Let Go: A story about weight, loss and gain

by Andrew Dasselaar

For decades, journalist Andrew Dasselaar has dealt with unpleasant emotions by working hard and eating too much. He has become morbidly obese, with a BMI of 42. Then, on December 6, 2012, the first of many panic attacks strikes. As the attacks gradually increase in strength over the next six weeks, Andrew gains even more weight in a futile attempt to combat his anxiety with food. The turnaround comes at 339 lbs and a BMI of 44.4, his highest weight ever. Andrew decides to let go, and stops fighting the panic attacks.

Not only do the attacks subsequently diminish in intensity, Andrew starts to lose weight. Now that Andrew no longer feels the need to numb himself, his desire to overeat diminishes rapidly. He loses a total of 160 lbs in 11 months and 4 days.

"Let Go" contains 17 autobiographical chapters as well as 16 chapters describing the lessons Andrew learned during his weight loss journey.

212 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 13, 2016

Reviews

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let Go is a strikingly honest story about facing your demons. The author overate massively resulting in 160 lbs of extra baggage, which he lost in a years’ time. Andrew talks about his panic attacks, his struggle with weight gain and his personal life whilst giving the reader great handouts to battle any addiction. Even though Andrews demon was food, his methods and views are applicable to any unhealthy behaviour. The story is not about weight, loss and gain. It is a story about taking control of your own destination whether it's food, drugs, gambling or drinking. Anyone can benefit from this book.

[Ra7thsign · Rating 2 out of 5]

Throughout the whole book I was thinking this guy needs anti anxiety meds and a girlfriend.
2 stars for the weight loss and becoming a runner though.

[Elske · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book about how someone lost 160 pounds in eleven months (and four days). Describes food as the most popular drug and how to control the use of it. Not your avarage selfhelpbook, although every chapter has an extra how to next to it. Read the personal story of Dasselaar losing the weight, his search for the best way to do it, thanks to or despite the ideas in other therapies and books about losing weight. It is not only a good book for people who want to loose weight, but also for people who want to know more about themselves and why they have certain patterns in their lives.

[Jeroenos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not your ordinary quick guide for weight loss nor is it your ordinary look-how-I-became-king-of-the-hill memoir. If you are looking for the former, then let go of this book. Pick it up again when you are ready to deal with the main issues that are probably causing your overweight. If, on the other hand, you are looking for the king-of-the-hill memoir then let go of this book as well. Only when you are ready to engage with a deeply personal, touching and, above all, courageous story must you pick it up again.

Dasselaar has done a marvellous job in combining a self help book with a personal memoir. Very knowledgeable and clearly written sections on health and diet issues are alternated with personal sections. Being a science writer of a certain reputation, he really knows his way around all the recent science on dieting and healthy eating habits. The more personal parts are deeply emotional yet never too melodramatic due to the lightly sarcastic, self mockingly paragraphs that pop up here and there. At times he is really witty. Given the emotional roller coaster Dasselaar describes, it is a really masterful feat that one does not find any self pity in the book.

I have learned a lot from this well written book, both on the practical and on the emotional level, and think many more people will. Perhaps the only downside, if you can call it that for it is the central theme, is that if you think you will learn to combat your weight problem with this book you will most likely discover that the lesson is that you have to suffer pains that are on a whole other level than having a hunger craving for a couple of pizzas. (Although those will probably come along as well.)

In short, go read this really great book!

[Bas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book. The main subject of course is how the author lost 160 LBS in 11 months, but the reader will learn much more about life itself and how to deal with everyday problems through mindfulness and meditation. Thus, it is of interest to a wide audience.

The author intertwines chapters about his personal (and ultimately succesful) struggle with food/weight with practical chapters ('How To Let Go'). In these practical chapters, you'll find short introductions in Rational-Emotive Therapy, meditation and reading food labels, among many other subjects.

The book is well written and includes both a gripping personal story and a whole number of insightful tips for a better life. Highly recommended!

[Roel Geeraedts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story, wel written and an absolute eyeopener. Andrew writes about his battle against a foodaddiction, but the way he attacked his problem is universal. The writing is witty, smart en no-nonsense. Highly recomend!