Need Book Recommendations

[Lainey1978]

I'm looking for books along the lines of Pasta Queen's and Dietgirl's. If you don't know who they are, they're weight-loss bloggers who happened to write a book.

You see, I am also a weight loss blogger (not famous though, lol), and since I've been reading fiction, I've noticed I'm quite suggestible. Like, I just finished Rebecca, and it made me want tea and scones. Bad if you're trying to lose weight!

So then somebody on my blog suggested I read the books of people who have lost weight, and how they did it, for inspiration. I thought that was a great idea, but I'd like more than two to go on. They don't have to be by bloggers, but I don't mean stuff like Suzanne Somer's "don't eat this food with that food" type books. Just about ordinary (or not ordinary, doesn't matter) people writing about their weight loss experiences. Not "how-to" but more like "I did this and you can, too."

Any suggestions? TIA!

[LauraH]

"Eating Heaven" by Jennie Shortridge
Great book.

[Bowlie]

A few months ago I saw Monica Seles on TV talking about her weight loss. Apparently sometime after she was stabbed during that tennis match she was playing, she began to gain weight. I think she said she lost 50 lbs. and wrote a book about her journey.

It's called Getting a Grip: On My Mind, My Body, My Self

I thought it looked interesting and want to pick it up myself.

[Lainey1978]

Thanks! Both of these suggestions sound great!

[LauraH]

You know, what about Wally Lamb's "She's Come Undone"? I know that's not the entire basis of the book, but I know the main character struggles with her weight and figures out a way to overcome her hatred of herself.

That's kind of like Eating Heaven (mentioned above). I should have ellaborated. It truly is a delightful book. It's funny, sad, heart breaking, triumphant, exciting, with love and family issues. There are even recipes that are mentioned through the book at the back. I tried the spice cake that she raves about in the story- phenominal.

[Lainey1978]

Oh, actually I have She's Come Undone from the library. It's the last one on my current "to read" list, so I have a few more books to go before I get to it, but it should get read soon. I didn't know it was like that.

I'm actually looking more for true weight loss stories, rather than ones that come from fiction, but I guess anything could work. I don't know about the fact that one of them's got recipes, though...that's probably the last thing I need!

[MoreCowbell]

Ok, this is fiction and NOT WEIGHT LOSS. But having struggled with my weight for years it was really interesting to read about anorexia/bulimia and I think it is important to realize how much worse things can be...it made me want to do things in a healthy way. And although this is fiction the author obviously did major research and a lot of interviews. Check it out, I swear her binging won't make you want to eat what she eats: Life-Size by Jennifer Shute

[Lainey1978]

Thank you--that sounds like it might be very interesting.

[xbutterflyx]

I read Fat Girl a few years ago. It is a memoir by Judith Moore.

Described her battle with loss and gain, gain and loss. Very good read.


"smile bunches today" xx

[victorian.noire]

Oh, actually I have She's Come Undone from the library. It's the last one on my current "to read" list, so I have a few more books to go before I get to it, but it should get read soon.

as soon as i read your first post the first book i thought of was she's come undone. i have never really thought of my weight as an issue and i really felt for that character. she was amazing...and strange. i would certainly suggest that one too.

and i mean, you can always branch out...most struggles that people have with themselves are all very much rooted in the same place of insecurities, self-loathing and frustration...you might be able to find hope in other issues besides weight loss...if interested check out "prozac nation". i love that book and it has gotten me through a lot of issues.

good luck!