Diary of a Fat Housewife:A True Story of Humor, Heart- Break and Hope

Rating:
Summary: DON"T BUY THIS BOOK!!!
Review: There is no clearer way to say it, "Don't buy this book!" Not only is it a horrible example of "success", but in my opinion it could be dangerous for other overweight people who may be struggling or depressed themselves. This book is filled with hatred toward overweight people, and fat itself. I read a review of the book much like many of the other one star reviews, but I thought, "if nothing else it will be an interesting read, even if it's not a motivational weight loss story." What a mistake! Thankfully, I only spent about $5 on the book. Take my advise. Don't waste your money or your time.

Rating:
Summary: Case Study in Bi-polar Depression
Review: This 'book' was basically a case study of a woman suffering from bi-polar depression. I have no idea why this book was published as a weight loss aide. To the contrary, this woman's self-esteem is so low and her self-image is so poor that it is impossible to take anything away from this, other than the urge to vomit. If you are truly looking for life changing, affirming and logical health guidance, may I suggest Total Health Makeover by Marilu Henner.

Rating:
Summary: A sad a short-sighted work
Review: This book broke my heart. Ms. Green's focus on her weight as her one and only problem, and weight loss as her goal in life will doom her to failure at permanent weight loss and as a human being. A reviewer asked "where's the sequel?" I would bet there is none because Ms. Green is fat and struggling again, never having made peace with herself about where society's demands and imperatives end and she begins. Her self hatred will be her downfall. Awful, a painful read. I wish Ms. Green well, wherever she is in her struggle today.

Rating:
Summary: Where's the sequel?
Review: This book caught my eye, because I enjoy reading diary formatted books -- and it is very light reading as those types of books go. I've read the hardback version (understand the paperback version has an "update") and thought it was a great book for anyone who knows anyone struggling with a weight problem. I view obesity issues with a lot more compassion, after reading this book. This book is not about "how to lose weight" or even about "weight loss". Rather, it is a book about a woman's very personal struggle to figure out what makes her eat so darn much and reverse that singularly destructive behavior in her life. Some reviewers have gotten pretty personal in criticizing Ms. Green. The fact of the matter is that, whether or not you like Green's life, her values or her mindset, any reader can come to appreciate Green's honest self evaluation and find this book entertaining.

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Summary: fat-feelings and bipolar mood disorder
Review: this book has been an eye opener for me. I'm currently struggling with obesity and medication management for manic depression. I relate so well to Rosemarys ups and downs. I'm learning to just live and that its okay to feel. Frequently Rosemary is overwhelmed by her negative feelings. I completely understand. I hope to learn to except my feelings and concern myself more with my reactions to them. I hope her good example and experiences will give me the hope to stop stuffing my feelings with food or any other negative behavior. Thank you, Rosemary for a wonderfully inspirational read.

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Summary: Awesome--and you MUST read Potatoes Not Prozac
Review: This book is an excellent case study of sugar addiction and the terrible pain it causes. I read it and related, then read a book that explains why Roesemary was so miserable--it's called Potatoes Not Prozac and it explains how sugar acts like other drugs to addict and make you crazy.

Rating:
Summary: Not quite inspiring
Review: This book is more sad than anything. I admit I'm still in the middle of reading it (about 2/3 through), but I'm seeing upsetting patterns. I'll give kudos to Green about being brutally honest about how sad she is being fat and about her admitting just how much she snacks and eats her way through the day. But there is a deep, dark depression and a profound self hatred that is tragic. She writes that she hates how fat hangs from her stomach, arms, etc., and basically likens herself to a circus freak. She sounds terribly depressed and throughout I can't help but think she needs help. She only seems to find real joy in recalling her days as a beauty queen. She loves her husband but is angry throughout the book at his lack of support (he comes across as someone who thought 5'9" Rosemary weighed too much at 140, yet he stays with her and even tried to take her to an Overeaters Anonymous meeting once). She describes bouts of guilt after screaming at her husband and kids about wishing she'd never married or gave birth to them. She writes about her home being cluttered up and the Christmas tree still being up in mid-January and laundry laying everywhere. Her life sounds very sheltered, only husband, home, kids, weight obsession and self-hatred. One reads it and thinks perhaps therapy would help her. I guess she gets to her ideal weight, which she addresses in an afterword, but I wonder if she really gets to the root of her problems. It would be nice to read of her finding some good qualities in herself. At one hand it's frustrating to read about that spiral of self-hatred she's trapped herself in, and it's also angering, wanting to just shout, 'Oh shut up and get on with it.' Hopefully she's happy now, and thin too (for her health's sake - mental and physical).

Rating:
Summary: Look Elsewhere For Any Redeeming Lessons
Review: This book is mostly four or five entries, repeated again and again, pointlessly. Maybe this was the author's intention: the cliched yo-yoing of a dieter's weight, alternating despair and renewed hope. But I don't think so. More likely the author wanted to see some sort of "progress." I don't see it. It's just not here.

Rating:
Summary: Most honest and credible book on weight issues I ever read
Review: This was the best book on weight issues I have ever read! Of course it's heartbreaking at times and full of hope at times - that's what real life is like. I have been struggling to lose 100 pounds and I felt I was reading my own story. Society has determined that overweight people, especially women, are somehow weak willed and lack motivation when the opposite is true. Obesity is every bit as much of a disease as cancer or diabetes is! Anyone who thinks it's a sign of lack of caring or weakness should look at themselves long and hard, and admit that they have their own crosses to carry. The old saying "walk a mile in my shoes" before you judge me is something we all need to remember. I would love to correspond with Ms. Green and I admire her immensely for the courage she showed by writing such an honest depiction of the struggle it is to face ourselves honestly and try to improve. To those people who thought it was too depressing or pointless, I suggest they start looking at ways to improve themselves instead of judging others.

Rating:
Summary: Inspiring, but not in the way the author planned
Review: Though this book is marketed as an inspirational success story about weight loss, to me it is a tragic documentary of ten wasted years. Yes, Rosemary Green managed to go from 257 pounds to 208 in those ten years, with lots of swings up and down along the way. She seems to have followed a severe, under-800-calorie-a-day diet to accomplish this, which may explain her out-of-control binges and wild weight fluctuations. I wonder if she couldn't have accomplished at least as much with a more sensible weight-loss plan that included a more consistent exercise regimen and a healthier attitude toward food. I was shocked and dismayed by the intense self-loathing that permeates the entire book, including its supposedly happy ending. She literally hates herself for being overweight. I think this cruel self-torture is probably part of her weight problem, as is the fact that she seems to have very little in her life other than her weight- and food-related dramas. This book was more inspiring as an example of what not to do than as an example to emulate.