Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Book Review and Giveaway - Obsessed: America's Food Addiction - And My Own, by Mika Brzezinski


I'll start this review by saying that while her name was somewhat familiar to me, it was because I'd read Mika Brzezinski's "I'm a Runner" page in Runner's World magazine a while back - well that, and she has a famous political father.  I don't watch daytime TV, so I didn't know that she co-hosts a morning show on TV.  I also didn't know that she was famous not only for her smarts, but for her looks as well - apparently she was known for wearing tight sleeveless dresses that showed off her perfect body.  What I discovered by reading her book, Obsessed:  America's Food Addiction - And My Own, is that she has had a time of it with keeping her body at a size tiny enough for a successful television career - and that like many of us, she's a closet eater who struggles with food addiction - and sometimes loses.  She's human!  Honestly, it's refreshing to know that a super-thin, beautiful woman has dealt with the same stupid food cravings that I did.

In Obsessed, Mika talks about her story, of overeating and of constant hunger to keep her body at the size that looks good on television.  She overexercises as well, running up to 10 miles a day when she feels like she's gone overboard with eating.  I got the feeling that she was living in a constant state of panic about her weight, which as we all know is not a fun place to be.  And as thin as she was, she still wasn't particularly healthy - she had her diet analyzed and was found to be lacking in a lot of nutrients.  She talks a lot about healthy eating habits on her TV show, but apparently was not following enough of her own advice.

A while ago, Mika confronted her good friend of many years, Diane Smith, about her size - she called her out on being fat, and said that she was worried for her health.  As you can imagine, that didn't go over very well at first - who wants to be told that, and by a friend, no less?  Mika then opened up to Diane about her own disordered eating, and they ended up challenging each other - Diane was to lose 75 pounds, and Mika was to gain some weight and get help with her food issues.  And thus, a book was born.

I enjoyed reading Obsessed.  I learned some interesting facts - for example, the U.S. Military is stepping up to take a lead role in pushing for better food in the schools, because they're getting too many overweight candidates, and they're having to overcome many years of bad lifestyle habits - and these are 18-year-olds they're talking about, not 40-year-olds!  And Diane hit the nail on the head when she wrote that to her, a diet was what helped her "stay in a size 12 or 14 for a while, until it was time to eat 'real food' again."  Also in the book, it's noted that diets are looked at as "temporary torture we must endure"..."then we have permission to backslide into old habits, as if we were entitled to a reward for our sacrifice."  Who among us hasn't had those exact same thoughts?

Obsessed is being released today.  If you'd like a chance at winning a copy of your own to read, just leave me a comment saying you're in, and I'll announce the winner on Friday.  Open to U.S. residents only; please make sure you leave an email address in the comments if your name isn't linked to a blog.  Good luck!

FTC:  I was sent an advance copy of this book to read for review.  The publisher will fulfill the giveaway.  Opinions expressed are all mine.

Comments are closed as this giveaway has ended.

26 comments:

  1. I saw her on TV yesterday promoting her book. The book sounds interesting so please include me in the drawing.
    Thanks. calderons4913@bellsouth.net

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  2. I would like to read this book!

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  3. I was so curious I bought last night ;-)

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  4. God, I hate this woman. One time on her show she said something about we need to treat obese people "as if they have cancer". She's a hater, and it does not surprise me one bit that she has an eating disorder. I can't imagine that she has anything actually productive or helpful to say on the subject.

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  5. I would really like to read this book.

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  6. I would like to read this book too.

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  7. You've piqued my interest here, Shelley. I'd like to read it as well. And good review, btw.

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  8. (You said I'd love today's post!) Great review! I'm in!

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  9. I've been looking for a book on food addiction, what a cool coincidence! I'd love to read this!

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  10. Good review! Sounds like an interesting book I would enjoy reading.

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  11. Sounds like a good read and I would love to win the book.

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  12. This book sounds interesting and just got put on my library request list after seeing it in O magazine. Would love a copy!

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  13. That sounds like a really interesting book. I know I wasn't successful at losing weight until I realized that many thin people struggle too. It got me past the resentment I felt about dieting and onto a place where I eat healthy as a lifestyle.

    Just in case I win: cforthman@comast.net

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  14. Sounds like an interesting read. I'm in. ronniecarol7@gmail.com

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  15. I'm in!!

    She was the news anchor in Hartford CT when I was a kid... :)

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  16. You have me intrigued! Would love to win my own copy. Thanks!

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  17. I'm in... summertime is a struggle for me because of the much looser schedule. I can use some motivation to stay sane and on the right path.

    P.S. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading your monthly take on weight maintenance. I used to only read you and Lori, but now I am reading all of the group. It took me years to come to some of the same conclusions that you guys shared.

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  18. Sorry, I always forget the email part - I'm kimncolumbia@aol.com

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  19. Sounds interesting. I'm in! Thanks for the review!

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  20. I saw her on tv this morning. I don't know much about her, but I'd like to read her book!

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  21. Sounds like something I'd love to read - count me in please!!

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  22. Count me in! Deborah.alvarez@cox.net

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  23. Please put me also. Sounds like an interesting read.
    Thanks!!

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  24. I'm in. I read an article about her in More Magazine and have been looking forward to her book!

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