But tapping these stores ultimately results in a loss of phosphate (an electrolyte) in the body's cells. When an anorexic person begins to eat again or be re-fed in a hospital, insulin secretion begins again and the cells absorb the available phosphate.

The problem is that the available phosphate comes from the bloodstream, which needs its own supply. The presence of phosphate in the blood is necessary to regulate a number of physical processes.

Beyond the depletion of phosphates, low potassium level) and hypomagnesemia (low magnesium) are also possible. These electrolytes are necessary for nervous system processing, including heartbeat regulation. According to the NHS, without proper electrolyte levels, a number of problems can occur:

• respiratory failure
• cardiac failure
• hypotension (low blood pressure)
• irregular heartbeats
• rhabdomyolysis -- breaking down of muscle tissue, which flows into the bloodstream and can damage the kidneys
• seizures
• coma
• sudden death

I was told that the most important element in avoiding refeeding syndrome is a slow increase in additional calories as this gives the body time to adjust to food in quantities it has not seen in some time. With this in mind I began my journey.......

My first week

My first week of getting back into a normal pattern was very tough, and with 'refeeding' in mind I was extremely scared. My parents and me took a trip to the local supermarket, they gave me a basket and told me to go off and get whatever I wanted, to pick anything I thought I could keep down, but on the condition that anything I could couldn't be the 'healthy option'. From the receipt I have kept we bought:

• Bananas, apples, pears, mushrooms, baked potatoes, onions, tomatoes, salad

• Whole fat milk (not skimmed, my bones needed the calcium and the extra calories), garlic cheese, mature cheddar, mustard cheese slices,

• Roast chicken slices, roast beef, honey roast ham

• Wholemeal bread, white rolls, baked beans, kidney beans, All Bran, Shredded Wheats, porridge, crackers, mixed nuts, cereal bars

• Orange juice, apple juice, Ribena

• Multivitamins

All healthy foods, but for my next trick came the sweets and crisps aisle. I had not ventured down one of these in months and it was daunting, but kind of exciting at the same time. But fighting the anorexia and with a smile on my face I banished those 'unhealthy thoughts' and went for caramel digestives, chocolate bars, chocolate mini rings, rich tea biscuits and treatsize Milky Ways and Mars Bars. I also picked up some McCoy crisps and Quavers. I was determined that I was going to stop denying myself the odd treat and I was looking forward to it.

The first month

Eating the food however and getting into a routine was a problem. The feeling of starvation was so normal to me that I had lost all concept of what it was like to have a full stomach, and I had no idea what a normal portion size was. Throw in the fact that my stomach couldn't hold much down and you can see how daunting it was.

Determined to press on I went for it, and it felt like I was eating all the time because I was eating a meal or snacking once every 3-4 hours, slowly increasing the amount I was eating each time. But there were downsides to this sudden change I was putting my body through.

I often thought I'd overdone it. The backs of my legs, fingers and hands often felt dead, my heart thumped inside my chest every time I ate and my digestive system struggled horribly. Within 10 minutes of eating a 'proper meal', the veins across my body and stomach appeared more prominent, and my stomach looked bloated. I worried about edema because when I raised my legs or arms I could feel and see the blood rush through.

I was also worried that I'd lost the feeling of hunger and the ability for my body to tell me I was hungry again – and this would lead me to I'd balloon in size, especially because I was still weighing myself every morning. What didn't help was that my weight seemed to shoot up overnight - however, the doctor said this was just because my body was storing so much more water in my body and that it would settle down. Sleep was a big problem, and I seemed to be waking every 2-3 hours to go for a pee!

But I cracked on with it, despite the feelings of guilt with each and every mouthful. I had to keep telling myself that every time I swallowed the food my insides were saying thank you. Thank you for thinking of us, thank you for doing the right thing, thank you for giving us the energy and nutrients to get better. It felt good in many ways, like I was saying sorry to my body for putting it through so much pain and exhaustion, giving it good healthy nutritious food to start repairing itself.

Gradually many of the negative physical effects started to disappear. By the end of the first month my stomach was finally able to hold so much more food without me being sick or tasting it in the back of my throat. The feeling of hunger began to return in the second week and I answered it every time. However I can't deny I had a few down days. On a trip to an Indian restaurant I was so hungry I seemed to gorge myself, and remember being sick. I drank too much white wine one day and couldn't hold down my tea, and there were many occasions when I skipped a meal or a snack because I was out, or busy, or forgot.

However, by the end of the first month I had got into a routine, planning my meals and snacks the night before to avoid the stress of snap eating decisions - I was waving goodbye to Anorexia.

My meal plan in the first month went something like this:

• Breakfast - bowl of cereal, plus a slice of toast and a glass of fruit juice or a piece of fruit

• Snack - piece of fruit or  handful of mixed nuts

• Lunch - beans on toast with salad, or sandwich, crisps, salad / yoghurt or cereal bar

• Snack - chocolate bar / biscuit / crackers

• Dinner - baked potato with cheese / pasta etc plus dessert

• Pre-bed - glass of hot milk with a biscuit

The second month

Moving into the second month of recovery my body continued to undergo drastic changes. My skin started to look and feel much smoother, veins disappeared by the day, my ribcage no longer looked so prominent, and feeling started to return to my fingers and toes – although they still felt cold. My face also started to fill out, and having a bloated stomach after eating became a distant memory.

My family said I looked so much healthier too, that my eyes were brighter and that the old Liam was returning. And guess what, I even managed to fight my fear of McDonalds - having my first Big Mac meal in over six years!

I can't deny that anorexic thoughts came back into my head every day, manifesting themselves in checking backs of packets and weighing myself, but day by day I cut these down and just went for it.

The third month

By the third month of recovery food was no longer as much as an issue as it once was. Virtually gone are the days of checking on backs and packets to estimate just how many calories were in them were long gone, and in is the new thought process that your body will adjust to take account for the increased calories took its place. I could now eat a normal size portion meal with no oroblems of feeling guilt or sick, and would often ask for seconds (it'ts in the insides calling for it, not me!!)

I still had problems though - my sleep was shot to pieces. I kept waking up 4 hours after falling asleep, and when I woke I'd have to get up and pee. The same thing started to happen two hours later. I was told this would go in time, when my body stopped crying out for food food food.