Just the Weigh You Are: How to Be Fit and Healthy, Whatever Your Size

Rating:
Summary: A REAL BOOK FOR REAL WOMEN!
Review: Finally a book that does not make Plus Size sound FAT and unhealthy. I think this book is great and gives a realistic approach to weight. Not a "Diet" book but a "real life" book that you can apply to your own lifestyle whatever you size is.

Rating:
Summary: A REAL BOOK FOR REAL WOMEN!
Review: Finally a book that does not make Plus Size sound FAT and unhealthy. I think this book is great and gives a realistic approach to weight. Not a "Diet" book but a "real life" book that you can apply to your own lifestyle whatever you size is.

Rating:
Summary: Duh?
Review: I hate to be the dissenting voice amongst glowing reviews, but this book read to me as outdated and mostly irrelevant. The 'main' message (don't diet, just live healthy) is admirable, but the way they go about presenting it puts people back in the same box that 'typical' diet books do. A low-fat diet just doesn't equal health for everyone any more than low calorie equals weight loss for everyone. Both situations are more complicated than that.

There's also very little in the book actually about self-esteem. In fact, there's only three little pages -- at the very end of the book, no less -- dedicated to it. And even then there were no real pointers about how to go about developing it, just a general statement of how it's a good idea and that if you don't manage it they feel sorry for you. Gee... thanks. That helps.

The only enjoyable and useful part for me was the personal profiles, little essays by overweight people about how they live their lives happily and healthily. How they deal with unpleasant social situations and condemnations. Several of them were inspiring, almost all of them were well-written and a pleasure to read. Unfortunately the outdated one by Carnie Wilson (former poster child for fat-acceptance, current poster child for bariatric surgery) makes all of them ring a little less true.

It just seemed, to me, like most of the book was common sense. Eating right and exercising, not smoking, wearing your seatbelt - all these just seem obvious and pointlessly overstated. None of it made me feel any better about "being the weigh I am".

Rating:
Summary: Focus on Health, not Weight
Review: I was pleasantly surprised by this book! It does a great job of encouraging people of all sizes to make little changes in their lives that will lead to improved health, not necessarily weight loss (although that could happen as well). What I really liked about this book was that their beginning program was designed for true beginners! Most beginning exercise programs start with 30 minutes 3-4 times/week. The goal of this book is to get you into the habit of exercising, not tire you out at the beginning. It starts you with 3 10-minute sessions for the first two weeks. You can do that! You gradually build to doing 3 30-minute sessions over 13 weeks. The book doesn't leave you there, either... it offers a phase 2 intermediate program and then a choice of 2 phase 3 maintenance programs. One which is more challenging than the other. The book is filled with profiles of large active fit people--regular people and celebrities--which are truly encouraging. There are aerobics instructors who weigh more than 200 pounds, people over 300 pounds as well. People of every size proving that you can be large and fit and healthy. The book also covers healthy eating, emotional eating, and other topics. One thing I really liked about this book is that they also talked about other topics related to health, such as wearing seat belts, going to the doctor for a Pap smear, and quiting smoking. All in all, a motivating empowering book! Also check out Glenn Gaesser's "Big Fat Lies" and Marilyn Wann's "Fat!So?".

Rating:
Summary: Focus on Health, not Weight
Review: I was pleasantly surprised by this book! It does a great job of encouraging people of all sizes to make little changes in their lives that will lead to improved health, not necessarily weight loss (although that could happen as well). What I really liked about this book was that their beginning program was designed for true beginners! Most beginning exercise programs start with 30 minutes 3-4 times/week. The goal of this book is to get you into the habit of exercising, not tire you out at the beginning. It starts you with 3 10-minute sessions for the first two weeks. You can do that! You gradually build to doing 3 30-minute sessions over 13 weeks. The book doesn't leave you there, either... it offers a phase 2 intermediate program and then a choice of 2 phase 3 maintenance programs. One which is more challenging than the other. The book is filled with profiles of large active fit people--regular people and celebrities--which are truly encouraging. There are aerobics instructors who weigh more than 200 pounds, people over 300 pounds as well. People of every size proving that you can be large and fit and healthy. The book also covers healthy eating, emotional eating, and other topics. One thing I really liked about this book is that they also talked about other topics related to health, such as wearing seat belts, going to the doctor for a Pap smear, and quiting smoking. All in all, a motivating empowering book! Also check out Glenn Gaesser's "Big Fat Lies" and Marilyn Wann's "Fat!So?".

Rating:
Summary: A groundbraeking book
Review: In this world of weight loss and diet books, finally a book that makes sense. Just The Weigh You Are is a no nonsense book that encourages people, no matter what size, to live healthier lifestyles. Between some of the chapters are the personal stories of people from all walks who have battled with weight and self image issues all their lives. This is a very straight-forward, no nonsense book which gives real insight into taking better care of yourself, stopping self-loathing and taking control. Whether you are thinking of losing some pounds or struggling with self acceptance, it is a must read.

Rating:
Summary: A groundbraeking book
Review: In this world of weight loss and diet books, finally a book that makes sense. Just The Weigh You Are is a no nonsense book that encourages people, no matter what size, to live healthier lifestyles. Between some of the chapters are the personal stories of people from all walks who have battled with weight and self image issues all their lives. This is a very straight-forward, no nonsense book which gives real insight into taking better care of yourself, stopping self-loathing and taking control. Whether you are thinking of losing some pounds or struggling with self acceptance, it is a must read.