Such a Pretty Fat: One Narcissist's Quest to Discover if Her Life Makes Her Ass Look Big: Or, Why Pie Is Not the Answer is Jen Lancaster’s third memoir, after Bitter is the New Black and Bright Lights, Big Ass. In it, Lancaster takes on weight loss—through eating right and exercising. At first, it seems like your typical weight loss memoir, except for the fact that its Jen Lancaster writing it, with her trademark good humor and see-the-forest-through-the-trees approach to her subject matter. Jen’s not an expert, but she certainly knows how to entertain, which is why I keep coming back to her work time and time again.
What I love about Lancaster’s work is that she knows when to laugh at herself, and at others’ foolishness, without going over the top. For example, there’s brilliant scene in Such a Pretty Fat where she goes to Jenny Craig and then Weight Watchers, where the meeting participants discuss of the evils of food in the work place. Birthday cake is always, always mentioned, and Jen harps on that theme mercilessly. But she doesn't over do it.
In all, I thought the authors’ message was a positive one for people struggling with their weight (though I’m not one of them). The message that some weight loss programs endorse is that food is evil; but Lancaster challenges that theory outright, saying that food is not, in fact, the enemy; food is in fact good for you if you eat right and don't let it take over your life. Jen’s weight loss resulted as a result of wanting to feel and look good, not because of outside pressures, which I also thought was an important message.
What I love about Lancaster’s work is that she knows when to laugh at herself, and at others’ foolishness, without going over the top. For example, there’s brilliant scene in Such a Pretty Fat where she goes to Jenny Craig and then Weight Watchers, where the meeting participants discuss of the evils of food in the work place. Birthday cake is always, always mentioned, and Jen harps on that theme mercilessly. But she doesn't over do it.
In all, I thought the authors’ message was a positive one for people struggling with their weight (though I’m not one of them). The message that some weight loss programs endorse is that food is evil; but Lancaster challenges that theory outright, saying that food is not, in fact, the enemy; food is in fact good for you if you eat right and don't let it take over your life. Jen’s weight loss resulted as a result of wanting to feel and look good, not because of outside pressures, which I also thought was an important message.
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