By Alyce Collins

 

THIS BALLET dancer labelled her anorexia a demon that made her exercise for TEN HOURS A DAY making her face GAUNT and her skin GREY to the point where she was relying on caffeine pills and nine cups of coffee just to get through the day.

 

Teaching assistant, Megan Brewer (22) from Lincoln, United Kingdom, aspired to tour the world with a professional dance company while she studied at dance school, before her health deteriorated as she battled anorexia.

Megan would train for up to 10 hours a day.
Megan Brewer / MDWfeatures

 

Megan grew up part of a health-conscious family who would often workout and rarely indulged in unhealthy foods. When she was younger, Megan took part in ballet, tap, modern and jazz classes, and while at dance school she did ballet and contemporary dance.

 

Since eight years old, Megan started obsessing over her measurements for dance costumes, wanting to be the smallest possible size. As she was growing up, Megan was always conscious of calories and would regularly cry at her own reflection.

Megan’s dad cried when he saw her small frame and gaunt face.
Megan Brewer / MDWfeatures

 

Megan joined dance school at 18, but by her third year, Megan would work out for up to 10 hours a day by going to the gym at least once a day, doing two yoga classes, a HIIT class, running once a week and training for a marathon, all on top of dancing.

 

The turning point came when Megan realised sheā€™d developed a phobia of food, and seeing her dad cry at the sight of her skeletal frame.

Megan’s small frame became more skeletal after she left dance school.
Megan Brewer / MDWfeatures

 

After seeking treatment and moderating her exercise, Megan hopes to show others that they arenā€™t alone and being ill isnā€™t their fault as she calls anorexia her ā€˜demonā€™. Now, Megan plays for Lambeth Allstars FC which has helped her find the social side of sport, going from 5st 9lbs to 8st 6lbs.

 

ā€œWe as a family were always very busy with our own commitments, such as dance and music classes,ā€ said Megan.

When Megan left dance school she became fearful of gaining weight and so deprived herself of food.
Megan Brewer / MDWfeatures

 

ā€œBoth my parents are very into exercise and healthy living, which I learnt and took to the extreme. I remember being fussy over unhealthy food from a young age, such as not eating chips or pizza. Iā€™d say I didnā€™t like them, so I wouldnā€™t have to eat them.

 

ā€œI would obsess over measurements when I was with my dance friends, like getting measured for costumes and character skirts. It felt like a competition to be the smallest.

Megan now, embracing her figure and hoping to help others.
Megan Brewer / MDWfeatures

 

ā€œI was very conscious of my body since the age of eight. Growing up I did it all ā€“ ballet, tap, modern and jazz.

 

ā€œThe traffic light symbols on packets would particularly catch me eye and Iā€™d stay away from anything marked red. I was always conscious of my body and Iā€™d cry at my own reflection. I also joined a gym at 15, which I would use if I was upset.

Megan has found her strength and passion in football which has shown her the social side of sport.
Megan Brewer / MDWfeatures

 

ā€œAround this time, I would do secret workouts before bed to work on defining my six pack and obsessing over my measurements. Iā€™d do endless amounts of sit-ups, press-ups and workout routines that Iā€™d learnt from dancing.

 

ā€œI was always the sporty, healthy one and being naturally petite, I was known as ā€˜little Megsā€™. Little did I know that nickname would later be taken to the extreme.

Megan as a child, doing dance which she has done since three.
Megan Brewer / MDWfeatures

 

ā€œWhen I entered dance college at 18, the dance world stereotypes became my reality and I slowly began to slip into unhealthy eating disorder related behaviours. We danced every day, taking part in technique classes, choreography, performances and rehearsals.

 

ā€œIn my second year, I developed anxiety and depression due to the high pressures of dance school and living in London. As well as my dance training I was also training for half marathons.

Megan backstage at rehearsals while she was in dance school.
Megan Brewer / MDWfeatures

 

ā€œIā€™d be overly conscious while eating salads, exercising more and I noticed some weight loss. My confidence also took a blow due to the pressure and unenjoyment of the year itself.

 

ā€œIn my third year my behaviours became extreme because I was doing up to 10 hours of exercise a day and rapidly losing more weight. My lunch was often a few rice cakes, spinach and celery sticks, then for dinner it would be a salad. Iā€™d rely on protein shakes to keep me going.

Megan at dance college, showing her six pack which she became obsessive over.
Megan Brewer / MDWfeatures

 

ā€œAt this point, in my final year, I was praised for my physique and weight loss. I still looking very muscular and toned but I had no body fat.

 

ā€œIn the dance world I looked good, you could see my lines and muscle tone ā€“ I looked strong. When I stopped dancing though, I lost all the muscle tone and began to look skeletal by which point everyone became worried.ā€

Megan shows her ripped physique which she would constantly get complimented on.
Megan Brewer / MDWfeatures

 

When Megan left dance school in 2017, her exercise regime changed drastically because she was no longer exercising for an entire day. As a result, Megan began punishing herself and depriving herself of food.

 

ā€œI wasnā€™t doing anywhere near as much exercise when I left, so I felt like I didnā€™t deserve food. I only ate lean protein and low carb vegetables,ā€ said Megan.

Megan with her mum and dad at a dance show.
Megan Brewer / MDWfeatures

 

ā€œI didnā€™t have the luxury of a free gym and hours of dance class to attend so I ate less to compensate for the lack of exercise. I was living on a diet of salad, fish and hard-boiled eggs.

 

ā€œWhen I began working as a teaching assistant, I would walk three miles to school and rely on caffeine for energy throughout the day. Iā€™d take Pro Plus and drink up to nine cups of coffee.

Megan also trained for a half marathon alongside dance school, exercising up to ten hours a day.
Megan Brewer / MDWfeatures

 

ā€œMy intense fear of food became a phobia and I stopped socialising and drinking because I was afraid of food and calories, and that also took time away from exercising. When I began working in the school, I would have heart palpitations, felt faint and fell over a lot.

 

ā€œWhen I went home for the weekend, at my lowest weight, my dad cried at how small I was. He picked me up from the station and was shocked by my skinny legs, gaunt face and grey skin.ā€

 

In September 2017, Megan began treatment for her anorexia and she now has a healthy relationship with both food and exercise.

 

Megan wants to show others that anorexia doesnā€™t centre around weight because itā€™s the mindset which is so detrimental, as she highlights that more needs to be done to help people recognise those who are suffering.

Megan loved being muscly, without realising how dangerous it was for her health.
Megan Brewer / MDWfeatures

ā€œAt first I was an outpatient but that didnā€™t work so I was offered day-care which was five days a week, and we had meals and a variety of therapy groups,ā€ said Megan.

 

ā€œThere was a great team of staff consisting of a consultant, nurses, dietician, occupational therapists and counsellors.

 

ā€œIā€™d created all these rules around eating and couldnā€™t break that cycle but now I see everything is okay in moderation.

 

ā€œIn regard to exercise, football really helped me, and it changed my perspective. I joined a team when I could exercise, and it taught me how to work as a team and it kept exercise moderated.

Megan’s six pack was something she became very proud of and obsessed over.
Megan Brewer / MDWfeatures

ā€œI realised that looking ripped isnā€™t maintainable and doesnā€™t make you a better person. Before, I could never stand up for myself, but now I can because I know Iā€™m just as important as anyone else and I donā€™t need an eating disorder to make me special.

 

ā€œEating disorders arenā€™t about weight. Yes, I fit the stereotype of anorexia, but you can have the mindset and not the body. People need to get educated so they can support others. It is a mindset and food and weight are just a symptom of how much youā€™re controlled by your inner voices.

 

ā€œI always saw it as something was that controlling me, and I called it my demon.ā€

 

To find out more, you can follow Meganā€™s recovery at @perfectlyimperfectyou or by visiting perfectly-imperfect-you.com