I come from a long line of women who hate their body and battle with food. I grew up with a refined ability to despise my body no matter how good it looked. (Think aerobics instructor in a thong here) After I found out I was HIV-positive I ate for the first time without guilt. If I was going to die, I am going to die fat! Obviously, I didn’t die but I did gain 80 pounds and it was at that weight that I made peace with myself and food.

In this presentation I use stories and slides to expose the subtle but deadly messages we are given everyday regarding body image. We will explores the relationship between the media's messages and the predominance of eating disorders that plague women and men in our culture. We will look at different ways for the audience to help build skills to heal and nurture self-esteem, to let go of preconceived notions of beauty and cherish our authentic selves.