Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand in the Sun and Be Your Own Person

Content Warning: This section discusses disordered eating.

In this chapter, Rhimes discusses her weight and thoughts on her body. She explains that she has always been naturally large, but as her career gained traction, she gained more weight. Rhimes realizes that her inattention to her weight and health stems from a desire to succeed at her career, making it her primary focus. She discusses the societal pressures she has experienced as an African American woman—pressure to thrive to pave the way for future generations to have opportunities for success.

One day, Rhimes is on a plane and discovers that the seat belt will not latch because of her increased size. She contemplates what has led to this weight gain and realizes that she has been saying “yes” to a sedentary life, to using food to cope with stress, and to other poor health choices. Rhimes knows that changing her lifestyle will not be easy and that, once she decides to commit to this, she must keep working at it until she succeeds. In March 2014, Rhimes says “yes” to weight loss; one year later, she has lost 100 pounds. She emphasizes the importance of making a choice between being healthy and being unhealthy and then sticking with that choice permanently.