How 1 Woman’s Life-Threatening Battle With Anorexia Guided Her to Become a Bodybuilder

We're constantly gushing over weight-loss transformations and applauding before and after photos, but now, we're praising this woman and her journey toward a healthy life through weight gain.

Sarah Ramadan suffered from anorexia nervosa for five years and spent over seven months in an intensive care unit due to health complications related to her eating disorder. In 2014, following a series of personal and health issues, Sarah decided she wanted to change. She started working with her brother Aladdin, who is super into health and fitness, to bring her back to life. Aladdin helped his sister by developing meal plans and met with her for weekly check-ins. "Aladdin saw my worth, and through him, I finally saw it too," Sarah wrote in a blog post.

Aladdin was tragically shot and killed in September 2014, but his memory is what helps to keep Sarah strong. "Through Aladdin's love, I shunned the disorder while embracing who I am, and that has made all the difference in my life," she added. Sarah didn't just work to be healthy, she worked to become a bodybuilder, and her painstaking journey to get to this healthy point in her life has inspired more than 100,000 people who follow her on Instagram. Now, she's gained close to 50 pounds and the photos are beaming with self-love, confidence, and strength. "Smiles became natural," Sarah recalled in a YouTube video about her recovery. "Food no longer became a nightmare, it was fascinating. It was simply something that energized my body."

Keep reading to see some of the photos from Sarah's beautiful transformation.