Alanna Groom is a mother of two who battled depression for years.
Bodybuilding is more than sculpting the perfect physique to compete on stage. For some, fitness is a way to improve mental health and improve overall lifestyles. This is especially true for Alanna Groom, a mother of two from London. Groom battled depression for years and was on the brink of suicide before she began venturing into bodybuilding.
Groom is the mother of two girls and this is when her depression began. She was diagnosed with post-natal depression and it intensified in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic caused stress to many but especially those who were forced to shut down their businesses. Groom was forced to shut down her business and this is when her depression was at it worst. This is when Groom began thinking that she was “worth more dead than alive.”
Throughout her life, Alanna Groom had tried different diets but nothing was substantial. When the gyms were closed during the lockdown, Groom’s sister hired a personal trainer for her. Scott Francis began training Groom and they began a 10-week program.
“In my head, I was going to end up killing myself in the next few weeks, so I had nothing to lose,” Groom said.
Alanna Groom quickly began losing weight quickly. In December, she began turning her attention to bodybuilding. Her next goal was to train hard enough to be able to enter a competition. She began taking classes to learn poses and perfect her craft. Groom entered her first competition in December and won gold. This was the culmination of all of her hard work.
Groom admits that she hit rock bottom during the lockdown. This is when she began drinking, self-medicating, and her eating habits got worse. When she began her training program with Francis, she went off her antidepressants and fixed her eating habits. After the 1- weeks were up, training for bodybuilding was an easy next step.
“The body building look isn’t everyone’s dream figure, but it’s mine.”
For Alanna Groom, her victory in her first bodybuilding show was worth much more than a gold medal. It showed that she could achieve her goals no matter the obstacles.
“The winning was amazing but I could finally say ‘wow I got myself here, I look like one of them girls I’ve always dreamed of.'”
Bodybuilding is a sport that shows off some of the best physiques in the world. This is a level that is difficult to reach and weightlifters should not be discouraged if they do not get there. For some, the activity of going to the gym and bettering your health can help both mentally and physically. Alanna Groom is the perfect example of that and an inspiration to others.
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