Weightless : my life as a fat man and how I escaped / Gregg
McBride.

I would like to lose about 20 pounds and when I saw this
book at the library, I borrowed it hoping that it would contain some words of
wisdom for me. Gregg McBride was
overweight almost all of his life and at his heaviest, weighed over 450
pounds. After many trials and errors and
without weight loss surgery, he got his weight down to 175 pounds and has
maintained it for several years.

This ultimately is a very inspiring read, about an
individual who achieved an important goal despite so many obstacles. One of his biggest obstacles was his dysfunctional
family, with parents who lost interest in his well-being when he was just a
youngster. For example, his mother
always told people she wanted to impress that Gregg and his sister were adopted
and neither parent came to his college graduation. In reading the book, I had to admire the
author for his bravery and honesty in disclosing some less than admirable
behavior on his part, for the talent and confidence he had in acting, writing
and directing plays and films despite his heavy weight; and, for his tenacity and
determination in losing the excess pounds.
I loved the humor in the book where the author displays his fun-loving
side.

There are no magic weight loss solutions in the biography,
but McBride offers practical, sensible ideas for losing weight and some
delicious sounding recipes.

Library Journal review:
Starred Review. Film and TV producer/writer McBride (Just Stop Eating So
Much!) relates his lifelong battle with weight, from 175 pounds at age eight to
464 at age 22, and now, back to 175 today. The author survived an abusive
childhood by bingeing on sweets and snacks, eating until the physical pain from
his full stomach overwhelmed any other emotion. As an adult he tried many diet
programs without success, finally shedding the weight through exercise and
proper nutrition, without gastric bypass. McBride is brutally honest about his
struggles as he details his problems with self-esteem, shopping for clothes,
dating, and the loose skin that remained after his weight loss. He eventually
had surgery to remove the skin, and bluntly describes the pain and scarring
associated with his recovery. The story is ultimately one of triumph, as
McBride has maintained his current size for more than ten years. The last
section includes his tips for losing fat, a few recipes, and a fascinating list
of observations of the behaviors of slender vs. overweight people. VERDICT
Anyone who has lived with excess weight will appreciate this book.