A woman has told how she battled both obesity and anorexia to become a nutrition coach and look just like her idol, Barbie.
Lola Pahkinamaki, 24, who now styles herself as “Lola The Fitness Barbie,” began comfort eating on sweets as a child and ballooned to 177 pounds by the time she was a teenager – leaving her heavy for her petite 5-foot-2-inch frame.
Throughout her teens, Pahkinamaki was mocked by family members for being overweight and bullied at school for her appearance.
As a result of the cruel taunts, Pahkinamaki fell into the grips of anorexia and her weight plummeted to a tiny 75 pounds – leaving her so weak she had to be hospitalized.
At her lowest point, Pahkinamaki would survive on nothing but an apple every day and would exercise for over four hours daily.
But now, after a long battle with her eating disorder, Pahkinamaki is the perfect picture of health weighing 113 pounds.
Pahkinamaki’s positive attitude and blonde bombshell body have now led her to be dubbed “The Fitness Barbie” by her online fans.
The fit Instagram star – who underwent a $6,500 boob job to complete her Barbie makeover – now teaches others about the importance of nutrition.
Pahkinamaki, from Turku, Finland explains: “I had always loved Barbie as a child but I never believed it would ever be possible that I would look like one.”
“Bullies would actually tease me calling me ‘Barbie’ because they knew I didn’t look like the Barbies I loved.”
“So for years, I abused my body and let others make me feel worthless about my appearance.”
“But by finally accepting myself and learning that there was more to life than looks, I found happiness and health – and I actually ended up looking like Barbie!”
“I don’t really think I looked like her but all the positive comments and comparisons to Barbie mean a lot to me.”
“Barbie is like my guardian angel nowadays – she gives me power and the self-confidence that I need.”
“The name ‘Fitness Barbie’ is part of me now.”
“My message to others is don’t try to lose weight or change your body for somebody else.”
“Their opinion is not as important as how you feel in yourself.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BRjdIAFlNQq/Growing up, Pahkinamaki was always considered “chubby” and had an unstable upbringing – leading her to gorge on unhealthy food all day.
Pahkinamaki – who now has over 51,000 followers on Instagram – recalls: “My upbringing was difficult and I didn’t have much family support.”
“With those feelings of loneliness, I comfort ate as a kid and would eat my feelings away with sugar-laden food.”
“I actually loved my body when I was overweight as a child but my feelings changed as I got older.”
“My grandfather constantly made nasty comments about my weight and I was the target of bullies at school because of my large appearance.
“I let others make me feel bad about myself – it was a horrible time for me.”
Spurred on by cruel abuse, Pahkinamaki initially embarked on a healthy eating plan to lose weight when she was 15.
By the time she was 17, she had reached her goal weight of 117 pounds.
But plagued by feelings of self-loathing, Pahkinamaki started to become obsessive about her eating and exercise habits.
She added: “Even though I had lost weight, it was still not enough for my grandfather and I spiraled into an eating disorder.”
“I was so thin that I could feel my bones and ribs protruding out of my skin.”
At age nineteen, Pahkinamaki decided she needed to make a big change and learned to accept herself.
She overhauled her lifestyle by taking a healthier approach to food and exercise.
She added: “I will never change my body for anyone else than myself again.”
“The foremost thing for me is health and fuelling your body in the right way.”
“I don’t punish myself with over-exercising anymore.”
Pahkinamaki allows herself cheat days every week and she loves coaching others who are suffering from eating disorders and obesity.
She says: “I just make smarter decisions throughout the week and on weekends, I have cheat days!”
“I don’t want to live a life without the foods I love like pizza and chocolate.”
“After I recovered, I felt I had so much to give so much to give to others and so much to share. I love helping people.”
“I get a lot of positive comments and attitude on Instagram about my look which I am so grateful for. Barbie is so darn beautiful and I love being ‘Lola The Fitness Barbie.’”