10 Books for Women Struggling with Diet Mentality & Body Image
Upon starting to write this post, I went to my bookcase to look for books that I have read over the years to help me on my journey through disordered eating. And oh my gosh, do I have a ton of these books. Over the years, I thought that I could “fix myself” by doing it all solo, by buying books and implementing what I learned in them. And although this was helpful, it took me years of doing it on my own to realize that I needed additional support. Having someone support me, listen to me, and counsel me on how to move forward was the most life-changing.
So while these books can be huge pieces of the puzzle, they can be the catalyst for even greater insights when paired with outside guidance. But, even with that being said, these books have played a huge stepping stone in the process. Which is why I want to share them with you today. The top 10 resources for women struggling with the diet mentality and body image:
Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch
If you follow many leaders in the diet-free and body positive industry, you probably have heard of intuitive eating before. The whole premise of this is to return to how we ate as children when eating was natural and we didn’t think much about our food choices or how we ate. It focuses on eating in tune with your hunger and fullness cues and to eat what your body wants (not what your mind thinks you should eat). This book helps you make peace with food, free you from chronic dieting, and help you rediscover the pleasures of eating. Highly recommended.
Eating in the Light of the Moon by Anita Johnston
This is a resource I was first introduced to when I was in therapy for my eating disorder. My therapist at the time shared a story with me from this book and it resonated deeply with me so I ended up buying the whole book. It is a collection of myths, metaphors, and storytelling on how women can transform their relationships with food. It is a wonderful perspective shift and a good way to get your out of your own head, which is a huge piece of disordered eating. I love it.
50 Ways to Soothe Yourself Without Food by Susan Albers
This book has been on my bookshelf for years, and for good reason. Finding ways to soothe yourself without turning to food is huge and this book does a wonderful job of laying out 50 options to try and experiment with. My favorite way to explore this is to start trying this activity when you are not triggered to use food to emotionally soothe yourself so that you have a small toolbelt of activities that you know calm you when the time does come to use them.
When you eat at the refrigerator, pull up a chair by Geneen Roth
Truth be told, I am a huge Geneen Roth fan. I have nearly all her books and I can devour each one in a day (they are that good!). Her writing is so relatable, humorous, and full of truth that I am sharing not just one but three of her books on this list. This book, a collection of 50 ways to feel thin, gorgeous, and happy when you feel anything but, is a great resource to read daily and implement in your life. She shares small tidbits of knowledge she has gained from her struggle and shares it in a relatable way. Highly recommended (and while you’re at it, just read ALL her books)
Radical Self-Love by Gala Darling
Recommended to me by my life coach last year, I absolutely adore this book. It is a guide to help you love yourself and live your dreams completely on your terms. If you are struggling with loving yourself (which many women struggle with), I highly recommend giving this book a read.
It’s not about food: End your obsession with food and weight by Carol Emery Normandi and Laurelee Roark
This book is wonderful because it goes beyond just the surface thoughts and behaviors of women with disordered eating. They dive deep and go beyond the physical hunger to help address the hunger that resides in our souls. It is a compassionate book that helps you break the cycle, go deep within yourself, learn how to listen to your body’s wisdom, and ultimately take care of yourself like never before.
Women Food and God by Geneen Roth
I told you Ms. Roth would have more than one book on here. This one is one of my favorites. Not only does it address disordered eating and body image issues, it also dives deeper and discusses what is going on underneath the surface. The amount of highlighting and notes written in the margin in this book of mine is ridiculous. It seems that almost every page is filled with goodness to change your perspective, help you inhabit your body, and lead you to complete freedom.
Beautiful You: A Daily Guide to Radical Self-Acceptance by Rosie Molinary
This book is beautiful. It is a daily journaling guide to help you realize profound self-acceptance, increase your confidence, and break free from self-criticism. Yes, please! The daily wisdom and activities in this book are a wonderful start to the morning and really help put things into perspective for me.
You are Enough by Cassie Mendoza-Jones
I only recently found this book but I absolutely love it. In my opinion, much of the diet mentality and lack of love for ourselves stems from not feeling good enough. And this book tackles that topic head-on. Cassie is a wonderful writer and very relatable. I found myself nodding along through the entire book. Her actionable steps and encouraging words are exactly what you need to discover that you actually are enough. Love it.
Breaking Free from Emotional Eating by Geneen Roth
Another great resource by Geneen Roth. This time she breaks down emotional eating by offering reassuring and practical advice to help you break the diet and binge cycle forever. Some of the topics include hunger/fullness, distracted eating, understanding outside (social and family) pressures, and ditching the scale. Another great book, especially if emotional eating is something you find yourself struggling with.
There you have it! The top 10 resources for women struggling with the diet mentality and body image. If you want even more support, be sure to check out the free 7-day Body Acceptance Course!
