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library_brandy's review against another edition
2.0
I like Carol Lay's Story Minute comic, and I've picked up a couple of her collections and enjoyed those as well. So when I heard this was coming out, I figured I'd read it even though the subject matter (weight loss) didn't sound all that interesting.
It wasn't. At times smug and self-righteous, Lay talks about what worked for her (scrupulous calorie-counting and exercise) and the kinds of meals she eats regularly. This is every bit as repetitive as you'd expect, and she'll sometimes repeat information from previous chapters as well. She claims that the rigorous calorie-counting makes her not think about food much, but the kind of attention-to-detail required to eat a bite of anything seems more obsessive than freeing to me.
It's possible this isn't the kind of plan that would work for me, but really, the whole book didn't work for me. Congratulations to Lay, who managed to lose a bunch of weight and keep it off, but this book is far less interesting and insightful than I'd have expected of her. It's nice to look at, though.
It wasn't. At times smug and self-righteous, Lay talks about what worked for her (scrupulous calorie-counting and exercise) and the kinds of meals she eats regularly. This is every bit as repetitive as you'd expect, and she'll sometimes repeat information from previous chapters as well. She claims that the rigorous calorie-counting makes her not think about food much, but the kind of attention-to-detail required to eat a bite of anything seems more obsessive than freeing to me.
It's possible this isn't the kind of plan that would work for me, but really, the whole book didn't work for me. Congratulations to Lay, who managed to lose a bunch of weight and keep it off, but this book is far less interesting and insightful than I'd have expected of her. It's nice to look at, though.
miss_tsundoku's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars, because I like the calorie charts and the recipes.
averagegal's review against another edition
2.0
This book is a memoir about Carol Lay's experience with weight loss. The twist is that she uses her talent as a cartoonist to tell her story. Unfortunately, the novelty of a graphic novel about health and fitness isn't enough to make it anything more than average.
Why do a fitness book in cartoon form, anyway? This was a big stumbling block for me. When I read a book about someone who has lost weight, I want to see some before-and-after photos. This is a book filled with drawings; for all I know, the author could still be overweight. How am I supposed to believe that what she is recommending works?
Putting the lack of photos aside, this isn't a bad book. However, I can't figure out the right audience for it. The graphic novel format might appeal to teenage girls, but the author is not in their age group and doesn't write in a hip enough style. The women who are Lay's age (mid-50s) have probably read enough fitness books in their lifetime to make this book seem like a kindergartener's guide to dieting. Even her personal story isn't compelling enough to recommend the book.
Why do a fitness book in cartoon form, anyway? This was a big stumbling block for me. When I read a book about someone who has lost weight, I want to see some before-and-after photos. This is a book filled with drawings; for all I know, the author could still be overweight. How am I supposed to believe that what she is recommending works?
Putting the lack of photos aside, this isn't a bad book. However, I can't figure out the right audience for it. The graphic novel format might appeal to teenage girls, but the author is not in their age group and doesn't write in a hip enough style. The women who are Lay's age (mid-50s) have probably read enough fitness books in their lifetime to make this book seem like a kindergartener's guide to dieting. Even her personal story isn't compelling enough to recommend the book.
1tolkienfan's review
3.0
a unique way to share weight loss method/lifestyle changes. Can't believe i'm saying that i actually enjoyed reading/viewing Carol Lay's journey. Hoping that i've reached that point of being fed up and ready to change myself.
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