Andrew Powell’s journey is one of those stories that reminds us of the power of persistence, passion, and the influence of those we hold dear. Imagine being the smallest kid in your class, weighing just 110 pounds when you graduate high school, and then standing on stage as a professional bodybuilder years later. That’s the story of Andrew, a guy who didn’t start working out until he was 25 and yet managed to turn pro in men’s physique and bodybuilding at 37 in just over a week between his first NPC show and earning his pro card. It’s a story that’s as wild as it is inspiring, but let’s take it back to where it all began.

Andrew always knew he was small. He wasn’t just small; he was tiny. At 25, he weighed barely 120 pounds, and one day, he looked in the mirror and didn’t like what he saw. He looked sickly, and it hit him that he needed to change. But Andrew wasn’t your typical gym rat. He didn’t grow up with fitness as a part of his life, even though his dad had dabbled in competitions and had a trophy. But they didn’t talk about fitness; it was just there, like a silent possibility.

It wasn’t just about him when Andrew decided to start working out. It became a family affair. He and his wife, Haley, decided to join a CrossFit gym together. This wasn’t something Haley had ever done before—she didn’t have an athletic background; she was in the band in high school. But they both committed, driving long hours to meet up and work out together after work. They did this for about five years, and in that time, something clicked. Fitness became a part of their lives as individuals and as a couple.

Here’s the thing about working out with your spouse: you can’t force it. For Andrew, the motivation was simple—he was so small that Haley didn’t want to be the wife who was bigger than her husband. It became a shared journey, something new for both of them, and they pushed through the challenges together.

When they had their youngest child, they didn’t want to quit. They loved fitness, but life had changed, and they had to adapt. They switched from CrossFit to a gym, a whole new experience for them. And that’s when they realized they needed help with nutrition. But like many of us, Andrew had a fear—he was always skinny and didn’t want to get fat. So, he didn’t fully commit to the nutrition plans at first, but he kept at it, learning, growing, and adapting.

On the other hand, Haley decided she wanted to step on stage and compete in bodybuilding. Andrew was content to be her cheerleader, watching her succeed, and that’s when something in him shifted. Seeing Haley’s success ignited a spark in him. He started to pay more attention to his nutrition, and for the first time, he grew—both in size and confidence.

Andrew’s journey wasn’t just about building muscle. It was about finding balance, learning to fuel his body correctly, and understanding the importance of taking his time. Patience, he learned, is often the enemy of bodybuilding, but it’s also the key to real growth. He didn’t rush to the stage; he took the time to build a solid foundation, and it paid off.

Through it all, Andrew wasn’t just doing it for himself. His two boys were watching him every step of the way. They were his reason—his reason for pushing through the tough times, sticking to his plan, and waking up at the crack of dawn to work out. When his oldest son’s friends came running up to him at football practice, admiring his big muscles, and his son proudly said, “That’s my dad,” Andrew knew it was all worth it.

Andrew’s story isn’t just about bodybuilding. It’s about commitment, the power of influence, and leading by example. It’s about showing up, not just for yourself but for those who look up to you. And in those moments when his kids look at him with pride, Andrew knows he’s on the right path. As parents, we all want our kids to be proud of us, and Andrew Powell is living proof that with hard work, patience, and a little inspiration from those we love, we can achieve things we never thought possible.

Follow Andrew on his journey here