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Beyond My Body: Recovering from a Complex Eating Disorder, Reclaiming Movement, and Finding My Wort
Are you at war with your body? Do you use food or exercise to seek control? Do you dream of a life of purpose beyond worrying about your size and shape?
Ally Rae Pesta’s vignette-style memoir shows the inner workings of a young woman’s mind as she becomes obsessed with “healthy” eating, exercise, and being exceptional. Throughout adolescence, Ally vacillates between feeling too much and never enough in a culture that always demands more. After experiencing sexual assault in her teens, Ally feels her body is not her own.
As people validate Ally for her athletic drive and shrinking figure, she plummets deeper into an eating disorder, convinced she’s the “epitome of health.” Monitoring food and exercising to exhaustion becomes Ally’s attempt at control. At seventeen, doctors diagnose her with anorexia, orthorexia, and exercise addiction, forcing Ally to face the harrowing reality that her disorder is threatening her life.
Ally tells an authentically raw story about her ongoing healing journey, showing how treatment has enabled her to accept support, create community, build a healthy relationship with movement, and enjoy food.
For any individuals, family members, or friends on a similar journey, this frank memoir provides hope for overcoming trauma and achieving hard-earned self-love.
Ally Rae Pesta’s vignette-style memoir shows the inner workings of a young woman’s mind as she becomes obsessed with “healthy” eating, exercise, and being exceptional. Throughout adolescence, Ally vacillates between feeling too much and never enough in a culture that always demands more. After experiencing sexual assault in her teens, Ally feels her body is not her own.
As people validate Ally for her athletic drive and shrinking figure, she plummets deeper into an eating disorder, convinced she’s the “epitome of health.” Monitoring food and exercising to exhaustion becomes Ally’s attempt at control. At seventeen, doctors diagnose her with anorexia, orthorexia, and exercise addiction, forcing Ally to face the harrowing reality that her disorder is threatening her life.
Ally tells an authentically raw story about her ongoing healing journey, showing how treatment has enabled her to accept support, create community, build a healthy relationship with movement, and enjoy food.
For any individuals, family members, or friends on a similar journey, this frank memoir provides hope for overcoming trauma and achieving hard-earned self-love.
258 pages, Hardcover
First published September 20, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 23, 2023
Beyond My Body is a must read!!! I read this true story as such a page turner, can’t-put-down kinda book, thanks to Ally’s beautiful writing. She writes her life’s story so wonderfully through vignettes about her life’s specific moments spanning back to her childhood, to high school, college, and beyond. Ally taught me so much about eating disorders, gave me more empathy towards anyone going through something similar, and made me reflect and think about my own journey with food, body image, and how I think about myself. This book will make you reflect on yourself so much and make you feel all of the feels. I truly think everyone should read Ally Rae’s novel!
November 4, 2023
Very belated update/review for this amazing book. This beautiful collection of vignettes showcasing Ally’s life and journey with ED and how it impacted many aspects of her life touched my heart in so many ways. I saw a lot of myself in these pages. I live with binge eating disorder as well as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Rapid Cycling Bipolar Type 2, all of which impact my life on a daily basis. One of the themes that showed up most for me was that not only is healing not linear, it is a lifelong journey. I so appreciated hearing Ally’s experiences and how she is now thriving.
It was also beautiful how richly she described the world around her, whether Ohio or Colorado, mountains or water, etc. as well as how vividly she described her feelings. Thank you so much for being vulnerable, Allyson. I am so glad you’re here.
It was also beautiful how richly she described the world around her, whether Ohio or Colorado, mountains or water, etc. as well as how vividly she described her feelings. Thank you so much for being vulnerable, Allyson. I am so glad you’re here.
November 12, 2023
"Beyond My Body" is an awe-inspiring and beautifully human memoir by Ally Pesta and her narrative of her journey through a complex eating disorder. Ally's courage in sharing her story, including the traumas that contributed to her struggles and her path to self-discovery, is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. This book goes beyond the surface of an eating disorder; it delves into the essence of being human, embracing the inbetween moments, and finding hope in the process of healing. This memoir a must-read for ANYONE. “Beyond My Body" not only captivated me from the start with its impactful storytelling but also brings awareness to the challenges of eating disorders and offers a message of hope and inspiration!!!
October 11, 2023
Ally debuts an evocative memoir exploring her own journey through finding self worth and recovering from an eating disorder--everything I've also struggled with and continue to.
This review is less about the content or Ally's voice. This is about how this book's made me feel.
I saw many parts of myself in this memoir. I saw the version of myself struggling so similarly with taking up space and being worthy, it was as if I was looking into a mirror.
Highly reflective and heart warming. I'm cheering for you, Ally, myself, and anyone else who may be struggling. Take up as much space as you need.
This review is less about the content or Ally's voice. This is about how this book's made me feel.
I saw many parts of myself in this memoir. I saw the version of myself struggling so similarly with taking up space and being worthy, it was as if I was looking into a mirror.
Highly reflective and heart warming. I'm cheering for you, Ally, myself, and anyone else who may be struggling. Take up as much space as you need.
October 9, 2023
A relatable story of resilience
Ally’s words hit me in the deepest parts of my soul and left me feeling so beautifully human. As she shares her experience of recovering from a complex eating disorder, Allys says, “there is only living in the gray” and that is something each of us can relate to if we think about our expletives overcoming obstacles. It encourages us to truly experience each of our moments and emotions as fully as Ally has which you can feel as you read this story expressed through a collection of vignettes.
Ally’s words hit me in the deepest parts of my soul and left me feeling so beautifully human. As she shares her experience of recovering from a complex eating disorder, Allys says, “there is only living in the gray” and that is something each of us can relate to if we think about our expletives overcoming obstacles. It encourages us to truly experience each of our moments and emotions as fully as Ally has which you can feel as you read this story expressed through a collection of vignettes.
July 24, 2024
This was such a great read. The way Ally expresses her vulnerability so eloquently is heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. It reads like a small collection of essays or maybe like reading from different journals Ally kept/keeps. I really enjoyed this book in the sense that it made me see the authors perspective in a way I would never have seen should she not have written this book, it really opened my eyes to how one would battle their inner demons and an ED.
Thank you for writing this Ally, I will continue rooting for you.
Thank you for writing this Ally, I will continue rooting for you.
October 3, 2023
A Must Read for Anyone Struggling with Self Acceptance
A brave narrative of human struggle, recovery and what it means to face your harshest critic (yourself) and come out stronger than ever. You’ll find yourself transported to a young girl’s side in these pages, relating to her suffering in the pursuit of perfection, crying with her, laughing with her and celebrating her every painful step towards learning that she is enough just by being herself
A brave narrative of human struggle, recovery and what it means to face your harshest critic (yourself) and come out stronger than ever. You’ll find yourself transported to a young girl’s side in these pages, relating to her suffering in the pursuit of perfection, crying with her, laughing with her and celebrating her every painful step towards learning that she is enough just by being herself
October 17, 2023
I can’t even begin to express my gratitude for Ally sharing her full story through the journey she walks you through with each page revealing an insight into who she was and who she is becoming. You are ENOUGH and always will be. Ally’s raw, brave, articulate and authentic memoir is relatable whether you’ve had an eating disorder or not; and opens up a community for open and real dialogue about the complexities of life, the power we hold and the importance of relationships.
November 30, 2023
A heart-wrenching story of the author's battle with an eating disorder and other traumas. Written in vignette format which had me flying through the story until times I had to put it down to sit in my discomfort. Ally is brutally honest, the story is well written, and I'm rooting for her!! I know this book impacted me and will be just as impactful to a broad audience of individuals who struggle or have struggled with body image, comparison or self-worth.
October 5, 2023
Beyond My Body is a captivating and intimate behind the scenes view of the human experience of an eating disorder. Ally lends a powerful voice to the conversation around self-worth, mental wellness, and eating disorders. While taking the reader on her journey, she empowers and inspires all of us to reflect on our own relationship with self.
October 13, 2023
I picked up this book and did not put it down until I finished it 2 hours later. This is not a one time read book. This is a bedside table book made to allow the reader to pick up when needed. Each passage has something to reflect on and learn from but more than that it shows us it’s okay to let whatever it is just be.
A must read.
A must read.
October 16, 2023
Ally brings incredible vulnerability to the pages of her memoir, giving the reader space to connect with her story. What a gift to read this journey written by an incredible woman who is willing to share from a true place of suffering and bravery. Thank you for the joy you are, Ally!
June 3, 2024
My third reading & I gain new insight every time. So, so grateful for Ally, for her vulnerability, and for her willingness to share it all with us. A powerful read for anyone that’s struggled with an eating disorder. (Love you girl!!)
October 21, 2023
A beautifully vulnerable book written by a fellow OSU grad!
October 28, 2023
Compelling journal
The book is an excellent personal review of this debilitating disorder and the author's road back to a healthy relationship with herself and the world.
The book is an excellent personal review of this debilitating disorder and the author's road back to a healthy relationship with herself and the world.
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June 10, 2024A MUST READ!
Beyond My Body is absolutely captivating and impactful; it's a must read! What I loved most about the book is that it brings you inside the world and mind of someone who is fighting ED. Ally’s story is told through the lens of vulnerability, pain, growth, resilience, and so much more. The book educates and brings much needed awareness to eating disorders.
Beyond My Body is absolutely captivating and impactful; it's a must read! What I loved most about the book is that it brings you inside the world and mind of someone who is fighting ED. Ally’s story is told through the lens of vulnerability, pain, growth, resilience, and so much more. The book educates and brings much needed awareness to eating disorders.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews