Whenever I see someone who is really, really, really overweight, I can’t help but think “There but for the grace of God go I.” I don’t know what it’s like to be facing the monumental task of trying to lose over 200 lbs, but Sean Anderson does. He chronicled his weight-loss journey every day, step by step, on his blog, The Daily Diary of a Winning Loser, and goes into even more detail in his upcoming book Transformation Road.
Sean was kind enough to forward me a copy of the manuscript for review purposes.
President Lyndon B. Johnson once said, “If you let a bully come in your front yard, he'll be on your porch the next day, and the day after that he’ll rape your wife in your own bed.”
For Transformation Road’s Sean Anderson, the bullies he encountered as an overweight youth in grade school were nothing compared to the browbeating and bullying his own body put him through.
His journey took him through every fast-food drive-thru from Oklahoma to LA, and you can feel the crushing pain as opportunity after opportunity collapses like the office chair beneath his 500+ lb. frame during one of his disastrous job interviews.
And just like with the school bullies, one day Sean finally decided that enough was enough.
It was time to take a stand.
He lost the weight and salvaged his future, doing it without pills, without a big-name program and without salads. He looked into the abyss of his own terrifying food addiction and he slowly backed away, blogging every step of the way.
I’ve spent much of my life morbidly obese, and though I never tipped the scales near Sean’s heaviest, I can relate to the feeling of hopelessness and helplessness that comes across here. I think anyone who’s ever stared intently at the bathroom mirror on a Monday morning and proclaimed “This is it!” will as well.
Transformation Road is the story of redemption, reclamation, salvation.
Unless we stand up to them, the bullies and personal demons we all face will advance on us mercilessly, never giving an inch, taking everything we hold dear.
Life is too short and too precious to let anyone… or anything… make our lives less than they could be.
I loved the book also.
ReplyDeleteI also voted for you on that list. I follow you on Twitter. Your name is @theantijared, right?
I remember my son one year before school was about to start. I told him we were going to have to buy him 40 waist jeans this year and he said "I am not wearing 40 waist jeans". He was going to be a sophomore that year. He started lifting weights and eventually broke the school bench press record when it was 350 lb. He kept breaking his own record until he graduated and it is now 405 lb. He is in the Army now, has been in Iraq twice, and is still faithful to his lifting. He was picked on at school, like Sean, but not anymore!
ReplyDeleteGreat review! Can't wait to read the book!
ReplyDeleteYou're a very good manuscript reviewer :) LOL I should have thought of that!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the interweb nod - I'm still REALLY wanting a tweet off though. So many possibilities.....
i voted for you too :)
ReplyDeletealso since its been a while since i ve visited i have had a good mooch around your blog. it reminded me of a lot of good things blogging does and why i shouldnt give it up. Especially the W I D T H section. inspirational.
Thank you, for an amazing review!!! Jack, just awesome, my friend!!
ReplyDeleteI voted for several of my favorites---Including you, of course!!
ReplyDeletecan't wait until the book is out..I want to read it on my kindle..LOL..
ReplyDeleteI am an old fogey and don't know how to tweet or twitter, but I will try to figure it out for you Jack!
ReplyDeleteI cannot wait for Sean's book. His blog may be the only one I have ever back read from day 1...and I am sure the book is better!
That's incredible! I marvel at the inner strength of people like Sean who get on with it, without excuses or crutches or complaints.
ReplyDelete