I don't normally recommend things to people since it's SO MUCH PRESSURE. However, I finished reading this book last night and I thought it was really powerful. (Link is to the Wiki page.)

Roxane Gay was raped as a child and ate herself into obesity as a way to protect herself from future harm. She has a lot of really great insights about being obese in a world that does not accept obese people and I found so much of what she wrote to be extremely relatable to my own experiences as an obese woman. I heard an interview with her on This American Life a while back and it really stuck with me because she talked about the HAES/fat acceptance movement in a way that really resonated - she basically said that, hey, it's great, until it gets to the point where it shames people who DO want to lose weight. And this is something I've experienced from the HAES folks more than a few times in my life. "I'm happy that you accept your body the way it is and don't want to lose weight, but you need to accept that I don't feel that way about myself."

The book is sort of blog post style, short chapters with some repetition, but I didn't find that objectionable. It's not a weight loss success story but, for me, it reaffirmed the choices I've made in the last 3-4 years of my life.

Sounds interesting. Thanks

"hey, it's great, until it gets to the point where it shames people who DO want to lose weight. And this is something I've experienced from the HAES folks ..."

This is true. About 10 years ago, I was in Weigh****chers. Another member who worked at Catherine's (A plus sized store) got FIRED because she lost weight and no longer was plus sized.

I thought that was sad. You are either good at customer service and creating outfits or your not. Your weight doesn't directly determine these attitudes and gifts.

I listened to an interview of Roxane on NPR discussing the book. It sounds like great insight for people who struggle with weight issues. Your recommendation is greatly appreciated.

Thanks -- I will check it out!

Thanks for posting this! I've been a fan of hers for a while, and meant to check out her book and forgot!

I'm so glad you posted this Gwen! I wanted to read this book but have been really cautious because of the topic but now I feel a lot better about its potential.