Zachary Arenella

When I was in high school, I was diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. I desperately needed a way to control the urge to do repetitive behaviors in order to relieve overwhelming stress. Thankfully, around the same time as my diagnosis, I discovered my passion for health and fitness. To my surprise, weight training became part of my ‘mental health arsenal’. It helped me organize my thoughts, get out of my head and focus on my physical self rather than my mental state. The discipline required for bodybuilding encouraged a routine that helped stabilize my day-to-day life, reduce uncertainty, and enhance my mental resilience. Over the years I have accomplished many of my fitness goals such as becoming a 2x all conference cross country runner and track athlete, competing in a spartan race, hiking numerous mountains, etc. Currently, I am focusing on daily weight training and healthy eating to obtain the level of physical fitness that I strive towards. As a model, I hope to inspire those suffering from mental illnesses and encourage them to live a healthier lifestyle, physically and mentally, through sports and fitness.