I thought this book was pretty good as far as fat acceptance goes, but still has a pretty ableist, upper class take on life. ( )

Funny, and uplifting!! ( )

This book has been sitting on my shelf for a few years. I got it when I was in the midst of a weight-related funk but never got around to reading it. The last several months have brought on another funk, and I’m glad this book was here to help pull me out of it.

You see, Wendy Shanker is, like me, a Fat Girl—with a capital F. For Shanker, being Fat is not something to be miserable about. She’s out to reclaim the word from all of people who talk about how disgusting fat is, how all fat people are on the verge of a heart attack, and how we’re all lazy slobs with no self-control. No, says Shanker. Fatness is simply what some of us are, thanks to a varying mix of genetics, psychological and cultural factors, and the food environment in which we were raised. It’s not something in our control—and it doesn’t have a clear and obvious connection to fitness. In this book, she tells her own story of her struggle with her weight, incorporating research into obesity, the diet industry, and cultural attitudes toward size and beauty.

Not a lot of what Shanker said is entirely new to me, but I loved the way she packaged the information. This book is not exactly a systematic analysis of weight loss issues or a meticulous take-down of the diet industry—it’s more personal than that (although Shanker does cite her sources, mostly newspapers and magazines). Each chapter has a theme—”The Science of Fat,” “Hollywood,” or “Fashion and Style”—but the heart of the book is Shanker’s bold and funny voice, along with her honesty.

She makes some excellent and thought-provoking points about weight and fitness (she's all about fitness and unconcerned about weight loss); the diet industry; and the need for all of us to show ourselves some compassion, whatever our size.

See my complete review at Shelf Love. ( )

This book was a reminder that there are men and women out there who are doing everything they can to be healthy, but they will never be skinny. ( )

One of the most amazing books ever. If you have ever had a moment when you thought you were fat, READ IT. Read it now. It rocks!
Quotes that I found most useful:

* Dr. Glenn Alan Gaesser suggests that "you are probably at your ideal weight when you are not trying to do anything to control your weight, but are eating a relatively low-fat, fiber-rich diet abundant in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and being physically active"
* Paul Campos says the following four very interesting things in his essay The Weighting Game: What The Diet Industry Won't Tell You "A moderately active fat person is likely to be far healthier than someone who is svelte but sedentary. What's worse, Americans' attempts to make themselves thin through dieting and supplements are themselves a major cause of the ill health associated with being overweight - meaning that America's war on fat is actually helping cause the very disease it's supposed to cure"
* "There is in fact no medical basis for the government's BMI recommendations or the public health policies based on them... The BMI range correlating with the lowest mortality rate is extremely broad, from about 18 to 32, meaning that a woman of average height can weigh anywhere within an 80-pound range without seeing any statistically meaningful change in her risk of premature death"
* "Larger scale mortality studies indicate that women who are 50 or even 75 pounds 'overweight' will on average still have longer life expectancies than those who are 10 to 15 pounds 'underweight', aka fashionably thin"
* "In the end, nothing could be easier than to win the war on fat: All we need to do is stop fighting it"
* Most fat people are afraid to go to the gym because they think the skinny people will be mean to them, or at least think means thoughts about them. Well, okay, that's legit. But you know what? It's a gym, not a playground. You're a grown-up, not a kindergartner. You are a strong enough person to get over it and do what you have to do for yourself. Screw everyone else.
* If someone rubs me the wrong way, I don't immediately blame myself; I begin to wonder what's up with her. If someone always makes me feel insecure about my body, I ask myself what he or she is projecting. If someone makes me feel like I'm not doing well at work, I ask myself what's happening in his career that he might be dumping onto me. I'm not perfect, I just know I do it to other people, so touche.
* If you decide to pursue thinness, that's fine and dandy, but don't do it the same way you've always done it before. Don't let your diet consume you... Step on the scale just once a day or week or month, not twelve times a day... Try to cut back on your body image obsession in general... There are more worthwhile things that deserve your all-consuming attention. And remember, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SPEND MONEY TO LOSE WEIGHT. Walking is free. You can make a piece of chicken or buy a frozen dinner. If you want to diet, do it for free.
* Question the system. That's what this whole book is about, really. You don't have to answer the question, just ask. Does this weight-loss thing make sense? Are we supposed to be so skinny? Isn't it weird to spend so much money on stuff that doesn't work?
* As far as I know, Gwyneth Paltrow has not compared herself to me today, so I've decided that I will not compare myself to her.
* You can choose to be fat or you can choose to be thin or you can choose to be in the body you are in today. It's not about what you choose, it's about the fact that you have a choice. So make one. Choose to be yourself. And may the results never be typical. ( )