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Q: You%u2019ve spoken about overcoming challenges like depression and eating disorders. How did fitness help you through those struggles, and what advice do you have for others facing similar battles?A. Fitness has essentially cured my eating disorders. For someone like me, consistency and routine are extremely important because without them, it%u2019s easy to fall back into unhealthy patterns like binging and purging. Fitness introduced me to healthy eating, consistent meal prep, and structured routines.Meal prepping, in particular, has been life-changing%u2014it makes life so much easier and stress-free. You don%u2019t have to be into fitness or competing to benefit from it. It%u2019s a habit I think many people could adopt for a healthier, more organized life.Q: How did you begin sharing your fitness journey on social media, and what inspired you to start @swedish_bella?A. Both of my parents were very fit and active. My dad loved weightlifting, and my mom played handball in the junior league. Coming from such an active family, it felt natural to continue on that path. I%u2019ve always been a gym enthusiast%u2014I started working out when I was 16 or 17 and loved the gym life from day one.Growing up, I faced challenges both at home and in school. I was bullied, which led to me developing eating disorders around the age of 13. I struggled with my health for a long time, but when I moved to the U.S. about eight years ago, things began to change. I started taking my fitness journey more seriously and became much healthier. I always wanted to compete, but I was scared it might worsen my mental health.My husband, who is a personal trainer, helped me a lot at the gym. My body started transforming, and I felt so much better%u2014both physically and mentally. When we moved from L.A. to Arizona, I started training with a new coach, and that%u2019s when my fitness journey really took off. Finally, I decided I wanted to compete. It took two years to build the confidence to hit the stage and share my journey on social media. The past two years have been amazing for me%u2014I%u2019ve found something I love that keeps me healthy.Q: Fitness has played such a vital role in your life. When did you realize it was more than just a hobby for you?A. I%u2019ve known since I was young that this is what I love doing, and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to pursue it. Not everyone has that chance.MOSTMAGAZINEMOST MAGAZINE - ISSUE 63 55