This Woman From Utah Learned To Accept Her Vitiligo Through Fitness And Weightlifting
Acceptance of your body is often a very long and challenging journey. Virtually everyone has something that they’re dissatisfied about—therefore, acceptance of one’s own image is a virtue in and of itself. Everyone has body image issues, but not everyone has been successful in tackling them. Antonia Livers is no exception to these issues. What’s an exception, though, is how she handled it, and how she found her way and persevered.
Antonia began developing white patches on her eyelids when she was just 14 years old, an age when almost everyone becomes sensitive to how they look. Soon enough, she was diagnosed with vitiligo, a skin condition that causes a lack of melanin in the skin, forming white patches. Over time, the patches get larger and spread throughout the body. Naturally, Antonia was devastated to get diagnosed with this condition, spent hours and hours crying over what she looked like, and worked hard to hide it from others and herself.
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Meet Antonia Livers from Utah, USA, and she has vitiligo
Image credits: toni_dino
She began to work out in her teenage years after she’s been diagnosed with vitiligo, which she avoided to show
Image credits: toni_dino
She shared with Bored Panda about her first reactions to being diagnosed with vitiligo: “I knew from the beginning what it is, because my auntie has it too. So I wasn’t happy about it, but I also wasn’t super upset until it started growing when I was about 15 or 16. And that’s when I started getting upset about it.”
Image credits: toni_dino
“I started to work out when I was about 18, because I couldn’t do basketball anymore because I had hip dysplasia on both sides.”
As her vitiligo progressed, she learned to accept her own body as it is
Image credits: toni_dino
As her teen years and vitiligo progressed, the girl from Utah began developing a passion for fitness, which has helped her regain confidence in her body. “I learned to accept it with time, and after time, I appreciated what I look like and who I am to lastly love myself for all I am.” Seeing how it affects her, she dove even deeper into the gym and took up weightlifting.
Fitness has helped her regain confidence in her body
Image credits: toni_dino
She has shared some wisdom with those, who only begin working out. “For people who are just starting to work out, you definitely need to make sure you have help on your journey because in the beginning, there so many things that you can do wrong. Following a structured plan is definitely the key to doing the right thing. Don’t start out at 110 percent, as that will come later on, just ease into it, get your body used to it, and go from there, step by step.”
Image credits: toni_dino
Vitiligo is a condition that causes loss of melanin on skin, causing white patches
Image credits: toni_dino
“I learned to accept it with time and love myself for who I am”
Image credits: toni_dino
Image credits: toni_dino
As her confidence rose, she delved into weightlifting
Image credits: toni_dino
Image credits: toni_dino
Image credits: toni_dino
Image credits: toni_dino
And tried competing in bodybuilding competition
Image credits: toni_dino
Image credits: toni_dino
“Actually, I never was a bodybuilder. I did one bodybuilding competition for the experience.”
She’s pretty comfortable with who she is right now
Image credits: toni_dino
Fast forward to now, she has worked out a pretty comfortable and happy life for herself. With years of experience in the gym, she has become a fitness trainer. Not only that, as she’s also constantly lifting weights, is a regularly competing bodybuilder, and also a model, who confidently shows off her beauty on Instagram with a solid followership of 35k. She has become an admirable example of positivity to those who struggle with their body image, and an inspiration to everyone seeking to get better. And for this, we applaud her.
Image credits: toni_dino
And she uses her experience when working as a fitness trainer
Image credits: toni_dino
She has also told us how lockdown affected her routine. “The lockdown definitely affected my workout routine, but I didn’t let it affect me. Which means I shifted from gym workouts to home workouts. We bought weights, dumbbells, kettlebells, we had resistance bands, so we kept working out, went out for runs, etc. We just adjusted and didn’t give up.”
Image credits: toni_dino
Image credits: toni_dino
Image credits: toni_dino
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Share on FacebookI think people with this are extremely brave and beautiful. Like walking maps of their own personal worlds. I had a customer once with lots of scaring from an accident on her body and she thought I'd be put off by it while helping her with some clothing. I said she also looked like a fairy map and she started to cry. I asked why and she said it was the first time someone said something positive to her about her skin. It's skin. I love the hues and tones of all people in all colors. We are nature an nature makes beautiful chaos.
You ade a poet. Beautifully put. Sending love.
Load More Replies...Wow, she inspires me! She is incredibly fit and beautiful. Way to go!!!
No doubt she is physically strong and beautiful. I think kind people who are comfortable with themselves are very charming too. Especially the ones who cheer other people on and genuinely happy for them. I'm option C.... unknown.
Load More Replies...If she was an animal, the comments would be probably that her 'markings' are beautiful. So yes, yes she is beautiful.
Technically, humans are animals. (I hope I got this fact right, but if I don't you can tell me otherwise.)
Load More Replies...Woman does what few of us can, maintains a ridiculously low fat to body ratio and wears very small bikini when outdoors. Oh! And she has a skin condition. ♥
Exactly, but having low body fat for being shredded seems the key to body building compeitions. Body builders are excellent at that kind of thing.
Load More Replies...Whoa, she has muscles like a Michaelangelo statue.
It makes me sad that many people with vitligo feel bad / ugly, I think they are stunning. Much better than my pinkish / whitish ordinary boring skin.
Beautiful. And people who are growing up with vitiligo now will be able to look at her and maybe not feel they need to hide in the first place.
Vitiligo is thought to have a connection to thyroid disease and autoimmune problems. I believe (don’t quote me on this-maybe a doctor or someone with more knowledge can tell me if I’m right) that it affects black people more than white people. I thought this really beautiful woman WAS a young teenager and was even surprised she was old enough to get tattoos. She has amazing genetics because she truly looks very young. How beautiful she is and what an amazing way to deal with what might be an otherwise difficult condition. Truly someone to look up to.
I've had vitiligo since I was about 5, Hashimoto's (thyroid/autoimmune) since I was 19 and pernicious anemia since I was a little over 20. Doctors say that now when a young child develops vitiligo they know they should regularly check for other autoimmune diseases as well. I absolutely would choose vitiligo over anything else though. If I am careful so that the sun doesn't burn it, it's not something I bother with. It doesn't hurt and it isn't contagious; people out there are suffering from debilitating diseases so we need to put everything into perspective :)
Load More Replies...I think she's slammin' ! Even without the fit bod... she's got a gorgeous face!
Must have been tough growing up. Kids can be assholes! I think it looks so cool though! Truly beautiful "disorder"!
She is so beautiful! It's incredibly amazing that she was able to embrace her vitiligo and become so fit and successful. On a side note, THOSE ABS! Magnificent!
Hard work, determination, dedication, confidence and commitment. Beautiful.
It might just be me but I think it’s really pretty when people look like that.
You're absolutely beautiful. It's a shame that you didn't think you were.
Howdy guys and dolls, did you know that Cuba has a system of slow and steady cure of vitiligo?? You should enquire, since they are ahead of times in many medical fronts, this being one of them.
Very informative post. One of the many wonderful experiences that you are going to share with your readers. I am looking forward to read your blog and be inspired! Thanks for Sharing . This yoga teacher training course aims at conveying yogic knowledge in its purest and accurate form . re
I'm always drawn to a persons smile , their skin-does it glow or have beautiful crevices denoting age/wisdom. Heritage? it's all so incredibly varied from one person to the next. All perfect in their imperfections. I needed that reminder. Thank you.
she's so gorgeous and her smile radiates so much joy and light! so happy to know she is owning her unique awesomeness and maybe helping young girls with vitiligo realize how awesome they are as well.
I think it looks pretty cool. It looks like she has a big tattoo of mud splashed all over her.
No you don't. Not only does it get you mocked and teased but since it's an autoimmune disorder, it can (and does) cause other problems. As someone who's got it, it's not fun.
Load More Replies...I think people with this are extremely brave and beautiful. Like walking maps of their own personal worlds. I had a customer once with lots of scaring from an accident on her body and she thought I'd be put off by it while helping her with some clothing. I said she also looked like a fairy map and she started to cry. I asked why and she said it was the first time someone said something positive to her about her skin. It's skin. I love the hues and tones of all people in all colors. We are nature an nature makes beautiful chaos.
You ade a poet. Beautifully put. Sending love.
Load More Replies...Wow, she inspires me! She is incredibly fit and beautiful. Way to go!!!
No doubt she is physically strong and beautiful. I think kind people who are comfortable with themselves are very charming too. Especially the ones who cheer other people on and genuinely happy for them. I'm option C.... unknown.
Load More Replies...If she was an animal, the comments would be probably that her 'markings' are beautiful. So yes, yes she is beautiful.
Technically, humans are animals. (I hope I got this fact right, but if I don't you can tell me otherwise.)
Load More Replies...Woman does what few of us can, maintains a ridiculously low fat to body ratio and wears very small bikini when outdoors. Oh! And she has a skin condition. ♥
Exactly, but having low body fat for being shredded seems the key to body building compeitions. Body builders are excellent at that kind of thing.
Load More Replies...Whoa, she has muscles like a Michaelangelo statue.
It makes me sad that many people with vitligo feel bad / ugly, I think they are stunning. Much better than my pinkish / whitish ordinary boring skin.
Beautiful. And people who are growing up with vitiligo now will be able to look at her and maybe not feel they need to hide in the first place.
Vitiligo is thought to have a connection to thyroid disease and autoimmune problems. I believe (don’t quote me on this-maybe a doctor or someone with more knowledge can tell me if I’m right) that it affects black people more than white people. I thought this really beautiful woman WAS a young teenager and was even surprised she was old enough to get tattoos. She has amazing genetics because she truly looks very young. How beautiful she is and what an amazing way to deal with what might be an otherwise difficult condition. Truly someone to look up to.
I've had vitiligo since I was about 5, Hashimoto's (thyroid/autoimmune) since I was 19 and pernicious anemia since I was a little over 20. Doctors say that now when a young child develops vitiligo they know they should regularly check for other autoimmune diseases as well. I absolutely would choose vitiligo over anything else though. If I am careful so that the sun doesn't burn it, it's not something I bother with. It doesn't hurt and it isn't contagious; people out there are suffering from debilitating diseases so we need to put everything into perspective :)
Load More Replies...I think she's slammin' ! Even without the fit bod... she's got a gorgeous face!
Must have been tough growing up. Kids can be assholes! I think it looks so cool though! Truly beautiful "disorder"!
She is so beautiful! It's incredibly amazing that she was able to embrace her vitiligo and become so fit and successful. On a side note, THOSE ABS! Magnificent!
Hard work, determination, dedication, confidence and commitment. Beautiful.
It might just be me but I think it’s really pretty when people look like that.
You're absolutely beautiful. It's a shame that you didn't think you were.
Howdy guys and dolls, did you know that Cuba has a system of slow and steady cure of vitiligo?? You should enquire, since they are ahead of times in many medical fronts, this being one of them.
Very informative post. One of the many wonderful experiences that you are going to share with your readers. I am looking forward to read your blog and be inspired! Thanks for Sharing . This yoga teacher training course aims at conveying yogic knowledge in its purest and accurate form . re
I'm always drawn to a persons smile , their skin-does it glow or have beautiful crevices denoting age/wisdom. Heritage? it's all so incredibly varied from one person to the next. All perfect in their imperfections. I needed that reminder. Thank you.
she's so gorgeous and her smile radiates so much joy and light! so happy to know she is owning her unique awesomeness and maybe helping young girls with vitiligo realize how awesome they are as well.
I think it looks pretty cool. It looks like she has a big tattoo of mud splashed all over her.
No you don't. Not only does it get you mocked and teased but since it's an autoimmune disorder, it can (and does) cause other problems. As someone who's got it, it's not fun.
Load More Replies...
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