Poem - ‘Done with Dieting’

A poem inspired by the amazing women I work with. We put so much pressure on ourselves to look and be a certain way - to meet society’s expectations. And in the process we lose track of who we are and how we want to live our lives. There’s more to life than calories and body image worries. This is for all the women out there who are done with dieting, and who are working towards or have found food and body freedom. (TW - discusses dieting and body dissatisfaction)

I ‘feel fat’ and I can’t deny,

I look in the mirror and want to cry.

My arms and tummy, thighs and chin,

It’s sad but they don’t fit in…

To society’s expectation of ‘thin’,

I’ve tried but I just can’t win.

The diets they’re not for me.   

I’m tired, hungry and angry.

I’ve yoyo’d for years,

Living with the fears,

Of calories, weight gain and judgement.

Because I get told I look great,

When I lose the weight,

So what do they think,

When my body doesn’t want to shrink.

It’s time to take control.

With food I no longer console.

Now I advocate for me.

No more shaming. It’s time to be free.

Self compassion and body trust.

I’m learning both of these are a must,

To get me where I want to go,

It’s ok if the progress is slow.

No more guilt, self loathing and hate

Learning to love myself…it feels far too late.

So many years wasted but I’m getting there.

I now enjoy my favourite foods without fear.

Leaving diet culture behind, life feels free.

I have capacity now to truly be me.

Finding food and body freedom feels so good.

Let’s encourage and support more of this as a womanhood.