Secrets of a Former Fat Girl: How to Lose Two, Four (or More!) Dress Sizes--And Find Yourself Along the Way

by Lisa Delaney

Book Overview

An inspiring account of one woman?s successful mission to lose six dress sizes and change her life for goodAny woman who?s ever been a fat girl? knows: the label sticks in your mind, regardless of how... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0452289246
• ISBN13: 9780452289246
• Release Date: February 2008
• Publisher: Plume Books
• Length: 246 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Finally, Someone Who's Helpful!

I first discovered this book through a link on MSN that led me to Ms. Delaney's web-site. To be certain, I've read (or rather, attempted to read)several self-help books on this subject and never could quite resign myself to them because you could tell the writer(s) didn't understand. They'd never fought this battle before, much less won. But she has. Just from reading her blog I could tell, this woman knows what it is and what it means to be a fat girl. To struggle with the inner demons that drive us. She fought (and still fights) those demons and she won. Has continued to win for 20 years. Even better, this book reads more like a novel than a self-help book. Ms. Delaney shares her personal weight-loss story like one girlfriend might to another. There's no holds barred, no secret she didn't reveal and all wrapped up in a fun and understandable voice. Not only does she share her personal story and how she clawed her way out of being a fat girl to a former fat girl, but she gives you realistic tips on how you can conquer the fat girl mentality yourself. Tips on how to trick yourself, how to drive yourself and yes, how to control the food that's been controlling you. Needless to say, I'm a big fan of Ms. Delaney and her book. It may take me a few more reads to really get it to all sink in but I know this time I've found the right book.

Lots of good ideas to change how you look at food!

While this isn't a diet book, I found that it spoke to me and my obsession with food. I have, over the last 5 years, lost the weight I wanted to lose, however still feel drawn to too much of the wrong kinds of food. This book offers many good ideas to help me cope with those cravings as well as real tools to deal with social situations (such as bringing a healthy dish to a party... the hostess will love you for contributing and you will be sure to have at least one dish that you can safely eat while dieting!) She also identifies many potential risks among family and friends who try (unconsciously) to sabotage your efforts and suggests ways to overcome them. All in all, I believe this is a good book for anyone who wants to lose weight or wants to maintain a weight loss.

Real advice for real people!

This book deals with real peoples problems. You can really relate to the experiences she has had and apply the solutions she found that worked for her immediately. Losing weight is only the beginning of the problem, the tough part comes AFTER when you try to keep it off. That is where all these emotional issues come into play. She was successful because she deals with the reason WHY she was fat as she lost the weight so she can now keep it off forever. A fabulous read, funny, insightful and very useful for anyone who obsesses over food, weight or anything!!

FINALLY!

A weight loss book that deals with the emotional side of why we "fat girls" do what we do! It contains practical advice for changing the way we think about and react to food. I have read many weight loss books over the years, and they all tell you the same thing--eat less, move more. Lisa Delaney tells you why those things are so hard for some of us...and how to overcome the obstacles to permanent weight loss. Highly recommended!!!

The REAL key to PERMANENT weight control!

The thing I liked best about this book was its fresh sense of reality and its ability to address PERMANENT weight control in a clear, simple, practical way. Having been on hundreds of diets over the past forty years, I know that Dieting, as we know it, ALWAYS leads to temporary success followed by regaining what was lost and then some--no exceptions! The few times I have managed to keep weight off for any length of time I instinctively used part of Delaney's seven-point system but somehow missed a few of her other--and obviously very important--points having to do with self-image and self-sabotage, the supreme importance of INO, and how to handle all types of Food Pushers who, like the experts, just don't understand. And the insights she gives are from years of really dealing with the problems, unlike the Experts who research like crazy but rarely have lived with our realities. Delaney lost major weight (50+ lbs.) and has kept it off for more than 20 years unlike most of the Experts who have lost perhaps a few pounds and think, because of the alphabet soup after their names, they know it all and want to sell it to us in another dieting-Bestseller-of-the-Month with a gymicky title. As a former Library Director, I have a few fancy degrees too, but when it comes to my blubber, my newly diagnosed type-2 diabetes and my high blood pressure, I can tell you they don't mean squat. The way I see it, only someone who was a chronic dieter who has succeeded knows the true secrets. People who follow the Diet Doctors' advice fail over and over and over again as the current obesity epidemic is proving. I believe in Delaney. Her approach reflects simple common sense, a practical grasp of reality and a sense of humor : ingredients--pardon the pun--for successful PERMANENT weight loss. This book should be required reading for anyone thinking of going on yet another diet and for any of our young people who need to get on the right track, in terms of healthy weight control, and stay there!