Dreams Believed are Dreams Achieved

Name: Douglas Stamp

Age: 26

Growing up, although I was always focused on academics, I loved being active. Track and Field activities were all-time favourites for me in school, particularly 100m sprinting, relay, long jump and high jump. However I never choose to compete in events outside of Physical Education classes.

I became dedicated to athletics after my mom encouraged to take up martial arts. I believe it was the wor

k ethic and values my mother fostered in me why I have the discipline and determination I have today. I began practising Chito-Ryu Karate at age 12. I entered my first Kumite tournament at age 14 and won the bronze medal for sparring. I earned my brown belt before leaving the country to do high school in Jamaica.

I learned the hard way that weight training is an art and a science, and understanding that fact cannot be taken for granted if you are going to do it effectively and safely.

I did free body exercises - pu

shups, pull ups, dips, lunges, and skipping. Once I understood how muscles growth is triggered I realized I would have to eventually incorporate weighted exercises to get to where I wanted to be. Being a high school student at the time, I didn't have much money to invest in a fitness gym membership, so I went to Home Hardware and bought clamps, fishing line and pulleys. I attached the clamps to the iron beams in my Mom's basement to do pull ups. I then attached the pulleys to the clamps and used the fishing line with my Dad's old 30lb freeweights to build a makeshift cross cable machine. I used two old shipping barrels to do my dips. And I would do wall push ups to strengthen my shoulders.

Once I started studying at York university, I had access to their fitness facilities and began going to the gym regularly four day

s a week with my friends. I took the opportunity to learn more tips and better technique from the football players, track members and weight trainers like myself. I learned about Plyometrics, strength training and more while at York. Studying Engineering and working parttime sometimes made working out on a regular basis difficult, but I decided I wanted my training not to be a 3-4 year stint to get in shape, but a lifelong commitment and lifestyle, so I fit my work outs in between classes, sometimes at night.

Currently I work downtown at Decode Entertainment and use the Hot Flex facilities right across the street to exercise. I go every workday during my lunch break to workout - doing weight lifting and

cardio on different days.

When I began weight training 7 years ago I was about 155 lb. I am now 187 lb. I did a lot of learning along the way and I still have many fitness goals in my sights. Physical training has been a great part of my life and growth as a person and I have every intention to keep pushing my own boundaries.