Former anorexic covers herself in Nutella for thought provoking images encouraging women NOT to diet

A FORMER anorexia sufferer has posed for photos showing her body covered in Nutella to encourage other women not to diet.

Nutrition coach Ashlee Winstanley, 24, from Mawdesley, Lancashire, stripped down to just her undies and smothered herself in the sugary chocolate spread to celebrate her now healthy relationship with food.

The thought provoking images show just how far Ashlee’s attitude with food has changed over the years.

Eight years ago, Ashlee was victim to anorexia – a battle which saw her weight drop to a tiny 6st.

After concerned loved ones started began commenting on her restrictive diet, Ashlee then found herself with further body image issues after taking up bikini modelling.

The pretty blonde soon realised that the strict regime required to compete was luring her back into her old habits – so she gave it up in 2015.

These days, Ashlee weighs a healthy 9st and works as a nutrition coach and now hopes to be able to teach others about the importance of healthy eating.

She told : “So many people are stuck in this rut of confusion and punishment over food.

“Not being able to give up that control and find peace with food in their life.”

Ashlee's father, Mark, died from stomach cancer in February 2010 and although she didn't realise it at the time, the distraught teen developed an eating disorder as a way of regaining control over her life.

Then, when she was 19, Ashlee knew she had a problem when friends and family started commenting on her size and restrictive eating habits.

She said: “I started to see I didn’t have a life as my life was being controlled by what I wouldn’t let myself eat or do, I was just punishing myself.”

Ashlee later went on to study nutrition at Edge Hill University, Lancashire – but it was here that she fell into another unhealthy habit after competing in bikini competitions.

Thankfully, the student soon realised that competing was luring her back to her old eating habits and gave it up.

Now, Ashlee works as a nutrition coach and aims to educate people on how food and nutrition work.

She took part in the Nutella photo shoot to try and show people that there “is no guilt, no shame, or punishment around eating, everything is in moderation and balance.”

She added: “My job is to educate how to use nutrition to get the best out of your life and the best out of yourself. Become the best version of you. That’s what I did.”