Customer Reviews

The Ups and Downs of Being Round

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I especially loved the very detailed advice on healthy weight loss. Not only enjoyable fiction, but also practical weight loss advice. Great advice which also address the emotional aspect of overeating by someone who has been there!

Funny thing, as I was reading ... I thought "She must have been a big girl before, or is one!!!" As there were some things in the novel that you could only know of, if you experienced it ... The physical issues, self-esteem, insecurities and random thoughts of a big girl. Lo and behold, once I finished the book her conclusion stated that while the book was fiction ... she herself, had dealt with ... well, the ups and downs of being round. She even provides her diet plan and provides great advice on changing your lifestyle.

Now the book is quite laid back, moreso a diary of the narrators', but I enjoyed it. It was interesting to read and relate how the subject's weight affected daily actions and thoughts.

A wonderful read, very much so relative.

~PC
www.madamethejourney.com

Wow! This book took me right back to my youth! I too, have struggled with my weight over the years and this book put on paper some of the same struggles, heartache & triumphs I have faced in my life. The yo-yo weight problem affects so many people, male & female alike. I'm sure anyone who reads this book will be able to relate, if not in their own experiences, definetly through the experiences of someone close to them. I say "Kudos!" to Monica Marie Jones for having the courage to infuse some of her own personal experiences into the lives of these fictional characters. Very well written & full of energy!

Monica M. Jones takes a simple story and turns it into a journey of discovery. Using humor and honesty, the main character faces the challenges of overcoming weight issues and self-image to discover the truth about herself and the life she lives. A sort of coming of age story that many can relate to, this book is a must read for women of color, women of faith, and women who are looking to grow into maturity and understanding of themselves. I look forward to more from this talented author.

Kelli Brownlee
[...]

Ms. Jones did a wonderful job with this story. I enjoyed it and found myself thinking about Madison long after I finished the book. I highly recommend The Ups and Downs of Being Round for all teenagers and women in general because sometimes we can be our own worse enemy when it comes to how we view ourselves. Monica Marie Jones is definitely an author to watch and I look forward to reading more of her work. GREAT JOB!!!!

In Monica Marie Jones' book The Ups and Downs of Being Round, the author expertly tackles a struggle that plagues just about every woman with access to a mirror: issues of weight and self-image.

Ms. Jones tackles this problem in a unique way. Her book, which is broken up into four parts, follows a woman as she battles the weight demon. Chronicling her life from childhood through adulthood. In each stage you are given a window into the life of Madison. The first stage is Fat Girl which gives you a glimpse into a childhood littered with teasing from being overweight. The next stage is Phat Girl here you meet up with Madison after she sheds her baby fat garnering attention from boys. The third stage is aptly titled The Freshman Fifteen anyone who has ever went away to college can relate to the subsequent weight gain that usually comes with it. The story comes together in the final section, A Lifestyle Change depicting Madison's realization that it takes a little more than a slim physique to bring about happiness and self-actualization.

Monica Marie Jones uses humor and real emotion to give the readers not just a glimpse into weight loss issues, but she also arms you with tools. So not only does she tell you what not to do, she gives you guidance on what you should do. This book is full of healthy eating guides and even the author's exercise plan. This book proves to be a one, two punch in the fight to develop a healthy self image both inside and out.

The Ups and Downs of Being Round by Monica Marie Jones is a coming-of-age story for young, overweight girls. From the very first pages, the reader can see how important food is to Madison Jenson. She is elementary school age when the book starts and her fondest memories are of the wonderful food her father prepared for her. The food is described in loving detail. The reader also feels her love-hate relationship with food. Madison loves eating, however, she does not enjoy her nickname, as Ms. Piggy and the negative attention being overweight brings.

The book is written in four parts that cover Madison's life from elementary school to young adulthood. The Ups and Downs of Being Round offers us a glimpse of an overweight child. We are then allowed to see what happens in adolescence when the duckling turns into a swan and how the newfound attention affects a young lady in her formative years. Later, we see Madison through college as she gains the dreaded `Freshman Fifteen' and the affect the weight has on her. Finally, we get to see her make a lifestyle change, coming up with eating and exercise habits that transform her. Ms. Jones also enforces the message that it is not just about the food. The end of the book offers practical eating and exercise information.

I recommend The Ups and Downs of Being Round to young and old alike. It offers a story that will resonate with many who have struggled with weight and is written in a simple, easy to understand style.

Angelia Menchan
APOOO BookClub

The Ups and Downs of Being Round is the coming-of-age story of little Madison, otherwise known as Miss Piggy since the day she first started school. This was the day Madison discovered it wasn't cool to be the "fat" or the "big" kid. Wanting to be accepted and considered "normal," Madison began working to get her body in order - exercising and dieting. Experiencing considerable weight loss, Madison is soon the center of attention and discovers what she calls "the new me." She quickly learns that dropping the weight and keeping it off will require more than a temporary phase of exercise and diet. Madison eventually gains her weight back and discovers that weight loss may not be the key to acceptance, true friendship and happiness after all. When Madison finds the one true love that will accept her as-is, she makes a conscious decision to maintain a healthy lifestyle and keep the weight off. Will the attention she once had be the demise of her newfound love and relationship, or will she realize that genuine love "as she is" is better than having to hide her past? I recommend this book to anyone who has dealt with esteem issues relative to weight maintenance. It will also give readers an inside look of the emotions overweight individuals deal with and how society as a whole can be more supportive, focusing on health and inner happiness rather than "what other people think."

The Ups and Downs of Being Round is a charming book about the true battles of weight and self esteem. It is smartly witten and anyone who reads this book can relate to the battles that the main character is going through. Great book!!!!

There is also a section that gives advice and pointers on losing weight and changing your eating lifestyle.

From fat girl to phat girl is the self-explanatory journey Madison Jenson successfully achieves--until she realizes that traveling from "fat" to "phat" is more than weight loss and a new wardrobe. Madison thinks her journey is over when she's at her ideal weight. But life throws her a few curves which help her understand there is a mental, emotional and spiritual side to her pursuit of the perfect body. Only when Madison embraces a lifestyle change, does she truly embark on the road to health, wholeness and happiness.

Through humor, spiritual insight and guileless transparency, THE UPS AND DOWNS OF BEING ROUND, by Monica Marie Jones, has written a novel that is sure to please readers for years to come.

Reviewed by Cxandra
for The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers