Becoming Fearless: My Ongoing Journey of Learning to Trust God [Kindle Edition]

Michelle Aguilar (Author)

Book Description

Michelle Aguilar's inspiring story goes beyond her grand-prize victory on the immensely popular The Biggest Loser. Becoming Fearless is about having faith in God when you've lost faith in yourself. It is an encouragement to "feel the fear" in any obstacle in life without being paralyzed by it. Finally, it is a story about reconciliation between Michelle and her mother, an exploration of the difficult and freeing work of forgiveness, and a reminder that what you learn on the journey is even more important than the destination.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Believing in God and appreciating family seems like the perfect formula for living a happy life; but when life presents challenges, fear can easily replace faith, and life is not nearly so sweet. When her parents divorced and her mother moved away, taking siblings with her, Aguilar experienced a wounding sense of abandonment. Consequently, the bright, beautiful young woman suffered insecurity and fear that triggered bouts of overeating. Becoming Fearless is not about reaching a permanent destination; it is an acknowledgment of a process that is ongoing. Aguilar shares her inner journey from fearful to fearless, during which she teamed with her estranged mother to become a winner on NBC’s The Biggest Loser. This is a testament to the value of faith set, almost improbably, against the background of reality television. An inspirational story about battling some of life’s biggest challenges and winning. --Susan DeGrane

From the Back Cover

“I will never forget the emotions that night as I stepped up to the scale and won the title as America cheered me on. It was an unforgettable journey from ‘little girl lost’ to ‘champion crowned,’ and the priceless gift I’d been given—to become fearless—is one that will keep on giving.”

—Michelle Aguilar, Becoming Fearless

 

Michelle Aguilar’s inspiring story goes beyond her grand-prize victory on television’s immensely popular The Biggest Loser. Becoming Fearless is about having faith in God when you’ve lost faith in yourself. It is an encouragement to “feel the fear” in any obstacle in life without being paralyzed by it. Finally, it is a story about reconciliation between Michelle and her mother, an exploration of the difficult and freeing work of forgiveness, and a reminder that what you learn on the journey is even more important than the destination.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 1668 KB
• Print Length: 244 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1434703274
• Publisher: David C. Cook (October 1, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007355AHI
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Not Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #253,439 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a Game Changer! October 16, 2011

By Cyndy Nordyke

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

When I first got the book - I'm thinking - "I can't wait to read this story this is going to be an all-nighter!" I wanted to read the story about Michelle Aguilar and her winning on The Biggest Loser TV Show - Season 6. I was looking for the "the secret version," about what really went on at the ranch, with her mom & the weight loss. Was it really like on TV - people yelling at you? I couldn't wait to get it!

Quickly you are drawn into the book & her story but then something very crazy starts to happen - as I read through the chapters I had to put the book down and walk away. Was I hiding behind some walls? The Christian life of trying to be perfect & everyone else expecting you to be perfect, drive the perfect car, wear the perfect clothes, or have the perfect body. I hated that lie!

Michelle was now making me face myself. It might have been an hour or maybe several days before I had worked through some issues that she touched on about being "true to yourself." Then finally I would get brave enough to get back to reading the book. It didn't matter if you were on first base or had hit a home run because Michelle walks you through her own fears and the overcoming journey & takes you with her to face them and how to overcome them. You are going to love it! Get it for yourself & for your friends - It's a Game Changer!

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I Really Enjoyed This Book September 15, 2011

By 70xseven VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

To tell the truth, I am NOT a fan of The Biggest Loser. I feel the weight loss methods they use are harsh and unrealistic for the "real world." I do not like Jillian Michaels "in your face" persona. That said, of course I opened the book with built-in-prejudice. Boy was I surprised.

This is a lovely book, more about a woman's journey with God and faith as much as it is about being the season six winner of Biggest Loser. She is very honest about the struggle to maintain a certain weight, about her life's background and faith journey. I have no problem with this book being part memoir. Too much actual talk about the Biggest Loser show would have bored me.

I absolutely adore the quotations scattered throughout the book, some biblical, some not.

The biggest surprise was how much I liked the foreword by Jillian Michaels! A softer, kinder side to her was definitely revealed. Goes to show you that for all the talk of The Biggest Loser being a "reality" show, there is definitely acting involved! This was not the Jillian Michaels of the The Biggest Loser!

I really enjoyed Michelle Aguilar's book. She was very inspiring and motivational. I read that she was involved with the 2010 Women of Faith tour. I would certainly enjoy hearing her speak in person.

Highly, highly recommended.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars So Much Missing February 16, 2012

By Lois Lain VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

First, let me say that I am not a "Biggest Loser" viewer. I thought I'd still be able to pick up some valuable lessons and thoughts about the Bible from this book. But there was SO much missing. If you are not a "BL" fan, I don't think this book will mean much to you, because it's really more about her process of getting on and being on the show than it is about healing her relationship with herself, with God, or with her mom.

But even on the topic of "BL" a lot was missing. I felt like this was a cursory discussion of a very deep topic. I wanted to hear more details about how she came to a place of peace with her mom, and with God. I didn't get that.

If you adore "BL," you may enjoy the glimpses of behind-the-scenes and the insider take on the show.

I do wish Michelle the best as she continues to grow and heal, and I look forward to reading a deeper take on her life, if she's ever prepared to write it.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Shallow April 27, 2012

By M. Canonge

Format:Kindle Edition

I really wanted to like Becoming Fearless: My Ongoing Journey of Learning to Trust God by Michelle Aguilar. Let me just go on the record first and admit I have never watched "The Biggest Loser". However, I don't think that affected my opinion of this book at all.

When I first started reading Becoming Fearless it seemed like a good book, but as I read on I grew confused. The way the book was written caused too much back tracking and trying to keep the events in order. Instead of answering my questions, it just left me wondering - things just didn't seem to fit. For example Michelle stated that she had stopped attending church, praying, and having a relationship with her mother, but then we find her at church with her mother. Also, it seemed to me that Michelle used her family being in ministry to justify her feelings of anger and shame, but we come to find out her parents stepped down from ministry many years before her parents divorced. It would seem pride was more the problem then fear.

For a book that is supposed to help us become fearless and trust God, it doesn't seem very honest. I would describe it as shallow. It seemed to be more about Michelle finding her "voice" and getting rid of her "co-dependent" tendencies (psychological jargon) than about trusting God.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Fearless - Michelle's Journey September 21, 2011

By Lee Mellott TOP 500 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

In her book, "Becoming Fearless: My Ongoing Journey of Learning to Trust God", Michelle shares her journey of painful times and finding comfort in God. Michelle has experienced an incredible journey mentally and physically. As the winner of "The Biggest Loser" she dropped 110 pounds. Along the way she learned to resolve many internal conflicts and put herself in the hands of God.

Michelle comes across as a sincere person who felt emotionally betrayed by her mother, who left her family when Michelle was a teen. The depth of the betrayal was devastating to Michelle and she refers to it repeatedly in the book. Though she does share some of her experiences on "The Biggest Loser" the bulk of the book speaks about her pain. Though her time on the show is mentioned,it is not with a lot of depth. She refers to her feelings about Jillian but glosses over the other contestants and barely hints at what went on with the show itself.

Overall, the book doesn't seem to move much off the topic of her hurt feelings over her mother's departure. It rehashes her feelings over and over instead of moving on to other things. I think it could have been much better, if she had just branched out more into her life as a contestant, her accomplishments after etc.

I really admire Michelle for what she has accomplished, kudos to her, but the book was just not a big page turner.