I got into fitness at the age of 15 years old in High School because I was too small to play sports. I started going to the nearby gym for 2-3 hours a day and started to see great results with my physique. I then picked up fitness magazines every month following the fitness and bodybuilding world and I haven't stopped since.

I have been weight training, bodybuilding and following the fitness industry for over 10 years now. My first bodybuilding contest was when I was 21 yrs old and I have been competing since, now having done 7 competitions and placing 5 out of 7 shows. I have been lifting and training about 11-13 years now, on and off.

Competitions that I have appeared in and placed/ win:

• 2004 NPC IL-State: (N/A) Men's Novice Lt. Heavyweight
  
• 2005 NPC IL-State: 4th Men's Novice Lt. Heavyweight
  
• 2005 Indiana Indianapolis Championships: 4th Men’s Novice Lt. Heavyweight, 5th
  Men's Open Lt. Heavyweight

Current placings:

• 2008 NPC Natural Mid-States Muscle Classics XXI, Rockford-IL: 1st Men's Novice Middleweight, 3rd Men's Open Middleweight
  
• 2009 NPC Grand Prix, Rockford-IL: (N/A)
  
• 2009 NPC IL-State: 1st Men's Novice Lt. Heavyweight, 1st Overall Novice, 1st Men's Open Lt. Heavyweight
  
• 2009 GNC- IN Anderson: 5th Men's Open Lt. Heavyweight

My greatest achievement in bodybuilding:

1. Being the featured Natural Bodybuilder on Prosource.net for their Razor Ripped Product. http://www.prosource.net/content/articles/Articles-by-ProSource/raffi-melkonian-success-story.aspx
   
   
2. Making a comeback as a natural bodybuilder at 2008 NPC Natural Mid-States Muscle Classics XXI, IL-Rockford and placing 1st Men's Novice Middleweight, 3rd Men's Open Middleweight
   
   
3. Winning one of the hardest shows in Illinois, the 2009 NPC IL-State 1st Men's Novice Lt. Heavyweight, 1st Overall Novice, 1st Men's Open Lt. Heavyweight
   
   
4. Placing in the top 5 at the 2009 GNC- Indiana Anderson, 5th Men's Open Lt. Heavyweight with less then 5-7 hours of sleep in 3day or much food and stepping up in line up with National competitors.