Customer Reviews

From Fat to Fit: Turn Yourself into a Weapon of Mass Reduction

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I actually met Carole Carson and THEN read her book. Believe me, seeing the "after" first had a great impact on me. I never could have imagined the "before" Carole. She went from a pleasantly round grandmotherly type to a toned, energetic, athletic and strikingly attractive woman who looks like she could take on the world! Oh, did I mention that I met her on a tennis court in the Hawaiian Islands? My group was so impressed with her play, confidence and effervesence. Imagine my surprise when I read her book. After only a few chapters, I decided, "I want that!" Her ideas are easy to implement and I love hearing, "Are you thinner--you look great!" Better yet, I have new-found energy and confidence. Her story can be your story. You'll laugh out loud as you read how an entire town jumps on board as Carole motivates them to healthy living.

This book is such a great mix of inspiration and real-life stories. Unlike so many other "this book will change your life forever" sort of books, this book is about real people making real changes, something that we can all relate to. The story is told in such a way that these extraordinary accomplishments don't feel intimidating or impossible. Instead, it feels like sitting down with an old friend and hearing about these amazing things that you could do, if you put your mind to it. The community aspect of it is something I particularly liked, and it's easy to start to think of her community as your own community and imagine what this would look like with your own friends and family.
I loved this book, and think that it truly does have to power to change people's bodies, lives, and communities in a way that so many other diet books claim to do, but come up short. Believe me, this book doesn't come up short!

If you thought there were no new ideas on how to lose that unhealthy body weight plus how to keep it off, you were wrong. One of the great things about this tome is that you not only find out you're not alone in your struggles with losing weight, there's a different solution to becoming fit again. Oh, we all know the difficulties of losing, and many of us do, only to regain it all back. Carole not only shows us how to suceed where we only failed before, but have FUN doing it. Her story is not only one of promise, but how a whole community came together to win the Battle of the Bulge. What began as a slap of realism when she gingerly steped on the bathroom scale only to have it break, literally, grew exponentially into a Movement that not only captvated a whole community, but through this book to the rest of world. Lose weight and fun? that paradox is proven through the adventures Carole and her neighbors. It's a fun read even if you don't need to lose weight. The cover says it all, from fat to fit wins!

I was so impressed with Carole Carson's work that I discussed it in my book, Body Intelligence. Now she has a book, From Fat to Fit, that describes her community-based approach to losing weight in detail. While each of us controls what we eat, and how active we are, these choices don't occur in a vacuum - the people around us and our environment play a significant role. From Fat to Fit shows how a community can be mobilized to help make the changes necessary to lose weight. It offers a blueprint for weight loss that should be widely adopted.

This book was very interesting and easy to relate to for the common woman because it was written by one. Carole's realization that only she could change her life and her chronicle on how she achieves that goal was very inspiring. Her experience was something I could relate to since I am getting close to Carole's age at the time she went on this journey (59). She emphasized that you can decide what eating plan, not diet, will work for you for the rest of your life. Then you need to commit to an exercise plan. Additionally, this book is an easy read. She provides tips on how to succeed in your own healthy journey.

Carole Carson took our already wonderful community and made it even more wonderful! She has struggled with issues many of us have had throughout our lives. Her book has humor, helpful suggestions, and examples of people challenging themselves. Not to mention a map on how to loose weight and stay fit.
A must read for people interested in being fit.

Susan Michalski

I learned about author Carole Carson through the AARP site. A few months before her 60th birthday, facing health issues, including obesity, she set an ambitious goal to lose 40 pounds in the next 4 months, so she'd be that much slimmer when this milestone birthday rolled around.

While moving toward this goal, she chronicled her adventure for a local newspaper. Area residents rallied around her and made her their confidant, sharing their struggles. As the pounds rolled off, the friendships multiplied. Carson went on to lose over 60 pounds, going from a size 18 to a 6 in 6 months. In addition, she inspired a community to come together for a "Meltdown", and things absolutely snowballed. Over 1,000 participants got on the bandwagon and shed nearly four tons of weight in an 8-week period. The effects are ongoing in their community and beyond, as "From Fat to Fit" becomes a motivational fave written by one who has walked in the shoes of those who've struggled with obesity.

The chapters detail her techniques, and pitfalls she faced along the way. She explains having to learn to think differently and make new choices, which, after a period of time, became second nature. As her energy level soared and she began to experience the benefits derived from shedding excess pounds, she found it actually a joy to do what used to be drudgery. At each chapter's end, she details her progress for that time period. As she came to realize weight-loss is no once-and-done fix, she advises readers to find a healthy eating/exercise plan they can live with for life.

Carson has rightly been dubbed "the apostle of fitness", and her candor, enthusiasm, "you-can-do-it" attitude and helpful hints will propel readers to adopt her techniques, and go on to "write" their own weight-loss/healthy living success story.

This is the incredible story of a woman who took her weight loss journey public and ended up with an entire community behind her. When Carole Carson wrote a newspaper article on being over 60 and getting fit, she didn't have any idea what she was stirring up in her community. Soon the entire community was rallied behind her and they were participating along with her. She managed to get more than 1,000 others in her town coming along with her on the weight loss/getting fit journey. What started as a single newspaper article turned into a weekly series that chronicled her struggle to get fit and lose weight. They found that what is hard to do alone, is easier and more fun when doing it with others. This book outlines the seven-step Meltdown plan that this community used to go from fat to fit, and offers practical strategies and resources to help the reader duplicate the process. This story is an inspiration to anyone of any age who has tried to lose weight, and demonstrates the power of partnership to attain a goal. This book gets 5 out of 5 stars from me! As someone who's been on a weightloss journey for a while now, I know how much support helps.

Facing her 60th birthday only months away, Carole Carson made the decision that it was time to get fit. With the help of a personal trainer, she set a goal to lose 40 lbs in four months. In order to motivate herself and maybe a few other folks, she asked her local newspaper if she could write an article for the senior section. She had no idea the newspaper had other ideas for her story.

From Fat to Fit chronicles Carson's 16-week journey through her own personal program of weight loss and nutrition. But the story doesn't end there. Instead, she determined to take the message of health and fitness to her community in an effort to help as many people as she could. This "meltdown," as it became known, spread like wildfire, and information is provided on starting your own community group.

This book is written for everyone - not just the youthful and super-athletic. If you've made health and fitness a priority this year, you'll find Carson's message to be inspirational and motivational. Full of common-sense wisdom, From Fat to Fit will help you reach your own goals.

Reviewer: Alice Berger, Bergers Book Reviews

This book offers a lot of information for any reader who has struggled with their weight. Its filled with great ideas, and a whole host of professionals to give you motivation to loose weight the right way, the healthy way. Carol Carson's story of her transformation is one we all should read and use it for motivation to get fit and stay fit.