From Fat to Fit: Turn Yourself into a Weapon of Mass Reduction, by Carole Carson

I want to be friends with Carole Carson. She’s the author of From Fat to Fit: Turn Yourself into a Weapon of Mass Reduction, the coach for the AARP Fat 2 Fit online community and was dubbed “an apostle for fitness” by the Wall Street Journal. But besides that, Carson’s ability to motivate, her infectious enthusiasm and her amazing attitude about herself make me want to invite her to my next party and try to win her into my circle of friends.

I received a review copy of From Fat to Fit and, while I admit that I’m not generally a fan of motivational books, Carson’s book is different. I think it’s because she’s so relatable and real. She invites you into her weight loss journey and you happily accept as you follow her through life-changing moments. Carson’s story and charisma are so strong, in fact, she got an entire community to participate and support her efforts. As she succeeds, the reader roots for her and is inspired by her at the same time. Carson’s journey began when she wrote a newspaper article on being almost 60 and out of shape. Her article was so popular, the newspaper expanded it to a weekly series – and Carson became a local celebrity. Her entire town supported and joined in her efforts and therein lies one of the main points of the book.

From Fat to Fit is a practical manual for achieving weight loss and fitness goals. Readers will find a seven step process for shaping up without subscribing to any particular diet or exercise program, a road map for creating a personal fitness program with coworkers, neighbors, friends and family; tips for integrating the program into daily life and ideas on how to make losing weight fun.

Carson’s book is full of helpful advice and yes, inspirational stories about gaining control of your life. Her voice is compelling and informative and when she writes, you listen and learn. Yes, Carson’s is, specifically, a story about weight loss and health, but in the grander sense, it’s a story about bashing on, overcoming obstacles, setting goals and achieving them.

Here are a few tips from Carole Carson on maintaining your healthy eating program during holidays, parties or any event that is a food-fest:

“Eat nothing except what you can put on a fork. In other words, eat foods only where you can sit down and use utensils, including your fork. The calories in those bite-size nibbles and finger foods you eat unconsciously while standing and talking with friends and acquaintances quickly add up. You can easily consume 600–800 calories solely from appetizers. The same holds true when you are preparing food for your own party. The little nibbles you take to ‘test’ your appetizers count, as far as your body is concerned. By limiting yourself to food eaten with a fork, you can minimize the accumulation of unwanted pounds.

Here are three tips to help you keep your commitment to get FIT:
F: ‘First things first’ needs to become your mantra. By taking care of yourself, you can better meet the needs of others. You also demonstrate faith in yourself, which sets a powerful example for everyone around you.
I: Initiative in adopting new habits is critical. Start today to become the person you want to be. Make appointments with yourself to exercise, record your eating and exercise activities and results in a daily journal and set aside time to shop for healthy foods and prepare nutritious meals.
T: Talk up your self-improvement program. Telling everyone about your plan and goals will help keep you accountable. Ask your physician for advice. Teach others what you learn about your new lifestyle. When your progress delights you, sharing your joy will inspire others to join you and reinforce your own commitment.”

For more on Carole Carson or to order From Fat to Fit, visit: http://www.fromfat2fit.com. (Carson will donate a percentage of the proceeds to http://www.breastcancer.org if you order from her site.) The book is also available at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com.