Previously, Andrea Lee was pressured to slim down for her boyfriend (now fiance) who is of a smaller frame than her. At that time, it made her feel insecure and she held this mindset that her self-worth was based on how she looked. This low self-esteem was further exacerbated by the fitness influencer accounts on Instagram that she was following.
“I became obsessed with calorie counting and I kept over-exercising. As I was living alone abroad, no one could keep tabs on me,” the 27-year-old owner of The Clean Addicts recalled.
“I felt a sense of satisfaction and control when the numbers on the weighing scale went down and I just didn’t know when to stop. Controlling food intake was also a means for me to control my life whenever I felt things outside me were spiralling out of control.”
Then she hit a wall. Andrea lost her period as her body fat was too low and her hormones were imbalanced. At 37kg – her lightest ever – for her height of 157cm, she still felt insecure.
“I didn’t realise I had anorexia until someone pointed out that I’ve lost a lot of weight drastically. As it was a mental disorder, I had to admit the problem to myself, and then my loved ones. It wasn’t easy but it was the first step to recovery.
“I had a long talk with my partner and he gave me reassurance – that he loves me more than how I looked – and that gave me comfort and confidence,” she shared.
This became her turning point. Andrea was consciously got herself to eat and also made the effort to go out and eat because if she cooped herself at home, she had a habit of eating ‘super clean’.
Adamant on wanting to overcome her eating disorder and not let her loved ones worry, she also unfollowed all these fitness influencer accounts that made her feel inferior.
Andrea finally regained her period after three years.
“This mental disorder is really selfish and I had so much to offer other than how I looked! I’ve never felt a greater sense of freedom after detaching my mental health from my body.
“Rather than focusing on how I looked, I have since shifted my focus on whole food nutrition for longevity and a strong body! Challenging myself at the gym with weights is now my favourite thing to do and I don’t get too bothered by the number on the scale as it’s not the most accurate representation of health.
“I also try to accept all my flaws, belly rolls and thigh gap (even when I was at my skinniest I didn’t have one) and the functioning body that God has given me to bear children!” she said.
Wanting to be part of this campaign, Andrea hopes to help other girls out there and inspire them to live a life that they SHOULD be living — to love themselves enough to eat better, exercise moderately and be confident!
Life is too short to be controlled by the weighing scale and social media. We are all unique and we need to be thankful that we have a functioning healthy body that not everyone has.
“I stand for loving yourself first, before you can love anyone else. I strive to empower others by encouraging other women to embrace themselves, including all of their “flaws”. We’re all made by God to be unique and beautiful in your own way. Beauty is skin deep and our mental health needs to be prioritised even more than our physical health,” she added.
[Andrea is wearing the Vera Top in Black and Soph Skirt in Night from GOYA and Denim Heels from STAND.]
