THE EVERYDAY BODY WAR
There was an everyday war
Waging
In my body
At the table.
There are weapons of mass destruction
Intended to destroy my sense of self
My belief in me
My joy in my body
Name calling was always the first line of fire.
“You’re fat” being on the top of the list
“Those thighs” – said with a disappointed sigh – was second on the list
Then I’d walk out on the street and there was an onslaught.
Billboards telling me the right size to strive for.
The right clothing to wear – once I became that size.
And of course the comments.
They were a bit like landmines.
“What diet are you on?”
“I just lost 15 lbs!”
Or the ones that were disguised
“You look great. Did you lose weight?”
“Want to do this new detox with me, so that we can really take care of ourselves”
Code for I think you need to join this diet with me ‘cause you’re not okay as you are.
The weapons they keep coming, and the ones that started as society’s weapons eventually became my own internal weapons.
I believed I should be living in a war zone everyday
I believed I shouldn’t feel good – yet
because I wasn’t that size – yet
No body-peace for me.
Not allowed
After all, isn’t a woman’s body to be feared.
Shouldn’t we annihilate her?
Shouldn’t we make her disappear in her not enoughness?
~ Nina Manolson
For more of my poetic essays: https://ninamanolson.com/food-for-thought/
Nina Manolson, M.A. in Counseling Psychology, Nationally Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach, Psychology of Eating Coach, Body-Trust® Guide.
If you’d like help with navigating an authentic and respectful relationship with your body. Let’s talk.
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Nina Manolson, MA, NBC-HWC, board certified Health Coach, Psychology of Eating Coach and Certified Body-Trust Provider, believes that every woman deserves to feel good in her own body.
She helps women create a healthy and positive relationship with their food and body so they can love their body and life! She’s the founder of NinaManolson.com and The Nourished Woman Nation.
She helps busy women feel good in their own body.. She specializes in working with women over 40 who have tried other diets and approaches but are still struggling with their body and food.
She’s the creator of the BODY-LOVE MAP and the recipient of the prestigious Health Leadership Award from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition.
To get your F.R.E.E. ebook: HOW TO BE A WOMAN AT EASE IN YOUR BODY click here.
Nina Manolson, MA, is the founder of Body-Peace®.She helps women end the war with food and body and finally feel truly at home in their body—as it is.
She is known for her deeply feminist, anti-diet, body-peace® approach. She brings her 30 years of experience as a therapist, Body-Trust® Guide and Psychology of Eating Teacher to helping women create a respectful and trusting relationship with their food and body.
Nina’s Body-Peace® work is all in service of helping people get off the diet roller-coaster, and into a compassionate and powerful way of eating & living which creates a positive long-lasting change in and with their bodies. Her courses, coaching, poems and Body-Peace APP positively change the conversation that women are having with their body.
Start your Body-Peace® journey with this free masterclass that will help you understand and shift your relationship with your body.
