Confessions of a Carb Queen: A Memoir

by Susan Blech, Caroline Bock

When her doctor told her she could suffer a stroke just by walking across the street, Susan Blech knew drastic action was called for. She was only 38 years old, and the scale registered a life-threatening 468 pounds. Rejecting the idea of gastric bypass surgery, Susan relocated to Durham, North Carolina, giving up all that was familiar and $70,000 of her life savings to devote herself to losing weight and getting healthy on the famed Rice Diet. In Confessions of a Carb Queen, Susan Blech speaks candidly about topics no obese person has dared to fat sex, eating binges, the lies you tell others, and the lies you tell yourself. She explores the psychological component of overeating and the connection between her own binge eating and the aneurysm that left her mother brain-damaged and paralyzed when Susan was a toddler. Her gripping story—a blend of memoir, advice, and delicious, health-conscious recipes—is a testament to her personal strength and willpower, and will be an inspiration to all who read it.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Food, Self Help, Health, Biography, Mental Illness

368 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 26, 2007

Reviews

[Marilyn Maya · Rating 2 out of 5]

PAGE TURNER BUT LEFT A BAD TASTE IN MY MOUTH

I agree it is a page turner to those of us who struggle with compulsive overeating but it is also repetitive ad nauseum about the fast food binges. I think what is most disturbing is the anger and how I felt she was as abusive as she was abused in her life. Her feuds with her brother, her saying she was so scared at the break in but ending up being violent back to the attacker. I have been attacked but never wanted to go down to their level, and her dishonesty about how she made money, really lost the weight etc. I also found her desperation to find a husband both before and after very telling on why she might have put on weight. She was waiting for a man to save her. She was also so disgusted by the fat women's organization that had dances, insinuating it was tawdry and the women dresed slutty,when all she was looking for was hand holding and a Jewish prince. Be real, she has many sex scenes in this book and seems to be selectively honest. And the omissions are more telling than the on and on about the binges. We really don't see how she lost the weight. She is still being secretive and just giving the reader the shockers and leaving out the fact that she did not change all that much, only her weight. I also see her as a fadist, (hating fat people including herself) ergo, the not wanting to accept herself or other fat people, and her obsession with weight lifting both before and after her weight loss. I don't trust this women and her confessions sometimes ring false. and though I couldn't put it down, at the end like a greasy burger wish I had not eaten. Why no voting buttons? We don't let customers vote on their own reviews, so the voting buttons appear only when you look at reviews submitted by others. Permalink

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Susan's honesty about herself, and her comedic wit make it hard not to enjoy this book from front to back. Even the book cover and design are fun, and make you want to pick up and read.
But I wouldn't put this on my favorites, or rate it a 5 star, because for many parts of the book, I was actually annoyed by the main character. Susan, I am sure, describes herself in a brutally honest manner, which is very commendable, but there are instances where she fits into the harsh stereotype of the "loud annoying fat person". I was hoping to see a different side of a large person by reading the book, and was surprised in instances where she openly plugs hereself into that stereotype.
For example, pigging out in the car while driving recklessly and blasting Mariah Carey is not really something that I can find myself sympathizing with. Another instance is when she is rude to servers in restaurants...I thought that was really obnoxious.

I did, however, find her character very sympathetic when she talks about how difficult her sex life was, and how often rejection occurred.

I am glad that she decided to take action and save herself through hard work and dedication. The book is inspiring even for those who don't have weight problems. It encourages you to look within yourself, admit to your flaws, and try to improve upon them.

[Happyreader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the overly cutesy title and pink cover, this is a hard-edged, raw addiction and recovery memoir, compelling enough that I read it in a single day. She's not kidding when she says "food is my heroin." Her eating rampages have the same desparate frenzy as a drug addict jonesing for a hit. Brutely honest, this book puts other addiction memoirs like Million Little Pieces to shame, especially since it's true -- and she has the pictures to prove it http://www.susanblech.com/worldbigger....

While she does discuss how she lost her weight (2 1/2 years at the Duke Diet Center on a very-low cal diet resulting in a 250 lb weight loss), the key to her weight loss was less the diet than her waking up, as the subtitle states, to the lies she told others and the lies she told herself. She realizes that it's not the food alone that is making her fat, but how she's using food and disrespecting herself, including sexually, to anesthesize herself against emotional pain. It's facing her life honestly that heals her rather than the diet alone.

This is a very painful story with a hopeful ending.

[Brittany Dolph · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who has struggled with weight and/or body image issues in the past, this book held a sort of self-indulgent appeal to me. I was almost embarrassed to read it as such. But whether your relationship with food has been reminiscent of Susan's, or you and food have been on good terms your entire life, it can be an inspiration for anyone. It is at some times downright appalling, and at others very poignant, but brutally honest indeed. It's pretty much a book about a very personal road to self-acceptance. There are also some decent recipes for those into low-sodium, low-fat lifestyles. Not "literature," per se, but not to be taken lightly, either.

[Babs · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is one of the most disturbing books I have read about someone's weight loss and life journey. I don't mean that in an insulting way. But Ms. Blech just shared so much raw emotion and so much about, what seems to me, a very self-loathing sex life, I feel like she must be a very courageous person not to have killed herself during her lowest moments.

I enjoyed reading her book, even tough it made me uncomfortable - mostly I think because I know I have an emotional relationship to food. I've never been obese. I was overweight for a couple of years in between having my two children. And I still have weight I would like to lose to be on the low end of my healthy range. This book has kind of put the fear into me that I better watch out and stay smart, or I too could find myself at 468.1lbs one day. Blech! ;^)

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

i loved this book. she understands food addiction and described it better than any author i've read so far. she understands that some foods are triggers and so you must give them up for good if you are going to continue to live a physically and emotionally healthy life. i knew this but this is not a popular view. thank you , susan.

[Jackie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm tempted to read this again just because I'm so surprised by all the positive reviews on here. Maybe I read a different edition? The book I read was whiny, repetitive, and it seemed like every other chapter ended with the author giving a guy she met online a hand job. Only finished it because I was hoping it would get better!

[Linda Marye · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of a morbidly obese woman's struggle with food obsession/addiction. Her story really explains the lies she tells herself. It makes you think about all the excuses we use to justify yielding to temptations of all kinds. Her sense of shame that leads to more eating that leads to more shame, etc. is moving. She's right, we do look askance at people with obvious physical differences. We shouldn't be so hard on each other. My daughter recommended it to me and I agree with her that you won't get it out of your head for a very long time.

[Jennb33 Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, although the author wasn't just a Carb Queen, she was the Queen of salt, fried foods, processed foods, and the like. I found her message genuine and important. Really entertaining, funny, quick, and it will stay with you long after the book has been shelved. I didn't care much for the trim size - it was more of a novel than a fun reference book which is what the size alludes to. But very good, nonetheless.

[Aaron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Comments From A Reader

Reading the story of Susan Blech is motivational. This memoir is highly recommend to those that are working to lose weight. Just reading stories like Susan's provides the much needed motivation that you have been seeking.

[Christine Grant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Completely disturbing memoir about obesity. Interesting information about the RICE diet and the weight-loss clinic in Durham.

[Mansi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't really enjoy it much, mostly because the protagonist just does not come across as a very likeable person to me. The book is mostly her talking about how much she loves food, and how much she eats. all the time. It kinda started feeling fetishistic. Her decision to lose weight and how that happened is mostly glossed over, which could have been really interesting actually.

I could not be bothered less by the end of it.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was 400 pounds and now I'm 223 pounds. I have my days probably even weeks where I have gained weight back but I'm still trying to get to my goal weight. Reading this makes me feel less alone and I'm not the only one with these feelings and who is having a hard time. This gives me hope that I will reach my goal.

[Ashley Burke · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was pretty good. Not my favorite in this genre, or type. But it was a good honest look at what she went through.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who used to be morbidly obese and still struggles with Binge Eating Disorder... I recommend this book ❤

[Vicky Vaughn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actually 3.4!

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

quite a relatable book!

[Bunni · Rating 2 out of 5]

Narrator was brutally honest in this memoir but also incredibly annoying in her resistance to change anything about herself aside from her weight.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whew, this book is not for the faint of heart! I can't decide if Susan Blech is incredibly courageous or embarrassingly foolhardy in telling the reader about her food addiction, family dysfunction, sex life, and weight loss journey. I have to confess I'm slightly disappointed that the weight loss is done through a clinic and took over 2 years at the clinic, but that's my hang up as I got excited when I read that Susan had lost over 250 lbs. without having surgery. Kind of puts the experience in the category of the Biggest Loser show - I have a love/hate relationship with the show because I wish I could stop my life for months and lose weight super quickly, but knowing that's unrealistic for the vast majority of people.

Still, I found quite a bit of inspiration in Susan't story and applaud her honesty in telling it.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being the carb queen I am, this cover caught my attention. It is definitely a book worth reading if you are addicted to carbs or if you have just been battling weight all of your life. Susan's story is sad, yet inspiring. It was painful, yet eye opening for me to read, because I saw A LOT of myself in Susan. There are some pretty good healthy recipes in the book also.

Confessions of a Carb Queen takes you on Susan's riveting emotional journey from being a body builder to weighing 468 pounds, then her journey to save her life by losing the weight.

To read the rest of my review visit
http://www.guiltypleasuresbookreviews...

To find out about the Guilty Pleasures 2012 I LOVE ME Get Fit Challenge visit
http://www.guiltypleasuresbookreviews...

[Carolynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started out an interesting account of Susan, a woman with a very serious weight issue. While I was very interested in watching Susan attempt to take control of her life and her health, I was really turned off by her jumping into bed with a different man every month.

I don't know why an intelligent woman like her would think that she would find a marriage prospect by conducting phone sex with men she meets online and then having sex with them at their first (and usually only) meeting.

I also am confused about Susan's relationship with her father. She gushes about how he's the bestest and most supportive Dad, and yet he seems completely disinterested in her, oblivious to everything that is important to her.

I can totally relate to a woman trying her whole life to earn the approval of her father - sadly, it seems to be very common.

[miteypen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't the best book I've read by a formerly fat person, but I did like it. The author is brutally honest about her life, even down to detailed descriptions of her binges. All I can say about them is: no wonder she was 468 lbs.! One theme that consistently pops up in these weight loss books is that of self-acceptance. It always seems that self-acceptance comes not necessarily from the weight loss, but from breaking the cycle of self-destructive behavior.

This author manages to capture what it's like to have a hole inside yourself that you think can only be filled up with food. She doesn't sugarcoat her story and that makes it all the more powerful. She doesn't make it seem easy, but she does make it seem possible. Very inspirational.

[Mary Ellen Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very honest account of Sue, a woman who finally decided at age 38 that enough was enough and set out on a journey to lose 250 pounds without surgery. She was addicted to salty, greasy fast foods and went on binges every night. She worked from home to avoid being out in the world, and needed to learn to eat right, exercise, and love herself in order to finally change into a strong, confident woman. The author writes candidly of her food binges, internet dating, and fat sex during her vulnerable, self-loathing periods, but she has a good heart and wants to be loved. When she learns to love herself, she is able to change her life and really start living again. I was inspired by her story.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

At first I was unsure about this book. I started reading this and found it very hard to read. As I got into the book I could not put it down. I actually got on the treadmill twice today. I realized that I eat when I am lonely, sad, bored or emotional. I told my friend about this book and told her about the emotionally eating. I spoke with her tonight after another emotional interaction with someone and she helped me get thru it. I am grateful for this book and that the woman had so much courage to write this. No I am not 468 pounds, but I can lie to myself that food will make it all better and that tomorrow I will start on the treadmill. No I don't look fat, my clothes just shrunk. What a great find!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

What an amazing story! This book was not at all what I expected and I think that made it even better. When I got the book I was thinking it was going to be a story of how Susan overcame eating too many carbs and lost weight. I don't want to spoint the book for anyone but it reads more like a novel. It describes how Susan came to overeating, what she did to gain so much weight, and what she had to do to overcome it and the things she learned about herself and other people along the way. It is a very honest and laugh out loud realistic view of life, dating, and discovery. Some people may in previous reviews stated they were bothered by the frank details, I didn't think it was a big deal.

[Kristi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was one of the most brutally honest books I've ever read. It was downright graphic and disturbing in parts, but gave such an intense, moving portrait of what it feels like to survive obesity. Susan Blech's perceptions of herself and deep-felt pain and shame made me understand the constant struggle of morbid obesity in a new way. Her horrific, ongoing self-dialog was devasting to hear. I think she is incredibly brave to tell her entire story in such detail. I hope her journey has continued and her inner voice now speaks in love instead of despair.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really thought I would like this book more than I did. The writing was on about a fifth grade level (not the subject matter, clearly, but the adult material, combined with the poor writing made reading this book unpleasant). The author's voice, though generally honest and forthright, was at times very grating. I disliked the random recipes thrown in here and there, and though her story was somewhat compelling, I had a hard time taking it seriously because the writing was so juvenile. Barely two stars.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked how honest Susan Blech is in this book. She talks about having disordered eating early on and really getting into bodybuilding. Her mom became ill when Blech was a kid, leaving Blech with lots of unresolved issues. When Blech lived on Long Island she was working from home - which fueled her food addiction and isolation. She finally has a turning point and decides to go to a weight loss clinic in North Carolina for a solid 2 years, if I remember correctly. She is honest about her experience and her relapses. I recommend this book.

[Shannon · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have given this a 1.5 if it was available. I didn't have many expectations of this book other than "looks good...should be a fun read". I'm not expecting Biggest Loser transformations here. Still I come away feeling cheated. This book was more about sex than food. I don't want to see your sex life on paper. I want to know genuine feelings. Don't give me funny quips if you're doing a book on struggling. major let down.

[Teena in Toronto · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good and I enjoyed it.

Susan's account was very honest ... too honest probably at times for some.

Susan moved to Durham to join the Rice Diet Clinic. She was there for more than two years. The program sounds extreme to me but you gotta do what you gotta do ... and you stick with what works.

I just read some reviews on Amazon and some readers condemned her for apparently gaining some weight back. That's life, folks. I've found that it's easier to lose weight than it is to keep it off.