Model overcomes panic attacks and severe asthma to become bodybuilding champion
A business woman and social media star has revealed how she used fitness to overcome terrifying panic attacks and asthma.
Angel Rivelles, from Brazil, who has 32,000 Instagram followers, underwent a gruelling training regime in an attempt to get healthy and defeat her anxiety.
And, the influencer, who now lives in London, eventually defeated her demons and became a bodybuilding champion in the process.
Angel revealed that in 2011 she had been suffering with repeated asthma attacks which badly affected her life.
According to the NHS: “Asthma is a common lung condition that causes occasional breathing difficulties.
“It affects people of all ages and often starts in childhood, although it can also develop for the first time in adults.”
(Image: CO Press Office)
Most of us know the health issue as something which is easily solved by using an inhaler, but Asthma UK states that every 10 seconds someone in the country is having a “potentially life threatening asthma attack.”
Sadly, an average of three people die from asthma attacks in the UK every single day…
Which is why Angel revealed that after her “scariest” episode she needed to do something about her health.
It was then that Angel was invited to participate in a Jiu Jitsu class and fell in love with the practice.
She explained: “I needed to release the stress and anguish I was constantly feeling”.
To her surprise, after a few classes both Angel’s asthma episodes and panic attacks decreased.
Angel noted: “I started to be myself again.”
(Image: CO Press Office)
The model and personal trainer committed herself to never missing a workout and following a healthy diet and so quickly noticed her body becoming stringer and more muscular.
Angel commented: “My body started to get fit and people started encouraging me to compete”.
In 2015, she finally felt confident enough to take the stage.
“I was at the height of my transformation and I won several medals and trophies”, Angel said.
“During this process I noticed that I was motivating hundreds of people with my lifestyle. And that’s when I realised that I had a mission: to help others be healthier.”
The bodybuilder stopped competing in 2019 after four years on the stage and now teaches fitness classes to hundreds of people for free.
Angel hosts classes in parks in London and her own home as well as online.
You can follow her on Instagram, @angel.rivelles.
