My doctor felt that the main contributing factor was so many years of malnutrition, especially during my formative years, even before I got into modeling.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
When I gained weight in 2005, my nutritionist was very worried. I was close to having diabetes.
In the 20 long, hungry years between my late teens and late 30s I bought in to virtually every new diet and/or exercise regime that hoved into view, particularly at this most vulnerable time for those of us prone to poor body image - a new year.
Most people start eating healthy after the doctor says they have a problem. That's just human nature.
Anorexia was there for me before I got into modeling, but because of the arena and the demands, the disease really got out of control for me. It's like being an alcoholic and going and being a bartender.
It took a lot of time to develop a healthier relationship with food and with my weight.
I was in a weight-cutting sport, in judo, so I had to be a certain weight on a deadline. It kind of pushed me into having a really unhealthy relationship with food in my teens. I felt like if I wasn't exactly on weight, I wasn't good-looking.
Over the years, I've learned a lot about nutrition and about myself, so it's a lot more based on feel. I stopped putting a number on it because people were analyzing it too much.
Nutrition is so important. It can't be stressed enough.
All my Doctor's said I should become a model.
I'm sure that my father becoming seriously ill when I was 14 had a lot to do with my going from chubby to fat.