Book Review: The Body Image Blueprint: Your Go-To Guide for Radical Self-Reverence, by Jenny Eden Berk

Buy the book: Amazon

Book Type: Nonfiction - Body Image

The Body Image Blueprint: Your Go-To Guide for Radical Self-Reverence, by Jenny Eden Berk, MSEd is an excellent read. Berk is a certified Eating Psychology Coach and also holds a masters is counseling psychology (visit her website here). Berk wondered what it would be like if we could all "feel our identity more within our souls rather than the exterior shell that encapsulates us on Earth. Would we feel free? Would we feel happier?" She became concerned with all of the suffering humans endure when thinking out our bodies and wondered how we could begin to learn to connect more with our inner selves so that we are able to express the love that exists inside each of us. Berk grew concerned with bearing witness to chronic dieting, over-exercising and body-loathing. She hated the fact that so many humans felt "not good enough" in their bodies.

Berk's book is well-written and shares her personal story as well as a detailed plan (course of action). She also shares stories from both men and women, on body image as well as information on mindful eating. The back of the book includes recipes to make your body feel healthy and balanced. Berk recalls a moment from her own childhood, sharing how comments made to us can have devastating and lasting effects. When she was just 9 years old an adult said to her: "Jenny, you're not done eating, are you? You look like you must usually eat much more than this at home, right?"  She shares that, although the comment was made years ago, it still floods her with humiliation today. Berk generously shares the techniques, tools and strategies that she uses with her clients on a daily basis, to help us each find healthy and balanced lives. Berk points out that for many of us, our perceptions of ourselves are vastly different than those around us. She discusses that we often look at foods as "good" and "bad". For example, she writes: "...if you dare eat the Twinkie, well, you might as well have punched a nun." Berk adds: "What I know now and impart to others is that food is not moral. Food is merely energy that makes our bodies feel and function differently depending on the type of food."

Body image views are inadvertently passed down through the generations. Jenny shares: "This is why I decided to stop dieting. I made a conscious decision to cut off the blood supply to body image insecurities built upon patriarchal fallacies so that future generations, my daughters, have a chance at a more positive sense of self." I loved this! I rated the book 5-stars and highly recommend it.

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Stacey Ritz is a bestselling author and award winning writer. An empathetic and compassionate storyteller, Ritz wrote for a plethora of local and national news outlets, magazines, blogs, and websites (copywriter), prior to becoming a novelist. Her book, Covered in Pet Fur  has gained attention from RIVA Media and Animal Planet. She is the Executive Director and co-founder of Advocates 4 Animals, Inc. – a 501(c)3 non-profit animal welfare organization that has saved more than 11,000 lives (and counting). She currently resides in Ohio. Ritz is published through Rockville Publishing. You can interact with Stacey online via Stacey's Book Blog, on Pinterest, andInstagram.

Ritz writes the following genres:
Non-Fiction:
Motivation/Inspiration
Writing/Publishing
Animal Welfare
Fiction:
Love Stories

Click here to view Stacey's fiction books.

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