You Can't Judge a Body by Its Cover: 17 Women's Stories of Hunger, Body Shame, and Redemption

For years and years and years we have been taught to look at excess weight as a problem to be fixed with disciplined diet and exercise. As a result of this view we further think of weight loss in a binary way, i.e. you are successful if you lose the excess weight, you are a failure if you don't lose the excess weight. This binary, reductive approach to Bodies leave many people struggling with shame and fear. This book is the medicine. The 17 stories are truly a journey of understanding and insight into the deeper intelligence of our inner worlds. I took my time reading this book and observed myself while reading each story. Some of the stories taught me about what my fellow women go through and expanded my compassion. Some of the stories were close to home and gave me pages and pages of entries in my journal. One or two of the stories were hard to read because of how closely they reminded me of my own previous traumas and I took that as a cue to do some healing work around those themes with my Therapist. All of the stories brought me closer to my humanity and reminded me again and again that while we all have share experiences, we are also very diverse in our needs, desires and life purpose. When you read this book, you will never look at Bodies with the same eyes of judgement again. You will also never make your existence here on earth small again. Many thanks to David Bedrick for offering these 17 stories with such honor and sacredness to the world.

A life-changing book in a gentle, caring, listening and seeing way. And any work that holds a key to seeing and hearing women in their wholeness has the potential to heal gifts long-quiet, across-cultures and worldwide.The trusting eyes and ears that allow deep, long hidden truths to gradually present in their own time, as David Bedrick does, is still rare these days. And for women to feel a patient caring, to be seen and heard, and to reveal and revel what had been forgotten or saved in deep pockets for safety is an elegant, tender, rare unraveling.David has helped each woman follow a delicate thread of body-stored feeling into the place the world wounded, and beyond that, into the core seed of dear truth and wholeness, so unique to each private voice. The women whose stories are in this book speak their truths for all of us. I read their stories first, and then flipped back to the Forward and Intro, to be with the women themselves, each a different living fragrance.Each story also opens a window into our cultural confinements and casts a light into a reacquaintance with our whole person. Ultimately this work may tenderly upend many old walls and ceilings and free us into the field of the broad open sky. Where we breathe freely our original promptings with a wilder, wider, truer compass. And with women uplifted, may we care for all of the world.

I've been savoring this book on my night stand. I could easily read it straight through, and then probably read it over and over again. But I am moved so deeply by the truth and depth of these stories that I want to take my time. As a woman in her mid-40s, I have grown so accustomed to how our culture talks to us about weight that I stopped really seeing it. This book cuts right through that. It speaks deeply and truthfully to the heart of what we want and why we want it. David Bedrick is a beacon. His ability to help these women and share their stories is unlike any other approach you've experienced about dieting and weight and how we are trained to witness these issues. I am so grateful to the women who have shared and for his wisdom and compassion in creating this vessel for healing.

I did not realize the role shame has played in my life. I feel now like I am waking up and regaining the power shame has robbed from me and, yes, I am seeing with new eyes!I put the book down and went to stand in front of the mirror and really tried to look for the first time. I looked at my belly pushing out, relaxed, and I heard my mother's voice: “Suck your tummy in!” I bet I wasn't more than 10 years old at the time, and I wasn't overweight then. I am realizing how painful that was for the very first time, and I want to bring in compassion for that pain. For the first time, I don't want to lose this belly; I want to understand the pain behind it. Was my belly a way to push my mother and her painful unacceptance away from me?

An excellent book for any woman who has ever struggled with body image issues.... or any women who has female friends or family who has struggled. Worthy read for my book loving people. A superb work. Sadly, we are a culture of women who are inundated with the constant bombardment of "body image", and the entire beauty and diet industry banks on our insecurities, and feelings of inadequacy. It is so important that we, as women, learn to meet ourselves right where we are, with kindness and compassion. The stories in this work are relatable and inspiring. The level of vulnerability and reflection really get to the heart and soul of this issue. I think every woman can benefit from reading this book.

An extremely powerful collection of 17 personal stories involving body image, however it's David's narrative and observations that bring light and understanding to the subject. Prior to reading David's book I held some preconceived ideas of the challenges of body image. After only a few chapters through David's book it became absolutely clear that most, if not all, of those preconceived notion's were baseless. As with David's previous books, his writing style is easy to follow. He tackles the subject matter with compassion and empathy. David is a gifted writer with insightful observations.

I think your book will be the most meaningful book I will ever read. I haven’t gotten through much at all yet but I can feel that intensely already. I’m not sure how long it will take me but I decided to not judge that and go with the process. For instance I read a paragraph right now and it brought up a vivid memory about my dad and his own weight issues and how that played out in my life. I had to put the book down and sit with that as I don’t want to bypass any step.”

I loved this book for its inspiration, its depth. It was amazing!Thank you David Bedrick for you work and sharing it!