[kwiromeo]

In 2009, I had been depressed for 3 years after I arrived in the United States. I made no friends in that time, and I gained about 70 lbs. High school was rough, then the year before my senior year, I started lifting. I didn't do competition, but I started working out regularly to improve my physic. I can say that just being able to see daily progress and feel in control of something made a difference. I read some self help books, but lifting definitely gave me a boost in my esteem and made me feel that I could make changes in my life and that I wasn't powerless.