About ME and my story

For most of my life, I was the kind of person you’d never expect to have a chronic illness. I played competitive soccer, trained hard, and was constantly active. Fitness wasn’t just a hobby—it was who I was. So when I started getting dizzy, feeling weak, or having a racing heart, I figured it was just low iron or over training.

What I didn’t know then was that I had POTS—Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.

It wasn’t until I suffered a serious injury and couldn’t walk properly for almost two years that the full picture started to show. I lost all the strength and endurance I had built. And with that loss, my symptoms became impossible to ignore. I could barely stand without feeling like I might pass out. I knew something wasn’t right.

Finally getting diagnosed with POTS gave me answers—but also forced me to start over.

When I first returned to the gym, I could barely last five minutes. That’s not an exaggeration. Just getting through a warm-up was exhausting. I wasn’t lifting weights or running—I was just moving, gently, trying to build a connection with my body again. It was frustrating, humbling, and at times discouraging. But I kept showing up.

Five minutes became ten. Then fifteen. Over time, I worked my way up to an hour, and eventually two or more hours of training—but it didn’t happen overnight. It took months of consistency, listening to my body, pulling back when needed, and celebrating small wins. I focused on building tolerance slowly, prioritizing hydration, salt, compression, and rest just as much as reps and sets.

Now? I’m a powerlifter. I train hard, I lift heavy, and I do it with POTS. But more importantly—I teach others with POTS how to train safely, build strength, and feel powerful again.

This journey gave me more than physical strength. It taught me patience, resilience, and how to rebuild from the ground up.

If you’re starting from five minutes, I see you. That is strength!