I Binged On 8,000 Calories A Day

Gripped by a dangerous eating disorder, Cara Davis reveals how she transformed her life

- Kristina Beanland & Deborah Risseley

We all have those days when we don’t eat as healthily as we should. maybe you have an extra biscuit with your cup of tea, some chocolate buttons at your desk at work. But not so long ago, when I felt my willpower waiver, I’d gorge on whole cakes, an entire loaf of bread and multi packs of crisps – and no matter how full I was, I just kept going… 

As a child, I was chubby and even though my parents told me it was puppy fat, I only got bigger in my teens. I had a sweet tooth, so I’d spend my pocket money on pick and-mix. of course, I knew I was heavier than other girls my age. while my friends wore crop tops, I hid my shape in baggy dresses.

So self-conscious, I was just 14 when I started counting calories. I’d have a salad at the school canteen. But while my intentions were good, it never lasted.

In the years that followed, I tried countless diets – from Atkins and juicing to taking pills that suppressed my hunger. I’d lose a few pounds, but then I’d give in to my cravings and I’d put it all back on again.

By the time I went to university in September 2005, aged 19, I was 13st. Then, in February 2006, a friend suggested I try a meal-replacement plan. She explained that by drinking shakes instead of eating meals, I’d cut my calorie intake to just 600 a day, losing large amounts of weight in a short time. Willing to try anything, I signed up.

Immediately, my weight plummeted – I lost 11lb in the first week. Friends complimented me on my new shape and when my boyfriend, Zack*, came to visit, he hardly recognised me. Six weeks later, I’d shrunk from a size 16 to a 10.