Thin for Life: 10 Keys to Success from People Who Have Lost Weight and Kept It Off

by Anne M. Fletcher

Anne M. Fletcher offers workable techniques for permanent weight loss, based onreal stories of individuals who have succeeded.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Diets, Food, Self Help, Fitness, Cookbooks

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1994

Reviews

[Joy Weese Moll · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anne Fletcher, registered dietitian and author of Thin for Life, noticed that weight loss research was decidedly pessimistic. Study after study of various diets showed that none of them worked particularly well, reporting things like “most people gain back the weight within 3 years of loss.” The depressing news, however, never reveals possible underlying causes like these:

* The people who end up in research studies may be the most intractable cases. People who successfully lost weight on their own don’t show up at universities for comparative studies of diets.

* Studies report average weight loss, masking the success stories that are hiding in the data.

* Research studies assign diets to participants. It may be that most people lose weight when they get to choose and tweak their own food and exercise plans to suit their tastes and lifestyles.

Anne Fletcher decided that a better approach would be to examine people who successfully lost weight and kept it off. For the original book, she interviewed 160 people who she calls “masters” of weight loss. By the time of the updated edition, she was up to 208 “masters.”

More thoughts on my blog, particularly about how this book helps with weight maintenance: Book Review: Thin for Life by Anne Fletcher

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good practical advice, but since it's not a new book, most of the dietary advice is outdated. I did enjoy reading about those who have lost and maintained.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who is working on making lifestyle changes after having gone through many up-and-down weight cycles, I found it helpful to read anecdotes from others who have successfully made long-term changes. This book drives home the point that what works for one person will not always work for another, and that the process of reaching what for you is a healthy weight is largely about getting to know yourself, your likes and dislikes, what physical activities motivate you, what situations trigger you to overeat, how your body responds to different foods, etc. I like that the book did not try to push any one agenda (no carbs/all-protein/raw) or specific weight loss company or plan, though there were examples of people who found success with various plans (Weight Watchers/TOPS/Jenny Craig/OA). I liked that when anecdotes were shared, so was the amount of weight and number of years it had been kept off (Jenny K., 37 pounds, 11 years, for example). Book had useful ideas for self-reflection (writing exercises, if you're into that), and comparisons of the behaviors of "maintainers" and "regainers" were interesting. As others have pointed out, the title is a bit misleading, but "Achieve and Remain at the Weight That's Healthy for You for Life," doesn't have much of a ring to it, so what are you gonna do?

[Tracy Hager · Rating 4 out of 5]

After losing 30 lbs over the past couple of years I wanted to inspire myself to lose more. I read about this book, even though it's pretty old now. It's about people who have successfully lost lots of weight and kept it off for a number of years. There's no one answer but lots of good advice. I feel inspired so I guess that's a good thing. I wouldn't say everyone should read this but it certainly spoke to me at the right time.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually don't review books I read for continuing education, but this is a great one! Anne Fletcher highlights people who have maintained a significant weight loss for a long time and from all those people comes up with 10 things many of them have in common to keep their lost weight off. Like another reviewer said, I'm not crazy about the title "Thin" for Life because Fletcher herself says that many people get to a weight that is comfortable for them, but not thin according to society standards (which are unrealistic standards anyway).

This is not really a book to tell you what diet to go on, though there are suggestions and recipes that come from common weight loss denominators from those who have had success. Rather she suggests making your own diet with what you know works for you. I liked it very much.

[Marge · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the second time I read this book and some nutritional science has advanced since this issue was published. Example: it focuses on fat in foods and now we know that sugar is what needs to be reduced.

The other premises are right on. They gathered from people who lost at least 30 pounds and kept it off for at least three years what habits they used to maintain weight loss.

There are no surprises, they do exactly what we’ve been told to do. It was good to see the statistics and real examples.

[Cfgk · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful POSITIVE group of helpful hints from folks who've lost weight and KEPT it off. A great book to return to if things get out of hand!

[Spook Sulek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I'd like to own this book. There are so many things we allow ourselves to get derailed by when it comes to weight loss, it is inspiring, reassuring, and comforting to read a book like this.

[Natalie · Rating 1 out of 5]

How does this book have good ratings? It has terrible advice. Yes, it is dated, but they release updated and revised versions? It's terrible. First, the constant "don't eat fat" command throughout the book is just not true. Secondly, the Masters' stories were very disjointed and would have been more appealing had each Master been given their proper (and separate) attention. Third, even though there are some good tidbits of advice throughout, for me, the negative truly did outweigh the positive. For instance, the 1000 calorie-a-day Jump Start Diet at the end of the book!? 1000 calories? And then it says, if you feel deprived, discontinue. What human would not feel deprived? Ugh, this book.....needs to be discontinued.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an amazing and optimistic book about successful weight loss. There are actually not many studies or books written about people who have successfully lost weight and maintained it for many years. This book gives a lot of hope while characterizing the keys to successful weight loss and what the people in the book did when they experienced relapses.
This book is more than 20 years old and most of the nutrition advice (low fat) is outdated. But still it's a great book and can be helpful for people on a weight loss journey.
I wish there was a newer edition or a similar book written in the 2020s now...

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book with real life stories about people who have kept their weight off. I should think that it is possible to keep a reasonably healthy weight for years. I find this book not only practical but helpful as well. It addresses a lot of concerns regarding weight loss.
I would recommend this book to anyone who is battling with keeping weight off.

[Tammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gained about 15 lbs in a couple of months after reading this book 10 years ago. Took me a long time to take it off. This method is not for me.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I put this down for a while, but I'm glad I went back to it. Nothing really new, but certainly interesting and reassuring.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book because it's real stories from real people.

[Daphne Walmer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite being a little dated, this book explains the changes in habits and perspective of people who have successfully kept a significant amount of weight off for many years.

[Andrea James · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're thinking of going on yet another fad diet, I would recommend you read this book first I've given this four stars not because it has any groundbreaking advice - it simply offers (the usual) sensible suggestions like it takes a lifestyle change not a diet to permanently alter one's weight range, look into why you emotionally eat, watch portion sizes and introduce more activity.

However, reading case study after case study where the person loses weight permanent by eating sensibly and being more active is uplifting in an unexpected way. There are days when it is hard going, when I just want to slather heaps of melting brie on hot bread (and not just have a small slice of it!). But this book and a bunch of others that I've come across recently remind us that what we are really looking for is not necessarily to be found in food. And it prompts me to reflect on what's going on in my life and work on filling the void (however small it seems) or taking care of whatever is truly upsetting.

It's actually quite rare that I personally use food as an emotional crutch but reading this has caused me to ponder what I do instead to numb the pain (I buy books!) and to think of more helpful ways of working through issues.

I would recommend it for people who feel defeated or believe that they are limited by their set point or have lost hope in their ability to break the cycle of losing and regaining weight.

[Marley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really positive and balanced look at the struggle to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. It's not really a diet book (although it collects together ideas that successful maintainers found helpful). It's primarily inspiration to recognize that it can be done.

I'm not keen on the title because "thin" is often used in common language to describe "too thin" rather than healthy. The book itself does not promote ultra-thinness and counts among its success stories many people who have maintained their weight at the upper end of the healthy range. I'm sure that "Healthy Weight For Life" just didn't pack enough punch with the marketing people. If you can get beyond the title, the book itself is very balanced at promoting a healthy lifestyle.

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I find real life stories of people finding ways to survive, finding ways to thrive, inspiring. I was hoping to find this amongst the pages of this book. Sifting through the flotsam and the jetsam there are some salvageable real bits of people's lives that inspire. There is so much potential here as the author interviewed many people who are on a journey to health or at least to weight loss. However the writing is choppy, dry and repetitive. We do not really get to know any of the 'masters' at weight loss. I also found the typical negative messages peppered throughout, such as in a chapter on positive self talk one of the weight loss 'masters' keeps from regaining weight by telling herself how disgusting her body was before. I don't find that very positive, do you?

[Celina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to reread the section on mindful eating as part of a habitforming exercise. That section was useful but the rest is pretty hopelessly dated, permeated as it is with the assumption that lowfat is healthy and slimming.

[Slone · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first chapter or two were a little difficult to get into, but the following ones were easier. This isn't advice we haven't heard before, but maybe not all together or in this way: This is how people who have lost significant weight did it and maintained their losses. The takeaway: There's no one way, that you have to find what works for you. I found this inspiring: A lack of success before doesn't mean it can't be done; it just means you haven't found your path yet.

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ths would certainly serve as a blueprint for anyone who is dedicated to at least maintaining their weight after losing it. The principles, techniques, and methods can't be disputed. there are no magic bulllets offered because indeed there just are no magic bullets. It's all hard and painful work, but as the author points out, "Nothing tastes as good as thin feels".

[Merri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book was OK. I liked Joining the Thin Club much more.

[Happyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very sensible book sharing weight loss and maintence techniques from successful losers.

[Amy Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a reference book than a straight through read. Very positive and gives examples of people who have made their own way work.

[Amy Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a reference book than a straight through read. Very positive and gives examples of people who have made their own way work.

[Christy Mackiewicz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flat out the best diet/health/weight loss book I have ever read.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling ideas for transforming one's life to accommodate a more healthy body. The emphasis is on health and not weight, which resonates more with me.

[Teena in Toronto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Excellent book! It's not your usual "how to" book. It's filled with people's own experiences, tips, etc.

[Lorie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for continuing education hours. I thought it was pretty boring. Not a lot of new information.