Voices

I've recently started following people on Instagram who oppose diet culture. Alex Light's book You Are Not a Before Picture was a revelation to me, but it's hard to change after 55 years of believing myself too fat to be worthy of enjoying life to the full, while constantly dieting (and failing to lose weight). This poem encapsulates the tyranny of diet culture. 

Held hostage by a gang of voices
constant commentary on all my choices
whether I should, or should not be eating
if it's within the rules, or if it's cheating
if I should be moving more
that the gym is such a bore
they contradict, frustrate, confuse.
I shouldn't put up with such abuse
but the trouble is, you see
all these voices come from me. 

© Copyright 2022. Chris Auger. All Rights Reserved

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