Vanessa MacDonald

Growing up I was a very athletic child. Always competing in sporting events and advancing in soccer and hockey. I wasn't a skinny girl, I struggled with body image and my weight for years never happy with the way I looked, although being athletic and always active I constantly compared myself to others hating the way I looked. Over the years I gained weight and lost weight seemed like a constant cycle. Getting to the point in deciding where to go to college I received a soccer scholarship and accepted it. This was a dream of mine come true, to be recognized for my athleticism. Things didn't work out and injuries occurred my life sorta spiraled down. I suffered from sever depression and multiple eating disorders. Never once did I think these things would ever affect me. I dropped to an unhealthy weight and I looked at food as if it were the devil. And things came over me to wanting to end my life and to starve. Somehow things changed, I seeked a lot of help and found myself again in the gym. My love for fitness kept me going and improved my overall mental state and health. I feel like my back story is something that many individuals need to here going through similar situations that maybe they can relate and change there ways as well and to know they are not alone