Big Fat Books

Read any good books on weight loss last year? I read a few, and I
thought I'd include some comments on them.

Readers of my posts may recall I've praised Fred Anderson's From Chunk
to Hunk before. Anderson's book is a diary, originally on-line,
detailing his loss of 171 pounds over a year and a half. Some of the
'reviewers' at Amazon criticized the book for being excessively
motivational and short on specifics of his diet and exercise routine,
but I like it for just those reasons. The body will do what the mind
tells it, be it gorge on chocolate or bike a century. I often turn to
it when my resolution flags. Some people may be put off because
Anderson didn't count calories - he eliminated junk from his diet, cut
portions, and began exercising. Also, he bought his bicycle at
Wal-mart. :-) But aside from that, a wonderful book. Unlike many
-most?- 'writers' on the Internet, Mr. Anderson is a capable writer,
and his book reads well, despite its episodic nature.

Promising more but offering less was Gary Marino's Big and Tall
Chronicles. It's an often funny memior of growing up obese, but the
book rambles and the prose is often sloppy, 'coversational' writing.
Also, there's something offputting about a person who needs to hire SIX
people to help him lose weight. Yes, Marino had a "Dream Team"; most of
us do all right alone.

Michael Fumento's Fat of the Land is an entertaining look at the
serious problem of obesity in America. While not a diet book per se, it
does educate one about the science of weight gain and weight loss.
Fumento handles the 'science and medicine' parts of the book well,
with clear, non-technical prose. He's not afraid to attack sacred cows
- AKA NAAFA and its promoters - and diet hucksters. He also includes
humor to 'lighten' the subject.

Read any good books lately?

The Historian wrote:
> Read any good books on weight loss last year?

Not really weight loss books, but really helpful, nonetheless.

I re-read Chris Carmichael's "Food for Fitness". Anyone who's into
eating right for whatever physical activity they enjoy should read
this. Very informative and interesting.

I also finally bought Tim Noakes "The Lore of Running". It's a HUGE
book! With lots of scientific stuff about running, but is really,
really good. It was a christmas present to myself.

On Jan 3, 6:19 am, "The Historian" <Spamsc...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> Read any good books lately?

I'd recommend the 'YOU The Owners Manual' and 'YOU On A Diet' by Dr M
Roizen & Dr M Oz ..
both good reads...


joanne

The Historian wrote:
> Read any good books on weight loss last year? I read a few, and I
> thought I'd include some comments on them.
>
> Readers of my posts may recall I've praised Fred Anderson's From Chunk
> to Hunk before. Anderson's book is a diary, originally on-line,
> detailing his loss of 171 pounds over a year and a half. Some of the
> 'reviewers' at Amazon criticized the book for being excessively
> motivational and short on specifics of his diet and exercise routine,
> but I like it for just those reasons. The body will do what the mind
> tells it, be it gorge on chocolate or bike a century. I often turn to
> it when my resolution flags. Some people may be put off because
> Anderson didn't count calories - he eliminated junk from his diet, cut
> portions, and began exercising. Also, he bought his bicycle at
> Wal-mart. :-) But aside from that, a wonderful book. Unlike many
> -most?- 'writers' on the Internet, Mr. Anderson is a capable writer,
> and his book reads well, despite its episodic nature.
>
> Promising more but offering less was Gary Marino's Big and Tall
> Chronicles. It's an often funny memior of growing up obese, but the
> book rambles and the prose is often sloppy, 'coversational' writing.
> Also, there's something offputting about a person who needs to hire SIX
> people to help him lose weight. Yes, Marino had a "Dream Team"; most of
> us do all right alone.
>
> Michael Fumento's Fat of the Land is an entertaining look at the
> serious problem of obesity in America. While not a diet book per se, it
> does educate one about the science of weight gain and weight loss.
> Fumento handles the 'science and medicine' parts of the book well,
> with clear, non-technical prose. He's not afraid to attack sacred cows
> - AKA NAAFA and its promoters - and diet hucksters. He also includes
> humor to 'lighten' the subject.
>
> Read any good books lately?

I browsed one called 1,000 Diet Ideas (I think). Anyway, it was just a
bunch of ideas of how to keep your weight down in one or two sentences.
There were some good ideas. dkw

dkw12002@yahoo.com wrote:
> >
>
> I browsed one called 1,000 Diet Ideas (I think). Anyway, it was just a
> bunch of ideas of how to keep your weight down in one or two sentences.
> There were some good ideas. dkw

I like stuff like that. Here's a website (I have no affiliation with)
that has some great ideas. Check out the years of newsletters, I've
printed a few of them up. Quite nice and helpful:

www.fitnessmotivatornewsletter.com

I am currently reading "Fast Food Nation" by Eric Schlosser. Very
interesting so far, had no idea the proliferation of advertisements in
schools
nowadays for fast food and cola products. Had a blurb in there about some
school system in Texas that has on their voice mail,
"Thank you for calling the *** school system, proud partner with Dr.
Pepper..."

The book has been made into a movie, I assume they are pulling some of the
stuff out and
using in a fact-fiction story (using facts to base a fictional story).
Should be an interesting movie to watch (on DVD when the local library has
it)...

Other than that, have been listening to audio books and lectures (really
enjoy listening to John G. Miller's
keynote address that I downloaded off www.qbq.com) while
jogging/walking/exercising/biking...


Matty (I weighed more than Jared from Subway)
481/256/225
(starting weight/current weight/goal weight)

First mini goal achieved - 104lbs lost 10/26/04
Second mini goal achieved - 137lbs lost 01/28/05
Third mini goal achieved - 183lbs lost 09/30/05
Fourth mini goal achieved - 204lbs total lost 01/30/06
Fifth mini goal achieved - 233lbs total lost by 08/31/06
Sixth mini goal - 256lbs total lost by 02/24/2007

I just finished "Appetite for Profit-how the food industry undermines
our health and how to fight back" by Michele Simon.
Sad to say, there is not much we can do to fight back. We are fat
because we are meant to be fat in order to make someone else weathy.

The Historian wrote:
> Read any good books on weight loss last year? I read a few, and I
> thought I'd include some comments on them.
>
> Readers of my posts may recall I've praised Fred Anderson's From Chunk
> to Hunk before. Anderson's book is a diary, originally on-line,
> detailing his loss of 171 pounds over a year and a half. Some of the
> 'reviewers' at Amazon criticized the book for being excessively
> motivational and short on specifics of his diet and exercise routine,
> but I like it for just those reasons. The body will do what the mind
> tells it, be it gorge on chocolate or bike a century. I often turn to
> it when my resolution flags. Some people may be put off because
> Anderson didn't count calories - he eliminated junk from his diet, cut
> portions, and began exercising. Also, he bought his bicycle at
> Wal-mart. :-) But aside from that, a wonderful book. Unlike many
> -most?- 'writers' on the Internet, Mr. Anderson is a capable writer,
> and his book reads well, despite its episodic nature.
>
> Promising more but offering less was Gary Marino's Big and Tall
> Chronicles. It's an often funny memior of growing up obese, but the
> book rambles and the prose is often sloppy, 'coversational' writing.
> Also, there's something offputting about a person who needs to hire SIX
> people to help him lose weight. Yes, Marino had a "Dream Team"; most of
> us do all right alone.
>
> Michael Fumento's Fat of the Land is an entertaining look at the
> serious problem of obesity in America. While not a diet book per se, it
> does educate one about the science of weight gain and weight loss.
> Fumento handles the 'science and medicine' parts of the book well,
> with clear, non-technical prose. He's not afraid to attack sacred cows
> - AKA NAAFA and its promoters - and diet hucksters. He also includes
> humor to 'lighten' the subject.
>
> Read any good books lately?

honeybunch wrote:
> I just finished "Appetite for Profit-how the food industry undermines
> our health and how to fight back" by Michele Simon.
> Sad to say, there is not much we can do to fight back. We are fat
> because we are meant to be fat in order to make someone else weathy.
>

Bull. There is everything we can do. The Victim Culture says we are
helpless, but I don't believe that for one second. Gack, I hate that
victim mentality.

Are you tied to a chair against your will and forcefed? I don't think
you are. Then it is YOUR CHOICE what you eat. It is YOUR CHOICE where
you shop, what foods/products you buy.

An example: we live in a culture surrounded by booze. Alcohol
everywhere. I'm an alcoholic, but I choose NOT to drink. Sure, I could
go to any one of hundreds of corner liquour stores and buy alcohol, but
I use my free will and do not do so.

Start using your power as a free-willed consumer. There is LOTS we can
do, it is your choice.

Read the book before you shoot your mouth off. Your attitude is part
of the problem. end of my contribution to this issue. you can have the
last word. Its hopeless.


SFrunner wrote:
> honeybunch wrote:
> > I just finished "Appetite for Profit-how the food industry undermines
> > our health and how to fight back" by Michele Simon.
> > Sad to say, there is not much we can do to fight back. We are fat
> > because we are meant to be fat in order to make someone else weathy.
> >
>
> Bull. There is everything we can do. The Victim Culture says we are
> helpless, but I don't believe that for one second. Gack, I hate that
> victim mentality.
>
> Are you tied to a chair against your will and forcefed? I don't think
> you are. Then it is YOUR CHOICE what you eat. It is YOUR CHOICE where
> you shop, what foods/products you buy.
>
> An example: we live in a culture surrounded by booze. Alcohol
> everywhere. I'm an alcoholic, but I choose NOT to drink. Sure, I could
> go to any one of hundreds of corner liquour stores and buy alcohol, but
> I use my free will and do not do so.
>
> Start using your power as a free-willed consumer. There is LOTS we can
> do, it is your choice.

SFrunner wrote:
> honeybunch wrote:
> > I just finished "Appetite for Profit-how the food industry undermines
> > our health and how to fight back" by Michele Simon.
> > Sad to say, there is not much we can do to fight back. We are fat
> > because we are meant to be fat in order to make someone else weathy.
> >
>
> Bull. There is everything we can do. The Victim Culture says we are
> helpless, but I don't believe that for one second. Gack, I hate that
> victim mentality.
>
> Are you tied to a chair against your will and forcefed? I don't think
> you are. Then it is YOUR CHOICE what you eat. It is YOUR CHOICE where
> you shop, what foods/products you buy.
>
> An example: we live in a culture surrounded by booze. Alcohol
> everywhere. I'm an alcoholic, but I choose NOT to drink. Sure, I could
> go to any one of hundreds of corner liquour stores and buy alcohol, but
> I use my free will and do not do so.
>
> Start using your power as a free-willed consumer. There is LOTS we can
> do, it is your choice.

Brava, brava, Ms. SFrunner!

Neil
385/274/200

honeybunch wrote:
> Read the book before you shoot your mouth off.

I think Ms. SFrunner was shooting at the 'thought' in your posting, not
the book. And she's proved to be another Anne Oakley.

Your attitude is part
> of the problem.

Ms. SFrunner's attitude is the reason that "there is not much we can do
to fight back?"

end of my contribution to this issue. you can have the
> last word.

Promises, promises.

Why we wonder is Historian such a fat slob? Oh no. We cannot ask that
question. bravo historian.


The Historian wrote:
> honeybunch wrote:
> > Read the book before you shoot your mouth off.
>
> I think Ms. SFrunner was shooting at the 'thought' in your posting, not
> the book. And she's proved to be another Anne Oakley.
>
> Your attitude is part
> > of the problem.
>
> Ms. SFrunner's attitude is the reason that "there is not much we can do
> to fight back?"
>
> end of my contribution to this issue. you can have the
> > last word.
>
> Promises, promises.

The Historian wrote:
>
> Brava, brava, Ms. SFrunner!
>
> Neil
> 385/274/200


(said like Elivs)

Thank you, thank you very much.....

honeybunch wrote:
> Why we wonder is Historian such a fat slob? Oh no. We cannot ask that
> question. bravo historian.
>
>
Pot kettle black. Obviously you much be hugely rotund, as you have no
choice but to eat whatever society says you should.

Must be rough being a sheeple.

I choose what I eat, where I buy it and what my life is. Try it
sometime, sheeple.

SFrunner wrote:
> honeybunch wrote:
> > Why we wonder is Historian such a fat slob? Oh no. We cannot ask that
> > question. bravo historian.
> >
> >
> Pot kettle black. Obviously you much be hugely rotund, as you have no
> choice but to eat whatever society says you should.
>
> Must be rough being a sheeple.
>
> I choose what I eat, where I buy it and what my life is. Try it
> sometime, sheeple.


Let me expand on this....

Whenever I can (which is most of the time), I eat locally-grown,
organic produce, free-range meats, poultry, non-endangered seafood,
artisan cheeses, etc., etc., etc.

I pay more and yeah, it's sometimes a total PITA, but I do what I can,
as often as I can.

How the hell does this make me part of the problem? Hmmmmm........

The Historian wrote:
> Read any good books on weight loss last year? I read a few, and I
> thought I'd include some comments on them.
>
> Readers of my posts may recall I've praised Fred Anderson's From Chunk
> to Hunk before. Anderson's book is a diary, originally on-line,
> detailing his loss of 171 pounds over a year and a half. Some of the
> 'reviewers' at Amazon criticized the book for being excessively
> motivational and short on specifics of his diet and exercise routine,
> but I like it for just those reasons. The body will do what the mind
> tells it, be it gorge on chocolate or bike a century. I often turn to
> it when my resolution flags. Some people may be put off because
> Anderson didn't count calories - he eliminated junk from his diet, cut
> portions, and began exercising. Also, he bought his bicycle at
> Wal-mart. :-) But aside from that, a wonderful book. Unlike many
> -most?- 'writers' on the Internet, Mr. Anderson is a capable writer,
> and his book reads well, despite its episodic nature.
>
> Promising more but offering less was Gary Marino's Big and Tall
> Chronicles. It's an often funny memior of growing up obese, but the
> book rambles and the prose is often sloppy, 'coversational' writing.
> Also, there's something offputting about a person who needs to hire SIX
> people to help him lose weight. Yes, Marino had a "Dream Team"; most of
> us do all right alone.
>
> Michael Fumento's Fat of the Land is an entertaining look at the
> serious problem of obesity in America. While not a diet book per se, it
> does educate one about the science of weight gain and weight loss.
> Fumento handles the 'science and medicine' parts of the book well,
> with clear, non-technical prose. He's not afraid to attack sacred cows
> - AKA NAAFA and its promoters - and diet hucksters. He also includes
> humor to 'lighten' the subject.
>
> Read any good books lately?

Thanks to Chris Braun's recommendation, I've read The Memory of
Running, by Ron McLarty. The protagonist, an obese, drunk, middle aged
smoking Rhode Islander named Smithy Ide, loses his parents the same
week he discovers his beloved but insane
sister's body lies unclaimed in a morgue in Los Angeles. While drunk,
he starts to clean out his childhood home, finds his childhood bicycle,
on a lark decides to coast on it to the end of the driveway, and.....
well, read the book. It's wonderful. And one of the subtexts is
something that anyone who has worked to lose a lot of weight will
recognize.

On 8 Jan 2007 06:09:19 -0800, "The Historian" <Spamscone@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>Thanks to Chris Braun's recommendation, I've read The Memory of
>Running, by Ron McLarty. The protagonist, an obese, drunk, middle aged
>smoking Rhode Islander named Smithy Ide, loses his parents the same
>week he discovers his beloved but insane
>sister's body lies unclaimed in a morgue in Los Angeles. While drunk,
>he starts to clean out his childhood home, finds his childhood bicycle,
>on a lark decides to coast on it to the end of the driveway, and.....
>well, read the book. It's wonderful. And one of the subtexts is
>something that anyone who has worked to lose a lot of weight will
>recognize.

When you said before that you'd read this I didn't realize it was just
after I recommended it -- thought you'd meant your read it previously.
Anyway, I read it (actually listened to it) a few years ago -- loved
it.

I don't know if you know the history of this book at all. Ron McLarty
is a professional actor and narrator, and after writing this book he
couldn't find a publisher. So he published it as an audio book with
Recorded Books, a company that offers audio books for sale and rental,
for whom he had previously done narration work. (He narrates this
book.). Anyway, mostly thanks to Stephen King discovering it and
promoting it, it eventually got published in book form and became a
best seller. (I've been an avid Recorded Books customer for years,
and that's where I came upon the book.)



Chris
262/130s/130s
started dieting July 2002, maintaining since June 2004

honeybunch wrote:
> Why we wonder is Historian such a fat slob?

The Historian says because he eats too much, eats too badly, and
exercises too little. You probably say he's a helpless victim of fill
in the blank.

Oh no. We cannot ask that
> question. bravo historian.

You just did. And I was right that you wouldn't keep your promise not
to post again.

The Historian wrote:
>
> Read any good books lately?

Heft on Wheels: A Field Guide to Doing a 180 by Mike Magnuson

A picture is worth a thousand words, they say. For Mike Magnuson, it
was worth more; it changed his life.

Magnuson, a professor at Southern Illinois University and author of two
novels, wrote an article for GQ on his love of cycling. Unfortunately,
he agreed to pose naked on his racing bike in a photo for the article.
Years of beer, junk food, and smoking had plumped him up to 255 pounds.
When the picture appeared, alongside his article, he was horrified. Not
only because of the unflattering appearance he cut, but also because it
made him seem he had written the piece "as a goof to make a couple of
bucks....cycling's not a joke to me." Magnuson immediately attempted to
restore his self-image by riding with his local club during inclement
weather. Unfortunately, he hadn't reached bottom yet; while trying to
climb a hill during the ride, a thunderstorm strikes, and the group
sends a biker back to rescue Magnuson by letting him catch up and
draft. After the ride, the author vows "I need to prove something out
of this. Cycling's not a joke. I'm not a joke. I don't want to be a
figure of fun. I'm not a fat man on a bike. I'm a real cyclist, and I'm
hereafter going to do everything in my power to achieve my fullest
potential on the bike..."

Magnuson attacked his problems with his all. He quit smoking, gave up
drinking, and lost 75 pounds in about three months. Heft on Wheels,
however, isn't just about giving up your vices, nor is it just about
the bike. Magnuson gets down to 175 pounds, participates in rides and a
race, but the changes in him are more than just physical or a matter of
experience. He questions his loss of his old unhealthy lifestyle. He
questions the time he's devoted to his two-wheeled passion. He
questions his goals: "What do I do now? Pedal up a mountian, because
it's there?" These doubts and many others Magnuson struggled with are
told in a simple, conversational prose style; even Magnuson's frequent
references to literature, such as his comparison between dieting and
Kafka's tale The Hunger Artist, come across with the tone of a friend
who happens to be well-read. And this book could well be the friend of
anyone who has undergone "a 180" from a harmful, life-sucking
lifestyle, even if they don't ride a bike.