Goodreads Book Review: Body Kindness

Body Kindness: Transform Your Health from the Inside Out—and Never Say Diet Again by Rebecca Scritchfield
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Although I read my share of non-fiction, most of my book reviews, at least the long ones I've cross-posted on my blog, have been of fiction. But I believe in Rebecca Scritchfield's message enough that I want to spread the word. Rebecca is a fellow alumna in my graduate program and an anti-diet dietician. In her first book, Body Kindness, she makes a compelling case that diets don't work in the long run, that health is a holistic construct not synonymous with weight, and that a healthy mind, body and spirit can be found through what she terms "body kindness." Her expertise is in nutrition and fitness, but the book could just as well be called "self-kindness," as it contains wisdom on how being kind and compassionate to oneself, though not easy, leads to greater well-being in every sense of the word.

First a little background on myself to put my review in context. Unlike the average woman, I have actually never been on a diet. I was thin (and at times downright "skinny") as a child and teenager, and I would get comments on how I could "get away with" behaviors that weren't the healthiest (ugh). So by the time I got to high school my lunches consisted of hot pockets on a "good" day, chips and candy on a not-so-good day. And despite having been a fairly active kid, I hated gym class and didn't do team sports, so I thought of exercise as something "others" did.

In college, dealing with depression and anxiety, I started to change some of my habits. Slowly but steadily, I found exercises that worked for me (yay endorphins) and added more fruits, vegetables, home-cooked meals, and balance to my diet. I'll be honest that meanwhile, during my mid-to-late twenties I actually gained weight. To be clear, body kindness is not a weight loss program. I have to believe, though, that I am healthier the kinder I am to my body. Rebecca's book, along with her social media postings, helps me to keep the focus on the kindness and self-care that are integral to my well-being and to avoid being distracted by the number on the scale.

Rebecca's approaches to nutrition and exercise are based on building balanced, sustainable, and, yes, enjoyable, habits. She makes a strong research-based case that most diets don't lead to long-term weight loss, and she peppers her book with stories from her clients and from her own life. Towards the end of the book, she shares a compelling, deeply personal story of an incident that led her to reject dieting; I thought she could have shared this earlier in the book as it sets the background for her current career approach. Her sharing of personal stories shows that she is willing to be vulnerable with her readers, and throughout the book she has a relatable, friendly and funny tone.

Her book is also practical - she draws upon values-identification and goal setting exercises from the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy model, and she encourages readers to keep a journal when reading the book

As I mentioned above, Body Kindness is not just about physical health. Because my own self-care journey was brought about by dealing with emotional/mental health issues, I appreciate Rebecca's holistic take on health. Following chapters on eating and fitness, she shares fascinating info on sleep and what is actually happening in our brains and bodies when we sleep. She also describes a "body kindness" approach to everything from making room for fun in our lives to emotions, sexuality, relationships and community. I especially appreciated the chapter entitled "All Feelings Matter." She argues that the so-called "negative" emotions actually serve an important purpose in our lives. It is a message shared by my favorite Pixar movie, Inside Out, and one I wholeheartedly believe but struggle to put into practice in my own life.

Because most of Rebecca's clients are women, she writes for an audience of women, although many the topics she covers are ones men might relate to as well. As a woman, I appreciate how she helps counter many of the negative messages that are so prevalent in female-geared media. However, men who are interested in her approach towards health might be put-off.

Rebecca's book may not be for everyone. Those who are dead-set on weight loss or attracted to the structure a formal diet provides may not appreciate its messages. But for those who are tired of yo-yo dieting or looking for an approach to health and self-care that's not weight-focused, Body Kindness is a breezy read that is nevertheless filled with both practical applications and ample food for thought (pun intended).

View all my reviews

Superbowl 51: Ads Meet Politics

Super Bowl 51 was quite a game. I was not expecting that Patriots turnaround, although my dad, a die-hard Buffalo Bills fan and those an ardent hater of the Pats, was.


Yes, the football actually managed to capture my interest. But as usual, I watched primarily for the commercials and halftime show. And given our divided national climate, it was not surprising that we couldn't escape politics for a few hours.


It was a bit frustrating that ads that I viewed more as storytelling (Budweiser) became so politicized that people called for boycotts. As people have pointed out, most Super Bowl commercials are conceived of months before they air. While it's natural for advertisers to want to engage with social issues, they are not necessarily making overt political statements by emphasizing diversity, a nation built by immigrants, or any other human issue that has become hot-buttoned.


Even an ad whose full version was banned for being too political was really focused on telling a poignant and symbolic human story:

 

The full 84 Lumber commercial,
featuring a border wall with a door

I won't lie, one of the most overtly political ads, the It's a Ten Haircare commercial that braced Americans for "at least 4 years of awful hair," made me chuckle.

I must have been taking a bathroom break, because I totally missed Audi's ad addressing equal pay for women. Thank God for Youtube!

Most of the vehicle ads took a similarly inspirational, if less political, tone, often throwing humor and/or celebrity cameos into the mix. There were a good crop here, including the always-funny Melissa McCarthy in a Kia Nira ad, Buick's spot with Cam Newton, and, probably my favorite, Honda's ad featuring yearbook photos of celebrities ranging from Steve Carrell to Viola Davis.

I missed the Clydesdales, but at least Super Bowl 51 had a kangaroo and the ghost of bull terrier Spuds McKenzie. The Yellow Tail ad featuring said kangaroo was bizarre and not very well received, but I'll admit I found it refreshing to see an ad for a wine brand in the huge sea of Anheuser-Busch.