From Bullied To Buff

I believe that when someone shares their personal story about a struggle, or a difficult time and how they came out of it, that it helps and motivates others who may have faced the same situation.

I was bullied from the age of 11 until I was about 15. I was the new kid at school. Nearly EVERY single day I was laughed at for my clothes, because my family didn’t have a lot of money, because I lacked feminine development, and because of my weight – which was pushing 61 lbs at the age of 12…I was kicked into walls in the hallway, locked outside after recess in the Winter, thrown down onto pavement at recess until my arm broke, my glasses were stepped on and crushed, and I literally had one friend to sit with at lunch. When she was absent I hid in the restroom so I didn’t have to be alone. Even the teachers joined in on the ridiculing at times.

Needless to say I had some issues after those years…physically and emotionally. I was an awful teenager to put it mildly. I wrecked and totaled 6 cars, I had awful relationships and was honestly not a very nice person. I used food to control my life. At my thinnest, standing at almost 5’8” I weighed 98lbs. I had no idea why I was so unhappy and neither did anyone else.

It was only through the mentorship of a professor, who happened to also be a Priest in college that I began to open up about why I was such a bitter and wreckless person. He shared a similar story about his own personal battles and what lead him to the Priesthood. Until then, I had NEVER spoken a word about my experience with bullying. I was too embarrassed and ashamed. Admitting those things made me feel weak and vulnerable, and very depressed. He took me under his wing, made me go to the gym on campus and lift weights (not cardio – he was smart ), and after I graduated, he referred me to a therapist that I saw on and off for 2 years.

I began to rebuild my body image when I discovered my love of fitness and nutrition in college through weight training. I regained my self esteem, and found power in being healthy – emotionally and physically. I was ok being vulnerable and talking about my past struggles because I didn’t see it as a weakness anymore – mostly because I felt strong in other ways.

My mission in life is to continue being a role model for others that are struggling with body image issues on any level. Father “M” shared his path with me and it showed me my way…don’t be afraid to share your story with someone…you may help them find their way too.

~ Coach Holly