Anna McManamey opens up about her eating disorder battle

Anna McManamey, 31, is a certified nutrition and strength coach and a WBFF Pro Bikini Athlete who is on a mission to empower women to love their bodies. 

But it hasn’t been an easy path for the Sydney-based fitness guru, who battled a debilitating eating disorder for more than seven years. 

‘Growing up I was a dancer and rhythmic gymnast so from a young age I was very body aware and my body image issues started young,’ Anna told FEMAIL. 

‘So by combining my type A high achiever/perfectionist personality with sports that were so aesthetically focused, it was only a matter of time before that snowballed into something concerning.’ 

Anna McManamey, 31, is a certified nutrition and strength coach and a WBFF Pro Bikini Athlete who is on a mission to empower women to love their bodies

But it hasn't been an easy path for the Sydney-based fitness guru, who battled a debilitating eating disorder for more than seven years (pictured left at 18 and right at 31)

But it hasn’t been an easy path for the Sydney-based fitness guru, who battled a debilitating eating disorder for more than seven years (pictured left at 18 and right at 31)

Anna said while her poor relationship with food started at the age of 14, when she was 16, she was told that she could never be an ‘elite gymnast’ because she was ‘too big’ – a moment that she describes as her ‘trigger’. 

‘It wasn’t meant in a mean way because I was quite muscle bound but I do remember going to bed that night thinking “I’ll show you”,’ Anna said. 

‘The next day I avoided breakfast, threw my lunch in the bin and made up an excuse at dinner about feeling sick and I remember going to bed and feeling this great sense of achievement.’

Anna said her eating disorder snowballed from there, along with heightened self-esteem issues.

'I wouldn't go to the beach with friends because I thought they were all skinnier than me and even though I was never a big kid I always felt frumpy,' Anna said

‘I wouldn’t go to the beach with friends because I thought they were all skinnier than me and even though I was never a big kid I always felt frumpy,’ Anna said

Anna said she became 'addicted' to jumping on the scales and while she was never hospitalised, would suffer dizzy spells, had no energy and no personality

Anna said she became ‘addicted’ to jumping on the scales and while she was never hospitalised, would suffer dizzy spells, had no energy and no personality

‘I wouldn’t go to the beach with friends because I thought they were all skinnier than me and even though I was never a big kid I always felt frumpy,’ Anna said. 

‘I was suffering both anorexia and bulimia and by year 12 I was 39 kilograms, doing gymnastics and dance for hours every week and doing my HSC exams. 

‘I was never happy, nobody knew how to treat me and even though my parents tried to take me to counsellors and doctors I didn’t want a bar of it. In my mind, seeing someone meant I would get fat so I shut myself away.’ 

Anna said she became ‘addicted’ to jumping on the scales and while she was never hospitalised, would suffer dizzy spells, had no energy and no personality. 

Anna discovered a love for weights and working out in her early twenties 

Anna discovered a love for weights and working out in her early twenties 

Anna said she battled body image issues and eating disorders up until her early twenties when she retired from gymnastics and focused on getting a degree in journalism and her career

Anna said she battled body image issues and eating disorders up until her early twenties when she retired from gymnastics and focused on getting a degree in journalism and her career

Anna’s top health and fitness tips  

* Be consistent and trust the process

* Never ban food groups and never take things to extreme 

* Try flexible dieting and ‘IIFYM’

* It’s about long term adherence 

* Everything in moderation 

* Focus on fresh meats and vegetables and a diet rich in wholefoods

* At the same time, never be afraid to treat yourself and never feel like you have to earn your food 

* Train in a way that makes you feel good

‘I was still training 30 hours a week and competing in national championships and while I put on a happy front there was a dark cloud over me and I was never happy, not once,’ Anna said. 

‘I was always setting benchmarks for myself – I would hit my goal weight and then set a new goal weight, it was like a drug. It was really sad and my relationships with all of my family and friends suffered.’

Anna said she battled body image issues and eating disorders up until her early twenties when she retired from gymnastics and focused on getting a degree in journalism and her career. 

‘I joined a gym for the first time which was strange for me because I had never set foot in a commercial gym or lifted a weight in my life,’ Anna said. 

'I joined a gym for the first time which was strange for me because I had never set foot in a commercial gym or lifted a weight in my life,' Anna said

‘I joined a gym for the first time which was strange for me because I had never set foot in a commercial gym or lifted a weight in my life,’ Anna said

'My love for working out developed and a year later I had a group fitness certification and started teaching group classes,' she said (pictured at a competition)

‘My love for working out developed and a year later I had a group fitness certification and started teaching group classes,’ she said (pictured at a competition)

‘It was my first introduction to the world of fitness and strength training and I fell in love with working out and started to learn about nutrition and proper strength training. 

‘My love for working out developed and a year later I had a group fitness certification and started teaching group classes.

‘I was sick of feeling out of control and at constant war with food and I sought the help of a sports dietitian for 18 months who helped me with a meal plan and introducing basic foods like meat and oats into my diet instead of just vegetables and fruit juice.’

Anna said that she first became interested in bodybuilding after seeing men and women training at the gym. 

'I was in awe of their physiques and the transformations and I just remember saying "that's my goal",' Anna said

‘I was in awe of their physiques and the transformations and I just remember saying “that’s my goal”,’ Anna said

‘I was in awe of their physiques and the transformations and I just remember saying “that’s my goal”,’ Anna said. 

‘They weren’t starving themselves, these women were eating full and healthful diets and weight training and not grinding themselves into the ground with cardio. Here I was from a background where I thought you had to eat less to look a certain way.’

Anna came to realise that food wasn’t the enemy and after training closely with experts and working on her diet she was looking the best she had ever looked. 

After moving to Cairns to work as a journalist, Anna decided to finally make her dream a reality and started working with a prep coach towards a bodybuilding competition. 

Anna came to realise that food wasn't the enemy and after training closely with experts and working on her diet she was looking the best she had ever looked

Anna came to realise that food wasn’t the enemy and after training closely with experts and working on her diet she was looking the best she had ever looked

And in 2012, she got up on stage and competed in her first ever comp.

Since, she has won and placed in many federations including ANB, INBA, Musclemania, IFBB, and now, the WBFF 

She is also a certified nutritionist, a registered exercise professional and a personal trainer.  

She recently took to her Instagram page to share a photo of herself now compared with one of her at 18 when she was just 39 kilos. 

‘”Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” – WRONG. I can think of millions of things that taste infinitely better than skinny feels – like brunch with friends, dinner with your family, or a slice of cake on your birthday,’ she said. 

Since, she has won and placed in many federations including ANB, INBA, Musclemania, IFBB, and now, the WBFF

Since, she has won and placed in many federations including ANB, INBA, Musclemania, IFBB, and now, the WBFF

'Because skinny feels especially horrible for those who are manipulated into believing this rubbish. Skinny will not make you happier and it will not solve your problems,' she said

‘Because skinny feels especially horrible for those who are manipulated into believing this rubbish. Skinny will not make you happier and it will not solve your problems,’ she said

‘Because skinny feels especially horrible for those who are manipulated into believing this rubbish. Skinny will not make you happier and it will not solve your problems. 

‘The times where I was at my skinniest I had no personality, no energy, I was a self-hating loner and felt completely miserable. 

‘Remember that in between this obsession of fitting society’s idea of the perfect body is a thing called LIFE that needs to be lived and enjoyed. The days will roll on, regardless of whether you’re size zero or not. Make sure your priorities are straight.’

Anna said she hopes to use her story to inspire women and stresses that ‘skinny’ should never be anybody’s goal. 

Anna said she hopes to use her story to inspire women and stresses that 'skinny' should never be anybody's goal

Anna said she hopes to use her story to inspire women and stresses that ‘skinny’ should never be anybody’s goal

'Learn to fuel yourself, dedicate yourself and don't ever be afraid to treat yourself and enjoy yourself as well. It's all about balance and loving yourself,' she said

‘Learn to fuel yourself, dedicate yourself and don’t ever be afraid to treat yourself and enjoy yourself as well. It’s all about balance and loving yourself,’ she said

‘The skinnier I got the sadder I became and I feel sorry for the person in that photo,’ she said. 

‘Those who are in a similar position – never be afraid to talk about your feelings. Don’t contain it and ensure you have a good support network around you. 

‘Overall the message I want to get out there is that being skinny or weight loss doesn’t solve your problems – you can’t resolve emotional issues with physical ones. 

‘Learn to fuel yourself, dedicate yourself and don’t ever be afraid to treat yourself and enjoy yourself as well. It’s all about balance and loving yourself.’  

If you need help or support for an eating disorder or body image issue, please call Butterfly’s National Helpline on 1800 334 673 or e-mail support@thebutterflyfoundation.org.au

Anna shares her advice and fitness tips on her Instagram page and website 

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