Mom In The Mirror

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Mom in the Mirror: Body Image, Beauty, and Life after Pregnancy is for every woman who has ever doubted herself or her self-worth after the birth of a child. Because most women spend much of their lives attempting to change their bodies, it's not surprising that the weight gain that comes along with pregnancy (and post-pregnancy), coupled with the challenges of parenting, only exacerbate issues with weight, body image, disordered eating, and self-esteem.

Drawing on the wisdom of eating disorders expert Dr. Dena Cabrera, as well as the personal experiences of former anorexic Emily Wierenga, Mom in the Mirror is a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual response to a female generation seeking its true identity in an appearance-based world. With chapters that deal with bruises from the past, misconceptions about pregnancy, life before and after children, marriage and motherhood, spiritual and physical nourishment, relationships with friends and family, and the changing role of a mother as her children age, it is a holistic approach to the age-old questions: Who am I, and why am I here?

Comprising personal stories, expert advice, reflection questions, and helpful tools, this book is an inspiring read intended for women everywhere who want to restore a positive body image and to overcome the insecurities that arise when pregnancy is over and child-rearing begins. Review: The coauthors-a former anorexic who is a mother of four and a clinical psychologist who specializes in eating disorders-tackle body image, especially during and after pregnancy.

They aggregate some sensible existing pregnancy information, such as the Mayo Clinic's advice to trade white bread and pasta for whole grains and to eat sliced fruit instead of a cookie. But they refer most frequently to God, which may turn off less-religious readers. Cabrera and Wierenga write that they want to help women improve their relationships with their bodies, their families and their Creator.

Religion plays a big role in the stories of first-name-only real people, such as Jillian, a mother of seven whose husband was addicted to Internet porn. She believes she suffered from eating disorders as a result of his fixation on airbrushed perfection. Then she found God and a new perspective on her body.

To all husbands, I think, the most beautiful wife is a naked wife, she says. Not a thin wife. Not a chiseled wife. Not an airbrush. But one who lets him love her ... sag, stretch marks, and all. Booklist In this self-help book for Christian woman who struggle with body image, authors Cabrera, PsyD, and Wierenga (Chasing Silhouettes, etc.) offer the unique team of a licensed clinician and an author who has personally battled anorexia, respectively.

While the authors mention that one not need share the Christian faith in order to adopt an outlook of personal worth that precludes dangerous eating patterns, the bulk of the advice strongly emphasizes reliance on Christ. Replete with anecdotes and rallying wording, the book covers such challenges as physical recovery from pregnancy, preparing nutritious meals for one's family, and managing social relationships.

The counsel regarding how to balance personal needs with those of one's marriage hinges on the concept that whereas women need to feel cherished, men need to feel respected...Women who agree with the authors' spiritual assessments may benefit from this book's been-there, encouraging tone. Publishers Weekly According to the authors, clinical psychologist Cabrera and Wierenga (Chasing Silhouettes: How To Help a Loved One Battling an Eating Disorder; Save My Children: The Story of a Father's Love), a recovered anorexic and mother of four, 75 percent of females aged 25-45 exhibit disordered eating behaviors.

The book aims to help women separate the truth from the lies about who they are and to subsequently improve relationships with their bodies, their families, and their Creator. Library Journal From the foreword: I know you've been waiting for a book like this to help alleviate your pain, explain the insanity you've been living, an