Below is my story and how I would like to prove that anything is possible, any goal, dream or ambitions you have life, you can achieve no matter what life throws at you, alwaysgive life 110% back.

5 years ago last May my life took a sudden, unexpected change. After a normal night out on the town with friends, drinking the usual G & T (no drugs) I returned home, went to bed as I usually would and slept without any interruptions. I woke up as I normally would the next day and I started to feel a little unwell, I put this down to a hangover. I took a small nap, to wake up to something that changed my life in an instant. I found that my speech was badly distorted and slurred, thinking this would pass I carried on as I normally would do. A couple of days later the problem seemed to worsen, so a friend took me to the hospital, where I was admitted straight the way. I underwent test after test, to the doctors confusion.on paper I was a healthy 24 year old man. Doctors were baffled by what had happened to me and could not finger point a cause or diagnosis. Still almost 6 years on I still have no firm treatment plan or clear cause.

After discharging myself I was put under the care of a neurological specialist, whom I saw every 6 months, just to prodded and poked at. A year had past and although I still had my speech problem, I was carrying on my life as I normally would do......then the problem directed its self into my hands. I noticed that my thumb on my left hand was starting to become painful and tight and I found it increasingly hard to use, to the point where it eventually closed fully. Over time a couple of my fingers on both my left and right hands did the same. Working as a plumber by trade I found it increasingly hard to continue doing my job, I no longer plumb as a living. being a proud person, I am not one to sit around and mope nor feel sorry for myself. Although I found it very hard going from a drastic wage decrease I continued to found work as laborer. I work with a great team of lads and they help encourage and build my confidence each day.

Finally in the year of 2012 I was diagnosed with a neurological dysfunction disorder, know as Dystonia. Finally I had name to this thing that had been ruling my life for so long. I started to read up on Dystonia and came to found I actually have a very mild form. However, Dystonia should not be overlooked. It is a debilitating disease that can affect your life completely, no matter how minor.

Going through this challenge has been very difficult at times. One minute I was a normal confident lad, with a promising rugby career, no cares, a great paying job, to then have to deal with this massive change. It felt like my life had been taken away from me and I felt resentful at times and I went through some dark periods to say the least. trying to get around coping with what had happened to me, I struggled a lot with confidence and my self esteem was at an all time low. One thing I did know is that I wasn't going to allow what had happened take over my life. I knew if I continued on the road of self pity I would end up a lot worse off than I am today. This is when I turned my focus to fitness.

Always being keen on the gym, I had always been in pretty good shape but I wanted to take it to the next level and prove that my goals and dreams were still achievable, although having a disability.

For the past two years I have dedicated myself to the gym with a focus of entering the Men's health cover model competition. Working alongside my trainer Matt Jelly, who has designed rigorous training programs and diet, much to my wife's amusement :). This year is the year I plan to compete in the competition with a view to not just to win but also to expose my disability and to help encourage anyone out there who may have disabilities, confidence or self esteem issues or anyone who generally wants to keep in shape that anything is really possible if you put your heart, mind,body and soul into it.

I will be writing a daily/weekly blog of my journey, including photos, diet and training plans. Feel free to ask any questions, I would love to share with you all.

I hope you find my blog useful and get as much enjoyment and inspiration out of lifestyle changes as much as I do.

Don't lose hope