The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl [Import] [Paperback]

Shauna Reid (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 29, 2008

In January 2001 Shauna Reid was twenty-three years old and twenty-five stone. Determined to turn her life around, she created the hugely successful weblog "The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl" and, hiding behind her Lycra-clad roly-poly alter-ego, her transformation from couch potato to svelte goddess began. Today, 8,000 miles, seven years and twelve-and-a-half stone later, the gloriously gorgeous Shauna is literally half the woman she used to be.In turn hysterically funny and heart-wrenchingly honest, "The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl" follows the twists and turns of Shauna's lard-busting adventure as she curbs the calories and learns to love the gym. There are travel tales from Red Square to Reykjavik, plus romance and intrigue as she meets the man of her dreams during a pub quiz in Glasgow. As her UK visa rapidly runs out, will she be deported back to Australia or will love triumph? Entertaining and action-packed, this is the uplifting true story of a young woman who defeated her demons and conquered her cravings to become a weight-loss superhero to inspire us all.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Bookstores are fat with diet tales, but Reid’s stands out. She’s an entertaining, endearing writer - funny, humble, honest, wise, and best of all, compassionate.” (Minneapolis Star Tribune )

“A buoyant, funny, and immensely likable romp--for readers of all sizes.” (4 stars) (People ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Shauna Reid grew up in Australia and currently lives in Scotland. She enjoys travel, pub quizzes and watching men's tennis. As well as her 'Dietgirl' blog ahe also writes 'What's New Pussycat?', which has been featured in various newspaper, magazine, TV and radio publications, including the Sydney Morning Herald. Shauna is thirteen stone lighter than she used to be.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Corgi (January 29, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0552155780
• ISBN-13: 978-0552155786
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,804,363 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reid More, February 29, 2008

By 

Peta Mayer "Peta Mayer" (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl (Paperback)

This is a read-cover-to-cover-in-one-sitting book. While it is nominally about weight-loss, it's really a story about getting your priorities right and how to live life well. Indeed this presents as one of the keys to weight loss. It is therefore invaluable in that it implicitly exposes the futile, depressing and exploitative nature of fad diets while simultaneously showing you something far more positive. This book lingers with you long after reading, nudging you into asking yourself some powerful questions about the decisions you make everyday. The amazing thing is this is all done very subtly, and therefore generously. Unusual within weight-loss genres, Shauna is far from didactic, nor does she condescend to offer advice. In fact she is very humble, and you get the impression that she's got a lot going on. While the narrative travels smoothly and lightly, it should not fool readers into thinking that Shauna's journey was quick or easy. In reality readers will relate to some deep core issues about self-worth, body image, family, love, the self and other, change, self-knowledge and self-development. This is a moving story which causes you to reflect on your own values and has the potential to help you develop an enriched understanding of your place in the world. It affords a sense of clarity and determination that is addictive. Thankfully Shauna's blog of the same name means the narrative progresses online, where you can continue to follow the story of this remarkable woman.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant book! As much about finding courage as losing weight, January 6, 2009

By 

Julianne M. Pohl (Half Moon Bay, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl (Paperback)

I started following the Dietgirl blog a few months ago, and I've read through a number of the archives. "Dang!" I thought to myself. "This girl is *funny*!" I preordered the US book awhile back, happily received it on New Year's Eve, and spent the evening (and a few days after...only because of family/job demands, otherwise it would have been devoured in one sitting) reading this book. Totally missed tuning in for the 9 p.m. (PST) dropping of the ball in Times Square, which usually marks the high point of our personal festivities. (We're such the party animals.)

This book is brilliant! (And not, I'm not just gushing about it because I was desperate for a read at all, let alone a good one.)

Remarkably insightful observations of things I loved about the book:
- Numerous laugh-out-loud funny parts
- Parts that made me feel sympathetic, that I could relate to, and that made me ponder my own quest for fitness
- It's *true*!
- The themes: Fitness is not *only* about the scale or a pant size. Don't wait until you're at the "ideal" weight to do the things you really want to do. Don't let fear stop you. It's a message that a lot of people need to hear. (Like Oprah, for example. Girlfriend, pull your head out of Hollywood and plunk it into this book!)

The drawbacks?
- Being irritated at what or whom ever pulled me away during reading
- Potential financial ruin from buying copies for family (especially the nieces) and friends
- Having to *wait* until Shauna Reid (hope! hope! hope!) publishes another book! (Don't wait as long as that OTHER Edinburgh author, please!)

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The untold story is now told-- and it's HILARIOUS!, February 26, 2008

By 

Meg Veres "Meg" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl (Paperback)

You might think that if someone wrote the truth about living through the process of weight-loss, the book would be so much of a downer that you couldn't bear to both live that life AND read about it at the same time. Think again! Shauna Reid has been "lard-busting" for years and years with amazing success: not only has she lost half of her starting weight, but she's kept her sanity and her raucous sense of humor throughout. It's rare to find someone who is up-front and honest about the godawful process of weightloss AND who can still laugh about it.

This is a book that covers Shauna's "transition years" between the day she reached her breaking point and started lard-busting in earnest, and the day that she found herself happy and comfortable in her own skin. We get to see huge life-changing events-- large amounts of weight lost!moving across the world! touring Europe! re-learning romance! hashing out last-minute ways to stay in her new home!-- complete with all the embarrassing details that make it both human and hilarious, as Shauna grins and shakes her head wryly at the whole ridiculous process of life.

Read it. You won't be disappointed.