Bodybuilder, 22, who suffered from anorexia and saw her weight plummet to under 5 stone shares shocking pics of her recovery in bid to inspire others
Mhairi Stewart's weight dropped to five stone at her smallest, but she has since fought her way back to health
A BODYBUILDER who used to exercised for eight hours a day told how her weight dropped to five stone as she battled anorexia.
Mhairi Stewart, 22, has shared shocking pictures of her recovery while revealing that mum Rosemary, 60, used to sleep on the floor next to her - in fear that she could die at any moment.
But her breaking point was in July 2015 when she was admitted to an eating disorder clinic critically ill, with potentially days to live.
Now well, Mhairi, 22, from Glasgow, has told her story to the.
She revealed how at her worst she would eat around only 300 calories a day.
"I was paranoid about burning off every calorie. I walked everywhere, spent at least four hours in the gym every day doing cardio, weights, the lot," she said.
“My diet consisted of 20g of porridge, a protein shake, an apple, egg whites and a salad. That was it.
"To think my mum snuck into my bedroom every night to make sure I didn’t die or fall ill in my sleep shows how scared she was.”
In July 2015, with her body mass index at 12 - when it should be between 18 and 25, Mhairi was admitted to hospital.
A month later she was discharged and began her recovery.
In July 2017 she completed a qualification in health and fitness and started work as a personal trainer.
Now in a relationship with Adam, 26, she takes part in power-lifting competitions.
Writing on , she said: "It won’t happen over night, there will be ups and downs.
"I certainly had mine. That’s normal, but it will happen.
"I did not do this alone, I had support from some very special people, friends and loved ones. There is nothing wrong with asking for help."
What is anorexia nervosa and what are the signs and symptoms?
Anorexia nervosa, often known as just anorexia, is a very serious mental health condition which causes the person to restrict the amount they eat.
The sufferer of the eating disorder aims to keep their body weight as low as possible by avoiding food, vomiting or exercising excessively.
The condition usually affects girls and women, however, recently it has started affecting more boys and usually it develops at around 16 or 17 years old.
Despite being less common than some other conditions, anorexia is one of the leading causes of mental health-related deaths - as a result of malnutrition or suicide.
Usually, a sufferer will go to great lengths to disguise the fact they are not eating or pretending they have eaten already.
But if you suspect someone is battling the condition there are a few signs to look out for, . These include:
- Missing meals, eating very little or avoiding eating any fatty foods
- Obsessively counting calories in food
- Leaving the table immediately after eating so they can vomit
- Taking appetite suppressants, laxatives, or diuretics (a type of medication that helps remove fluid from the body)
- Repeatedly weighing themselves or checking their body in the mirror
- Physical problems, such as feeling lightheaded or dizzy, hair loss, or dry skin.
Around 50 per cent of people with anorexia will continue to have some level of eating problems, even after treatment.
For more information, or to seek help, please visit .
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We previously told how a woman who developed anorexia at EIGHT, shrunk to just 4st 8oz and tried to take her own life five times was saved by her girlfriend.
And a former anorexic whose weight dropped to under five stone overcame her eating disorder to become a mum.