Well guys, here's the story- about two and a half years ago I was in a terrible car accident that almost took my life. I spent a week in a coma on a ventilator in the ICU and was bed ridden for 6 months, unable to move the left side of my body and forced to move in with my parents as I was single and unable to take care of myself. My doctors initially told me that I would never be able to live on my own again, would likely never regain control of the left side of my body and would never recover enough mentally to complete a 4 year college degree or maintain a full time job. Instead of letting that bring me down I let it piss me the f**k off, told the docs they were wrong and I was going to come back bigger, stronger and smarter then I was before the accident (as they smirked at me) and then channeled that energy to light an absolute fire under my ass to prove everyone wrong. I was 6'2, 230 lbs and about 12% bf when this happened. I worked relentlessly with my therapist, going from learning how to feed myself again, to learning how to write again, to learning how to walk again as by the grace of God I slowly regained control of my left side (I suffered a great deal of never damage and traumatic brain energy). After 6 months I was no longer stuck in a bed, I had regained my mental dexterity and was able to move out of my parents house and live on my own again. The first picture of me with the cake was taken at the moving in party my friends and family threw for me when I officially moved in to my own place again. By the time this picture was taken I had lost over 30 lbs of lean muscle mass and gained at least 20 lbs of body fat even though it was hard to see here because it was in my midsection and I was sitting. My next goal upon moving out of my parents house was to get back in school and gain back all of muscle I had lost while I was recovering. I got back in school full time,finished my 4 year degree a semester early, decided to really spit in my docs face by enrolling in a master's degree program and graduated with honors in a year by taking a double course load. Also, I busted my ass in the gym and the kitchen day in and day out and gained back everything I had lost along with an extra 10 lbs of lean mass and a great deal of strength. Now that I have gained that back I am working on cutting the extra body fat and shaping it all up. The moral of my story is DO NOT...EVER let anyone tell you what you are or are not capable of because only you can determine that! I was told that I would never move out of my parents house, could never get back in college, would likely never walk on my own again and to basically give up on the life that I wanted for myself. I stand here a little over 2 years later bigger,stronger, more independent and working a full time, professional job that I got after I finished my master's degree. Last week I WALKED- on my own- into the doctors office who initially diagnosed me, showed him my masters degree diploma and told him he needed to forget half of the sh*t he learned in med school and learn how to believe in the power of human motivation .That was one of the best moments of my life. You guys have been invaluable along this journey. The support, education, motivation and all around positive environment here picked me up when I was feeling weak and kept me motivated. I love this community and thank you all for everything you do. I will continue posting progress pics and expect to be pretty good and cut up in the next few months. Stay strong, lift heavy and be good brothers. God bless