On holiday with my daughter last summer, in the resort’s splash pool, it struck me: the shapes, curves, and sinews of the women around me spoke volumes. They told of late nights with babies; surgeries; work worries; and high-impact gym sessions. They spoke of striving and stagnation; indulgence and restriction; and the traumas – big and small – that our bodies pack away because our lives can’t hold them.
Yet, who hasn’t wished for lean legs, or delicate ankles, or upper arms without a hint of wobble? So many of us wish for the ideal, when research has shown that our bodies are ours for a reason.
In fact, according to Dr Ken Dychtwald, author of the much-celebrated book (TarcherPerigee, £12.99), your emotions and personality can affect how weight is distributed in the body. Because the body and mind are so intricately linked, emotions can get stored in your muscles, which eventually affects your body structure. In essence, your history and personality are written all over your body.
