One hell of a read!
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I found this book entertaining and engrossing from beginning to end. It's a cliche to say that it made me laugh and cry - but the truth is that it really did make me do both.
The book covers over 4 years of real-life 'diary entries' from Shauna Reid, an Australian in her early 20s who, in 2001, weighed 25 stone. The book follows her gradual weight loss over the next 4 years until she loses half her body weight and finally makes peace with herself. Needless to say, it is an inspirational story for anybody trying to lose weight. But what really makes the book stand out is Shauna's writing style. She is clearly a fine writer, and I whizzed through the pages thoroughly caught up in her feelings and emotions. As well as being a weight loss memoir, the book also covers topics such as bereavement, falling in love, travel and career progression. It was amazing to read how Shauna's confidence rose and fell at different stages and how she learnt to deal with insecure thoughts.
Overall, the book has a very positive message in terms of weight loss and health. I loved the attitude that Shauna developed towards her body and fitness. We all need to show more appreciation for how wonderful our bodies are and stop being so critical of them! This book is compassionate and wise and funny - I highly recommend it.
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Dietgirl
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The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl is the book of a very successful weight loss blog written by Australian Shauna Reid. Shauna made a decision one day to lose weight- to lose half of her body weight in fact- and this book is her story. Not only does Shauna record her astounding weight loss achievement, she also details her move to Scotland, her travels around Europe, falling in love with a Scottish bloke and getting married, all the while sharing her most intimate thoughts, feelings and insecurities with her readers.
I'd never read Shauna's blog before I read this book but I had heard lots and lots of good things about both of them. I read this book very quickly and found it to be funny ("They say you're supposed to do cardio three times a week- does this mean I'm supposed to be completely bloody bored three times a week for the rest of my life?") and real ("I tell you, if one more person tells me how they gained so much weight while travelling overseas, I will punch them in the face.") and, most importantly, honest ("But falling in love has made sex scary. The problem isn't desire- just his laugh or the arch of his eyebrow makes me hot- but the way I feel about my body.") Personally, it was also a little bit inspiring. Not the whole Oprah-epiphany-moment inspiring but little bits and pieces kept jumping off the page at me which suggested maybe I too can get off my arse and discover the healthy girl within (Just the one, dear?). In the £gajillion diet industry, this book is a real voice from a real person who achieved a real goal and tells us about it in a fun and accessible way.
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Calling all procrastinators
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Firstly I do not have a problem with my weight and read this book to help me understand the plight of some of my nearest and dearest. I am glad I did. Aside from the humility and humour abounding in the book I was amazed at how much there was in it for me - an advanced procrastinator. I discovered that I was not alone. Shauna articulates the condition powerfully and her honest account of how she tackles her procrastinator leaves the reader without excuses (and mine worked reasonably well for years) and motivated to silence their own procrastinator.
This book helped me understand that I can be my own superhero and gently accept my off days without the need to judge and condemn myself and most importantly how to carry on with the task in hand.
My procrastinator continued to offer me excuses and plans of action but instead of thinking "Good idea" I found myself smiling "Nice try"
I recommend this book to anyone who is growing tired of their own excuses particularly if the thought change brings you out in a sweat.
Shauna's story encourages us to be gentle with ourselves and provides many useful methods to manage the transition from unable to entirely capable.
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Fantastic
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I can sum this up in five words - Best Book I've Ever Read!
It was recommended to me by a friend as I've recently started to loose weight myself and I thought I'd give it ago and boy am I glad I did. As well as all the motivation it's given me for my own weight-loss I found it brilliant book in it's own right - I think it may be the only book I've read that had me laughing out loud and crying real tears too - my boyfriend kept giving me funny looks and tutting as if I was a mad woman!
Since finishing it I've become a regular reader of the diet girl blog and I've recommended the book and the blog to everyone I've come across to the point where I've been asked if I'm doing Shauna's PR!!
Please buy this book - you won't regret it!
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Entertaining and inspirational!
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This book is fantastic! We should all applaud Shauna for being brave and honest enough to share her story with us.
There are so many moments in this book when you think 'wow, I've done that' or 'thats how I feel'. Shauna writes it in an extremely entertaining way. I lost count of the times I laughed out loud.
This book will brighten your mood and make you want to take on the world! It did me!
A must read!
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