More Than Muscle: My Real Journey Through Bodybuilding
I never set out to be a fitness professional. In fact, my early life couldn’t have been further from dumbbells and diet plans. A creative at heart, I began my career in industrial design and spent years in the lighting and design industries. But a moment of self-reflection—realising I felt unfit just walking up the stairs—sparked a journey that would lead me into the heart of the fitness world.
What began as a simple effort to get healthier turned into a growing passion. I started walking regularly, then hired a trainer, joined a gym, and gradually fell in love with the process. I didn’t start training with a competition in mind. My focus was on feeling better, understanding my body, and living a more active life.
That passion for knowledge led me to a new coach who introduced me to the fundamentals of weight training and nutrition. As I learned, I saw tangible changes in my physique. One day, my coach suggested something unexpected: a bodybuilding competition was coming up in six weeks. Maybe, just maybe, I was ready.
Despite being new to the world of bodybuilding, I embraced the challenge. I didn’t follow extreme protocols—there was no dehydration, no elimination of healthy foods. I maintained the same balanced habits I had developed for my lifestyle, and that made a world of difference. But stepping on stage was still nerve-wracking. I kept my first comp under wraps, hesitant about the judgment that might come, both on and off the stage. Coming from a traditional Italian background added another layer of complexity—posing in a bikini and heels wasn’t exactly what my family expected.
Over the years, I competed in multiple competitions. My natural leanness allowed me to maintain stage condition with relative ease, and I gained confidence with each experience. But I also saw the darker side of the sport. Backstage, I overheard competitors lamenting their lack of water or dreaming about almonds—tiny glimpses into the unhealthy extremes some were enduring. Many didn’t have a healthy lifestyle to begin with, and the pressure to perform only intensified emotional and physical struggles post-comp.
The aftermath of a competition can be jarring. Without proper mental and emotional preparation, competitors often face post-comp blues, identity loss, and rapid weight gain. I remember feeling strange the first time I gained more weight than usual, even though I never strayed far from my lean baseline. That experience gave me deep empathy for others who spiraled after competing
Today, I’m the Student Success Manager at Women’s Fitness Education, where I help women break into the industry with confidence and support. I teach technical skills, yes, but I also share the deeper lessons I’ve learned—about mindset, self-worth, and the importance of honesty.
My message to aspiring competitors is clear: get real about your "why." Are you doing it for validation, revenge, recognition? Or are you driven by a genuine passion for training and growth? I believe mental preparation should be just as important as physical prep. I advocate for journaling, community support, and mindset coaching to help navigate the emotional highs and lows of competition.
My journey is an example what’s possible when passion meets purpose—but also a cautionary tale about the importance of inner strength. As I often say, "You are more than your body or a trophy. If your sense of worth is riding on a judge’s opinion, take a step back and do the inner work first."
If you’re thinking about becoming a qualified personal trainer or group fitness instructor, check out our Certificate III and IV in Fitness. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!
