Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Book Review and Giveaway - Stranger Here: How Weight-Loss Surgery Transformed My Body and Messed with My Head

When I first started my diet in 2008, I not only read weight-loss blogs for inspiration and advice, but I also read quite a few weight-loss books (several, coincidentally, were written by bloggers but I didn't know them as bloggers before I read their books).  I got a lot out of the books.  Even though most of the authors were quite a bit younger than me when they began their weight-loss journey, I still could identify with them, their struggles, and eventually their triumphs.  And while I didn't choose weight-loss surgery as my path to losing weight, I was interested in Jen Larsen's book when I first heard about it, so when I got an offer for a free copy to review, I gladly accepted.

Stranger Here:  How Weight-Loss Surgery Transformed My Body and Messed with My Head was not an easy book for me to read.  I got such a depressing vibe from the author throughout the entire book up until the epilogue.  Jen Larsen seemed so unhappy, not only before the surgery, but after it as well.  And I felt sad for her, that she was having such a difficult time.  I didn't get a lot of inspiration from reading her story, although I will admit to having massive dieter's envy when she wrote about being able to eat whatever she wanted as she continued to lose weight, post-surgery, but that's my unhealthy dieting issues popping up. I think if anything, her story is a cautionary tale of how fixing one thing in your life does not necessarily make everything else wonderful - I know that for those of us who have been overweight for a long time, it's often thought that all the struggles we go through would somehow disappear, if only we were thin, and of course, that's not the case.

I have two copies of this book available for giveaway - just leave me a comment saying you'd like to win, and I'll have random.org draw the winners and announce them this Friday.  Open to U.S. and Canada residents only; please make sure you leave an email address in the comments if your name isn't linked to a blog.  Good luck!

Comments are now closed as this giveaway has ended.

FTC:  I received a PDF of this book for free; opinions expressed are all my own.  The publisher will be fulfilling the giveaway prizes.

18 comments:

  1. I'd like to win a book, I read everything I can get my hands on for inspiration.

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  2. Really sad...but you're totally right...One great thing doesn't fix all problems :/
    Unfortunately I'm from Germany so I cannot join your giveaway but good luck to everyone else :)

    www.meetingkat.com

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  3. I read the sample on my kindle, and also thought it was pretty depressing. I did think she was a pretty good writer.

    I've known more people who "failed" WLS than those who've succeeded. One woman (who I didn't think needed it in the first place) ended up an alcoholic and had to go to a treatment center for that. Evidently that's not uncommon. I'm sure it works for some people, but its not the simple fix that so many wish it was.

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  4. I'd like to win a book. Good or bad - I find people's weight loss stories fascinating and inspiring.

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  5. Sounds like an intersting book to read. I would like to win the book. My email address is Bar2969@gmail.com

    Thanks. :)

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  6. Put my name in the hat !
    stacyasp@earthlink.net

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  7. Looks like a great read!

    jenny.scheldberg@optum.com

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  8. I'd like to (try and) win a copy, please.

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  9. Don't enter me because I already have it on my iPad but I agree it was depressing. As someone who just had the surgery, I feel like happiness is what you make of it and for some people it takes some work. I think a positive attitude can work wonders but I was born that way and can't fault others for not being as optimistic as me. I hope she finds some happiness!

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    1. Tina, you are the poster child for successful WLS - you did everything your doctors recommended before and after, and not only are you rocking the weight loss, but you are enjoying life to the hilt! I love reading your posts!

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  10. I can't write about it on my blog, but one of my co-workers had weight loss surgery last year and has lost 100 pounds. Mind you, she doesn't exercise. Her eating habits are exactly the same, it just takes her longer to eat.

    She's learned nothing about nutrition, however, she keeps leaving things on my desk:

    1. The Beck Diet Book
    2. Shape Magazines
    3. Coupons for Chobani
    4. Her size L clothes, because now she's a medium/small

    She keeps saying "I left those things on your desk because I don't need them anymore."

    Case in point - last week for breakfast? She ate two smoked sausages (about 6 ounces worth) four cheese perogies and sauerkraut - for breakfast. After she took it out of the microwave she said "nothing like protein to start out my day!"

    What she doesn't realize, is that eventually she will stretch out her stomach and gain the weight back.

    I am proud that you lost your weight the "old fashioned" way - I believe it's the only way you will keep it off. So kudos to you Shelley!

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    1. Biz, I'm speechless about your coworker. I have a feeling she's going to be in for a rude awakening.

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  11. I actually would like to read that book just for the cautionary tale of it. Weight loss is a positive, necessary thing (for me, especially) but it doesn't always go well and it doesn't always fix everything. It's important to be aware of those times too. Gosh, even if I don't win I think I want to read this.

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  12. I would love to read this book as well! Thanks for the great giveaway.

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  13. I like to read books like this, the good and the bad tales.
    Kimncolumbia@aol.com

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  14. Just read Biz's comment and I wanted to add that several of my coworkers have had WLS since our insurance covers it and none of them have found long term success. Really sad. Seems to me that success stories like yourself are a combination of healthy diet and healthy exercise. Congrats!

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  15. Entry for Diana Dianaz, per her request.

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