Half-Assed: A Weight-Loss Memoir
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Product Description
Product Description
After undergoing gall bladder surgery at age twenty-three, Jennette Fulda decided it was time to lose some weight. Actually, more like half her weight. At the time, Jennette weighed 372 pounds. Jennette was not born fat. But, by fifth grade, her response to a school questionnaire asking "what would you change about your appearance" was "I would be thinner. " Sound familiar? Half-Assed is the captivating and incredibly honest story of Jennette's journey to get in shape, lose weight, and change her life. From the beginningdusting off her never-used treadmill and steering clear of the donut shopto the end with her goal weight in sight, Jennette wows readers with her determined persistence to shed pounds and the ability to maintain her ever-present sense of self. "
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First Sentence
Yellow noodles of fat spilled out of Ms. Ribbit's gut. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
Yellow noodles of fat spilled out of Ms. Ribbit's gut. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I enjoyed this book so much. I loved the way Jennette never felt sorry for herself, or needed to blame anyone (including herself)for the way she found herself weighing almost 400 pounds. She "woke up and smelt the coffee" (my words) and decided to do something about her weight, and just got on with it. She was down to earth and very likeable, and had so much common sense I found myself nodding frequently as I read her story. I have tried blaming my emotions or lack of willpower for being overweight, but at the end of the day I need to eat less and move more. As simple as that. And Jennette made me see the light, even though she was so against becoming evangelistic to others about her weight loss. She plodded on happily and enthusiastically, never making it seem easy, but at the same time she made it seem possible. It was a delightful story and so well written. I think the best compliment I can give to Jennette's book is that it has gone straight back into my bookcase for me to read again one day.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Jeanette Fulda's memoir is very inspiring and humorous in many parts. What I find most refreshing is that she was someone who liked herself and believed in herself even when she weighed 372 lbs (26 stone 8 lb). She lost half her body weight doing exercises she enjoyed - walking, running, pilates; as well as learning to cook and eat healthy meals. And she seemed to relish everything she was gaining - greater flexibility, ability to run more and more miles without getting exhausted, fitting into restaurant booths and normal length seat belts - rather than getting obsessed with the number on the scale. I tend to think here is someone who succeeded because she enjoyed every step of the journey.
Ms. Fulda is a terrific writer and I am a regular reader of her blog (pastaqueen.com). However, I think she is better at writing essays than an entire book. For one thing, she is reticent about some personal issues (for instance, she skirted around wanting to find a relationship), that's OK for a blog but I expected a memoir to be more revealing. And although she is very witty, the last chapter seemed to run out of material and she exhausted every analogy in order to say the journey isn't over yet and she could still gain back all the weight. These are the only reasons I am not giving it five stars.
Overall, a very worthwhile read.
Ms. Fulda is a terrific writer and I am a regular reader of her blog (pastaqueen.com). However, I think she is better at writing essays than an entire book. For one thing, she is reticent about some personal issues (for instance, she skirted around wanting to find a relationship), that's OK for a blog but I expected a memoir to be more revealing. And although she is very witty, the last chapter seemed to run out of material and she exhausted every analogy in order to say the journey isn't over yet and she could still gain back all the weight. These are the only reasons I am not giving it five stars.
Overall, a very worthwhile read.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
92 reviews
85 of 115 people found the following review helpful
Her rear is tiny, her life is big
21 April 2008
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm a sucker for a good before and after tale. Lucky for me, this memoir is so much more. Fulda chronicles her amazing 186+ weight loss, more than half of her starting weight. But she does more than just show us her weight loss; she describes her relationship with her body and with her daily habits with such wit and humor that I laughed out loud dozens of times. The pace is quick, and the content is interesting (no daily diet plans or lists of gym workouts here).
I also like Fulda's attitude. She doesn't pretend to be a weight loss guru, and she never disrespects herself and her body. Everyone knows how to lose weight...it's her dedication that makes her tale amazing. Also, I enjoy her focus on becoming athletic rather than getting thin (especially refreshing in today's "Get Skinny!" social climate.) She is a very positive person, even when dealing with ugly plus-size clothes, negative blog comments, or the inevitable plateaus.
This is a great, inspirational read, and Fulda is a delightful writer. Reading it made my wait at the DMV actually enjoyable; I only wish the book could have lasted longer!
I also like Fulda's attitude. She doesn't pretend to be a weight loss guru, and she never disrespects herself and her body. Everyone knows how to lose weight...it's her dedication that makes her tale amazing. Also, I enjoy her focus on becoming athletic rather than getting thin (especially refreshing in today's "Get Skinny!" social climate.) She is a very positive person, even when dealing with ugly plus-size clothes, negative blog comments, or the inevitable plateaus.
This is a great, inspirational read, and Fulda is a delightful writer. Reading it made my wait at the DMV actually enjoyable; I only wish the book could have lasted longer!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Dog Ears Throughout!
9 Aug 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I can always tell how much I like a book by how fast I read it, and how much I abuse it. I received this book, and within 24hours I was turning the last page. Hours would slip by as I was reading Jeannette's witty, charming and honest portrayal of the weight loss journey. Other reviewers have pointed out that is wasn't 'inspirational' to them, or they couldn't relate - or she didn't give enough advice for them - but for me none of that was an issue.
I am a 29yo man who has had (and continues to have) a battle with weight similar to Jeanette's. It was so nice and refreshing to have someone say all of the things in my brain without me having to say them. She had me in stitches when she said she couldn't just throw all of her junk food out, and needed to start a 'bundt cake relocation program'. I also liked how a topic she came back to a few times was that as a heavier woman she always felt that skinny people were judging her, and when she lost the weight she felt that heavier people were judging her - dealing with our fear of other's judgement. Another topic that I could really relate to was when she talked about the 'FA' (Fat acceptance) clubs throwing her out cause she wanted to lose weight to be healthy.
No matter what Jeanette is writing about, she does it with a dry wit that can't help but make you laugh. If you are looking for a how to book, or a quick fix - this ultimately isn't for you - but if you are looking to comiserate about the internal struggle with weight loss, then pull up a bowl of sugar free Jell-o and crack the spine.
I am a 29yo man who has had (and continues to have) a battle with weight similar to Jeanette's. It was so nice and refreshing to have someone say all of the things in my brain without me having to say them. She had me in stitches when she said she couldn't just throw all of her junk food out, and needed to start a 'bundt cake relocation program'. I also liked how a topic she came back to a few times was that as a heavier woman she always felt that skinny people were judging her, and when she lost the weight she felt that heavier people were judging her - dealing with our fear of other's judgement. Another topic that I could really relate to was when she talked about the 'FA' (Fat acceptance) clubs throwing her out cause she wanted to lose weight to be healthy.
No matter what Jeanette is writing about, she does it with a dry wit that can't help but make you laugh. If you are looking for a how to book, or a quick fix - this ultimately isn't for you - but if you are looking to comiserate about the internal struggle with weight loss, then pull up a bowl of sugar free Jell-o and crack the spine.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
One of the best books I've ever read
16 Nov 2010
Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase
One of the best books I have ever read. Every paragraph is loaded with humor and insight well beyond the typical diet book/memoir. I frequently wondered how the author could possibly organize her thought so well and express them so clearly. Technically this is not a how to book but you will learn more here than you will in most diet books and be well entertained. I lost over 200 pounds and eventually gained back half and I am now reapplying myself. I have been there so I can truly appreciate her work and her prose. My best advice is to read Atkins and read this book while you're on you're "weigh".
-Jim Rendek
-Jim Rendek
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