Anorexic teen who survived on just one bagel A DAY speaks out about her journey to save her own life
Faye restricted her diet to just 250 calories a day
A TEEN who survived on just one bagel a day shows off her incredible recovery after her weight plummeted to a dangerous four stone.
Graphic design and media communications student Faye Cullen, 18, has battled with anorexia for four years.
In a bid to lose weight, Faye’s condition spiralled out of control after she began restricting herself to just 250 calories a day.
Londoner Faye remembered: "I just wanted to lose weight and this later became my way of coping with life.
"I honestly hated myself more than ever and hated what I was doing.
"I knew I was destroying my life, my future and everyone around me.
"I wanted to stop but I just couldn't bare the idea of letting go of anorexia for a long time, it was like I needed it.”
During one disorder relapse, Faye didn’t eat anything, drinking only cups of tea for five days.
As her weight dropped to a tiny four stone, she struggled to find clothes that would fit her.
Faye revealed: "I was bellow a size 4 in clothing and could find nothing to fit me.
"My eating disorder made my life a living hell.”
When Faye attempted to get medical advice to help her on the road to recovery, she was turned away by doctors for being “too ill”.
The teen’s eating disorder and mental health problems became so severe that she even contemplated taking her own life.
She confessed: "I've been in and out of hospital multiple times with it and other mental health problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety and self-harm.”
After doctors told Faye she’d have to go on a waiting list for two months, she was forced to seek support from her mum and other people with anorexia online.
She said: "My mum stood by my side the entire illness.
"She put up with so much and encouraged me (and still does) to keep fighting and living…
"The treatment I have received has been absolutely horrendous and has never treated my disorder.
"It's always been down to me and my family to sort me out.
"To be turned away from services after being on a two month waiting list for being "too ill" is ridiculous.
As Faye was finally on the road to recovery, she decided to set up her own Instagram
She said: "I'd been searching the internet for ideas, tips and treatments when I stumbled across the eating disorder community on Instagram.
"Initially when I started the account I wasn't that serious about it or recovery, it was a half-hearted attempt.”
As well as offering up advice to other victims of eating disorders, Faye also posts snaps of her love of pole fitness.
In a bid to improve her body confidence, Faye has been pole dancing for exercise for almost two years.
She said: “Pole has definitely really helped with overcoming my eating disorder multiple times.
“When I initially started pole I was bordering a relapse with anorexia as my self-esteem and body confidence was so low
“I went to my first session in a studio filled with women of all shapes and sizes, young and old. It showed me it really didn't matter what size you were or how old, body confidence was what made you actually beautiful.”