The Nerd Of Body Positivity

What's been inspiring me I hear you ask! Okay that's a lie. No one asked but I think secretly you've been wanting to know.

Day one of this project began on my 29th birthday but I had been chatting about it with friends for many months so when my birthday arrived a very thoughtful friend gave me the gift of this book. 

It's really great as a starting point for me. It dabbles into all sorts of exercises that you can do from using mantras to visualisation to self-care techniques. It's also has very pretty illustrations and quotes that make you feel good. Using this I've been able to pick out techniques that may be useful and then look into them a bit further because I am a nerd and need to know all the science behind the pretty pictures.

Which brings me to my next book....

This was another gift from my very lovely and very supportive boyfriend. It's a great book which brings together and summarizes all the research thats going on in the field of body image. It looks at the evolution of body image, the cultural context, experimental data, first hand accounts through interviews as well as giving all sides of the debates that are currently being argued amongst many other things. It's extremely comprehensive and you know it's legit because the bibliography for each chapter is INTENSE.

The third and final book that's been helping me at the minute is Animal: The Autobiography of a Female Body by Sara Pascoe. Mainly because I've discovered WE ARE THE SAME PERSON. Well obviously, we are not but they way she speaks about how she's felt about her body over the years is exactly how I've felt. She's also come to an understanding of her own body through science as well as personal experience and she's hilarious (which I obviously am too! Right guys? Right....).

I am so excited about reading this book that I'm including it int his blog even though I haven't finished it yet (I also got so excited when reading it that I tweeted her about it which means she probably sees me as a creepy fangirl rather than a potential BFF and so once again, I've shattered my own dreams!). It's blown my mind on a few occasions and I think she gets the science across in a really conversational way so you don't feel overwhelmed by it and you understand it. Anyway, you should all read the book. Even if you are not nor identify as a woman it will help you understand those around you who are/do.

But it's not all about books guys! Friends have also recommended performers and bloggers who through their work are trying to help people feel more accepting of the bodies and/or take ownership of them. Notable examples so far are Rubyyy Jones. Isn't she amazing?

Also, a dreamboat called Megan or BodyPosiPanda who's instagram account was originally recommended to me but who also has an amazing website here. 

I've also just been inspired by all the private messages sharing advice and offers of tea and a chat that I've been getting from the wonderful women in my life which I will be sharing with you in blogposts of the future. I know I'm such a tease right.

If you have any other books, songs, poetry, women or advice that you'd like to share with me then please do. Pop it in the comments below or just message me privately if you have my details.

Love and demon conquering powers to all.

A

P.S. If you fancy buying any of the books check out Wodery.com and get free worldwide delivery Huzzah! (I do not work for Wordery or get any money for telling you this. I'm just poor but like to read and understand that maybe you are the same.).