From overweight and unhappy to strong and confident: My turning point I massively struggled with my weight during my teenage years at high school. My favourite ‘’bullied for being fat’’ memory is from a house party I was invited to by my popular neighbour. During the night, one of the other ‘’popular kids” thought it would be funny to ask me out as a joke, I obviously knew he was joking but the fact that he did it just to make others laugh around him made me realise how being fat is no joke – you will always get moments like this when you are considered a big podgy.  It wasn’t all bad though and despite my insecurities, I still had a close group of friends and managed to get by in school. I would have considered myself a happy, “fat” teenager – at least on the outside. My breaking point came out of nowhere, I had just received my third exam result for maths. After resetting the exam twice, I got a big fat ‘’D’’ for the third time! I thought to myself, “I’ve had enough. I feel fat, I feel useless and something needs to change.” That’s when I decided to take control of my life. For some reason I started by going on a veggie diet (I soon lost my vegetarian status after eating chicken after a drunken night out at uni), and the weight began to drop quickly. By the time I reached sixth form, things were finally falling into place. My grades improved, I was going to the gym regularly, and I was even on track to head to university. I felt confident and in control. However, I now know that weight is not something that stays consistent, especially as life changes, and that’s completely normal. Once I got to university, I adjusted to the lifestyle: making new friends, going out  and indulging in late night cheesy chip takeaways. Unfortunately, my bad habits crept back in, drinking most days and surviving off mashed potatoes with ketchup (my weird obsession at the time!). This is my silly little story of how it’s okay for your weight to fluctuate and how I found powerlifting – a sport I truly believe I was built for. It’s never too late to change your lifestyle, regain control and start feeling better about yourself. My history of disordered eating  For many years I avoided bringing lunch to school, scared that someone would’ve been like, “Oh, look at her eating again.”. Because I was so uncomfortable eating in front of people, I would lose control the minute I got home. I’d binge on anything sugary I could find. I felt like a crack cocaine addict who could never get enough. This cycle of restricting and bingeing became my normal. I’d go through phases of extreme dieting, where I’d deprive myself of the foods I loved, only to end up bingeing. I struggled with bulimia for many years as a teenager, trapped in a vicious cycle of guilt, restriction and overeating. It wasn’t until my early twenties that I was able to break free. The turning point came when I actually decided to  educate myself on nutrition. I realised that extreme restriction is never the answer.  Guess what I realised? At the end of the day if we choose to eat healthy every single day, we’re still going to die. And I would die for an almond croissant and a coffee! So, why not take a balanced approach? Now, I believe in moderation, enjoying the foods I love without guilt. My motto is simple: don’t eat like a dickhead, and you won’t feel like rubbish.If you’re struggling with finding balance in your diet, I offer a 12-week reverse diet plan that includes tailored macros, calories, and goals to help you feel like your best self. Contact me to learn more and start your journey to a healthier, happier you! Why I Chose Powerlifting: Finding My Strength I’ve always been naturally strong, probably thanks to genetics! I remember my first memories of my strength were during break times in primary school trying to lift up other kids in the playground (weird now I look back at it).  After losing weight as a teenager, I became obsessed with cardio and spent years overdoing it. I wanted to try something different, something that felt more natural to me and would actually make me feel strong and confident. I first picked up a barbell in 2017, and I remember deadlifting 100kg on my very first try. I thought, “Shit, I might actually be good at this!” But, like many beginners, I spent a few years ego-lifting with bad form before finally finding a proper coach. That decision changed everything. Soon after, I entered my first-ever powerlifting competition with the British Drug Free Powerlifting Association, and I won my first national competition! If you’re thinking about competing but have little to no experience, my advice is simple: just go for it. Powerlifting is such a friendly and supportive community, and you’ll be surprised at how welcoming everyone is. For me, the highlight of my day was always going to the gym after sitting at my boring office job all day, and just moving some heavy weights. Some people say that giving birth is the most miraculous feeling you can experience, but for me, nothing compares to hitting a new personal best in the gym. The Benefits of Powerlifting: More Than Just Strength Stronger muscles (duh!) First and foremost, powerlifting leads to increased skeletal muscle mass. Not only does this mean you’ll look stronger and more defined, but it also boosts your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR).  More muscle means your body burns more calories at rest, allowing you to eat more while maintaining the same weight. Plus, with a higher BMR, fat loss becomes easier and more efficient. So, powerlifting doesn’t just help you get stronger – it transforms your body into a fat-burning machine while building lean