AN ASPIRING personal trainer who overcame her battle with an eating disorder and is helping others to reach their fitness goals has been nominated for a Proud of Barnsley award.

Ellie Simon, of Worsbrough, began her fitness journey and route to become a personal trainer after struggling with personal problems and a borderline eating disorder.

She has also shared her story about battling her problems on an online blog, and the 22-year-old said she is ‘determined to help others’.

“The main reason what got me into my fitness journey on becoming a personal trainer was mainly to educate myself as my poor mentality towards nutrition made me a different person,” said Ellie. “It made me snappy towards the people closest to me and caused me to feel dizzy in the gym.”

Ellie said that before she was a personal traine, she struggled with eating and her mental health.

“My battles with mental health have gone from one extreme to the other.

“From only eating one meal a day, feeling starving and burning every calorie off - looking back now this was a borderline eating disorder - to then going through something in my personal life that led me to no longer go to the gym. I would eat out constantly and go out drinking every weekend because it was the only way I felt happy.

“Months down the line this resulted in me putting weight on. My hair, personality, skin and body all changed. I wasn’t me anymore. I was so stressed and unhappy with the way I looked and felt.

“I just couldn’t seem to get out of the mental state I was in. Whatever I did I always felt like I couldn’t get out of this constant battle with my mind and I always felt unhappy.”

But now Ellie said her fitness journey has helped her overcome her problems and she feels happy with herself.

“Becoming a personal trainer is the best decision I’ve ever made.

“Not only has it taught me a lot but it’s given me the opportunity to become more ambitious and finally put myself first.

I’ve had the opportunity to not only make myself feel better, but to improve other people’s lives too. I love what I do and I love that I’m inspiring others too.”

Ellie said the feedback she has received from discussing her journey online via her website - ellieelitefitness.com - has kept her motivated on her journey and she wants to inspire others.

She has been nominated for the triumph oer adversity category for the Proud of Barnsley Awaards.

“My biggest change has been mentally,” she said. “I am now in a place where I’m happy which has resulted in me feeling myself again I’m no longer snappy to the people closest to me and I’m no longer in a bad place.

“I am so thankful to be nominated for this award. It means a lot to me that I’ve touched so many people with my story and even helped some people that have read it.

“I’ve come so far on a personal level mentally and physically and I’ve now got bigger achievements to work towards for next year.

“Focusing on yourself and building yourself a better lifestyle is the most important thing in life and I love that I am a prime example of that.”