The Weight-Loss Diaries

Rating:
Summary: Finally, an honest portrayal
Review: Courtney Rubin is probably the bravest woman alive. As I sat reading this book, I was stunned that she and I felt the same way about so many food and body image issues. The difference is, she isn't scared to talk about it. Ms. Rubin verbalized so much of what I feel every day. Her book is hysterically funny (really, for those of us who struggle with weight, who actually needs to cut whole milk???) and also really sad at times. She is as hard on herself as I am on myself, but I always thought I was somewhat alone in my feelings.

I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It is not a weight-loss how-to book, it is an honest portrayal of what it is like to struggle daily with weight problems.

Rating:
Summary: Stop Blaming Your Mother - Take Responsibility
Review: I gave it two stars rather than one because the book did hold my interest throughout the entire reading. It is amazing to me how many people blame their weight problems on "their mother". Please enough already - maybe if when you were very young your mother fed you tons of goodies I could understand but after you left home to keep blaming your mother for what YOU put in your mouth is ridiculous.

Rating:
Summary: First All-nighter in 15 years
Review: I suspect Courtney doesn't know how beautiful she - and this book - are. I stayed up all night for the first time in ages reading straight through her diaries, and they are a funny, horrifying, ain't-that-the-truth-sister collection of honest thoughts. It's almost exquisitely painful to read about Ms. Rubin's total absorption with food and weight. Her excellent passages about running and friends and family are a relief from the constant stream of her obsessive thoughts over food, except they all somehow go back to that theme. But Courtney has an exceptional gift for being human. Not everyone could take the mystery out of Boca burgers and personal development so lovingly and humorously. She is a brave bastion of honesty and realism to all women who struggle with the beast of weight. She is undoubtedly harder on herself than any review could be. She looked wonderful at the book signing I went to, and we just kept wanting to hear more of her stories. This book is about struggle and obsession and, I hope, about Courtney's slow realization that she is, indeed, a beautiful person and a beautiful writer. Lovely stuff.

Rating:
Summary: Courtney Rubin Whines Too Much
Review: I would not want to be Courtney Rubin's friend, co-worker, personal trainer, coach, dietician, neighbor,boss or enthusiastic supporter. To do so would mean being pilloried in print as part of a huge conspiracy to Make Courtney Feel Bad. At first I felt for Courtney, dieting in front of millions of readers and being stressed about binging and weight gain. However, she pretty much complains about everyone in her book. Everyone makes her feel terrible. Courtney attends a writing group where someone says that they can hardly wait to read her work - her response? "Great. No pressure there." A reader comes up to her and tells her about how inspiring she is and how she loves reading her column- this is after Courtney regains fifteen pounds. Her response? She attacks the fan in her book as seeming insensitive and stupid because she has approached Courtney in a karoke bar on a Saturday night - apparently this silly fan did not know that There Are Rules To Be Followed when talking to Courtney. Imagine! Courtney receives much support from many people in her struggle to diet. However, Courtney mocks them in her book, writing about 'Peekespeak' - her dietician who tries to help her stop binging. She also mocks another supporter who encourages her to meditate. "What's next? Pounding drums and chanting "I am beautiful" "I am thin"? Well, excuse her for trying to help you. Courtney ends the book by discussing how she has learned that food is not always the problem when dieting. It is emotions, boundaries, acceptance, etc. She could have included that dieting also means growing up and being grateful for support instead of whining about how Everyone Is So Mean.