Sayonara, Mr. Fatty!: A Geek's Diet Memoir [Paperback]

Toshio Okada (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 14, 2009

In this uplifting memoir, famous Japanese pop culture "Geek" Toshio Okada tells of the diet and lifestyle changes he made in his fight against obesity, and how his public perception dramatically improved as a result of his healthier appearance.

Toshio Okada lost 110lbs in one year, without the use of funky dieting techniques or exercises, using nothing but a notepad. He recognized that a diet is doomed to fail if it's unsustainable, and a person cannot continue something they do not enjoy. Examining various diets and exercise regimes--even taking surgery into account--he concluded that a recording diet would be the most effective method. By succeeding in the recording diet, a person will learn a means of self-control that can be applied to other aspects of life, such as budgeting. Toshio Okada's diet reflects the six stages of space flight, each stage a little bit closer to the final goal of health and self confidence!

Editorial Reviews

Review

“The diet book of the Obama era… A valuable illustration of otaku-problem solving. The process of building these arguments is a fascinating exercise in otaku-think, erected with risk/reward, cost/benefit analyses.” Ain’t It Cool News
“If you’re at all interested in losing weight, or controlling any part of your life, Sayonara, Mr. Fatty is indispensable. The book is warm and inviting, and treats you with reassurances and life stories from a man who is just like the rest of us.” —Japanator
“The real results, when achieved, are so worth it. In his last chapter, Okada describes it as landing on the moon. When you lose a lot of weight, everything about you changes… If you can achieve this landing on the moon sensation using his methods, this book will be the best fifteen bucks you’ve ever spent.”—Mania.com

About the Author

Born in 1958, Toshio Okada is a Japanese writer
who specializes in pop culture. Calling himself
"OtaKing"--short for "King of Otaku," or "King of
the Geeks"--he's published more than 10 books,
with such titles as Introduction to Otaku-ology and
International Otaku University. He is the founder
of Gainax Co., Ltd. , serving as CEO from 1984 to
1992. Gainax is known as one of the most influential
anime-producing companies in Japan, due in large
part to the success of its award-winning magnum
anime opus, Neon Genesis Evangelion. Okada has
lectured on pop culture in universities and colleges
around the world, including The University of
Tokyo in 2002 and MIT in 2003.

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Vertical; Original edition (July 14, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1934287423
• ISBN-13: 978-1934287422
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.5 x 7.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #449,883 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

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Touching memoir with an intelligent take on weight, July 26, 2009

By 

Brent "21st Century Renaissance Man" (Leesburg, Vatican City State (Holy See)) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sayonara, Mr. Fatty!: A Geek's Diet Memoir (Paperback)

This book surprised me.

Yes, it's a book about the author's struggles with his weight. It's also a book that provides a diet plan.

But it's not that, and it's also much more than that.

Okada-san insists that it's important to not try to "diet" in the traditional sense. Don't consciously try to lose weight. Don't exercise more than you already do. Just start writing down what you eat. Not out of guilt; just note what you eat.

That's the first of several stages, each of which builds naturally on the previous stage to a greater awareness of what (and how) we eat.

And that, ultimately, is the goal: awareness. Simple consciousness of how much food we eat, and how often we do it. Not to criticize, or judge; just to note it. Then to compare that to sensible norms.

Okada-san trusts you, and he understands people. He knows that willpower ("I'll just eat lettuce from now on!") doesn't work for more than a month or two; if we had willpower, we wouldn't be overweight! So he instills a simple, easy habit that has nothing at all to do with the food itself, then grows that habit over time.

More importantly, this technique can be used for more than just food. It's an intelligent tool, used to track and analyze.

Looking to lose a few (or more than a few) pounds? Sayonara, Mr. Fatty! will help you. Looking for a light, engaging memoir about weight and a thoughtful analysis thereof? This will serve you well, too.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very highly recommended as an alternative for the usual dull diet plan guide, October 18, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sayonara, Mr. Fatty!: A Geek's Diet Memoir (Paperback)

SAYONARA, MR. FATTY: A GEEK'S DIET MEMOIR tells of one who would never give up a favorite dish, avoids gym, and finds weight loss programs boring and un-intellectual. How can such a person lose weight despite it all? Chapters aren't based on deprivation and tell how to create a plan that's fun, easy to follow, and actually works. Very highly recommended as an alternative for the usual dull diet plan guide.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sayonara, Mr. Fatty!, March 23, 2010

By 

amm - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sayonara, Mr. Fatty!: A Geek's Diet Memoir (Paperback)

Personal story of an overweight man who lost 100 pounds using common sense and logical choices rather than traditional dieting. I found it motivational.