Half-Assed: A Weight-Loss Memoir
by Jennette Fulda
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Book Reviews of Half-Assed: A Weight-Loss Memoir
Book Review: Her rear is tiny, her life is big
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a sucker for a good before and after tale. Lucky for me, this memoir is so much more. Fulda chronicles her amazing 186+ weight loss, more than half of her starting weight. But she does more than just show us her weight loss; she describes her relationship with her body and with her daily habits with such wit and humor that I laughed out loud dozens of times. The pace is quick, and the content is interesting (no daily diet plans or lists of gym workouts here).
I also like Fulda's attitude. She doesn't pretend to be a weight loss guru, and she never disrespects herself and her body. Everyone knows how to lose weight...it's her dedication that makes her tale amazing. Also, I enjoy her focus on becoming athletic rather than getting thin (especially refreshing in today's "Get Skinny!" social climate.) She is a very positive person, even when dealing with ugly plus-size clothes, negative blog comments, or the inevitable plateaus.
This is a great, inspirational read, and Fulda is a delightful writer. Reading it made my wait at the DMV actually enjoyable; I only wish the book could have lasted longer!
Book Review: Not a typical weight loss book...
Summary: 5 Stars
If you are looking for something with inspiration and motivation along the lines of looking yourself in the mirror repeating "I love myself. You are great. You're fluffy not fat" then this book isn't for you. You shouldn't be coddled by any weight loss book. The author takes a good, hard look at herself and says "I was friggin' fat and this is why" - not blaming others, not lying about extremely bad food habits, not claiming weight loss was easy or fast, and definitely not sugar coating how she perceived herself. Although others may call it self deprecating I would say its being completely honest. If you can't be honest with the state your body, health and mind is in, because of continued bad habits, then how can you lose weight in a realistic way?
Almost everyone who is over weight/obese has those horror stories of clothes shopping, struggles of starting and quitting diets (sometimes within days), late night junk food raids, feeling invisible even at such a large size...reading the authors own stories were amusing, sad and eye opening all at the same time.
Book Review: Food for thought
Summary: 5 Stars
Fulda lost around 200 pounds and details her weight-loss journey in this book. It's peppered with some facts, along with her slow start (she didn't just get serious and go-go-go) but it took a year to really get losing. She doesn't detail a diet plan but mentions cooking more and making smarter choices and exercising more. This is fine by me because I know how to cook healthier, I know the smarter choices in restaurants and grocery stores and I know I need to exercise. I just need to do these things to succeed. I don't need a plan to follow. She is good at detailing the little day-to-day observations, like buying a top in a size large for the first time in years or huffing and puffing and sweating after walking a few steps or any number of details that plague the life of someone who is too fat or someone who is losing weight. Anyone who has been in either pair of shoes can relate. She's a good writer and it's good food for thought for anybody who wants to lose, who is losing weight or who wants to try and understand a fat person's struggles.Book Review: Great book
Summary: 5 Stars
If you're looking for someone to tell you how to lose weight, then ignore this book and keep browsing. In fact, Ms. Fulda goes out of her way to state that just because she was able to lose weight doesn't mean you will. So then what's the point of reading the book?
Read it because if you really want to lose weight, your best chance is to have an honest idea of what to expect; in a nutshell it's not some magic solution most fitness experts seem to tout. First and foremost Ms. Fulda lets us know that we are we are not alone. We are not alone in being too heavy, we are not alone in feeling like the world is staring (or ignoring) us, we are not alone dealing with issues that linger when the physical is intertwined with the emotional. But the key to weight loss is a secret; one that is unique to each person. It's up to you to figure out what that is. Ms. Fulda simply shares with us how she figured it out in herself, in very engaging manner.
But, don't take my word for it. Let Jennette tell you.
Book Review: So Glad I Bought This Book
Summary: 5 Stars
I finished this book in about three days,and it was so enjoyable. Her weight loss success was hopeful and charming. I have read other books of this type and this one, by far, was more positive, inspirational, and so funny that I found myself laughing out loud several times to her well thought out comparisons and metaphors. I could identify with the authors experiences so well. She helped remind me of how wonderful it feels to be living healthy, and I am inspired to get myself going on the way to healthy again.
There was only one little frustration in the book that was otherwise wonderfully enjoyable, and highly recommended, and that was the author stating that she was not going to share what book or plan she had used to help her nutrition and weight loss. She does write about some things she eats and so much more of what it "really" takes to lose so much weight.
To sum it up, this book was creative and awesome!