Home Top

Syrian rebels chant 'Allahu Akbar' over the body of dead Russian pilot after Turkey shoots down jet for violating its air-space... then rescue chopper is blasted out of the sky by anti-Assad troops
Teenage Islamist 'poster girl' who fled Austria to join ISIS 'is beaten to death by the terror group after trying to escape from Syria'
Right-wing Republicans will threaten to shut down the government unless Obama bars all Syrian refugees after Paris attacks
Terrifying footage shows Russian journalists being hit by an anti-tank missile while driving along Turkey's Syrian border on the day fighter jet is shot down
ISIS must be fought by other countries says White House because 'the US is certainly pulling more than our weight'
Canada to set out plans to resettle 25,000 Syrian refugees by Dec 31 - but offer 'will be limited to women, children and families'
Mafia heir warns ISIS to stay away from New York - but slams 'Hollywood gangsters' De Niro and Pacino for failing to 'stand up' to the terrorists
New York State launches anti-terror app to anonymously report suspicious-looking people without fear of appearing racist
Soldiers to stay on the streets of Brussels for a WEEK as schools and metro remain closed over terror attack fears and EU staff are warned to stay at home
Anti-terror police carry out dawn raids at hotels in Calais over fears a jihadi cell is operating among migrants trying to reach Britain
Landlord who provided a hideout to Paris jihadis is swept to court before dawn by heavily-armed police where he is expected to be the first person charged with helping them
Defiant American sports fans pack out a stadium in Atlanta for a WWE event despite an ISIS threat to attack the event
US Air Force bombs 238 ISIS oil trucks in Syria but is forced to defend tactic of dropping leaflets beforehand to warn civilians after claims that it tipped off jihadists
Airplane passenger 'takes picture of UFO that was giving off bright lights and orbs' on ground near top-secret Area 51 military base
Suspicious man poses as his girlfriend's lover on Snapchat to catch her cheating then shares her saucy snaps online (but is it all it seems?)
Hasidic woman who hanged herself just months after her sister's suicide 'suffered breakdown after being forced to marry her cousin'
Popular HGTV presenter diagnosed with cancer and SAVED by an eagle-eyed viewer who spotted an unusual lump on his neck
Worried you'll die young? Check your heart rate: Risk of early death increases by 9% with every 10 extra beats per minute
Google Doodle celebrates 'Lucy': Animation marks the anniversary of when the Australopithecus skeleton was unearthed
It's a DOG's world: The photos that prove man's best friend has no concept of personal space will have you laughing out loud
How Coke spent $1.5million 'influencing' an anti-obesity nonprofit - including picking its leaders, changing statements and suggesting pro-soda articles
Air BnB nightmare! Gay porn star is sued by California mansion owner who claims he ruined the property by making a hardcore movie on the grounds
Yours for $17.5million, the luxury home where you WON'T have a blast! Converted nuclear bunker boasts 32 acres of land, 3ft-thick walls and decontamination showers
EXCLUSIVE: Sherri Shepherd loses bid to have her name removed from surrogate son's birth certificate and must continue paying child support to ex Lamar Sally

'My body was shutting down': Dancing With The Stars champ Shawn Johnson reveals she was only eating 700 calories a day as she prepared for 2008 Olympics

Published: 03:47 EST, 24 November 2015 | Updated: 06:55 EST, 24 November 2015

View
comments

Food for thought: Olympic gymnastics champion Shawn Johnson has revealed she would starve herself as she was unhappy with her body

She was a world class gymnast with the body too match.

But Shawn Johnson has revealed she loathed her powerful physique so much she was starving herself to the extent her 'body was shutting down' as she prepared for the 2008 Olympic Games.

The Dancing With The Stars champion said she wanted to live up to the 'svelte' image of the perfect gymnastics competitor.

The 23-year-old told People: 'I was always the very strong, powerful, muscly, bulky gymnast and I felt like people always wanted me to be thinner and lighter and leaner.

'And as a 12-year-old, the only way I really understood how to achieve that was to eat less and restrict myself. I remember kind of obsessing over it.

'I went as far as literally not eating any carbs. I wouldn't allow myself to eat a single noodle of soup.

'It got to point where my body was like, shutting down. I was on a diet where I would eat like 700 calories a day – all the way through the 2008 Olympics.'

The Iowa native was never formally diagnosed as having an eating disorder, and despite her eating habits she ended up winning the balance beam Olympic gold medal, which she said gave her 'huge pride', while also garnering silver in the team, all-around and floor exercise categories.

However she feels she could have achieved more if she had followed a proper nutrition plan.

She said: 'I feel like my body had gotten so used to performing and practicing under those conditions that that's all I knew. I probably could've performed better and had a little more energy if I was feeding myself better.

'It was hard on my parents to see their 12-year-old daughter going through this.

'It definitely was a concern of theirs. I would come home after a practice and my dad would make me French toast or pancakes - anything he knew I couldn't resist - to get calories into me.'

See the latest Dancing With The Stars news on Shawn Johnson and other contestants

Jumping on empty: She revealed at times she was only eating 700 calories per day as she prepared for the 2008 Olympic Games

She said it was the expectation of what a gymnast should look like that played on her mind.

Devout Christian Shawn said: 'Back then, the judges liked the look of a very lean and skinny gymnast that was artistic and graceful, rather than powerful like myself.'

But as the Rio Olympics approaches, she believes the body type expected by fans and judges is changing.

She said: 'I think it's a pressure that will forever be in gymnastics. It's just part of the sport.

'But I do think that there is a difference in the sport, and the prospects going to Rio are the stronger types, the muscular and powerful girls.'

A piece of cake: She still won a gold for her balance beam performance despite her troubles

Waffle-y good idea: She said her father would prepare 'irresistible' food like French toast or pancakes to make sure she was eating enough

Her advice to them is to focus on getting the nutrients their bodies need to perform.

'The most important thing is to be healthy and confident in yourself. You're on the biggest stage in the world so you need to do what your body asks.'

Naturally curvy Shawn's physique came under renewed scrutiny when she took a spot on 2009's Dancing With The Stars, and as she had piled on the pounds after retiring from her sport, she found herself a target on social media.

She said: 'I just seemed to be the perfect target. Being 4'11" and putting on 20 pounds looks like a lot, and people had no problem voicing their opinions. I took it really hard.

Under fire: She became a target for social media bullies after she gained 20 pounds before appearing on 2009's Dancing With The Stars

Another trophy for the cabinet: But her athletic prowess saw her and Mark Ballas romp home for the title

'As a perfectionist coming from the gymnastics world where you have to earn respect, I felt like I was losing the respect that I had earned, and it kind of broke me down.'

However she had the last laugh when her flawless routines saw her romp home for the title - becoming the youngest ever winner in the process.

Despite her athletic prowess, Shawn admits she 'gave up' trying to lose weight in a healthy manner, and turned to unhealthy shortcuts such as diet pills and diuretics, with disastrous effects.

She said: ''It's a vicious cycle. Instead of putting in the time and effort to be healthy and do things the right way, you look for a quick fix that might work for a week or two.

'But then you put weight back on, and your mental health and confidence go back down. With every attempt to be healthy and lose weight, with every failure, I just got more defeated.'