A Woman Was Eating Only One Piece Of Bread A Day,
For many, body image and weight can be a lifelong struggle. Despite campaigns promoting self-acceptance, eating disorders continue to affect millions worldwide. Annie Windley, a 21-year-old from Derbyshire, England, knows this battle well. At her lowest, she weighed just 29 kg (63 pounds), facing a high risk of heart failure and other serious health problems.
Diagnosed with anorexia in 2012, Annie began her recovery two years later but didn’t fully commit until October 2017. “I can’t say exactly what occurred, but this time, it was just for myself,” she shared. The process was far from easy: “The battle was amazing; every day was filled with agonizing emotions and remarkable bravery.” Over the past four months, she has gained three stone — her healthiest weight since 2014.
A turning point came when Annie discovered a passion for running. She even completed the Chesterfield Half Marathon in October. “I came to the delightful realization that rehabilitation is a breathtaking process that should be thrilling, unforgettable, and amazing,” she wrote online. While she admits, “I believe that my anorexia will always be a part of me,” she has learned to manage it and stop obsessing over food.
Her focus now is on kindness — toward herself and others. “These are the things that will make you happy and are things that are crucial to you,” she said. Annie urges others with eating disorders to take back control: “We must show our disorders that we are able to do so. We don’t want to spend our lives feeling unhappy and full of regret over the things we weren’t able to do due to anorexia.”
