In this day and age, so many things are marketed towards overweight people, perhaps because some of us are so desperate to be “normal”. But, I am ashamed to admit that I am desperate too, and so I read a few pages of your memoir, hoping for some miracle, like I always do, but realistically expecting to read another awful book advising me to “drink water” and “run more!”. Instead, I found a real person, in my same situation, who was finally doing what she wanted for a change.

I guess I’ll just say thatI was glued to the first twenty pages of your book. Eventually I had to put it down and get back to work, and when I came back for it, it was gone. But ever since I’ve read a part of your story, which is so like my own, I’ve started to question what I, until so recently, considered my “fate”.

Although I’ve heard about stars like Valerie Bertenelli losing weight, and I’ve seen the Subway Jared, and all the “millions” of people weight watchers has helped, I never really believe it. It has never happened to people I know, it’s never worked for real people. Given, I don’t know you, and I never will, but there is something about you that is so undeniably real, and you’ve been able to do it. And I’m starting to think that if you, a normal, everyday person, could lose half your body weight, then maybe I could too.

I know it’s a long road, and it’s a neverending battle, but I keep thinking that maybe if you could do it, maybe there are more people out there who were able to lose that weight and keep it off.

So thank you for writing such an awesome, funny, down-to-earth memoir, and thanks for giving me a reason to hope.

Lastly, congratulations on reaching your target weight. It’s truly an outstanding achievement, and although I don’t know you personally, I am proud that you had the nerve to stick to it and to share your story and life with people like me.

And I was going to respond to your snarky commentor about censorship, but instead I decided to embrace your philosophy about letting go of negativity. Rock on!

I totally get not wanting the negativity, but I hate censorship. I hope that even if you are choosing not to read the comments that the rest of us (who want to) get to. I am not into internet negativity, but I do enjoy reading other folks’ opinions! I’ve always thought that this blog has been kept pretty snark free. :)

Don’t forget that you did this! With help of course, but in the end you made it happen.

And yeah, I hear you on the thanks to the frozen food – I couldn’t touch them anymore but if they weren’t the most helpful thing to get me started…