We recently had the chance to connect with Annamaria Scaccia and have shared our conversation below.
Annamaria, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Yeah, my son made me laugh harder than anything else not too long ago. Mid-November at the NFF Championships, after three years off the stage, he looked at me and said I “won every place.” That’s not how it works, obviously, but in his eyes, I did. Pure joy and exactly what I needed.
I’m proud too. I placed second in Masters Figure and third in Open Figure, and I won Women’s Physique. But the real win was showing up for myself after everything life threw at me—cancer, surgeries, personal losses, health complications. Being on stage was a victory in and of itself. And my comeback reminded me that resilience matters more than anything.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m a natural bodybuilder, a double cancer survivor, and a patient advocate. I’ve spent years testing the limits of what my body and mind can do on stage, in the gym, and through advocacy.
I create and share content across multiple platforms—from personal essays exploring illness and transformation, to practical guidance on bodybuilding with one kidney, to advocacy work with cancer organizations. I focus on helping people who feel lost or overwhelmed by a fitness and wellness industry that wasn’t built with them in mind. My approach comes from lived experience backed by research, because I know firsthand what actually works.
Whether I’m stepping on stage, writing, or supporting other survivors, showing up fully is what matters most to me. My work centers on resilience and creativity, embracing the reality that living fully isn’t easy but always worth it.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed I had to play small. I thought I had to shrink myself to make life easier for others. I was talkative, loud, rambunctious, curious, creative—I had a big personality. But more often than not, I was told I was too much—too much to handle, too much to love, too much to support, too much to care for. From an early age, I learned to not disturb anyone else’s peace.
Cancer changed that. It forced me—twice—to face what matters and what doesn’t. It showed me that my energy, my intensity, my curiosity, and my intelligence are not flaws to hide. I live according to my values and my purpose, and I refuse to shrink for anyone anymore. I show up as myself in my life, in my writing, in my coaching, and on stage because I can’t live any other way.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell her she is not too much. I would tell her that every piece of her—her curiosity, her energy, her imagination, her determination—is exactly what makes her who she is and that it’s okay to take up space. I would tell her she doesn’t need to shrink, hide, or quiet herself to be loved. I would tell her that the world might try to tell her she’s wrong, but she is not. She is enough. She is worthy. And one day, she will see that for herself.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
One of the biggest lies the fitness and bodybuilding industry tells itself is that everyone has the same resources, the same time, the same body, and the same health to work with. That if you “just show up” or “stick to the plan,” you’ll get the results you want. That’s not true. Not everyone has a support system, a flexible schedule, or even two kidneys and a thyroid to train with. Not everyone can spend hours in the gym or perfectly track every macro.
Another lie is that intensity, discipline, and results are the same for everyone, and that your value is tied to how closely you follow someone else’s blueprint. It’s why so many people—especially those with chronic conditions, injuries, or uncommon bodies—feel lost, ashamed, or excluded.
Good coaching recognizes these differences, meets people where they are, and builds systems around their lives, not the other way around. Progress is about showing up for yourself in a way that’s sustainable, safe, and aligned with your body and your health.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Yes, I could. There have been many times in my life when I gave everything I had and no one noticed. Sometimes it felt lonely or frustrating, but I kept going because it was the only way forward. I don’t do it for praise or recognition. I do it because I have to—because it’s what life asks of me, and because I owe it to myself to try.
It doesn’t feel heroic. But over time, those moments add up. And even if no one else sees it, I know I did my best, and that has to be enough.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://onekidneyliftingclub.substack.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gotchascaccia/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annamariascaccia/
Image Credits
RGM Photography
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