body bliss
A FITNESS fan has revealed that she gained 26 pounds in the months after she stopped bodybuilding - and she couldn't be happier.
Trolls said she let herself go, but she declared that she's got more to offer the world than abs and a fit body.
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Body confidence coach Sami Rose used to be obsessed with maintaining her slim and toned physique, which caused her to struggle with disordered eating habits.
In an Instagram video, she revealed that when she quit bodybuilding, trolls criticized her for the 26 pounds she gained over the course of the next several months.
"Did you 'let yourself go', or are you finally letting yourself LIVE?" she asked viewers in the video caption.
Now, she uses her own life experience to help others make peace with food and their bodies, just like she has.
She added: "My body has been with me through so many stages of my life."
When the video began, she showed what she looked like six to seven years ago, when she was lifting heavy weights and on a strict diet.
She had a confident response to people who told her that she "let herself go."
"I let myself go to the bikini instead of feeling self-conscious and sweating in extra layers to hide my flaws," she said in a voice-over.
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To emphasize her balanced lifestyle, Sami showed herself eating pasta and desserts, wearing form-fitting clothing, and exercising in the gym.
"I let myself go shopping and I just buy what I want, instead of the things I think only look good on skinny people," the blonde said.
As the video came to a close, she showcased her curvy shape in a matching undergarment set as she smiled and hugged her body.
"This isn't me letting myself go. This is me finally letting myself live," she explained.
"However it naturally looks as a result of me living a healthy, balanced life that I truly ENJOY, well that’s the best body for me," she wrote in the video caption.
The comment section was filled with supportive words about Sami's transparent message.
A viewer commented: "Such a powerful video."
"Gorgeous human. Go you good thing. You look amazing!!" a fan praised.
"You look stunning. Your smile is ear to ear! You have never looked so beautiful!!" another added.
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