It was the beginning of 2014 and I was just started my at-home recovery process from anorexia nervosa. My weight reached the lowest point it's ever been, and the health effects I faced weren't in my favour. I was desperate to defy the disorder's dichotomy and controlling grasp over my life, the key practices that kept the disorder strong for 5 years. It was a time in my life I had to replace disorder with balance, and struggle with strength. It was a time in my life where I was most desperate, and most vulnerable.

The natural thing for me to do during that time was to turn to my big brother, Aladdin.

My passion for bodybuilding spurred from mentorship by my big brother. To witness his love for the sport and his yearn of dedicating pursuit inspired me beyond reach. Aladdin took me into the gym for the first time in early 2014, and instantly, I fell in love.

Weight training was never a mere sport.

To me, it was therapy.

By the reach of a dumbbell, by ever barbell's grasp, I was empowering my flesh and everything it comprised of.

The art of lifting compelled me in ways that reinforced my own strength. It allowed me to understand the true concept of self love. Rather than apologizing for the space it took, I learned to embrace the power my body contained,

I was lifting, pushing, pulling, but most importantly, I was feeling. There were no rules that wrapped around my neck, no guilt that followed my every step. It was simply me, the weights, and a goal set for the cultivation of my personal growth.

Bodybuilding has saved my life by instilling a passion in my heart that is incomparable to any feeling I've known. It has inspired me to aspire with ambition, to carry gratitude and grace, and to always fight for growth