It Was Me All Along

"I liked this book but I certainly didn't love it. Andrea Mitchell struggled the majority of her life with over eating and carrying excessive weight. At the age of 20 she was almost 300 pounds and knew she had to change her lifestyle. She had started and ended many diets, weight loss plans and exercise regimens that ended with her gaining more weight then ever before and still not being happy with her life. She had a love/hate relationship with food and herself. Andrea struggled with depression, weight gain and many other issues. She finally knew that she had to do something and make some very drastic changes in her life. She started eating healthier, eating less junk, and exercising on a regular basis. She lost 135 pounds and writes a food blog to help others attain their weight loss goals by helping them cook healthier. <br/><br/>I can commiserate with always being the fat one. My eldest sister was the athlete who could eat whatever she wanted and never gain an ounce. She even looks good after having her son almost two years ago. My youngest sister might be the shortest but she has always been skinny and has never weighed as much as me. My mother is the same way and she complains constantly that she is fat even though she has never weighed more than 120. I have never weighed less than 135 and have gone as large as 220 (granted I was pregnant with my daughter but I NEVER want to be THAT big again). I have struggled with my weight for ages. I tried many different diets like Andrea especially Weight Watchers. It works but the daily point counting is grueling. I might not have struggled with as much weight gain as Andrea but much of what she talked about I have experienced myself and/or struggle with currently. I was enlightened by reading her story but I think because it hits a little too close to home in many ways that it is hard for me to give an objective rating. I will take much of the advice to heart but some of her family situations and other struggles will always be incomprehensible for someone who hasn't experienced it. Recommended for those that need a wake up call."

"http://www.anurseandabook.com/2015/01/andie-mitchells-it-was-me-all-along.html<br/><br/>I learned something new. There is actually a classification of books called Culinary Biographies. And that's where Amazon places It Was Me All Along.<br/><br/>I think it should be filed under the classification of "Strong Women Who Change Their Own Lives" or "Gut Wrencher". Because that would be a much more accurate description.<br/><br/>Andie starts her life off in a dysfunctional household, with an alcoholic father and a loving mother who is working herself to the bone to try to keep a roof over their head and food in their mouths. Unfortunately, the food is plentiful, cooked by her mother and Andie learns very young to equate love and security with all types of food.<br/><br/>Andie spends her childhood, into her early 20's very overweight girl, hitting the 260's when she is in college. She is blessed with great friends who accept her as she is, but she still deals with the shame of her weight, the embarassment of shopping for clothes with her thin friends and not being able to find anything in her size in "normal" stores.<br/><br/>One of the best things about this book was having her openly admit that she is scared to think about never getting to eat her favorite foods again. She learns to think of working out and eating well as a "one day at a time" type of commitment, acknowledging her addiction exists and has been controlling her.<br/><br/>This book brought me to tears quite a few times. It's a definite must read! But I don't want to give too much away, because I think every person who reads this will have a different takeaway, depending on what your relationship is with food.<br/><br/>"