A nurse whose dark battle with anorexia saw her weight plummet to just six stone said she survived on fizzy juice, Mentos and veggie sausages.
Blair Paton's teenage years were tainted by her eating disorder, which she developed at the age of 15 following the removal of a benign brain tumour and as she struggled to cope with her mum's alcoholism.
The neonatal intensive care nurse from Paisley said her condition developed when she went was preparing for a dance show, the Daily Record reports.
She said it led to get beginning a diet "that never stopped".
Now aged 24, Blair said she used food as a means to "gain a sense of control" as her personal life spiralled out of control.
She told the Record: "When I look back at pictures when I was at my smallest it really scares me.
"It's not just how I look, but that I was convinced there nothing was wrong with me.
"I knew I should have gained weight but at the time I didn't think I looked ill.
"The mental health aspect is just as bad as the physical side."
Blair had a benign brain tumour removed aged 14 and the surgery left her unwell for a long time.
Her health struggles came to a head while living with her mum, Sharon Paton, who was battling a serious alcohol addiction.
"I'm so lucky my tumour was benign but my mum was a functioning alcoholic," Blair said.
"I do think watching what I was eating gave me that sense of control during a hard time."
"At that point my eating was totally restricted. I skipped breakfast and lied to my parents about eating lunch at school.
"All I'd eat was a packet of Mentos."
The schoolgirl admitted to her parents there was a problem and she was referred by her GP to a mental health charity.
Blair said: "I started to recover over the next couple of years.
"But when I was around 18 my mum relapsed and so did I, it was terrible.
"I was referred to a treatment centre in Edinburgh as an outpatient but from then on, I would yo-yo; going back and forth for years."
Sadly, in 2017, Sharon passed away aged 46 leaving Blair, her sister Courtney, 22 and joiner dad Colin, 54, devastated.
In the years that followed, Blair's dangerous eating and exercising habits went into overdrive.
"I'd go to the gym every day and only do cardio, I'd binge eat, then eat nothing at all," she added.
"For some periods I would only eat 500 calories per day; I'd drink coffee and fizzy juice all day, then eat some vegetarian sausages at night.
"I don't know how I survived, I was studying nursing and running on no energy."
Towards the end of her degree, Blair began to focus on improving her condition.
In October 2020 she graduated from university and secured her dream job working in neonatal intensive care at Glasgow's Queen Elizabeth University Hospital.
Around that time she met partner Lewis Gray, 28, who got down on one knee on Hogmanay after a whirlwind romance.
Together they share beloved pooch Paolo and are set to get married in summer 2023.
Her new chapter comes after years of mental torment and tough Covid-19 lockdowns.
"Coming out of lockdown last year really showed me how I'd wasted my youth with my anorexia," Blair said.
"Life is for living and if I don't enjoy it now, eating and drinking what I want in a healthy way, then it will pass me by.
"I go to the gym four times a week and have a balanced diet, I have so much more energy now."
To mark Eating Disorders Awareness week the fighter has shared her story in a bit to help other Scots who may be struggling and give them hope that life does get better.
She continued: "There's such a broad spectrum of eating disorders but the first step is recognising something is wrong and admitting it, which is so hard.
"Just because you're not really skinny doesn't mean you don't have a problem, body dysmorphia can affect anyone too.
"Speak out and get the help, it does get better."
Blair hails her personal trainer Laura Mullen for helping her 'regulate metabolism' through 'healthy habits'.
And Laura, 31, is also full of praise for her client.
She told the Record: "I’m so chuffed for Blair. Her progress has given her a wee boost to keep pushing forward, knowing that she’s inspiring others who have been in a similar scenario."
For more information on anorexia and support available for those affected by it visit the NHS website.
