You may recall my interview with Mary Dimino, a comedienne I met at her show Scared Skinny: A One (Hundred Pound Lighter) Woman Show. If you haven’t seen it and/or read the interview, you should definitely check it out.
I’m now pleased to report that her much-anticipated book, Scared Skinny No More, is now available and has a five-star rating on Amazon! This fabulous book is equal parts entertaining and informative, with the combined wit and personality of Mary Dimino, and expertise of Dr. Brad Johnson, who has over 20 years of experience in the wellness and fitness field. This refreshing and easy to read book focuses on health and learning to love yourself, rather than numbers on a scale. Her interesting perspective is a must-read.
I had the pleasure of talking to Mary about her book. Read on to hear what she had to say about it.
What made you decide to write this book?
I wrote Scared Skinny No More with Dr. Brad Johnson to inspire and heighten society’s awareness. I feel it’s a very significant book for our times. Today, our culture has established thinness as the standard for health, beauty and even morality. If you’re not skinny, you’re criticized.
All women feel the pressure to be thin, not just overweight women. Thin woman feel the pressure to be even thinner. That’s why it is called Scared Skinny No More.
In today’s culture women’s voices, our personhood, our potential and accomplishments are minimized by weight bias. This weight bias is perpetuated by the media. The media’s obsession with celebrity weights and personal appearance sends a message to all women. Your body is an object, meant to be admired within a narrow standard of beauty, and it you don’t fit the mold, than expect criticism.
For example, over the last 20 years, the number of skinny women in the media went from 35% to nearly 80%. So that means when you watch tv or read a magazine, only 20% of the women you see there represent an average weight. In the 80′s, the average model was a size 8, today, the average model is a size 0. We’re diminishing women to were they don’t even look like women anymore.
I want to change that. In the writing this book, I found myself inspired. My hopes and dreams for Scared Skinny No More is to initiate a paradigm shift. Our focus needs to be getting health, not on getting skinny.
What is the most important message you’d like readers to take away from this book?
Health does not know an exact pound. Ideal is not a body shape, or a body weight. Ideal is healthy.
Another important point that I and the good doctor make in this book is that weight bias drives the weight loss industry. They play on our fear of being fat,our need to look like everyone else, to be accepted, so we spend billions on products that have a 95% failure rate. Yes, the weight loss industry has a 95% failure rate! Corporations use our own fear of fat against us. We are literally being scared skinny.
Also, many times we blame ourselves, but there is so much blame to go around, it doesn’t necessarily fall squarely on your shoulders. The processed foods we’re eating, the magazines we’re reading, the cookware we’re using, the restaurants in which we’re dining –they’re all making us fat. This book exposes the obesegins and chemicals put into products that make us fat. What we don’t know is making us fat! We need to be aware of these things so we can make better choices. When you know better, you do better. I want to get people in the know!
How can we balance self-improvement with loving who we are/our bodies now and what’s worked for you?
I believe a good life is all about balance and gratitude. Once we can be grateful for what we have, miracles occur. For me, I think of all the wonderful things my body has done through out my life. Instead of focusing on how fat your legs may or may not look, think of all the miles your legs have taken you. Where they’ve gone for you, how far they’ve taken you. They brought you everywhere you needed to go, hadn’t they? Feel the appreciation for their good work. It really makes you love your body for the things it has done, and will do tomorrow.
From that point of appreciation, change occurs.
You discuss self-empowerment really well in the book. Can you touch on that a bit?
We need to take control of our health. It’s hard to feel empowered if you’re not healthy. Dr Brad and I give you what you need in Scared Skinny No More to start on this road towards health.
Next, we need to find time for ourselves. I think that is a big key to self-empowerment. Our male counterparts seem to be a bit better at that. As mothers, wives and working women, we especially need to do this. It is so self-empowering to carve out an hour each day for a walk, a work out, yoga or whatever physical activity you enjoy. In the end, it’s really about enjoying life, enjoying your food and enjoying your relationships.
It’s about your mind, body and spirit all working together towards health and well-being. An integrated relationship.
What have you personally found to be the best way of dealing with stress and emotional eating?
My way of dealing with stress is to move. A fifteen minute walk with my puppy, some stretching moves, a quick workout. I also try not to have my trigger foods in the home, this way when I get stressed, I can keep the emotional eating to a minimum. If I do need some comfort food, I no longer go to processed, pre-packaged foods. Instead I’ll make some hot air popped pop corn, have a piece of dark chocolate and indulge in my favorite tv show. And most importantly, breathe. Just breathe.
Anything you’d like to add that I haven’t covered?
I want to thank you Cristina for the good work that you do. Your blogs and your writings are an inspiration to women everywhere. We need more realistic role models. We need more REAL women in the media. I think you and I can make a difference.
In the end, my wish for our readers is to enjoy life to the fullest, to find health and live there.
Much thanks to Mary for the kind compliment and for taking the time to talk to me about her new book!
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