By the way, I would like to thank you for having your article entitled “Why Every Man Should Lift Weights?” My two thumbs up!!! Really, two thumbs up..

Thanks Brian and more power!!! Let’s lift weights and get physical!!!!

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You’re very welcome Red!

And thank you for taking the time to write and share your story. I really appreciate it! Congratulations on your success and all it has brought you as well!

Ask ANYBODY, I mean ANYBODY who has lifted weights consistently and you will get the same kind of response that Red has given here.

You feel more confident, healthier, you feel like a million bucks, it opens up a ton of other doors, the benefits carry over into other areas of your life, you get serious about what you put into your body, and once you get a taste of how great it is, you never go back.

You never go back. It becomes a way of life.

And it’s one of the best habits you will EVER form in life.

If you want to improve your life but have no idea where to start, this is as good a place as any. Master this area and the other areas of your life WILL improve. It WILL spill over and positively affect other areas of your life.

Man or woman, if you’re reading this, and you haven’t yet experienced what it’s like to lift weights, head to the gym. Get educated. Get disciplined. Feel the benefits. See your body change before you over time. Gain the confidence. See what it’s like to feel like a million bucks.

You will never, EVER regret doing it.