A woman from Derbyshire who overcame anorexia has shared her story, hoping it will assist others going through the same thing.
Only 29kg, or slightly more than four and a half stone, was Annie Windley’s all-time heaviest weight. She was in danger of having a heart attack because of her low weight.
The 21-year-old Woolley Moor resident has battled anorexia for over five years, requiring numerous hospital stays, medical therapy, and intensive care.
However, Annie has used her passion for running to aid her recovery and is now in top shape. In October of last year, she finished the Chesterfield Half Marathon.
She said, “I realized that rehabilitation is an amazing process that ought to be thrilling, unforgettable, and amazing. ”.
I think my anorexia will always be a part of me, but I’ve learned to manage it and stop thinking about food. ”.
“It’s never too late to change for the better.”
Annie was initially diagnosed with an eating disorder in 2012.
Two years later, she began to recover, but not before dealing with numerous challenges like being sectioned and losing so much weight that she could not stand.
She continued, “I can’t say exactly what happened, but this time, it was just for myself. I started fighting harder than I’d ever battled in October 2017”.
“The battle was amazing, and agonizing emotions and extraordinary bravery marked every day. I gained three pounds in the past four months, making me the heaviest I’ve been since 2014”.
Annie had the epiphany that one’s behavior, how one treats others, and degree of kindness matter more than a person’s weight.
She claimed that these are the things that matter in life.
These things are essential to you and will make you happy. ”.
Rather than scheduling your day around eating or worrying about how to set limits, spend that time working on something that people care about.
Be a good daughter and friend, have fun, and communicate with them.
Annie is no exception to the general belief that exercise is good for mental health.
Her passion for running gave her goals to work toward, helped her improve, and kept her on track.
Her participation in the annual Chesterfield half-marathon aided in her recovery.
She ran the kilometers as part of her training and completed the challenging course after exerting much effort and dedication.
I use the time I take to go for a run every morning to remind myself how priceless and valuable life is. I can live a more flexible, free lifestyle now that I’m healthy.
Fortunately, I have strong legs and a racing heart, so I don’t waste time worrying about food or counting calories.
Exercise should be viewed as a celebration of what your body is capable of, not as a punishment for your consumption.
“Pay close attention to your enthusiasm and desire to succeed in your goals. ”.
Annie claimed that all she had ever done was avoid foods like pizza and chocolate because the voices in her head had turned them into numbers and percentage signs.
She has advice for anyone who shares her perspective because, happily, she has changed her mind.
There are terrible days when you feel awful, “fat,” lack the appetite, and think recovery isn’t for you.
But this is precisely the justification for continuing.
We must demonstrate to our illnesses that we are capable of doing so. We don’t want to live unhappy and regretful lives because of what anorexia prevented us from accomplishing. ”.
