Finished Being Fat: An Accidental Adventure in Losing Weight and Learning to Finish
Author: Betsy Schow
Publisher: Cedar Fort Books
Published: January 2013
Softcover; 144 pages
Genre: Health & Lifestyle
ISBN# 978-1462111251
Reviewed by: Shanda
FTC FYI: received a free PDF review copy in exchange for an honest review
Summary
Not everyone can win the race, but everyone can finish it. In her quest to wish away an extra 75 pounds, Betsy changed her life for good. Using her Philosophy of Finishing, she snowballed her efforts from weight loss into a bucket list of seemingly impossible dreams. This inspiring account of one woman’s journey will help you find the strength to conquer your most daunting goals and unfinished projects.
Review
I don’t know Betsy but after reading her book I can tell we would get along famously. I wasn’t sure quite what to expect when I picked up Finished Being Fat. As I read I realized that this was a motivating story about one woman’s journey to finish what she started and not a “diet” book.
I love Betsy’s casual, honest voice. I laughed several times and read many paragraphs to my husband. I related to so much that Betsy wrote, from initial fear of joining a class at the gym and discovering incredible support from my classmates to realizing as I looked at childhood photos of myself that things weren’t as bad as I thought they were at the time.
While I have never aspired to complete a marathon (a 12-minute mile would make me deliriously happy at this point), I admire Betsy for following through with her goal to do just that. Through examples she shares and her lessons learned, I know I don’t have to complete something like a marathon or do something better or faster than someone else for what I finish to be of value, that it’s my attitude and the follow through that makes all the difference.
Every year I choose one little word (via Ali Edwards) to be my motivation for the year. Ironically, my one little word for last year was FINISH. Only I didn’t actually finish anything that I initially set out to do. As the new year approached and I considered what word to choose for 2013 I thought long and hard about why I failed to finish any of what I had planned to complete in 2012.
When Betsy mentioned “starter’s high” I knew exactly what she was talking about. I love the excitement of starting something new but boredom, fear, insecurity, or life always got in the way. I soon realized that I was letting perfectionism and fear hold me back. So I chose COURAGE as my one little word for 2013. Courage to be imperfect. Courage to recognize insecurity and overcome it. Courage to leave behind things that really don’t matter. Courage to FINISH.
I enjoyed every minute I spent reading Finished Being Fat. It’s a quick read full of honesty and humor. I highly recommend it to everyone whether you have struggled with weight issues or not. The subject matter goes beyond health and fitness, encouraging readers to experience the sense of accomplishment and self-worth that comes with finishing what you start.
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