A Derbyshire woman who overcame anorexia has shared her story in hopes of helping others with the condition.
Annie Windley was at her heaviest when she weighed just 65 pounds, or just over four and a half stone. His low weight puts him at risk of heart attack.
Willie Moore, 21, has suffered from anorexia for almost five years following multiple hospitalizations, occupational therapy and intensive care.
Annie, meanwhile, is in a fighting stance and has used her passion for running to recover. Last October I ran the Chesterfield Half Marathon.
“I’ve come to the beautiful conclusion that addiction is a fascinating process that should be thrilling, memorable, and amazing,” she said.
“I feel like anorexia will always be a part of me, but with every dose I took I learned to manage it and calm my mind.”
“It’s never too late for positive change.”
Annie was first diagnosed with an eating disorder in 2012.
Her recovery started after two years and she faced many challenges including breaking up and losing so much weight that it was hard for her to cope.
“I can’t say exactly what happened, but in October 2017, I started fighting harder than ever, and this time it was me,” she added.
“The battles were amazing, every day was filled with feelings of torture and tremendous courage.” I took three stones in four months and now have my highest weight since 2014.
Annie says she realized that a person’s weight doesn’t mean anything and that it’s important how they act and treat others and how they treat others.
She explained, “These are life-changing things.”
“These are the things that matter to you, the things that make you happy.”
“So instead of arranging your day around food or wondering how to limit yourself, spend that time doing something that really matters to you.”
“Be a good girl and a good friend, laugh and talk to them.”
Exercise is often considered to have a positive effect on mental health, and Annie is no exception.
Her passion for running helped her recover and kept her on track and gave her what she yearned for.
She got rehabilitated by running the annual Chesterfield Half Marathon.
Her hard work and dedication to racking up miles during her training paid off when she crossed the finish line on the grueling training course.
“Now that I’m well, I can lead a more flexible and free life, and every morning when I get up and go for a run, I use that time to remind myself how valuable life is and added value.”
“I’m blessed with strong legs and a beating heart, so I don’t waste time worrying about food or watching calories.”
“Exercise should be viewed as a celebration of what your body is capable of, not a punishment for what you ate.
“Focus on your passion and your desire to accomplish what you want to accomplish.”
Annie claimed that she skipped meals like pizza and chocolate only because the voices in her head underestimated numbers and percentages.
But thankfully, she doesn’t feel that way anymore and has a message for anyone who finds herself in a situation similar to hers.
“Some days are tough; you feel dreaded, ‘fat,’ and you have no desire to eat, and you feel like the cure isn’t for you.”
But that’s exactly why we have to keep going.
We have to prove to our troublemakers that we can do it. We don’t want to live our lives full of regret and unhappiness, wishing we could do the things that anorexia didn’t allow us to do.
