I'm Still Hungry: Finding Myself Through Thick and Thin

by Carnie Wilson

As the daughter of Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson, Carnie Wilson grew up in the fast lane and has had a lifelong struggle with obesity. Here she shows the progression of weight loss through a personal diary, detailing how she got her head in the right place as she lost more than 150 pounds.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography

200 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked this up on a whim in the biography section at the library. I've never been a big Wilson Phillips fan or anything--I just liked the title and figured what the hell--this will be a good thing to read on the stairstepper. It wasn't great literature, of course, but it held my interest. My main reaction is man I'm glad I'm not obese enough to need gastric bypass surgery. Anyone who thinks that's an easy way out to losing weight is crazy. She had to have the surgery just to be able to get to the point where she could START losing weight and exercising, and then it was just as hard and grueling for her as for anyone else, if not harder. This book made me kind of like Carnie Wilson. She does a great job at describing the conflicted relationship about how you look and who you are.

The only thing I hate is that she agreed to pose for Playboy. The whole thing bothers me on so many levels. There are TWO CHAPTERS about that whole experience, which is too much for such a short book. First of all, it makes me mad how much she had to go through to be considered "attractive" enough to be in that stupid magazine. They only asked her after she had had the gastric bypass surgery PLUS plastic surgery (to get rid of excess skin etc.) PLUS she had exercised and dieted for six months (they told her to lose ten more pounds after her screen test). And I hate it that she didn't tell them to f-- off--instead, she took it as this incredible compliment and validation. She compares posing for Playboy to other women climbing mountains or running marathons or whatever!!! I don't understand why it wasn't enough for her that she took control of her body and got healthy and strong. That is an amazing achievement. Why did she need anything else, especially coming from such a harmful, superficial source?

Anyway...I did enjoy reading the book and if the library has her other one, I might read that too.

[Beauty Transforming · Rating 1 out of 5]

As with her first book, I was disappointed. There is little quality in this book when it comes to GBP. While there is information in there about some struggles and what it was like for her, the "meat" of the book was about her posing in playboy (which is wow for someone having been MO and “unacceptable” by society for so long), and being in love. The crude language remained, although it was not as bad as her first book, "Gut Feelings." Okay read if you REALLY like Carnie, and just want a “story” more than information.

[Christy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Joking or not, I don't like that Carnie gave a suggestion to chew and spit food, to preserve the taste without the calories. Although I think it was just a sarcastic little comment, meant to be witty, I don't think it's funny to make suggestions that end up being diagnostic criteria for disordered eating. I thought Carnie tried too hard to be witty, and sometimes it just came off wrong. Also, she was entirely too wrapped up in the whole "I'm hot because I did Playboy" aspect. Despite all of this, I found Carnie's story to be inspirational, and she is a pretty good storyteller overall.

[Ivy Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

An interesting read at times but a lot of times I found her to be annoying with some of her sugguestions. I realize that weight loss is a very complex situation and varies between people but there were times that it felt like she was just perching what everyone should do.

I think it was good that she inculded some tips and mentions her diet and how she survives on it although I must admit it is not something I would ever personally follow.

[Kisha · Rating 1 out of 5]

I browsed it for 2 days and returned it to the library. I dismiss any author that suggests disordered eating behaviors like chewing and spitting food out as a means to controlling weight and eating behaviors.

[Janeene · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought it was ok - but didn't really get much from the book. At times her sarcastic humor was good for me - other times it just didn't click.

[Jen Steffens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great sequel to "gut feelings" :) Loved this book and I would so recommend it!!!! :)

[Carmen · Rating 2 out of 5]

The sequel to Gut Feelings. This book is about her life after gastric bypass surgery. Again, she is bubbly and sweet.