For many, fitness models and competitive Bikini athletes are the inspiration for a transformation.
Their lean, muscular physiques are alluring motivates many women to want to dedicate their time and efforts to achieving a similar look.
However, when taken to extremes, the industry presents a striking paradox – one where this visual representation of peak health often masks unhealthy practices and unsustainable approaches.
The industry’s emphasis on ultra-low body fat percentages and extreme muscle definition typically requires periods of severe caloric restriction, dehydration, and training regimens that push the body beyond healthy limits.
Achieving and maintaining these aesthetics typically requires extreme, unsustainable lifestyle practices that can compromise both physical and mental health.
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The Fitness Model Paradox
Unsurprisingly, the relationship between fitness culture and eating disorders is an often unspoken but particularly complex issue.
The industry both attracts individuals who may already have problematic relationships with food and body image, and simultaneously creates conditions that can trigger disordered eating patterns in previously healthy individuals.
What makes this paradox particularly insidious is how the fitness industry’s health halo effect shields these practices from scrutiny. Restrictive eating becomes “discipline,” obsessive exercise becomes “dedication,” and extreme body dissatisfaction becomes “motivation.”
This normalisation makes it difficult for both participants and observers to recognise when healthy fitness pursuits cross into harmful territory.
Johannesburg-based mom and HYROX athlete Logan Leigh MacTavish has firsthand experience with the allure that the fitness lifestyle has for someone who struggles with an eating disorder, but also knows that recovery is possible with the right mindset.
At the age of 20, Logan had fully embraced the competitive fitness lifestyle, standing on stage and entering the Face of Fitness cover model search competition to build her profile and achieve her dreams of earning a Pro Card, competing overseas, and appearing on a fitness magazine cover.
In her first year competing as an IFBB Bikini athlete, Logan competed three times and won five titles, including three first places and two overall wins. “I was also selected to represent my province at the IFBB National Championships.”
Her growing list of achievements was capped off when she was selected as a finalist in the 2018 Face of Fitness cover model search competition.
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Disordered eating
However, behind the success, Logan was grappling with a growing eating disorder that the lifestyle and prep were only making worse.
“I had developed a bad relationship with food after gaining weight while travelling overseas after matric, as I would overindulge and then feel guilty, so I would restrict myself,” recalls Logan.
Weighing 52kg at the time, Logan gained 12 kilos in six weeks immediately following the Face of Fitness as her restrictive approach to eating had developed into a full-blown eating disorder that presented as bulimia and anorexia.
Logan said the issue developed due to a combination of her stage prep and mental health issues, made worse by a bad breakup.
“I was impatient. I wanted results immediately. It was really tough to be in that phase again, where I didn’t look good and had to ride the emotional wave to get to where I wanted to go.”
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Finding sustainable solutions
After struggling to find an approach that worked, and weighing 64kg, Logan knew she needed help and a more sustainable plan. That’s when she started going to therapy and switched to a vegetarian diet.
“My approach to training and my goals completely changed. I swapped restriction for sustainability and shifted my focus to improving my health rather than just my aesthetics.”
Logan’s switch to a vegetarian diet was necessary to improve her health after experiencing adverse effects from excessive protein consumption during her bodybuilding phases, which caused skin issues and other physical symptoms.
“The hormones from the meat had a bad effect on my body, and my liver was having a tough time.”
She says the benefits from her new diet were almost instant. “Within just six weeks, I felt better, looked better, and lost 5 kilos. Switching to a vegetarian diet led to improvements in my skin and helped me establish a healthier relationship with food, as I could eat larger volumes without gaining excessive weight while also nourishing my body.”
While her recovery was anything but linear, Logan completely overcame the eating disorder in 2022, which coincided with her engagement to Sean, a photographer she had met in the fitness industry.
“Before we even started dating, Sean reached out to me and said I can’t keep doing this. He was a major influence in my desire and ability to shift to a healthier approach.”
Due to low iron and vitamin B levels, Logan later reintroduced animal protein into her diet, with an emphasis on red meat. This was an important shift as Logan prepared for the next phase in her transformation.
After losing 6 kilos, Logan says she found a healthy weight at around 56kg. She then started to train at a CrossFit box to break the monotony of conventional resistance and cardio training in the gym, and added some muscle.
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Hooked on HYROX
“I weighed a healthy and fit 61kg at that stage. I then fell pregnant and gained 16 kilos. I really struggled to get going again after my daughter was born due to postpartum depression, but after six months, Sean asked if I wanted to try HYROX.”
Logan did her first HYROX session in 2023 at RPM Fitness under the guidance of coach Dom Von Pannier and instantly fell in love with it.
“Dom has really helped me on my journey. He has a no-nonsense approach when it comes to training hard and eating right, but he is very attentive and supportive. He has pushed me physically and mentally in ways I was never pushed before.”
The volume and intensity of HYROX training gives Logan a lot more freedom in what she eats, which means she is focused more on making healthier choices, rather than worrying about calories.
Logan’s weekly training split:
Logan trains at the HYROX gym five times a week, and runs three times a week (2 structured training runs and a long run).
- Monday: HYROX leg session
- Tuesday: HYROX cardio
- Wednesday: HYROX upper body session
- Thursday: HYROX HIIT cardio and SkiErg
- Friday: HYROX full body
Making informed choices
“Balanced eating is my goal. As someone who has struggled with an eating disorder, I no longer dabble in restriction.”
She took control of what was on her plate by diving into nutritional research to help her make informed decisions.
“I read a lot and watched YouTube videos. Social media is also a good starting point if you follow the right qualified people.”
While she was breastfeeding, Logan also needed to focus on nutritional quality for the sake of her daughter.
A lower-carb approach with a focus on quality protein and fats helped her shed the pregnancy weight, and Logan got back to her ideal weight.
Logan’s supplement stack:
- Biogen Protein Powder
- Biogen Creatine Monohydrate
- Biogen Multi Vitamin+
Logan finds that HYROX also offers a good balance between cardio and weight training, but still gives you an attractive body, which she finds really appealing.
While she aimed to compete at the first HYROX races to take place in South Africa, Logan fell pregnant again in 2024. Despite gaining 12kg, her active lifestyle and her established strength and fitness base meant she bounced back quickly after giving birth to her second daughter in 2025.
“I am in no rush to get back to my pre-pregnancy weight. Having been here before, I know I will lose weight as my HYROX training ramps up.”
This confidence stems from Logan’s evolving transformation journey, which has taught her important lessons along the way.
“I now know for certain that nothing is permanent. If you gain weight or lose fitness due to a layoff, you’re not going to be overweight or unfit forever if you do the right things. It is important to find peace in the ups and downs of life.”
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Logan’s motivation makeover
Logan’s current goal is to hit the competition benchmarks on exercises like the Farmer’s Carry. “My body has become the product of my hard work, rather than the focus. I am more focused on what my body can do rather than how it looks.”
More importantly, she is driven by more than a desire for superficial changes to her outward appearance.
“Motherhood has changed my outlook on life because once you become a parent, you do it for someone other than yourself.”
Logan says her children have become her greatest motivation because she wants to be a good example for her daughters.
“As they grow up, they will look at me and what I have done. I want to do things that inspire them, or have the ability to do things with them. I also want to ensure that I instill the right values and approaches in them when they do. They need to know they are capable and should not be hard on themselves.”
Author: Pedro van Gaalen
When he’s not writing about sport or health and fitness, Pedro is probably out training for his next marathon or ultra-marathon. He’s worked as a fitness professional and as a marketing and comms expert. He now combines his passions in his role as managing editor at Fitness magazine.
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