‘My diet used to be awful’: Iskra Lawrence opens up about her previous restrictive eating disorder

‘My diet used to be awful!’ Iskra Lawrence reflects on her previous restrictive eating disorder with partner Philip Payne after admitting she was ‘fat-phobic’

  • For help and guidance surrounding eating disorders contact Beat Eating Disorders’ helpline: 0808 801 0677 

Iskra Lawrence sat down with her partner, Philip Payne, on Monday to discuss her previous battle with a restrictive eating disorder and her negative experience with diet culture.

The model, 30, revealed she doesn’t limit herself to certain foods on Instagram after previously admitting to being fat-phobic during her teenage years.

She said: ‘Restricting is the last thing [I want to do], that’s how my eating disorder felt, it felt restricting. 

Honest: Iskra Lawrence sat down with her partner, Philip Payne, on Monday to discuss her previous battle with a restrictive eating disorder and her negative experience with diet culture

‘Not just in the forms of foods that I ate but in the mindset I had, in the insecurities that were restricting, everything was restrictive…  

‘My diet used to be awful, in the sense that I wasn’t nourishing my body, it would be barely anything in the day or just protein because I’d seen those fad diets in magazines, it was the Atkins [Diet]’. 

She also opened up about the shame surrounding her emotional connection with food and revealed she felt she only deserved ‘treats’ such as brownies if she had completed a workout.  

Iskra has since found a better relationship with food by adopting intuitive eating.

Ready for change: The model, 30, revealed she doesn't limit herself to certain foods on Instagram after previously admitting to being fat-phobic during her teenage years

Ready for change: The model, 30, revealed she doesn’t limit herself to certain foods on Instagram after previously admitting to being fat-phobic during her teenage years

Her new approach entails eating food based on what you’re body is craving and what feels nourishing, as opposed to what is deemed ‘healthy’, or what meets a calorie intake criteria.

Her discussion with Philip, 32, isn’t the first time the model has opened up about her eating struggles, as she previously revealed she ‘lived in fear of being fat’ during her teenage years.

She also took to Instagram in October where she admitted she had been fat-phobic and held herself ‘to impossible standards and judged/ stereotyped others’.

Iskra shared a video where she counted down from 10 on her hands while answering a series of questions about the times she had criticised her figure or another’s.  

She wrote: ‘Not proud to share that I’ve been fat-phobic, I didn’t understand at the time why or what it even meant. 

Shame: She said to her partner: 'My diet used to be awful, I wasn't nourishing my body, it would be barely anything in the day'

Negative: She also opened up about the shame surrounding her emotional connection with food and revealed she felt she only deserved 'treats' such as brownies if she had completed a workout

Shame: She said to her partner: ‘My diet used to be awful, I wasn’t nourishing my body, it would be barely anything in the day’

Awareness: The model also took to Instagram in October where she admitted she had been fat-phobic and held herself 'to impossible standards and judged / stereotyped others'

Awareness: The model also took to Instagram in October where she admitted she had been fat-phobic and held herself ‘to impossible standards and judged / stereotyped others’ 

‘I lived in fear of being fat during my teenage years, because everywhere I had been shown that success, desirability, popularity and acceptance was only for those in societies parameters of body size and beauty ideals.  

‘I wish I had known better, I wish I’d have never held myself to impossible standards or judged / stereotyped others. I know better now, recovery truly is a gift.’

She went on to say that recovery isn’t easy when ‘everything has been stacked against you to not feel enough’, but being you ‘is the best you can be’.    

Iskra became a first-time mother back in April, when she and her beau welcomed the birth of their baby son.  

The model recently admitted that her exercise regime hasn’t been ‘consistent’ since giving birth but said she was ‘in awe’ that her body has given her the gift of motherhood. 

For help and guidance surrounding eating disorders contact Beat Eating Disorders’ helpline: 0808 801 0677 

Motherhood: Iskra became a first-time mother back in April, when she and Philip, 32, welcomed the birth of their baby son

Motherhood: Iskra became a first-time mother back in April, when she and Philip, 32, welcomed the birth of their baby son

WHO IS MOST AT RISK OF DEVELOPING EATING DISORDERS?

Tom Quinn, director of external affairs at Beat, says eating disorders can affect anyone, ‘age, gender, or background’, but especially teenagers.

‘Around 1.25 million people are estimated to have eating disorders in the UK. Eating disorders are severe mental illnesses which can be triggered by a variety of factors such as genetic, psychological, environmental, social and biological influences.

‘Eating disorders do not just affect young women and studies show that up to 25% of those suffering with eating disorders are male.

‘We know that eating disorders can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or background, but, as the NICE guidelines suggest, the risk is highest for young men and women between 13 and 17 years of age.

‘The fact that we are seeing parents and families spotting signs of an eating disorders early is positive. Full recovery from an eating disorder is possible and the sooner someone gets the treatment they need, the more likely they are to make a full and sustained recovery.

‘Any increase or decrease in the number of children and young people accessing any form of treatment is often reported as evidence that ‘eating disorders are on the rise’, when actually it could be due to greater awareness and help-seeking, improved identification and/or a change in the number of services and beds available.

‘However, no matter what their age or gender, every person concerned about their well being should have their concerns acknowledged respectfully, and be able to find necessary treatment without delay.