I’m not sure if there are enough ‘thank you’s in the entire world to express how grateful I am to have had the chance to write this book, but I’ll share a few anyway.
First of all thank you to my wonderful editor Morwenna, for believing that this was possible, being eternally patient and kind, and sending me pictures of baby animals throughout. Thank you to the whole team at Ebury for working so hard to help make this book happen, especially to Josie and Clarissa, and to Kelly Bastow for your awesome illustrations.
Thank you to every person in the body positive community who welcomed me, taught me a whole new way of seeing the world and myself, and who continues to fight for every body to be celebrated and valued. Thank you to all of the writers, researchers, activists and unapologetic women who’ve inspired me beyond words, and shaped me into who I am now.
Thank you to all of the friends who’ve stuck by me and cheered me on the loudest, and to the vagaggles for being my soul sisters.
Thank you to my family for being the best support system that I could ask for. To my sister, for being a brilliant role model. To my brother, for being the best human I’ve ever known. To my mum, for looking after me in the millions of ways you still do. To my dad, for teaching me everything and always being there to pick me up. To Topsy, Marli and Bella, for endless hugs and happiness. And to Ben, for all of the love. I couldn’t have written this book, or be anywhere near where I am today without you all.
I , hereby pledge to stop dieting.
I promise to stop counting every bite and obsessing over the numbers.
I promise to stop letting my scales tell me how beautiful, valuable, or loved I am.
I promise to stop buying miracle weight-loss cures that don’t work.
I promise to stop giving my money to companies that rely on me feeling like my body is wrong.
I promise to respect my body’s hunger.
I promise that I will no longer use exercise as punishment for what I’ve eaten.
I promise to stop taking part in self-deprecating diet talk.
I promise to try my best to unlearn all the toxic lessons about my body that diet culture has taught me.
I promise to stop dieting, and start living instead.