She Survived on Just One Slice of Bread a Day for 5 Years — Now Look at Her
Around the world, countless people silently battle eating disorders, despite growing efforts to promote body positivity and healthier standards in media. For Annie Windley, a young woman from Derbyshire, England, this battle was deeply personal—and nearly fatal.
At her lowest point, Annie weighed just 29 kilograms (around 64 pounds). Her body was so fragile that doctors warned she was at serious risk of a heart attack. For over five years, anorexia controlled her life, bringing her in and out of hospitals, therapy programs, and even intensive care units.
But Annie found a way to fight back—with running.
Now 21 and living in Woolley Moor, Annie has transformed her life through determination, self-love, and the healing power of movement. She credits running with saving her life and helping her stay focused during recovery. In fact, she recently completed the Chesterfield Half Marathon—an achievement that once seemed impossible.
“I realized something beautiful,” Annie said. “Recovery doesn’t have to be terrifying. It can be powerful, thrilling, and even joyful.”
Although she acknowledges that anorexia may always be part of her story, she’s learned how to manage it—and, more importantly, how to stop letting it define her. “Changing for the better is never too late,” she added.
Diagnosed in 2012, Annie’s path to recovery truly began two years later. But it wasn’t until October 2017 that something inside her clicked. “I can’t explain what changed,” she recalled, “but this time, I was doing it for me.”
The fight wasn’t easy. Annie faced daily emotional turmoil and overwhelming fear. But her courage never wavered. In just four months, she gained three stone (over 40 pounds)—her healthiest weight since 2014.
More than physical healing, Annie experienced a shift in mindset.
“I realized that your kindness, your actions, how you treat people—that’s what matters. Not a number on a scale.”
She urges others struggling with eating disorders to spend their energy building memories and relationships, not obsessing over calories. “Be a good friend, a good daughter, share a laugh. Those are the things that truly matter.”
Annie’s love for running helped anchor her recovery. Training for and completing the half marathon gave her structure, purpose, and a renewed appreciation for her body’s strength. “Every morning, I run to remind myself how precious life is. I don’t waste time counting calories—I celebrate what my body can do.”
She now sees food differently, no longer turning pizza and chocolate into numbers in her mind. For others who feel like recovery is impossible, Annie offers this advice:
“There will be bad days—days you feel awful, days when you want to give up. But those are the days you have to push through the most. We don’t want to look back with regret at everything we missed because of an eating disorder.”
Today, Annie is proof that recovery is possible—and that even after years of darkness, there’s still light ahead.
Want to see the powerful transformation for yourself? Watch her full story in the video below.