The Weight-Loss Diaries

I read this book while on the treadmill on my morning gym visits.I really enjoyed it and often felt that it was my own words I was reading. I didn't feel it was a sap story or one I've read before but it was of a woman's journey for better health with its ups and downs and ups and downs. I applaud Courtney Rubin for sharing her life in this book.

I bought this book when it first came out and have re-read it so many times it finally fell apart!! Although i do agree with some of the other reviewers comments -- Courtney does whine sometimes, and does tend to shift some of the blame for her behavior -- DONT WE ALL?? I am not overweight but i do understand the struggle to lose 20 lbs and keep it off. it's a never ending battle and it DOES consume your thoughts and behaviors. Courtney handled the issues most of us have dealt with using an ascerbic wit, humor and a slightly self-deprecating attitude that the majority of women have. It IS hard to accept compliments when you are still "fat in your mind" and i totally understand how demoralizing it was for her to regain after steadily losing. I think her total honesty and sharing of painful history had to be cathartic to Courtney and extremely helpful to struggling dieters everywhere. I hope she will keep writing books; she's currently living in England which was a lifelong dream for her. As many others have said this is not a "how to" nor does it have a sunny ending. But it IS honest and forthright and a really entertaining read.

I ended up buying a few copies because I think anyone who ever wants to really understand me should read this book to know where I'm coming from. I don't think you need to be as fat as I am to relate to this book, particularly since the author isn't, but I swear it was like she reached into my brain and wrote down all the horrible things I try to pretend aren't there.

I couldn't put this book down. The people who left bad reviews apparently have no clue what it is to battle an eating disorder. The words like "stop blaming your parents and just take responsibility and stop eating" make me realize that: a) Lots of people have no clue that our behaviors come from our parents. b) It's easy to say "stop eating".... It's like telling a drug addict to stop doing drugs. c) Yes, for us ( people with eating disorders, who were taught to always be good and given high, very high standards to follow)food IS a drug of choice. We couldn't show up at home drunk nor stoned for the fear of our parents, but we definitely could show up full of food. Well, take it as it is. I loved the book. This book made me take a look at myself from the side. Yes, this book made changes in my life and NO, it didn't make me think that i am free to eat or do what i want and don't have take responsibility for my actions.

I disagree with the review that this author is whining. I think she identifies the emotions that make one feel a lack of control and lead to overeating. I never got the impression she blamed anyone for this. She just seemed to identify certain emotional conversations as food triggers. I felt like she needed emotional support (perhaps in the form of counseling) to get more of a backbone and confidence in handling emotional issues, whether they're family, friend, work or general life-related, which then might alleviate some of the overeating. I thought this was clearly lacking in her "diet" regimen and could've probably made a huge difference in her success. She knew enough about calorie counts, exercise, etc. (the basics) and needed to take it to this next level, which perhaps we can read about in the future. I thought this was a very honest and real diary of the life of a compulsive overeater. No one wants to obsess about food, but many of us do. And I felt after reading this that I wasn't alone.