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FAT: A Life Unfiltered
Endorsed by New York Times best-selling author, Tosca Lee, "FAT: A Life Unfiltered" isn't a book just for people who struggle with weight. It's a book for everyone who struggles with anything. And readers will laugh, cry, and find hope within its pages.
Written to help those who struggle know they are not alone and to not lose hope, while also providing a window into the world of the obese for those who have never had a weight problem or have a hard time understanding a loved one who does, come along with Jon Stanton on an adventurous and humorous read where weight is the often-present character - the factor that overshadows nearly every experience in his life.
Nearly forty percent of American adults are obese, and Jon Stanton is one of them. He has struggled with obesity most of his life, “I was already wearing adult-sized clothes in third grade,” he said, and now he’s written a book about what it’s like to grow up and live as a fat man.
“Fat – A Life Unfiltered” tells it how it is, but with an emphasis on more humorous experiences of being overweight. “When you’re more than 100 pounds overweight for most of your life, funny things happen to you that don’t happen to thin people or even people who are just slightly overweight,” Stanton said. “It also affects your worldview, the decisions you make, how you form relationships – almost everything about your life is impacted in some way.”
Stanton said he wanted to keep most of the book humorous because laughter opens people’s hearts, allowing them to feel the pain and shame the extremely obese experience without being overwhelmed. The entire book isn’t funny, though. “I took time to discuss what goes on in our heads,” he said. “Nearly everyone I know who is as big as I am struggles with low self-esteem and negative self-talk, as well as denial. I couldn’t leave those things out of the narrative.
”Stanton has been as heavy as 430 pounds and as light as 200 pounds, within just a couple years of each other. From 2007-2009, he lost 230 pounds through eating better and exercising regularly (he did not follow a specific diet plan), and he kept the weight off for almost five years. He completed two half-marathons, a century ride (100 miles in one day) on his bike and appeared on NBC’s “Today” and CBN's “700 Club” to tell his success story to others who struggle with weight. He also won the Governor’s Fitness Award from former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm.
“Those were some of the best years of my life. I was speaking to groups regularly about healthy living, I met and married my wife, I was riding my bike 3,000 miles annually and felt great. But old demons are hard to keep at bay forever, and unfortunately, I eventually gained back more than 100 of those pounds.”
That, Stanton said, is why he wrote the book. “Battling weight all the time, especially in our food-saturated culture, is exhausting. I wanted to encourage people who have struggled, let them know they aren’t alone, and try to help people who have never struggled understand we aren’t just lazy, unmotivated creatures with no willpower.
”If you've struggled with weight most of your life, or if you have a spouse or loved one who struggles and you just haven't been able to figure out why, this book is for you. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll find encouragement to change. Readers who enjoy humorous memoirs will also find this book an enjoyable read.
Parents, please note that some themes may not be suited to elementary school age children.
Written to help those who struggle know they are not alone and to not lose hope, while also providing a window into the world of the obese for those who have never had a weight problem or have a hard time understanding a loved one who does, come along with Jon Stanton on an adventurous and humorous read where weight is the often-present character - the factor that overshadows nearly every experience in his life.
Nearly forty percent of American adults are obese, and Jon Stanton is one of them. He has struggled with obesity most of his life, “I was already wearing adult-sized clothes in third grade,” he said, and now he’s written a book about what it’s like to grow up and live as a fat man.
“Fat – A Life Unfiltered” tells it how it is, but with an emphasis on more humorous experiences of being overweight. “When you’re more than 100 pounds overweight for most of your life, funny things happen to you that don’t happen to thin people or even people who are just slightly overweight,” Stanton said. “It also affects your worldview, the decisions you make, how you form relationships – almost everything about your life is impacted in some way.”
Stanton said he wanted to keep most of the book humorous because laughter opens people’s hearts, allowing them to feel the pain and shame the extremely obese experience without being overwhelmed. The entire book isn’t funny, though. “I took time to discuss what goes on in our heads,” he said. “Nearly everyone I know who is as big as I am struggles with low self-esteem and negative self-talk, as well as denial. I couldn’t leave those things out of the narrative.
”Stanton has been as heavy as 430 pounds and as light as 200 pounds, within just a couple years of each other. From 2007-2009, he lost 230 pounds through eating better and exercising regularly (he did not follow a specific diet plan), and he kept the weight off for almost five years. He completed two half-marathons, a century ride (100 miles in one day) on his bike and appeared on NBC’s “Today” and CBN's “700 Club” to tell his success story to others who struggle with weight. He also won the Governor’s Fitness Award from former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm.
“Those were some of the best years of my life. I was speaking to groups regularly about healthy living, I met and married my wife, I was riding my bike 3,000 miles annually and felt great. But old demons are hard to keep at bay forever, and unfortunately, I eventually gained back more than 100 of those pounds.”
That, Stanton said, is why he wrote the book. “Battling weight all the time, especially in our food-saturated culture, is exhausting. I wanted to encourage people who have struggled, let them know they aren’t alone, and try to help people who have never struggled understand we aren’t just lazy, unmotivated creatures with no willpower.
”If you've struggled with weight most of your life, or if you have a spouse or loved one who struggles and you just haven't been able to figure out why, this book is for you. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll find encouragement to change. Readers who enjoy humorous memoirs will also find this book an enjoyable read.
Parents, please note that some themes may not be suited to elementary school age children.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 9, 2019
3 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 5, 2020
I met the author, Jon Stanton, in 6th grade in our Canton, Ohio middle school's gifted and talented program. A little self-absorbed by nature, I never considered what his life must have been like as an overweight kid in the 1980s at a pretty rough school, and, although I wasn't a bully myself, I wish I'd been more empathetic. Especially after reading this book. Regardless of my personal connection to the author, I really enjoyed reading this. Stanton is a talented writer with an effective narrative voice; he's funny and honest and...kind of wholesome, actually, in a way I really enjoyed. A pastor's kid and a Christian as well as a Midwesterner, he sometimes brings to mind a polite southerner trying to watch his language. This isn't a criticism; Stanton's voice is something I could hear in my head as I read this, and his turn of phrase made me smile on nearly every page.
What's best about the book is Stanton's honesty. Maybe also his amazing recall of childhood details since my own concurrent Midwestern childhood feels mostly blurry to me. He is honest, though, particularly in chapters that are alternately laugh-aloud hilarious and deeply sympathetic where he discusses what it's like to use the bathroom at 430 pounds or what happens to sagging skin after at 200+ weight loss. Stanton knows instinctively what the reader has always wondered about. My favorite chapters deal with his friend Jared and him cruising around and illicitly scoring junk food in old beater cars that are nearly collapsing under their combined weight. I also like the way he writes about religion. I'm agnostic myself, but Stanton's descriptions of his relationship with the church and the deadly sin of gluttony spoke to me. It's a very good book, and I look forward to reading my old classmate's future writing.
What's best about the book is Stanton's honesty. Maybe also his amazing recall of childhood details since my own concurrent Midwestern childhood feels mostly blurry to me. He is honest, though, particularly in chapters that are alternately laugh-aloud hilarious and deeply sympathetic where he discusses what it's like to use the bathroom at 430 pounds or what happens to sagging skin after at 200+ weight loss. Stanton knows instinctively what the reader has always wondered about. My favorite chapters deal with his friend Jared and him cruising around and illicitly scoring junk food in old beater cars that are nearly collapsing under their combined weight. I also like the way he writes about religion. I'm agnostic myself, but Stanton's descriptions of his relationship with the church and the deadly sin of gluttony spoke to me. It's a very good book, and I look forward to reading my old classmate's future writing.
April 26, 2021
Just the motivation I needed
Having lived the majority of my life as overweight, I too had similar struggles as Jon. I am a confident woman but have lacked the willpower to stay on the wagon. I am on round 3 of major weight loss and pray that this is it. I too want to live. Thank you Jon for your honesty and humor. You had me in fits of laughter at some of your stories and then I thought “am I being mean for laughing.” I think not-you are a great story teller. Wishing you the best on your new lifestyle.
Having lived the majority of my life as overweight, I too had similar struggles as Jon. I am a confident woman but have lacked the willpower to stay on the wagon. I am on round 3 of major weight loss and pray that this is it. I too want to live. Thank you Jon for your honesty and humor. You had me in fits of laughter at some of your stories and then I thought “am I being mean for laughing.” I think not-you are a great story teller. Wishing you the best on your new lifestyle.
December 3, 2019
Well, I'm biased, because I'm the author. I hope this book will make people laugh but also give them a window into the life of those who struggle with weight. For those who do struggle, I think you'll related to many of my experiences, but my hope is that you will also find hope and inspiration within these pages.
February 23, 2020
Incredibly Honest
I'm giving Jon 5 stars for his open discussion of his life, struggles, hopes, and dreams. I found myself saying, "I never knew!" a lot! If you know and love someone who struggles with their weight, you should read this book!
I'm giving Jon 5 stars for his open discussion of his life, struggles, hopes, and dreams. I found myself saying, "I never knew!" a lot! If you know and love someone who struggles with their weight, you should read this book!
February 28, 2020
Great job
As someone who has fought their weight their entire life I can relate to what John has said. This book is funny heart-wrenching and so very true anyone who has fought their weight should get this book and read it.
As someone who has fought their weight their entire life I can relate to what John has said. This book is funny heart-wrenching and so very true anyone who has fought their weight should get this book and read it.
April 1, 2023
This book is honest and funny and relatable.
Jon Stanton is a wonderful storyteller. I laughed out loud at the misadventures he recounted.
And as someone who has struggled with my weight since I was eight, I also saw myself in some of these stories... the split pants as a kid, eating sweets like a junkie, the lure of "cheap" fast food, and the frustration of losing weight and gaining it back. If you have ever struggled with your weight, you will appreciate this book on multiple levels.
Jon Stanton is a wonderful storyteller. I laughed out loud at the misadventures he recounted.
And as someone who has struggled with my weight since I was eight, I also saw myself in some of these stories... the split pants as a kid, eating sweets like a junkie, the lure of "cheap" fast food, and the frustration of losing weight and gaining it back. If you have ever struggled with your weight, you will appreciate this book on multiple levels.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews