A man whose battle with anorexia caused his weight to plummet to just seven stone has spoken about beating his demons after finding love again.
After a traumatic break-up in 2011, Dorian Toucere began to develop a dangerous fear of food.
Advert
Feeling insecure and alone, he began refusing to eat, surviving on as little as 700 calories a day with a diet of two slices of chicken and veg.
"I was depressed, I was not well," 25-year-old Dorian, who hails from Toulouse, France, told the Daily Mail.
"I used to do one hour, 15 minutes of treadmill and one hour, 30 minutes of bodybuilding."
His tall 5ft 8-inch frame shrunk to a tiny 7st 1lb as he continued to starve himself and exert his body to its limits.
Advert
However, when he met current girlfriend Sophie last year, things started to turn around for Dorian as she helped him to rediscover his lost love of food.
"She helps me to accept myself physically. I'm happy again and I'm back to life," he said.
With Sophie's ongoing love and support, alongside a healthy passion for bodybuilding, Dorian was able to overcome his fears and nourish himself back to health.
Advert
"It's been more than four years since I've been bodybuilding; this sport helped me get out of anorexia among other things," he told the newspaper.
Now Dorian's extreme dieting days are over. He no longer skips meals or worries about the calories he consumes, nor does he spend hours slogging on the treadmill purely out of fear. He now understands the need to properly fuel both his body and mind.
Alongside his daily bodybuilding routine, Dorian aims to eat around 4,500-5,000 calories a day to maintain his healthy 13st 5lbs weight - a massive improvement from the mere 700 he was surviving on before finding bodybuilding and Sophie.
Advert
"I feel good in my body and in my head, without any negative feelings," he said about his new healthy lifestyle, following his amazing recovery.
"My friends and family are proud of what I have become," said Dorian, adding: "You should never compare yourself with others. This illness is not insurmountable."
'U OK M8?' is an initiative from LADbible in partnership with a range of mental health charities which features a series of films and stories to raise awareness of mental health.
Advert
Explore more here and don't suffer in silence. Reach out. It's the brave thing to do.
MIND: 0300 123 3393.
Samaritans: 116 123.
CALM: Outside London 0808 802 5858, inside London 0800 58 58 58.
Australians can call Lifeline on 131114, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 18000 or visit the National Centre Against Bullying website.
Words: Megan Walsh
Featured Image Credit: InstagramTopics: U OK M8, Mental Health, Inspirational, Interesting, Feels