"Loving self" is the driving mechanism behind the self-published book of one University of Memphis staff member.
Pamela Williams, administrative secretary for student disability services, will host an open forum about her book, "Life Beyond Size 6," today in the Panhellenic Ballroom from 1 to 3 p.m.
"'Life Beyond Size 6' is a self-help book for plus-sized women in which I tell my personal story of overcoming weight obsession, the dieting phase and the self-esteem stage of trying to figure out who I was," Williams said. "I was targeting the physical, instead of the internal - how I felt about myself and what I thought I represented as a person."
Williams said her outer appearance soon became an issue because she began to focus more so on the outside, as opposed to the inside.
Size six is a general size for women in America who want to be the perfect size, and society has brainwashed them into believing that being petite is the only way to beautiful and sexy, she said.
The book also details the struggles that many plus-sized women identify with on a daily basis - stereotypes, stigmas, criticism from people and criticism from within, Williams said.
"I grew up as a skinny kid but then, as I progressed into the working world, I had a child and my weight increased, thus giving me the desire to want to look like Janet Jackson and be what society classified as 'fine,'" she said. "I started taking diet pills to lose weight, and I lost the weight and then gained it back the minute I stopped taking the pills. So, that's not the answer."
After experimenting with various dieting plans that resulted in a diseased gallbladder, Williams said she came to the conclusion that you must first become the person who you aspire to be internally, and the work takes place inside by loving yourself for who you are, building confidence and developing high self-esteem.
Then if you are unhealthy, tackle the issues of your body by eating healthy, exercising and drinking plenty of water, she said.
"But, if you're healthy and your struggles are aesthetic, based on the looks and who you want to look like, then that's not a good reason to lose weight," she said. "Whatever your internal issue, whether it be abuse or a break-up, losing weight won't help you.
"Conquer your inner battles first and then deal with the outside."
Williams completed "Life Beyond Size 6" in six months, and since the release date in May 2006, she has sold nearly 1,200 copies and has received many positive responses from her readers.
Her book has been publicized through different media outlets and events within the Memphis community, and she said the book is only the start of God's destiny for her life.
"I look forward to many days of completing my destiny and making a legacy for my son," she said. "I won't always be a person who talks about being a plus-sized woman, but it is who I am. In the future, I hope to become a best-selling author, create my own talk show and film documentaries."
In the meantime, Williams continues to inspire young people, who struggle with issues of weight, with her personal testimony.
"God told me to tell his daughters to love themselves, and I encourage you to find out who you are as a person before tackling weight and find out your internal struggles, simply because they are often linked to the physical," she said. "Sometimes even when you take care of the physical, you still find yourself hurting inwardly.
"Stay true to yourself and don't lose weight for anybody, but for you. Learn how to navigate your own journey. Otherwise, you will fall off the path."
