As I stepped foot into the bustling gym, a rush of emotions engulfed me, a heavy girl on a mission to transform her body and reclaim her sense of self. It wasn’t my first time here, nor my second or third. No, it was yet another attempt at conquering the daunting challenge of the gym, a battleground where I had both triumphed and faltered before.
The fluorescent lights overhead seemed to illuminate my insecurities, casting a spotlight on every curve and every ounce of self-doubt that clung to my frame. But this time, something was different within me—a flicker of determination burned bright in my eyes, fueled by a desire to prove to myself that I was capable of change.
I approached the rows of gleaming machines, each one a formidable foe waiting to be conquered. The echoes of self-
