Swimmer developed eating disorders struggling to keep athlete figure

A former GB swimmer has told how she was left battling eating disorders after struggling to maintain her professional athlete figure.

Lucy Davis, 24, from Salford, Manchester, swam for England internationally and came fifth in the British Championships before she quit her career to go to university.

But years of competitive swimming and being weighed multiple times a day left her unable to see past body fat percentages, weight loss, calorie counting and exercise.

When she quit, Lucy went to the gym between seven and nine times a week in an attempt to maintain her professional swimming body, and only ate around half the recommended daily calorie intake for a woman.

For three years she battled with eating disorders including bulimia as she later binged thousands of calories at a time and then purged, to keep her tiny 8st 12lb figure.

Thankfully, Lucy now maintains a healthy body by eating a balanced diet and exercising for fun after completing a course to become a personal trainer. 

Lucy Davis (pictured recently), 24, from Salford, Manchester, swam for England internationally and came fifth in the British Championships before she quit her career to go to university

Lucy Davis (pictured left during her battle with eating disorders, and right, recently), 24, from Salford, Manchester, swam for England internationally and came fifth in the British Championships before she quit her career to go to university

But years of competitive swimming and being weighed multiple times a day left Lucy (pictured recently with her boyfriend Ben) unable to see past body fat percentages, weight loss, calorie counting and exercise

But years of competitive swimming and being weighed multiple times a day left Lucy (pictured recently with her boyfriend Ben) unable to see past body fat percentages, weight loss, calorie counting and exercise

Lucy said: ‘When I quit swimming, all I thought about was numbers – how much I ate, how much I weighed and how many gym sessions I could fit in a week.

‘I became obsessed with keeping my weight as low as possible – even though I was already tiny. I’d still see myself in the mirror and think I needed to lose more fat.

‘I’d be working out nine times a week, barely eating in the daytime before binging at night, and obsessively counting my calories.

‘When I began secretly binging on a large number of cakes, sweets and biscuits in one sitting, I would tell myself that I could eat anything I wanted, as long as I threw it back up again.

When she quit, Lucy (pictured recently) went to the gym between seven and nine times a week in an attempt to maintain her professional swimming body, and only ate around half the recommended daily calorie intake for a woman

When she quit, Lucy (pictured recently) went to the gym between seven and nine times a week in an attempt to maintain her professional swimming body, and only ate around half the recommended daily calorie intake for a woman 

For three years Lucy (pictured during her battle with eating disorders) battled with eating disorders, later binging thousands of calories at a time and then purging, to keep her tiny 8st 12lb figure

Lucy pictured recently

For three years Lucy (pictured left during her battle with eating disorders, and right, recently) battled with eating disorders, later binging thousands of calories at a time and then purging, to keep her tiny 8st 12lb figure

‘I knew it was wrong, but the voice in your head is overpowering and hard to fight. But one day I looked in the mirror and realised I wasn’t OK – and that was when I knew I had to do something about it.’

Lucy began swimming at a national level aged 13 and she was soon juggling two training sessions a day, seven days a week, alongside studying for her A-levels.

She was weighed before and after every training session and said she ‘can’t remember a time before she knew what she weighed’. 

Thankfully, Lucy (pictured recently) now maintains a healthy body by eating a balanced diet and exercising for fun after completing a course to become a personal trainer

Thankfully, Lucy (pictured recently) now maintains a healthy body by eating a balanced diet and exercising for fun after completing a course to become a personal trainer

Lucy (pictured in 2015) began swimming at a national level aged 13 and she was soon juggling two training sessions a day, seven days a week, alongside studying for her A-levels

Lucy pictured in 2015 aged 18 when she quit swimming

Lucy (pictured in 2015) began swimming at a national level aged 13 and she was soon juggling two training sessions a day, seven days a week, alongside studying for her A-levels

Lucy (pictured with her boyfriend Ben) was weighed before and after every training session and said she 'can't remember a time before she knew what she weighed'

Lucy (pictured with her boyfriend Ben) was weighed before and after every training session and said she ‘can’t remember a time before she knew what she weighed’

Aged 14, she was national champion in seven events and held the record for her age group in the 200m individual medley. 

WHAT IS BULIMIA? 

BEAT eating disorders explains the condition:

  • Bulimia is an eating disorder characterised by binge eating and purging
  • Symptoms may also include fear of putting on weight, mood changes, anxiety, tiredness and tummy pain
  • Treatments can include therapy and medication
  • The condition typically develops during adolescence or early adulthood
  • Bulimia makes up 40 per cent of eating disorders in the UK
  • 75 per cent of those affected by eating disorders are female

She spent years competing for England in events across Europe and came fifth in the British Championships 200m final in 2015. After four years, she quit the sport to study at the University of Manchester.

During her first year she ate just half the recommended number of calories a day, often going to the gym twice a day to stop herself gaining weight. 

She said: ‘From 14, it had been ingrained in me to always weigh myself, measure my body fat and restrict my diet – and I couldn’t help it.’

Within weeks, food cravings began to overwhelm her – leading to her first bulimic ‘food binge’.

After scoffing on biscuits, chocolates and cakes, she forced herself to be sick – a secret habit she kept up for months, up to four times a week. She said food ‘felt like a poison’.

‘Most days I’d go to the shop after lectures and buy mountains of snacks because I was so desperate for food,’ she said. ‘I would just tell myself “you can eat whatever you want, as long as you throw it up again”.’

After five months, she looked in the mirror and realised she needed to fight the mental illness, recalling: ‘I realised I wasn’t OK. I wasn’t even muscly any more, just super skinny.’

By late 2016 she had begun the long road to recovery by slowly reducing gym sessions and increasing her calories. 

Aged 14, Lucy (pictured with her boyfriend Ben) was national champion in seven events and held the record for her age group in the 200m individual medley

Aged 14, Lucy (pictured with her boyfriend Ben) was national champion in seven events and held the record for her age group in the 200m individual medley

Lucy (pictured in 2015) spent years competing for England in events across Europe and came fifth in the British Championships 200m final in 2015

After four years, Lucy (pictured in 2015) quit the sport to study at the University of Manchester

Lucy (pictured in 2015) spent years competing for England in events across Europe and came fifth in the British Championships 200m final in 2015. After four years, she quit the sport to study at the University of Manchester

During her first year, Lucy (pictured recently) ate just half the recommended number of calories a day, often going to the gym twice a day to stop herself gaining weight

During her first year, Lucy (pictured recently) ate just half the recommended number of calories a day, often going to the gym twice a day to stop herself gaining weight

She started a course to become a personal trainer and set up a health-themed Instagram page to keep herself on track. 

She even changed her route to university to avoid passing the shop where she used to buy mountains of snacks before a food binge.

She said: ‘I started to learn it’s all about getting the balance – rather than labelling “good” foods and “bad” foods. I also started going to the gym just six times a week, which was a big moment for me. I realised you can enjoy exercise instead of using it as a punishment.’ 

By late 2016, Lucy (pictured with her boyfriend Ben) had begun the long road to recovery by slowly reducing gym sessions and increasing her calories

By late 2016, Lucy (pictured with her boyfriend Ben) had begun the long road to recovery by slowly reducing gym sessions and increasing her calories

Lucy (pictured recently) said she now maintains a healthy weight of 10st 3lb and eats a balanced and healthy diet

Lucy (pictured recently) said she now maintains a healthy weight of 10st 3lb and eats a balanced and healthy diet

By the time she graduated aged 21, she had completed her personal training qualification and established an online coaching business, the MyCoach School, with boyfriend Ben Haldon, 29.

Lucy said she now maintains a healthy weight of 10st 3lb and eats a balanced and healthy diet. 

She said: ‘Now, I do exercise because I love it and I don’t restrict what I eat – I’ve realised food isn’t the enemy and it’s OK to eat things you enjoy. 

It was a tough journey, and I wouldn’t wish what happened to me on anybody else, but I came out the other side. I love being able to help other people to love exercise – and do it for the right reasons.’

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