Customer Reviews

Jared, the Subway Guy: Winning Through Losing: 13 Lessons for Turning Your Life Around

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I must admit, when I first picked this up I thought, "what in the world could this guy have to offer me except a commercial for Subway." I was so wrong! Jared's story, presented as life lessons for everyone to consider, goes way beyond dieting, but also speaks to applying a realistic attitude to overcome any major life change. So refreshing to hear a real-life perspective of dealing with a major physical and psychological hurdle and how a few simple changes in attitude - one step at a time - can make a huge difference. Quite poignant if you've ever struggled with significant weight issues. Fogle and Bruno really get to the heart of the unspoken hurt, embarrassment, and limitations of what being overweight in today's world is like, but apply this as motivation to conquer any significant challenge. Great read - don't let the Subway ad fear hold you back!

I always secretly liked Jared and the simple way he told his sotry - even if he was selling subs. But having Jared tell his story this way - with all the background details - really makes all those ads seem even more believable and motivating. And the tips he gives to navigating life's issues actually make a whole heck of a lot of sense! Some powerful thoughts from such a young man - and maybe this is what I need to get things on track myself!

Definitely buy the book! You know, Jared has been on Oprah twice, CNN, CBS, been parodied on Saturday Night Live, even speculated about--of all things--being the next James Bond in Time Magazine (well maybe it was Newsweek--I just remember reading it in a waiting room). Why does Jared show up everywhere? He's just a walking miracle. A real, down-to-earth, honest-to-goodness miracle. I recommend this book because it tells the real story of the real person behind the flat persona of the Subway ads. To hear the candor of his heart and pain and triumph is to begin to know him and find out he is a humble, likeable guy. And, basically, if he can lose 245 pounds with basically no one really breathing down his neck to do it, what's the excuse for the rest of us who sit in a rut and complain that life has just dealt us a bad hand? It's time to rise above the "impossible", get a vision for change, and start to make a positive difference in our own lives and the lives of the people around us. I, for one, am motivated.

I don't have a weight problem, and never did, but I have often wondered why it is so hard for me to change things about myself that seem "stuck" in place. Jared's memoir/self-help manual puts it all in perspective and gives a step-wise program that's easy to use and comfortable to adapt to. I initially picked up the book because I found Jared's commercials down to earth and appealing - his book is just the same.

In this day and age of immediate fixes, it was refreshing to read about someone doing it the old fashion way. No Trim Spa, no funky diets, no bariatric surgeries, no prescription medicine. And it was also nice to read that he did it slowly, without the no pain, no gain mentality of most Americans. I was able to use his story in a class I was taking this semister because his story is simple and easy to follow. If everyone could see it his way, I wouldn't have to sit through 20-25 minutes of commercials during a one hour TV show that either tell me I have to lose weight their way or I need to eat it their way! You go Jared!! I am a health care professional and know that your way is the only way; there are no magic fixes. It didn't take him overnight to put on the weight. It had to be taken off the same way. It was sensible, simple, healthy and most of all, because of all this, he was able to make the permanent lifestyle changes that we HAVE to make.

I LOVED this book! It was a page turner to follow Jared's personal story, but it was also filled with original insights into ways that every one of us can make worthwhile changes in our lives. How refreshing to read that conventional wisdom was designed for people en masse and not necessarily for me. How strengthening to read that I hold the keys to making lasting improvements in my life, and that I can make those improvements. I choose to be inspired by Jared. I thank him for his honesty and his positive, but realistic, attitude. His accomplishment was (and is) outstanding.

I don't really do these Amazon reviews, but I felt it important to review this one. I've been big all my life, and although I was more outgoing than Jared growing up, I could relate to about 95% of the adversity and mindsets he had to deal with. The most important thing I learned from reading this book is that you have to find something that works for you, not necessarily a set diet plan, but something that you know is dietary in nature but is of your own design. It also showed me that it's ok to try and fail. It's not that you fail, it's that you keep believing in yourself to keep trying.

I ordered this book from amazon because it was just about the only one I didn't have. I don't know what I was expecting, but trust me, reading it was probably the best thing I could have done. I kept having one epiphany after another. The best parts for me were right after he started his self-styled program. The hunger pangs, how he didn't give in to them--turning them to your advantage. I highly recommend this to anyone struggling with any kind of issues they might have. It gave me what I needed to finally succeed after trying everything else out there.

Like the book cover says, "NOT a DIET BOOK." I have never weighed more than 160 pounds in my life, yet this is one of the most candid, down-to-earth, emotionally-involving inspirational books I have ever read.

Sure we see Jared on TV. We think: young, good-looking, slender spokesperson celebrity. What could possibly be the big deal?

In the book, Jared discloses the story of the pain and the humiliation of weighing 425 pounds. Yet, it's a story we can all relate to. For instance, we have all been ostracized.

Jared talks about hanging out with the high school "misfits" at the cafeteria. Then, after being branded as a misfit among misfits, he's forced to eat by himself at lunch. "There's nothing worse," Jared says, "then having to sit by yourself when you are fat. Then everyone really notices how fat you are. They look at you with disgust as they walk by, and judge the food you have on your tray." He then goes on to discuss taking the verbal stings of the "killer bee" girls in his co-ed gym class.

Jared assures us that it's okay to wallow around in the muck for a while until we find out what works for us as individuals attempting to achieve our goals. (I found great solace in that fact and could relate it to my own career.)

There's plenty of humor in the book as well. Jared discusses shooting his first Subway commercial (by the way, there is actually very little mention of Subway in the book). He had a hard time finding any "healthy" food on the set. Finally, he found a Subway sandwich on a tray, and rushed over to grab it. "No!" the producer yelled at him. "That one is for the commercial!" It had been sprayed with shellac!

After reading this book, I have vowed to eat even better than I already have begun. Thanks, Jared!

My only wish is that Subway would promote this book in its stores to its customers. In the meantime, get the book on your own. It's a message we all need to read!

i found this book to be very inspiring and different from the usual weight loss books i have read. i especially like the part of him saying to look at your hunger pangs as signs of something good instead of signs to go raid the fridge, which is how i have always looked at them. this a good, motivational read, which has encouraged me to continue with my plan to lose weight one day at atime.