Things No One Will Tell Fat Girls: A Handbook For Unapologetic Living by Jes Baker

When I saw this book, I knew I had to get it. I have struggled with my weight and overall body acceptance since I was in high school. I would go from having really good months where I wouldn't really think about my body too much to really bad months where I would obsess over everything I ate and how much I worked out and back again.

I know you might think that I'm not "fat" but that's not the point of this book. The point is to love your body as it is and live your life as you want to. There are so many great guest essays in there and TONS of resources for more reading and exposure to diversity. There is literally something for everyone in this book. I don't know if it will change your life, but you will feel like you're not alone.

You can find the book at Barnes & Noble for $10.42. Totally worth picking up!

Favorite Quotes:

• "Here's the state of our world's body image issues in five bullet points:

• 81 perfect of ten-year-olds are afraid of being fat.

• These ten-year-olds are more afraid of becoming fat than they are of cancer, war, or losing both of their parents.

• In a survey of girls nine and ten year olds, 40 percent have tried to lose weight.

• 91 percent of women are unhappy with their bodies and resort to dieting.

• And 5 percent of women naturally possess the body type portrayed by Americans in the media. "

• "We commit suicide. And sadly, there is case after case of this: people who would rather die than live in the body the world has told them is inferior."

• "Exercising, eating 'well,' and treating your body like the awesome machine that it is aren't evil. Believing that you're shitty person for not doing those things or that you have to be a certain size to be okay is."

• "I've always been taught that practice makes progress...not perfect."

• "Now, I've been in terrible, horrible, no good, very bad relationships... just like everyone else. You know the kind. The relationships that end with you on the couch dangerously bargaining with yourself, trying to convince god-knows-who that you'll make it right. It will be fine if I lose weight. If I make changes he/she/they will stay. Those changes are worth a relationship, right? I'll just get skinner... they'll stay and everything will be better."

• "You are fucking beautiful. I'm saying this with a straight face and seriously meaningful look where I maintain eye contact for an uncomfortable amount of time. I know you may not feel like you fit into the category of gorgeous that our world has created. I know that it's hard. I know that it's a daily battle. But fuck their fascist beauty standards. The second you stop looking for someone else in your mirror and start looking at YOU is the second you will start to appreciate what you are. Stop looking for flaws. Stop looking for differences. You are perfect. You are more than enough. You are the best thing that has ever happened to you. And you are fucking beautiful."