Dylan Gemelli

I never had a girlfriend at the time, and embarrassed to take my shirt off at the pool, super self-conscious, but still happy and never really let it bother me. But you hear people take shots, and then when you start to go to events like sporting events and things and people in the crowd making remarks, people making comments, it hurts as a kid.

I never had a girlfriend at the time, and embarrassed to take my shirt off at the pool, super self-conscious, but still happy and never really let it bother me. But you hear people take shots, and then when you start to go to events like sporting events and things and people in the crowd making remarks, people making comments, it hurts as a kid.

And going into eighth grade, I had this very, very big growth spurt, 5'8 to 6'1, lost like 30 pounds over the summer playing tackle football. And I was always a top athlete, but always terrible, as you can imagine, on my endurance, my stamina, all of that. Terrible on all cardiovascular side of things. Super talented and gifted, but not gifted when it came to keeping up with everybody else.

And going into eighth grade, I had this very, very big growth spurt, 5'8 to 6'1, lost like 30 pounds over the summer playing tackle football. And I was always a top athlete, but always terrible, as you can imagine, on my endurance, my stamina, all of that. Terrible on all cardiovascular side of things. Super talented and gifted, but not gifted when it came to keeping up with everybody else.

And of course, that's going to hinder you. Well, everything changed at that point. The problem was, is that at that time, everybody started making these accusations. Oh, he's taking drugs. He's an anorexic. He's bulimic doing this. I didn't know what any of that stuff even was, but here's what happened. All of that started getting into my head.

And of course, that's going to hinder you. Well, everything changed at that point. The problem was, is that at that time, everybody started making these accusations. Oh, he's taking drugs. He's an anorexic. He's bulimic doing this. I didn't know what any of that stuff even was, but here's what happened. All of that started getting into my head.

And then I started to develop this fear of gaining the weight back. So I've got all these ideas and things that I could do now that would help me keep weight off. And I was not going to let it come back. So I developed an eating disorder. And if I gained a pound, I started to live in fear. First, it was I'm not going to eat anything. Then it became, well, I'm too hungry.

And then I started to develop this fear of gaining the weight back. So I've got all these ideas and things that I could do now that would help me keep weight off. And I was not going to let it come back. So I developed an eating disorder. And if I gained a pound, I started to live in fear. First, it was I'm not going to eat anything. Then it became, well, I'm too hungry.

So it turned into a bulimia. And it got to the point where my parents obviously found out you're never going to hide that no matter what age, but especially as a kid. And it didn't go over quite well, as you can imagine. And my dad said to me, if you don't weigh 150 pounds by the time basketball comes around next year, you're not playing. So that essentially forced me to get my act together.

So it turned into a bulimia. And it got to the point where my parents obviously found out you're never going to hide that no matter what age, but especially as a kid. And it didn't go over quite well, as you can imagine. And my dad said to me, if you don't weigh 150 pounds by the time basketball comes around next year, you're not playing. So that essentially forced me to get my act together.

But this has been a lifelong battle and probably why I have gotten into the health sphere the way that I have. And I started reading nutrition labels at the age of 11, and it was toxic to me, and food became toxic and not a friend. At that time, I did get over it, and it was not an issue for several years, all through high school or anything like that.

But this has been a lifelong battle and probably why I have gotten into the health sphere the way that I have. And I started reading nutrition labels at the age of 11, and it was toxic to me, and food became toxic and not a friend. At that time, I did get over it, and it was not an issue for several years, all through high school or anything like that.

It's still to this day a battle, though, and I'll get into that. I ended up getting a scholarship at a small...

It's still to this day a battle, though, and I'll get into that. I ended up getting a scholarship at a small...

division three school to play basketball where i hurt my back and and honestly once i started getting in there and realizing the amount of time and effort it was going to take i really my heart wasn't there i was trying to convince myself it was but i'm not going to sit here and lie to you or to myself like i did for so many years i know now at this point i just didn't want to do it anymore

division three school to play basketball where i hurt my back and and honestly once i started getting in there and realizing the amount of time and effort it was going to take i really my heart wasn't there i was trying to convince myself it was but i'm not going to sit here and lie to you or to myself like i did for so many years i know now at this point i just didn't want to do it anymore

And I felt like I was letting myself and my dad down. And I ended up taking a year off of school and then going back and trying to play again. And I think I just, the thought of it was more than anything to me. It wasn't the desire. And once again, I got hurt. And once again, I said, forget it. So anyway, I didn't really know what to do at that point. I was lost and really no path in sight.

And I felt like I was letting myself and my dad down. And I ended up taking a year off of school and then going back and trying to play again. And I think I just, the thought of it was more than anything to me. It wasn't the desire. And once again, I got hurt. And once again, I said, forget it. So anyway, I didn't really know what to do at that point. I was lost and really no path in sight.

I hadn't really thought long enough term. My mom had always said, I want you to model. I want you to do this. You think, well, your mom's always going to tell you and think you're the best at this and look the best. For me, I was very masculine and I thought it was just a little too feminine for me, if I'm being honest.

I hadn't really thought long enough term. My mom had always said, I want you to model. I want you to do this. You think, well, your mom's always going to tell you and think you're the best at this and look the best. For me, I was very masculine and I thought it was just a little too feminine for me, if I'm being honest.