A Derbyshire woman who overcame anorexia has shared her story in the hope of helping others who are struggling with the illness.

Annie Windley’s heaviest weight was 29kg, or slightly more than four and a half stone. Her low weight put her at risk of suffering a heart attack.

The Woolley Moor resident, 21, has been battling anorexia for around five years, enduring numerous hospitalizations, expert treatment, and specialized care.

Annie, on the other hand, is in great shape and has embraced her love of jogging to help her recovery. I raced the Chesterfield Half Marathon in October of last year.

“I came to the lovely conclusion that rehabilitation is a breathtaking process that should be thrilling, memorable, and amazing,” she said.

“I feel that anorexia will always be a part of me, but with each mouthful I take, I’ve learned to manage it and silence my thoughts.”

“It’s never too late to make a positive change.”

Annie was diagnosed with an eating disorder for the first time in 2012.

Her recuperation began two years later, and she faced numerous challenges, including being sectioned and losing so much weight that she could hardly stand.

“I can’t pinpoint what happened, but in October of 2017, I started fighting harder than I’d ever fought before, and this time it was solely for myself,” she added.

“The fight was unbelievable, and every day was filled with agonizing emotions and enormous bravery.” I’ve gained three stones in four months and am presently at my highest weight since 2014.”

Annie stated that she came to the realization that a person’s weight means nothing and that what matters is how they act, treat others, and how kind they are.

She stated, “These are the things that make a difference in life.”

“These are the things that are essential to you, and they are the things that will make you happy.”

“So, instead of arranging your day around eating or worrying about how to restrict, spend that time working on something that people genuinely care about.”

“Be a nice daughter, a good friend, and laugh and converse with them.”

Exercise is frequently considered to have a favorable impact on a person’s mental health, and Annie is no exception.

Her passion for running has benefited her recovery, kept her on track, and given her something to strive towards.

Her rehabilitation was aided by her participation in Chesterfield’s annual half marathon.

Her hard work and dedication in putting in the miles during her training paid off when she crossed the finish line of the grueling course.

“Now that I’m well, I can live a more flexible, free lifestyle, and each morning when I wake up and go for a run, I use that time to remind myself how valuable and precious life is,” she added.

“I’m fortunate to have strong legs and a pounding heart, so I don’t waste my time worrying about food or monitoring calories.”

“Exercise should be viewed as a celebration of what your body is capable of, rather than a punishment for what you ate.

“Focus on your passion and desire to achieve where you want to go.”

Annie claimed that all she had ever done was avoid meals such as pizza and chocolate since the voices in her head reduced them to numbers and percentage signs.

But, happily, she no longer thinks that way, and she has a message for anyone in a similar situation to her.

“Some days are difficult; you feel dreadful, ‘fat,’ you don’t feel the urge to eat, and you feel that recovery isn’t for you,” she continued.

“However, that is precisely why we must continue.

“We must demonstrate to our disorders that we are capable of doing so. We don’t want to live our lives full of regret and unhappiness, wishing we could have done the things we didn’t get to accomplish because of anorexia.

“That is why we must continue.”