The Extremes of Health & Wellness: My Journey from Bodybuilding to True Success

“I’ve tried everything, and I still don’t feel good in my body.”

“I thought losing weight would finally make me happy.”

We hear it all the time. And the truth is, I’ve said those exact words myself.

There was a time when I equated being “healthy” with pushing harder, tracking more precisely, and aiming for an ideal body that lived in fitness magazines. I trained for months leading up to bodybuilding competitions, planning every gram of food, every workout, every cardio session. I did everything right. And by competition day, I had the sculpted physique I once believed would finally make me feel worthy.

And for a brief moment, it did.
I stepped on that stage and felt accomplished, proud, even powerful.

But then the lights went out.
And what remained was a sense of emptiness I couldn’t shake.

I had done everything the industry said would lead to fulfillment. Yet deep down, nothing had changed. I was still chasing and still searching. I was the same inside despite my transformation on the outside.

When the World Stopped, Something Opened

Then COVID hit. The gyms closed and life slowed. Like many of us, I was forced to reevaluate my goals and my purpose. So I started training women in my garage, just a few at first.  

And what unfolded in that small space changed everything.

These women didn’t come looking for a “dream body.” They came in search of feeling better and getting stronger. They showed up in leggings and messy buns, often carrying the weight of a hard day or a heavy season. But they moved, they laughed and they listened. They came for the workout, but stayed to support each other.

It was in that garage that I finally found the thing I’d been missing all along: community.

I realized that wellness isn’t about extremes. It’s about feeling supported, seen, and strong, not just in our bodies, but in our lives. That realization became the seed for something bigger: Alluvita.

Why the Extremes Don’t Work (and What Does)

For years, the fitness world has sold us transformation through control: calorie counting, before-and-after photos, punishing workouts, and impossible standards. But the research tells another story.

Disordered eating and exercise obsession

According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), up to 33% of female athletes, especially those in appearance- or weight-focused sports like bodybuilding, gymnastics, and figure skating, exhibit disordered eating behaviors. These include chronic dieting, food restriction, overtraining, and body checking. 

While these behaviors may be normalized or even praised in certain fitness communities, they often mask a deeper struggle with self-worth and control. Over time, this relentless pursuit of the “perfect body” can lead to physical burnout, hormonal imbalances, anxiety, and a fractured relationship with food and movement. (Unfortunately, I can relate to most of these…ugh).

In other words, what looks like discipline from the outside can be distress on the inside.

The illusion of the “ideal body” and persistent body dissatisfaction

Cash & Pruzinsky’s research in Body Image: A Handbook of Theory, Research, and Clinical Practice reveals that achieving a physical goal doesn’t necessarily translate to long-term satisfaction. In fact, when body transformation is driven by the desire to gain approval or fit into a societal ideal, the sense of accomplishment is often fleeting. 

The underlying belief of "I'll be enough when I look a certain way" doesn’t disappear just because the external changes. This creates a moving target, where women continuously chase new milestones instead of creating a sense of worth from within.

Real confidence isn’t built by shrinking your body but by shifting your relationship with it.

The science of connection in wellness

It turns out that one of the most powerful health interventions doesn’t come in a pill or a program; it comes from our connection with each other.

Studies consistently show that social connection is a cornerstone of both mental and physical health. Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, a leading researcher in the field, found that people with strong social relationships have a 50% increased likelihood of survival compared to those with weaker ties. These connections help lower levels of anxiety and depression, reduce the effects of chronic stress, and even strengthen the immune system.

So here’s what we believe, at our core:

Extreme physical results aren’t sustainable or healthy.

But when you combine purpose, movement, and community, you create something far more powerful, sustainable wellness that meets you where you are and carries you forward.

What We’re Building at Alluvita

At Alluvita, we’re rewriting the wellness script. We’ve traded obsession for intention. Perfection for progress. And Isolation for inclusion. 

We’re creating a new way forward: one where wellness feels human again. Grounded. Relational. Sustainable.

Here’s what we’re offering:

Strength training with purpose

Whether you’re in your twenties, building muscle for the first time, navigating the changes of motherhood, or entering menopause and focused on long-term health, we will meet you where you are. We’ll help you train for life, and to support your body for the long run.

Nervous system regulation through movement and recovery

Through a blend of intentional exercise and nervous system-aware practices such as contrast therapy, massage, yoga and breathwork, we help you tune in instead of burn out. Whether it’s attending a session, relaxing in the sauna, or simply sitting with awareness, our goal is to support your whole self:  body, mind, and spirit.

A community that welcomes you exactly as you are

No one’s comparing reps or racing toward unattainable goals here. Instead, we’ve created a space where you’re celebrated for showing up, whether that means smashing a personal record or just taking a pause during a hectic day.

This is a place where women encourage each other, listen deeply, laugh hard, and hold space when life feels heavy. Where connection replaces competition, and support is part of the structure.

A space for you to be fully yourself, no matter your shape, size, or season

You won’t find one type of woman here. We’re a mix of moms, daughters, professionals, caretakers, dreamers, and women at every age and every stage.

What we share is the courage to show up. To stop waiting until we “have it all together” and instead begin exactly where we are.

You don’t need to go to extremes to be healthy. You don’t need to prove anything.

You just need to be yourself. 

Remember the Nirvana song… “Come as you are…” 

Looking Ahead

Alluvita was born from that garage, from that shift in purpose, and from women like you who want something more meaningful from their wellness journey.

We are not just another gym, spa or recovery center.

We are a space for real women to grow, align, and thrive together.

Because true wellness isn’t about hitting a number, fitting into a mold, or grinding toward perfection. It’s about waking up feeling nourished, seen, and connected. It’s about remembering that you’re already enough. You belong here. Welcome!

Our first Alluvita location is set to open in May 2026, and until then, we’ll be sharing stories, insights, and ways to stay connected as we build.

If that resonates with you, we’d love to keep in touch. You can sign up for our monthly newsletter. A gentle pause in your inbox each month, filled with reminders that wellness can feel warm, welcoming, and shared