If 15 minutes of laughing burns 10 to 40 calories, I recommend Jen Lancaster's Such a Pretty Fat as a New Year must-have weight-loss tool. The memoir, Lancaster's third, chronicles her quest to lose weight. She succeeds, but not without some swearing, body aches and a few late-night, Ambien-induced online purchases. Lancaster's sometimes caustic wit had me laughing out loud - and nearly falling out of my chair. I imagine I'm not alone in relating all too well to her experiences with gyms, weight-loss programs and wavering self-control. Whether Lancaster's words hit home or not, I dare anyone to read this book and not laugh. Pennie, head book buyer at Costco, has made her choice for her January book and this one has a touch of resolution about it. It''s Jen Lancaster's third memoir, Such a Pretty Fat. Here's what Pennie has to say about it:
I love this note from Lancaster on Costco's site:
"To whom the fat rolls…I'm tired of books where a self-loathing heroine is teased to the point where she starves herself skinny in hopes of a fabulous new life. And I hate the message that women can't possibly be happy until we all fit into our skinny jeans. I don't find these stories uplifting; they make me want to hug these women and take them out for fizzy champagne drinks and cheesecake and explain to them that until they figure out their insides, their outsides don't matter. Unfortunately, being overweight isn't simply a societal issue that can be fixed with a dose healthy of positive self-esteem. It’s a health matter, and here on the eve of my fortieth year, I've learned I have to make changes so I don't, you know, die. Because what good if finally being able to afford a pedicure if I lose a foot to adult onset diabetes?"
And if those two pitches didn't get you, I dare you to watch this video and not be charmed by Lancaster (make sure to watch it all the way through to hear her husband, he's hilarious). I need to make a Costco run, so I'm definitely going to pick this up as well. It's a great book group pick to vote on this month as everyone is in their New Year/New You frame of mind. You can get it at Costco warehouses, or online.
