Tales from the Scale

by Erin J. Shea

If you’ve ever struggled with your weight, if you’ve ever been told you have “such a pretty face,” if you’ve ever felt like giving up—you’re not alone...

Seven Women. One Goal. 350 Pounds to Go.

Meet the women...

Julie, Heather, Erin, Lori, Monique, Shauna, Robyn

...join these “Big Girls” as they chronicle their diet travails, struggling to lose pounds and find themselves. With each new story, you’ll explore the underworld of weight gain, weight loss, and the truth behind the meaning of “goal weight.” You’ll find all the issues that Big Girls face in today’s world in these funny, bittersweet, and true stories.

Author Erin J. Shea—creator of the immensely popular Lose the Buddha weight-loss blog—gives voice to the Big Girl in all of us. She’s raw, real, and radically different—and will forever change the way you look at losing weight.

Genres: Nonfiction, Essays, Health, Memoir, Short Stories, Anthologies

262 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2005

Reviews

[Hollyhocks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book and loved it. I liked the true-life situations that I very much related to. I also liked the fact that it was a book about real women and not some happily-ever-after book. It deals with weight and weight and weight and how dealing with it and all it's complications doesn't go away when you lose weight, or, if you don't. The way the book was put together it got a bit repetitive since every author reintroduced themselves throughout each section but overall I really found comfort in it.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whether or not you are trying to lose weight or have normal body issues like most woman, this is a good read. It's a collection of chronic dieters' blog entries. It makes you feel like you're definitely not alone in your struggles, gives you some perspective, and maybe allows you to see that you are perhaps further along in your journey to self-acceptance than some. These are funny, intelligent women writing as it is.

[Katie Foster · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is terrible! I recently lost 95+ pounds (still losing) and I like to read weight loss books for motivation. This book is basically full of excuses to be fat and stay fat and how NOT cool it is to lose weight. I'm sorry, but I think that "fat acceptance" is just something fat people say to excuse staying fat! And I feel entitled to say this, because I've BEEN FAT and I do NOT find it acceptable.

[Becki Hutcherson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious!

[Wendi Maifeld · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun look at women and weight.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I bought this book (at a second hand book store) I didn't realize it was a blog of true stories from seven women and their every day struggles of being overweight, of how society looks at them, of their relationships, and of losing weight. This was much better than a made up story that some author put together in her head. It wasn't some silly happily ever after of the main character losing all her weight, and thus making her life perfect and fantastic as a result. These tales were real.

I liked how the chapters were broken down. Each chapter the seven women shared their own story:

1. How We Got This Fat

2. The One Time at Fat Camp

3. The Fat Girl

4. Weigh-In Day

5. Sex And The Fat Woman

6. For When You've Given Up

7. Battles In Operation Fat Loss

8. Now What? Life After Weight Loss.

This book was published 11 years ago, and I can't help but wonder how each of these women are doing today. Hoping only for the best for them, and that they are happy with themselves.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was a book club pick, and I think everyone in the group who has read it so far has been disappointed. It is essays on various weight-loss/self-esteem topics from a number of women who lost a significant amount of weight. While I related to some of the stories, more often, I was depressed by the emotional abuse so many of these women suffered at the hands of "loved ones." I also found the stories to be repetitious. I think putting the identifying information about the contributors at the beginning, and editing out some of the essays (does every person have to write on EVERY subject?) would have made this a better book.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am an avid blog reader - I read all kinds of blogs but since I write a blog about weight loss and personal transformation from the inside out, I am drawn to other blogs about weight loss or personal transformation.

This book is by several weight loss bloggers and it's so great - the weight loss journey is difficult despite the theory that you have to eat less and move more -- there's the mental and emotional part of it, and these writers express their particular truths with honesty and humor.

[Ana Cunningham · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. I read it in a few days. I did not see it as a negative book, I saw it as very realistic. I have struggled with my weight my whole life, lost 50 lbs in 2005 but gained some of it back. This book made me say O my gosh I do that too about 50 times. It made me laugh and made me sad at times but made me feel that I am not alone in all this and I'll be fighting my inner "Fat Chick" my whole life.

[Jessica Rothstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great for anyone that has gone through or is currently going through a weight loss journey. I am currently in the middle of my weight loss journey and it leant a lot of great insight into things that come up in my everyday life.

I do not feel like it is making excuses for being fat like another reviewer said, it is being realistic about life and what we all go through. I will be passing this book along to others who are also on their WLJ.

[Marianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an ok book. I was looking for some inspiration and unfortunately this book didn't deliver. It would be a great read for someone who does not troll weight loss blogs, to whom the stories shared by the women are all new. But, there was nothing really new, and suprising for me. The authors were wonderfully witty and it was quite funny. Just not what I was looking for I guess.

[Stephy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay I'm not even sure what to say about this book honestly....There were stories that made me laugh...But some just seemed like Excuses Excuses... I'm okay being "fat" but wait I'm so depressed. I was also expecting a couple of stories not a bunch of short essays which is what it was. Worth the read I suppose though.

[Lori Mason · Rating 4 out of 5]

"according to diet lore, "indulging" or "giving in to temptation" is a sin. Strangling a few people is a sin. Invading East Timor is a sin, Ethnic Cleansing is a sin. Testing nuclear weapons in the Pacific is a sin. I'm sorry, but eating doesn't quite make the grade." p. 50

[Terri · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an okay read. But a bit too negative for me. I felt many of the stories were trying to justify being heavy instead of being okay with it. But it did give me several insights that were new to me. It was okay.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is an interesting collection from several authors who all blog or blogged about their struggles with losing weight. While it was a breezy Saturday afternoon read the whole time I kept saying, "I could do better." So, I just might...

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A laugh-out-loud, funny book based on the blogs of women who are in various stages of weight-loss. If you have ever struggled with weight-loss and battled self-image/self-esteem issues, you will be able to relate to these women.

[V · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of identifiables in this book for me, as for many women, I'd wager. And what a treat to find that Shauna Marsh is from the WNP? blog!

[Aubrey · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute book full of stories from seven women on their trials and tribulations of weight loss and gain and loss and gain....

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found it scary that I could relate so well to some of the women's stories of weight loss -- and weight gain -- in this book. It was really interesting to read about their experiences.

[Erin Shea Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heh. I helped write it so, you know, I'm a bit biased. Kinda dumbfounded to see so many people still reading the darn thing. Like, pleasantly surprised and happy, whether they like it or not.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of the writers in this book are very funny and inspiring. Others I just want to slap. This book would be okay to read if you are trapped somewhere and bored out of your mind.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it!