Collard Green Curves: A Fat Girl’s Journey from Childhood Obesity to Healthy Living

By Theresa Lou Bowick

The author takes the reader on an incredible, tear jerking, journey of a misguided little girl so consumed with self- hate, misinformation, and distrust that it catapulted her into a life filled with unbelievable challenges. Repeated rejections, major disappointments and misunderstandings contributed to distrust of everyone she would encounter throughout her life, including her family. In her search for love, fulfillment and acceptance, the author depicts a life turned upside down through a confusing series of curves and detours destined to destroy her and anyone in her path, until she found the right recipe for healing which comes with “forgiveness of self and others.” Forgiveness is presented as the key to putting the past in perspective, finding a way to emerge from the depths of despair, then, shifting the focus to overcoming addictions, moving forward, and living a healthy, God directed, victorious life.
This book, an inspirational, lifeline for anyone trying to find themselves, quickly captures and holds the reader’s attention. The author demonstrates ways for individuals to conquer their fears and fight, perhaps for the first time in their lives for well-deserved, overdue new beginnings. The book reminds us to let, no man or woman hinder us from achieving our ultimate goal(s).

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jan 17, 2013
• ISBN: 9781481700733

Theresa Lou Bowick

Theresa Lou Bowick grew up a misguided obese child consumed with self hate. Repeated rejections, major disappointments and misunderstandings propelled her abuse of food for comfort into adulthood. Through forgiveness, God’s grace and mercy she found the path to healthy living. She is now a Registered Nurse empowering others to live healthy.

Book preview

© 2013 by Theresa Lou Bowick. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 01/09/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4817-0075-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-0074-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-0073-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012924093

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Menu

The Tasting

Collard Greens

Appetizer

Feet First

Pretty Plus

Teenage Bride

Child Support

Entrée

Nurse4u

Step-Monster Bitch

Divorce Diet

Momma Please

From Buffets to Bikinis

Buffets to Bikinis

Not Just Baby Fat

Desserts

Grace & Gravy

Leftovers

Nobody Exercises In This Neighborhood

The Meal Review

Curves Digested

This book is dedicated

To my baby girl Jacynta Tyrese Harris, the first person I loved unconditionally. I applaud your commitment to lose weight on your own terms and time-line. Always remember my love for you is greater than any number on the scale.

Acclaim for Collard Green Curves by the Author’s Mentor

Collard Green Curves: A fat girl’s journey from childhood obesity to healthy living is a must read!

The author takes the reader on an incredible, tear jerking, journey of a misguided little girl so consumed with self-hate, misinformation, and distrust that it catapulted her into a life filled with unbelievable challenges. Repeated rejections, major disappointments and misunderstandings contributed to distrust of everyone she would encounter throughout her life, including her family. In her search for love, fulfillment and acceptance, the author depicts a life turned upside down through a confusing series of curves and detours destined to destroy her and anyone in her path, until she found the right recipe for healing which comes with forgiveness of self and others. Forgiveness is presented as the key to putting the past in perspective, finding a way to emerge from the depths of despair, then, shifting the focus to overcoming addictions, moving forward, and living a healthy, God directed, victorious life.

This book, an inspirational, lifeline for anyone trying to find themselves, quickly captures and holds the reader’s attention. The author demonstrates ways for individuals to conquer their fears and fight, perhaps for the first time in their lives for well-deserved, overdue new beginnings. The book reminds us to let, no man or woman hinder us from achieving our ultimate goal(s).

Margie Lovett-Scott, EdD., RN, FNP-BC

The Tasting

Collard Greens

These collard greens are so good. Girl you must have put your foot in the pot. This comment would acknowledge my passage into the family Kitchen Hall of Fame. An honor accepted with ambiguity, as my worth was now defined by the preparation of a $0.59 bunch of dark green leaves. Women in my family were known to throw down in the kitchen. The girls were expected to follow suit and be good cooks. Women who suffered culinary deficiencies were considered no good, and would not be able to get a man or feed her children. In my grandmother’s eyes, the preparation of a good pot of collard greens was a full proof test of your womanhood.

My grandmother taught me how to cook collard greens. I paid close attention to her instructions. The first set of instructions were given at the Public Market where she taught me how to buy collard greens; look for big, strong, dark greens. Make sure they don’t have bugs on them, and don’t buy them if they are soft, brown or yellowish.

Now that we were in the kitchen; break the stems, place the greens on the cutting board neatly in stacks of five, roll them the long way, cut them small with a ridged edged knife about ¼ inch wide, wash them good a few times, don’t want no dirt in the pot, now put them in that pot of smoked neck bones that’s been cooking all morning, add a spoonful of bacon grease, just a pinch of sugar to cut the bitterness, turn the fire down low, can’t cook greens fast girl.

Three hours later the perfect pot of collard greens. I passed the test and my grandmother was proud. This pot of collard greens received her highest praise. According to my grandmother this was a clear indication now at age seventeen, that I was a woman. I had proven my ability to get a man, and feed my future children. I would soon learn that this was just a taste of what was to come.

My worth as a, daughter, sister, friend, nurse, wife, mother and woman would encounter many defining taste tests. The most unlikely ingredients would be judged, and linked to my value as a woman; the girth of my waist, length of my hair, fertility, academics, religion, endurance and strength of my convictions. I pray that my journey will help you to navigate the collard green curves in your life.

Appetizer

Feet First

February 20, 1968 I was born feet first into a blended family drama. My mother told me that, while I was still in utero, her obstetrician tried to turn me around, but I wouldn’t budge. I entered the world in an unsafe position at risk for strangulation. But, even from the womb I was determined to land on my feet.

My parent’s union was for them, a second chance at love. They both had children from previous marriages, who were anxiously awaiting my arrival. I was the baby, and

Reviews for Collard Green Curves

[mishker-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Collard Green Curves is an inspiring biography of a life that led to momentous change in a community through a series of trials, misfortunes and perseverance. Theresa Bowick reflects on her life growing up in Rochester, NY with sincerity and genuine contemplation of the events that shaped her, both positive and negative. Through Theresa's heartfelt and down to earth writing, I could easily relate to Theresa's story even though hers is so different than my own. Theresa puts her whole self on the page in order to show the high and low curves of her life through her youth, relationships, schooling, marriage, and body image struggles to show her growth and ability to change herself and the world around her. I was continually impressed by her strength and capacity to build herself back up. Even more than changing herself, Theresa became a positive force within her community rallying a community that told her 'people don't exercise here' to become healthy.