Nothing to Lose: A Guide to Sane Living in a Larger Body

Nothing to Lose offers a practical guide to achieving real psychological and physical self-acceptance for women of size. Surveying the history of our culture's attitudes toward women's body size, challenging beliefs about fat with the latest health facts, and suggesting practical tips and exercises for building fitness and self-esteem, Erdman helps readers through the slow, often painful process of healing body shame. Each chapter begins with a personal story of Erdman's own process of body-size acceptance, then explores significant issues such as body image; myth vs. fact about health, weight and dieting; when to consult a therapist and how to choose one; and much more. Erdman has interviewed and worked with hundreds of women and she includes many of their stories here to illustrate the pain, joy, frustration, and triumph that are all part of the journey toward self-acceptance.