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I'm With Fatty: Losing Fifty Pounds in Fifty Miserable Weeks
Where does one draw the line between being a lifelong foodie and a food addict? Edward Ugel is 36 years old and weighs 263 pounds, or as he likes to think about it: 119 kilograms. I'm with Fatty chronicles Ugel's attempt to follow doctor's orders and lose fifty pounds or risk dropping dead while standing in line at Popeyes. It details the complex love triangle between himself; his wife; and all the crispy, braised, barbecued, and sautéed goodies that he's been feeding himself since he could say the words "to go."
Ugel sets off on his yearlong journey to figure out how to live in a world without dim sum, smoked Italian meats, and the pleasure of cooking whatever and however he wants. He spends his days torn between two worlds: nutritionists and personal trainers versus pancetta and Häagen-Dazs. It's a war of attrition—each side has its share of victories and failures.
Lovers of narrative nonfiction will relish this contagiously readable book that looks back at Ugel's complicated history with food, obesity, and the ruinous effects this lifelong relationship has had on him. Filled with humor, ultimately this is a book about the private hell of being fat in America and about the fragile male psyche and the seldom-discussed issue of male body image.
Ugel sets off on his yearlong journey to figure out how to live in a world without dim sum, smoked Italian meats, and the pleasure of cooking whatever and however he wants. He spends his days torn between two worlds: nutritionists and personal trainers versus pancetta and Häagen-Dazs. It's a war of attrition—each side has its share of victories and failures.
Lovers of narrative nonfiction will relish this contagiously readable book that looks back at Ugel's complicated history with food, obesity, and the ruinous effects this lifelong relationship has had on him. Filled with humor, ultimately this is a book about the private hell of being fat in America and about the fragile male psyche and the seldom-discussed issue of male body image.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published May 4, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
August 18, 2012
I know there are a lot of people in this country who aren't well-versed on nutrition, diet, or exercise. But you'd think a man who was going to embark on a major journey like this and write a book about it would do a tiny, tiny bit of research to figure out what he should do. This guy just threw together some vague idea of what constitutes a "diet" and - shocker - it was really difficult and confusing, and I have no doubt he's gained everything back. I'm not saying every diet book has to be a stunning success, but this dude does. not. try:
- The guy says he doesn't want to do a "crash diet" and then deliberately sets out on the most unrealistic diet, completely incompatible with his tastes, absolutely unsustainable for a year let alone a lifetime, and is shocked when it fails. His attitude to every food is "I can't eat this ever again" instead of "I need to learn to restrain myself and eat a reasonable amount of this."
- His gym training is Fuckarounditis 101. He doesn't wanna be here. He doesn't wanna do that. Whyyy does he have to do this.
Actually, that last point gets to the heart of this book: holy god, Edward Ugel sounds insufferable! He is a whiny, petulant, impossibly immature jerk who treats his patient wife like a b*tch. What, for calling him out on his weight gain after it starts to threaten his life? For being disappointed in his stubborn refusal to take care of himself? For losing patience when he fails to exhibit even the tiniest little bit of self-control, and then blames everything on her? He constantly complains about her nagging him to do simple tasks, but whenever she leaves town he falls apart and fails at even the most routine things, so who can blame her? At first this dark humor schtick was kind of amusing, but 50 pages in I just wanted to smack the guy. Grow up, take responsibility for yourself. Nobody thinks it's cute that you're a man child.
If my review is harsh, it's because I started it after finishing a WONDERFUL book on exactly the same subject. The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl was a similar memoir about weight loss, but the narrator is funny and self-aware. She faces the same anxieties and temptations, but works hard to figure out her own triggers and underlying fears and puts in the WORK. She doesn't make excuses for herself or blame others for her own actions. She's a nice, funny person. You root like hell for her. I recommend that book 100x over this one.
- The guy says he doesn't want to do a "crash diet" and then deliberately sets out on the most unrealistic diet, completely incompatible with his tastes, absolutely unsustainable for a year let alone a lifetime, and is shocked when it fails. His attitude to every food is "I can't eat this ever again" instead of "I need to learn to restrain myself and eat a reasonable amount of this."
- His gym training is Fuckarounditis 101. He doesn't wanna be here. He doesn't wanna do that. Whyyy does he have to do this.
Actually, that last point gets to the heart of this book: holy god, Edward Ugel sounds insufferable! He is a whiny, petulant, impossibly immature jerk who treats his patient wife like a b*tch. What, for calling him out on his weight gain after it starts to threaten his life? For being disappointed in his stubborn refusal to take care of himself? For losing patience when he fails to exhibit even the tiniest little bit of self-control, and then blames everything on her? He constantly complains about her nagging him to do simple tasks, but whenever she leaves town he falls apart and fails at even the most routine things, so who can blame her? At first this dark humor schtick was kind of amusing, but 50 pages in I just wanted to smack the guy. Grow up, take responsibility for yourself. Nobody thinks it's cute that you're a man child.
If my review is harsh, it's because I started it after finishing a WONDERFUL book on exactly the same subject. The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl was a similar memoir about weight loss, but the narrator is funny and self-aware. She faces the same anxieties and temptations, but works hard to figure out her own triggers and underlying fears and puts in the WORK. She doesn't make excuses for herself or blame others for her own actions. She's a nice, funny person. You root like hell for her. I recommend that book 100x over this one.
August 29, 2013
This has to be the funniest thing I've ever read! I was laughing out loud like a crazy person the entire time I was reading it. Not only would I read more of Ugel's books, but I'm trying to devise a plan to become his best friend in real life so I can listen to his hilarious commentaries all the time. Anyone who gave this book less than 5 stars is crazy or completely lacking a sense of humor.
September 9, 2012
I think sometimes I can be harsh with my book-ratings, and I did it again by giving this book 5 stars because I wish I could give it 6 stars. Maybe even 7. I'm With Fatty is laugh out loud funny. Edward Ugel wants to lose some poundage so that he can stay alive longer to watch his children grow up. Essentially the author is just describing his year-long journey of weight loss, but he does it in such a way that you nearly pee your pants on the train because you are laughing so hard.
Please don't read this book if you are a health-nut looking to judge how other people eat and try to lose the pounds - this book really isn't for you. It's for people with a sense of humor who can relate to binge-eating episodes and who are ok with not being perfectly disciplined every moment of every day. If you don't take I'm With Fatty too seriously, it's quite enjoyable and one of the best books I've read this year. It only takes a few days to complete, and I highly suggest using a weekend out of your life to relax and read it. Then, go enjoy your family and friends, because in the end I think that is what this book reminds you to do.
Please don't read this book if you are a health-nut looking to judge how other people eat and try to lose the pounds - this book really isn't for you. It's for people with a sense of humor who can relate to binge-eating episodes and who are ok with not being perfectly disciplined every moment of every day. If you don't take I'm With Fatty too seriously, it's quite enjoyable and one of the best books I've read this year. It only takes a few days to complete, and I highly suggest using a weekend out of your life to relax and read it. Then, go enjoy your family and friends, because in the end I think that is what this book reminds you to do.
April 20, 2015
For me, at least, it's never fun to write a bad review. Instead, it feels like more of an obligation - a need to warn people off. It's doubly off-putting to give any weight-loss memoir a one-star review, because I generally relish reading about the journey of people working from unhealthy to healthy.
That said, I have to be honest. Ultimately, this book was nothing short of a chore. The catchy title grabbed me, and I was excited to read Mr. Ugel's story because he is a self-described 'foodie'. In the first couple of chapters, I dimly recall laughing out loud at a few things - but Mr. Ugel's shtick becomes repetitive and dull very quickly. The author has clearly lived a life of extreme privilege, and it permeates this book. Readers must slog through egregious name-dropping and braggadocio, including references to the uber-exclusive private school he attended, world travel, behind-the-scenes Presidential inaugural parties and Mr. Ugel's years of cooking lessons with Jacques Blanc that began when he was eleven. Even if one leaves aside the fact that he can afford 3-hour personal training sessions multiple days per week, it would be awfully hard for anyone to relate with Mr. Ugel's 'struggle' to lose weight. The comedienne Kathleen Madigan once observed that it was mighty difficult to feel bad for Oprah and her struggle to lose weight, because she was literally rich enough to pay someone to follow her around and slap food out of her hands. While Mr. Ugel may not be anywhere near Oprah's league, he's hardly the Average Overweight American, either. I do hope his personal training sessions, cleanses and colonics were not tax-deductible in the name of 'work-related research'.
The narrative of the book is extraordinarily choppy and disjointed, and the print size is HUGE. It's as if the publishers knew they didn't have enough to make it a book, but went ahead with it, anyway. There's such a large (no pun intended) audience for stories of the struggle to live healthier that even *this* was published. I recommend that everyone seeking to live a healthier life who can also distinguish the proper use of "your" versus "you're" submit your manuscript for publication, tout de suite.
Side note: This author goes to great lengths to be sure that we all know he is a Democrat. Did you get that? He's a good liberal! Once again, a Democrat. Did I mention that he's a Democrat? The author shares this (irrelevant) information with his readers so many times, in fact, that one begins to wonder why. If Mr. Ugel hoped that it would make him seem more blue-collar and thus relatable, he is woefully mistaken.
I bought this book for $2.00, plus $4.00 shipping, and even at that I grossly overpaid. I was excited enough about this title to order another book written by Mr. Ugel, which has yet to arrive. May it be infinitely better than this one! I'm sure Mr. Ugel is a delightful friend and a loving father and husband, but this book is just awful. Steer clear.
That said, I have to be honest. Ultimately, this book was nothing short of a chore. The catchy title grabbed me, and I was excited to read Mr. Ugel's story because he is a self-described 'foodie'. In the first couple of chapters, I dimly recall laughing out loud at a few things - but Mr. Ugel's shtick becomes repetitive and dull very quickly. The author has clearly lived a life of extreme privilege, and it permeates this book. Readers must slog through egregious name-dropping and braggadocio, including references to the uber-exclusive private school he attended, world travel, behind-the-scenes Presidential inaugural parties and Mr. Ugel's years of cooking lessons with Jacques Blanc that began when he was eleven. Even if one leaves aside the fact that he can afford 3-hour personal training sessions multiple days per week, it would be awfully hard for anyone to relate with Mr. Ugel's 'struggle' to lose weight. The comedienne Kathleen Madigan once observed that it was mighty difficult to feel bad for Oprah and her struggle to lose weight, because she was literally rich enough to pay someone to follow her around and slap food out of her hands. While Mr. Ugel may not be anywhere near Oprah's league, he's hardly the Average Overweight American, either. I do hope his personal training sessions, cleanses and colonics were not tax-deductible in the name of 'work-related research'.
The narrative of the book is extraordinarily choppy and disjointed, and the print size is HUGE. It's as if the publishers knew they didn't have enough to make it a book, but went ahead with it, anyway. There's such a large (no pun intended) audience for stories of the struggle to live healthier that even *this* was published. I recommend that everyone seeking to live a healthier life who can also distinguish the proper use of "your" versus "you're" submit your manuscript for publication, tout de suite.
Side note: This author goes to great lengths to be sure that we all know he is a Democrat. Did you get that? He's a good liberal! Once again, a Democrat. Did I mention that he's a Democrat? The author shares this (irrelevant) information with his readers so many times, in fact, that one begins to wonder why. If Mr. Ugel hoped that it would make him seem more blue-collar and thus relatable, he is woefully mistaken.
I bought this book for $2.00, plus $4.00 shipping, and even at that I grossly overpaid. I was excited enough about this title to order another book written by Mr. Ugel, which has yet to arrive. May it be infinitely better than this one! I'm sure Mr. Ugel is a delightful friend and a loving father and husband, but this book is just awful. Steer clear.
November 15, 2010
After being convinced that if he doesn't lose weight, he's going to die soon, Ugel decides to try to lose 50 pounds in 50 weeks. This is the often painfully honest of his account of that task. He covers a lot of ground, much of it familiar to those who are extremely overweight. From the embarrassment of having to wear a CPAP device to control his sleep apnea (he was literally turning blue every night) to feeling unattractive to his wife to being a social hermit to avoid others seeing him to food binging and, the biggie, feelings of shame for getting to the state he was in, Ugel covered it all.
There are successes and failures and a lot of self destructive behavior that he makes no attempt to hide but tries to understand why he sabotages his own efforts. There's a particularly painful section on a huge food bender that he goes on when his family is out of town. Bender is a good term for it because it reads just like an alcoholic bender.
Ugel tells his story with a lot of humor so it's not a complete downer and he does gain some insight and control over his life. I felt good for his chances at better health by the end of the book.
There are successes and failures and a lot of self destructive behavior that he makes no attempt to hide but tries to understand why he sabotages his own efforts. There's a particularly painful section on a huge food bender that he goes on when his family is out of town. Bender is a good term for it because it reads just like an alcoholic bender.
Ugel tells his story with a lot of humor so it's not a complete downer and he does gain some insight and control over his life. I felt good for his chances at better health by the end of the book.
February 27, 2025
This book was laugh out loud funny. I know a lot of books make this claim but I have proof. The other night I'm in the living room reading "I'm With Fatty: Losing Fifty Pounds in Fifty Miserable Weeks" on my Kindle. My husband is in the office on his computer. He yells at me from the other room.
Him: "What the hell is so funny out there!?"
Me: "This book I'm reading! It's hysterical."
Him: "You mean to tell me that you're reading to yourself and yet you're laughing OUT LOUD!?"
Me: "Hey! It's funny! I can't help it!"
Since he was still skeptical I proceeded to read passages aloud to him. (And he thought my LAUGHING out loud was irritating!)
Seriously though, this Ed Ugel guy is seriously funny. Uh-oh. I just saw that Ed's other book, "Money for Nothing", is available on Kindle now, too. My husband is so screwed.
Him: "What the hell is so funny out there!?"
Me: "This book I'm reading! It's hysterical."
Him: "You mean to tell me that you're reading to yourself and yet you're laughing OUT LOUD!?"
Me: "Hey! It's funny! I can't help it!"
Since he was still skeptical I proceeded to read passages aloud to him. (And he thought my LAUGHING out loud was irritating!)
Seriously though, this Ed Ugel guy is seriously funny. Uh-oh. I just saw that Ed's other book, "Money for Nothing", is available on Kindle now, too. My husband is so screwed.
January 16, 2013
Ugel tries way to hard to be funny, and just comes off as sounding like he is picking on the friends, family, and professionals who seriously and sincerely just want to help him. There is a difference between making fun of someone and being funny, and Ugel doesn't know it.
February 12, 2013
Very funny! Interesting insights.
November 30, 2012
Super funny, actually laughed outloud most of the time. The way he laughs at himself without downplaying his health is amazing. Loved it: easy to read and plain funny!
October 10, 2013
This book was laugh out loud hysterical and extremely sad at the same time.
September 7, 2010
This book follows a year in the life of a foodie/food addict as he tries to get control of his weight and health after he puts on 50 pounds in one year and he ends up wearing a CPAP device for sleep apnea. I found this book interesting because it's from a man's weight loss point of view. Personally, I always think it's much easier for men to lose weight than women ("I'll just give up my midnight snack. Hey, I've suddenly lost 11 pounds!") although my husband doesn't seem to agree. He sees an analyst, a personal trainer several times a week, and an expensive nutritionist during his weight-loss journey, plus he explores options like a juice cleanse and colonics, both of which he is highly suspicious of before trying. The author is fairly funny and his descriptions of food will make you absolutely salivate. This guy has some real food issues, though. At one point in the book, when he's lost about 39 pounds, his wife goes out of town for the week, and he goes food crazy. It was pretty horrifying to read how out of control his eating gets--rather than dusting himself off after eating half a walnut danish ring (which should serve 8 people) and hitting the gym and getting back on track, he proceeds to eat 3 quarts of ice cream, $40 worth of Chinese delivery food, and half the McDonald's menu, all in one day. It's like watching an alcoholic on a drinking bender, but with food. The book chronicles his year of losing weight and his ultimate successes, although you just know this guy is going to struggle with food issues his whole life. My complaint with the book is that I would have liked to know more details about what his nutritionist told him. Besides saying "she's kind of mean", he mentions that she said that someone like him who loves to cook and professes to be a foodie can have the best success rate because they are fixing their own food. Okay, but give me some specifics. Other than some vagueness in that arena, I really enjoyed reading this book and I wish the guy every bit of luck with his food struggles in the future.
February 15, 2011
I thought this book would be about a guy trying to, as the cover says, "losing fifty pounds in fifty miserable weeks," aka "another book where someone realizes losing weight is necessary for them! And then they do it!) but I was really surprised by how deeply Ugel looked into his relationship with food. There are a lot of books out there about females with eating disorders, but this is the first book I've ever read where a guy realizes he has one--Ugel isn't both a binge and compulsive eater, and very clearly an emotional one as well (as one realizes via his reaction when his wife and kids go away for a week)
For the honesty alone this book is worth checking out, especially because there are so few books where men talk about their relationship with food. (Also, the section about his experiences with a cleanse (juice) diet and having a colonic is hysterical.)
For the honesty alone this book is worth checking out, especially because there are so few books where men talk about their relationship with food. (Also, the section about his experiences with a cleanse (juice) diet and having a colonic is hysterical.)
February 28, 2016
As others have said, it's laugh-out-loud funny. I haven't laughed this hard since "The Underminer." For people who complain about the diet advice, I would just point to his statement that the book is a memoir of weight loss rather than a diet book. He hit it out of the park in that regard -- although I could've done without the ball-dangling scene in New Orleans. I'm taking off one star for grossness. And yes, he clearly led or leads a very privileged life, which he's aware of and tries to couch in numerous ways. But he could've led that privileged life and not written this funny book, and we'd be the poorer for it.
January 3, 2011
This book caught my eye as I have a brother-in-law who just did the same feat (lose 50 pounds in 50 weeks) and so I was curious to read the lessons that this guy learned while changing his life.
Ummmmm . . . not sure he learned any lessons. There are a lot of pages dedicated to him falling off the boat into a gluttonous orgy of food consumption. It is disgusting to even read through.
If i was a betting person, I would bet this author has gained all the weight back.
Ummmmm . . . not sure he learned any lessons. There are a lot of pages dedicated to him falling off the boat into a gluttonous orgy of food consumption. It is disgusting to even read through.
If i was a betting person, I would bet this author has gained all the weight back.
November 18, 2010
ehhh....about to give up on People's books that they LOVE. I ended up skimming through alot of this book. It was not intriguing and deep(duh-did I read the title?). Since i have recently gone through the process of losing 50 pounds, I thought I would have some common ground with the author. Ah-not really.
October 31, 2015
This narrative is funny, honest and pathetic. The author with candor and humor describes his 50 week weight loss odyssey. Frankly, i loved this book and was sad when I finished because of wanting to read more.
June 3, 2017
I completely enjoyed this book. I totally identified with Ugel's feelings and insights during his journey. It was like reading a book I, or my best male friend who I swear was my twin brother in a former life, had written.
I've done a lot of reading of various kinds of self-help books and autobiographical accounts of life-changing transformational journeys but Ugel's is the first dietary/weight loss/health improvement experience that left me feeling truly hopeful and good about the possibility of finally having success myself that I would be able to maintain happily without giving completely up on cooking and eating the wide variety of foods and cuisines that I have always loved to experiment with.
His insights on the parallels between food and other addictions is spot on as are his descriptions of binging and what goes on in one's head when they self-sabotage. And, he does it with none of the making-wrong or making light of any of it that I've heard and read before.
He also doesn't preach to the reader. He presents his experience and his own insights without implying his way is THE way. And, I really appreciated that everything he tried wasn't easy and didn't always work out perfectly. He has a great sense of humor and I found myself laughing out loud as I read this book. Be forewarned if you are easily offended, he does use profanity but I would say not gratuitously and not just for effect.
I'd recommend this book to folks who would like to lose more than 10% of their body weight and have been struggling and moreover to folks who have given up or are close to giving up.
I've done a lot of reading of various kinds of self-help books and autobiographical accounts of life-changing transformational journeys but Ugel's is the first dietary/weight loss/health improvement experience that left me feeling truly hopeful and good about the possibility of finally having success myself that I would be able to maintain happily without giving completely up on cooking and eating the wide variety of foods and cuisines that I have always loved to experiment with.
His insights on the parallels between food and other addictions is spot on as are his descriptions of binging and what goes on in one's head when they self-sabotage. And, he does it with none of the making-wrong or making light of any of it that I've heard and read before.
He also doesn't preach to the reader. He presents his experience and his own insights without implying his way is THE way. And, I really appreciated that everything he tried wasn't easy and didn't always work out perfectly. He has a great sense of humor and I found myself laughing out loud as I read this book. Be forewarned if you are easily offended, he does use profanity but I would say not gratuitously and not just for effect.
I'd recommend this book to folks who would like to lose more than 10% of their body weight and have been struggling and moreover to folks who have given up or are close to giving up.
January 11, 2011
Overall this book was pretty funny. An overweight man embarks on a journey to lose 50 pounds in 50 weeks. Sorta like The Biggest Loser, but with a lot less weeks. The stories of his personal struggle with food addiction are both funny and sad. At some points I was even frustrated with him. When he would discuss his binge episodes, I just wanted to slap him and scream "SNAP, OUT OF IT!" because it was just crazy.
Despite some of the off topic stories, I did really enjoy the book. I even googled him afterwards, so that right there shows my interest. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has been on a weight-loss diet, is currently on a weight-loss diet, or is thinking about going on a weight-loss diet. It will show you the low moments of beating sugar/carb/junk food cravings as well as inspire.
Despite some of the off topic stories, I did really enjoy the book. I even googled him afterwards, so that right there shows my interest. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has been on a weight-loss diet, is currently on a weight-loss diet, or is thinking about going on a weight-loss diet. It will show you the low moments of beating sugar/carb/junk food cravings as well as inspire.
September 29, 2010
Didn't do much for me. I'm sure Ugel didn't mean it but he came off as if he's the first in the world who ever has had to lose weight. His color commentary on the high colonic cracked me up. Otherwise it's just a personal journal of his diet. Couple of chapters with details that didn't seem to be in the right place. Like when Emeril Lagasse came to his house. Then the stories about his cooking class that he went to as a child. Seems these were stuck in as an after thought to fill out a book.
I commend him for doing all the really difficult things: getting a trainer, going on the juice diet etc etc etc. The book wasn't especially meaningful to me. Perhaps someone who needs a little inspiration could put his story to good use.
I commend him for doing all the really difficult things: getting a trainer, going on the juice diet etc etc etc. The book wasn't especially meaningful to me. Perhaps someone who needs a little inspiration could put his story to good use.
March 8, 2011
I was straightening my bookshelf out before bed and picked this up and skimmed the first few pages, and then the next thing I knew it was 3am and I had read the whole thing without stopping. (Does that make me a compulsive over-reader?)
After being fitted for a CPAP machine and being told he needs to lose weight or he'll die, Edward Ugel sets out to lose 50 pounds in 50 weeks, which is a lot harder than it sounds for a foodie and compulsive overeater. His account of those 50 weeks is honest and funny.
It's repeats itself a little, in the way that essay collections or compiled short stories can (I don't know that any of these were published individually though) but it's worth reading just for the chapter about his adventures getting a colonic.
After being fitted for a CPAP machine and being told he needs to lose weight or he'll die, Edward Ugel sets out to lose 50 pounds in 50 weeks, which is a lot harder than it sounds for a foodie and compulsive overeater. His account of those 50 weeks is honest and funny.
It's repeats itself a little, in the way that essay collections or compiled short stories can (I don't know that any of these were published individually though) but it's worth reading just for the chapter about his adventures getting a colonic.
April 16, 2011
Ugel is a very entertaining writer. He pulls off the trick of writing about something that is clearly an issue for many, and many illustrate self destructive behavior in this area but he turns it all in on himslef and makes himself the center of the jokes and amusing annecdotes. The results are often laugh out loud funny - particularly the desrciptions of his various ailments realted to weight (snoring etc.) and the treatments he went through (colon cleansing) on his journey.
Not a book that will likely change how the world views dieting and weight loss but there is a message within the humor. Ugel is an author definitely worth reading for entertainment.
Not a book that will likely change how the world views dieting and weight loss but there is a message within the humor. Ugel is an author definitely worth reading for entertainment.
April 17, 2011
I thought this was a candid look at food addiction and one man’s weight loss journey. It was humorous and inspiring. I recognized the eating habits and the self-destructive, self-sabotaging behavior described, and was inspired by his success, despite the ups and downs of his ‘fifty miserable weeks’.
And he had help, a lot of help. There are so many books out there that seem to indicate that you have to do it alone or at least imply that it is a matter only of self-discipline. It was nice to read a book where the value a supportive family and friends was obvious.
I would give it five stars but he has a bit of a potty mouth and I’m the one handing out the stars.
And he had help, a lot of help. There are so many books out there that seem to indicate that you have to do it alone or at least imply that it is a matter only of self-discipline. It was nice to read a book where the value a supportive family and friends was obvious.
I would give it five stars but he has a bit of a potty mouth and I’m the one handing out the stars.
December 15, 2011
I liked the author's voice and found it refreshing to read about weight problems from a man's point of view, but I can't say that I got any inspiration from it. The author didn't seem to progress much in his attitude toward food and self-indulgence. I realize that his experience may actually be more realistic than that of many weight loss accounts, but I wanted to see him gain a little more insight into why he eats too much (and the wrong things). I may sound like I'm a person with no sympathy for "fatties," but that's not true, since I am one myself. It's just that when I read this kind of book, I'm looking for answers for my own benefit and I just didn't find many here.
May 13, 2012
I really wanted to like this book but it wasn't as good as I wanted it to be. To be fair, some portions were snort-out-loud funny. But mostly the book was a recitation of facts, not a study of why he allowed himself to get fat and how he got over his food addiction.
He talks a lot about food addiction, but never about how he overcomes it. It must be very difficult to have an addiction to something (eating) that you can't actually quit doing. And I don't believe we learned anything about he, personally, handled that.
He talks a lot about food addiction, but never about how he overcomes it. It must be very difficult to have an addiction to something (eating) that you can't actually quit doing. And I don't believe we learned anything about he, personally, handled that.
October 25, 2010
This was a pleasant surprise. Despite some good reviews, my expectations were low. Ugel is much darker and more self-critical than I anticipated. He's brutally honest about his food issues and his failures and relapses; as the book starts, he's really in terrible health and very unhappy and uncomfortable. Despite the gimmicky subtitle (Losing 50 pounds in 50 Weeks), the doing-something-over-a-year theme isn't really there, which is good. He's darkly funny in a style I appreciated. A quick and easy read, but not nearly as light as one might think.
December 2, 2010
This book felt like a printed blog. It was missing any semblance of a storyline and could have used the help of a good editor. Had to quit it once I realized that I didn't care about the narrator at all.
January 7, 2011
I thought this guy was articulate as hell, real, got into the underbelly and insanity of addictive anything, but in this case eating. The addictive brain, - he was hilarious and honest and compelling, and i thought it was wonderful!
January 31, 2011
I am always interested in how people decide to make a change and then actually execute the plan. This guy had the luxury - if it is a luxury - to make his lifestyle change his job for a period of time.
April 12, 2015
At almost half way into this book I was losing interest. Then Ugel shares his hysterical colonic/cleanse experience and my interest was renewed. You really feel how hard it is for him to control his addiction and I'm glad I read it.
January 31, 2015
Honestly, I got 2/3rds through this before I put it down, but I don't want to have another shelf for unfinished books. I found Ugel's authorial voice to be catty, bitchy, and whiny. I just couldn't take it. Ugel is probably a fine dude in real life, but in print he reads as miserable.
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