Felicity Rosina, 26, works as a personal trainer and lives in London.

After entering the glamorous world of bikini fitness competitions, she eventually walked away in search of a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.

Fitness was already an enjoyable part of Rosina’s routine when she first met a bikini fitness competitor at the gym following a weights session.

She had previously danced professionally, regularly attended circuit classes and spent time training in the weights room.

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The world of bikini competition sounded glamorous, and Rosina quickly became interested in experiencing it for herself.

She found a coach and entered her first competition in 2017.

Rosina was devastated when she failed to place at the event.

However, after discovering another competition taking place four weeks later, she made slimming down her main priority.

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She trained five days a week, combining strength training with sessions on the StairMaster.

At the same time, she increased her daily step count to 20,000.

The effort soon delivered the competitive results she had been hoping for.

At her next event, Rosina placed second and third in competitions and received her pro card, leaving her thrilled with the achievement.

That summer, she travelled to Ibiza to work as a waitress ahead of her next competition.

However, a constant fear of gaining weight followed her throughout the season, making it difficult for her to enjoy the island’s social scene.

When Rosina returned home, she placed herself on a low-calorie diet and stopped socializing.

At the same time, her relationship with food became increasingly unhealthy as the pressure surrounding her appearance continued to intensify.

Every morning, she would wake up and check whether her abs were still visible.

She would also pinch the skin on her stomach while eating and found herself increasingly unable to relax around food or her appearance.

Eventually, Rosina gave herself an ultimatum ahead of her next competition. If she won, she would continue competing.

If she failed to win, she would walk away from the sport.

She finished third, and the result left her feeling worthless. Without another competition to prepare for, Rosina was no longer sure who she was or what her fitness routine was supposed to mean.

She attempted to return to the gym, but training felt difficult without a specific goal.

Eventually, she put her fitness ambitions aside and returned to Ibiza.

This trip proved to be very different. Rosina was finally able to relax and begin developing an identity beyond being known as “the girl who did bikini comps.”

She also stopped counting calories, breaking away from the habits that had dominated her life during the competition years.

After returning home, Rosina began training with a friend, and fitness gradually became enjoyable again.

A year after her final bikini competition, she felt ready to pursue a new challenge and entered the London Marathon.

The training was difficult, but her focus had changed completely.

Instead of concentrating on what her body looked like, Rosina became more interested in what it could accomplish and how quickly she could reach the finish line.

Today, her fitness routine includes running, lifting weights and practising yoga three times a week.

Her relationship with food has also improved significantly compared with her competition years.

Rosina does not regret competing, believing the experience has helped shape the way she supports her clients as a personal trainer.

However, walking away from bikini competitions and obsessive calorie counting ultimately proved to be one of the most positive decisions of her life.