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The sad part was, like most _ others _ going through a similar experiâ€" ence, Colmer knew she For 12 years she would go to unthinkable meaâ€" sures to keep her weight down. Nothing _ was _ too extreme. Starving herself became a daily routine. But when the hunger pains took over, she thought nothing of feedâ€" ing her appetite, then purging everything from her system. It was that thought that almost stole Colmer‘s chance to ever enjoy another meal. Colmer suffered from the two most common eating disorders, anorexia nervosa and bulimia nerâ€" vosa. Yet, when it came to sampling those delicaâ€" cies, Colmer couldn‘t stomach the outcome. She convinced herself that if she put even the smallest portion of food into her body, she would balloon up to a state of obesity. After narrowly cheating death, Stephanie Colmer battled back to overcome anorexia and bulimia nervosa about food. She loved to smell it cooking in her mother‘s kitchen. She enjoyed reading up on the latest appetizers, entrees and desserts. And on occaâ€" sion, she even dared to experiment with a new recipe of her own. Dying to be thin By Anprea Barey Chronicle Staff s a young adult, Stephanie Colmer loved â€" everything "I just â€"remember always wanting to shrink away and disappear." But it wasn‘t until she was 16 that the peed to change her look and size started to consume her. "I had body image issues from a very young age," she said. "I was taller than everybody else, and I developed earlier than everybady else. Her esteem plummetâ€" ed further when friends at school began taunting her because of her size. Through her talks, Colmer takes her stuâ€" dents back to the early stages of her disorder, when she was growing up in Waterloo‘s Lincoln Village area. And as a teacher at Waterlooâ€"Oxford _ secâ€" ondary school in Baden, she knew the best place to start was with her stuâ€" dents, showing them how easy what some consider a manageable habit can suddenly spiral out of control. "At that age, they think they‘re invincible," Colmer said. "But the repercussions are pheâ€" nomenal." Now, _ after finally regaining control of her life, and not allowing the disorder to destroy her, the 33â€"yearâ€"old is doing all she can to stop others from following in her footsteps. was on a dangerous path. Yet, she just couldn‘t bring herself to change her behaviour. Now, _ after â€" finally "I was losing body fat, and people were noticing me," she said. "Everyone was saying, ‘Steph, you look awesome." Her newfound confiâ€" dence continued for the next few months. But when basketball season The results of the disâ€" cipline soon became apparent, and Colmer went from weighing a healthy 138 lbs. down to 120 lbs. It wasn‘t long before she found herself acceptâ€" ing compliment after compliment. "At first, it was just about exercise," she said. "I ate a lot. But I did decide to change my habits a little. Instead of having two helpings at dinner, I would just have one. And instead of reguâ€" lar snack food, 1 would have an orange." In the fall of Grade 10, Colmer began lifting weights with friends, putting her body through what she called "suicide" drills, which resembled intense sprinting exercisâ€" es, and waking up bright and early to do earlyâ€" morning workouts on television. weight," Colmer stressed. "I played a lot of sports. In fact, _ my _ basketball coaches told me that if I wanted to continue playâ€" ing (after high school) I would get heavier." But that advice went in one ear and out the other. LIFESTYLE Continued on page 30 Stephanie Colmer has been to hell and back through her battle with anorexia and bulimia. Today, she looks and feels healthier (pictured above with her dog Maggie), compared to her state of health at age 16 (pictured below). For more information about 4Cs or the Pancake Tuesday luncheon, conâ€" tact Jennifer Warren at the organizaâ€" tion‘s office by calling 744â€"0940. The mission of Citizens Concerned with Crime against Children and Youth is to work in partnership with the comâ€" munity to address abuse and violence in the lives of children and youth through awareness, advocacy, educaâ€" tion and support. The Four Points Sheraton is hosting a special Pancake Tuesday Luncheon Feb. 12 with proceeds going to Citizens Concerned _ with Crime â€" against Children and Youth (4Cs). Everyone is welcome to sample the Four Points luncheon menu, including pancakes with toppings, bacon, sausage, ham, fresh fruit, coffee and tea. The cost is $10 per person with corâ€" porate tables available. Tickets are available by calling 896â€" 7172. There are now 10 programs operatâ€" ing that try to alleviate the number of undernourished children who come to school on an empty stomach and then try to learn. _The dance will feature music by Innuendo, and there will be a cash bar, buffet and raffle prizes available. The event will take place Feb. 9 from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at the St. Agatha Community Centre, located at 205 Erb St. W. in St. Agatha. This program, initiated in 1992, helps to fund breakfast clubs for elementary students in Waterloo Region. The Elementary Teachers‘ Federaâ€" tion of Ontario â€" Waterloo Region is sponsoring a dance to support the Healthy Learners‘ Breakfast programs in the community. Community dance raises funds for breakfast program Pancake luncheon supports 4Cs 119 40‘ 1 u a a Ask for details . WATERLOO NORTH Northfield at the Pariway % FINANCING ww. watericomazda .com in Waterioo 746â€"1666