Michael Hummel has plenty to gain from pain during his regular visits to the gym.
Palm Beach Post

A decorated powerlifter who won the world championship in the bench press last November, the Boca Raton resident works out five to six days a week and maintains a strict, high-protein diet.

“It keeps me regimented," Hummel, 44, says of his workout regimen. "If I don't do something, I get bored, complacent."

Hummel began competing in powerlifting - a strength sport that consists of the squat, deadlift and bench press events - when he was 18.

Success came immediately. Hummel, who competes in the 242-pound Master division, began traveling the country to compete and since has won six national championships and set numerous world records.

Twelve years ago, however, his career was thrown into doubt when he lost his left arm below the elbow in a car accident.

He recovered, though, and was able to resume his career after being fitted with a prosthetic arm.

His determination grew steadily afterwards, and top results soon followed.
"In a motivational aspect of things, I'm stronger now than when I had two arms," says Hummel, who recently won two titles at Olympia Weekend 2009 in Las Vegas.

"It's obviously a disadvantage. It's much more difficult for me to train and do the things I have to put myself through. But it's kind of like the mind over matter program. You know the old saying, 'No pain, no gain.' Well that's my life."