Loved it! - Rated 
When I read this book, I felt Emme was describing my childhood. My father was also obsessed with his weight, and consequently, his childrens' too. He had a stroke when he was just 39. From then on, every meal began with "how many calories to you think this is" and ended with "if you keep eating like that, you'll get fat". He kept a food diary. We switched to non-fat milk, margariane and ice milk. He started watching me for signs that I was getting fat, and when he saw them, he was quick to point them out and offer "help". He did the same thing with my younger sister, who was actually quite skinny until she hit puberty. The skinny people where also under constant scrutiny. We were all became painfully aware of body size and very self concsience. To this day, and I am now almost 50 years old, his first comment to me after not seeing me in a while, is about my weight. I went through the same cycle of trying to starve myself and then eating everything in sight. I was successful in starving myself into a size 12 until I hit thirty and had my second child. Then the weight started creeping up. I have also found that the only thing that truly works is to love yourself first, then exercise regularly and eat sensibly. Diets sure don't work. I have tried them all. Lost the same 50 lbs. over and over again. As a parent, I was very aware of the messages I gave my children about their physical bodies. I never wanted them to clean their plates, but if they were hungry, I let them have a snack. Snacks were strictly forbidden in both my childhood home and my husband's. My husband and I have taken a good deal of critism for this, let me tell you. But I have two beautiful, grown children, who I hope, are much more comfortable with their bodies than I ever was or still am for that matter. We need to become much more tolerant of our differences. Racism is now found to be intolerable, but it is still OK to call someone fat.
Another first person account of life in the fat lane. - Rated 
What a disappointment. Looking to read about a real woman, and get some good ideas for dressing and presenting oneself with confidence, one receives some whining and some pictures of a thin very pretty girl, then a heavier very pretty girl. Instead of sparking a revolution in women's image, we have a spectacular salesperson for larger clothes. This is not about real people, or our problems with weight and looking and feeling good. It's about a very pretty size 14-16 with a very well proportioned shape. Maybe I'm just too old (46) but I wanted the promise of the title. No positive attitudes, merely platitudes- no new practical tips. I feel I wasted my money.
OUTSTANDING! - Rated 
EMME HITS HOME WITH ALL THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DILEMAS WE ALL FACE WITH WEIGHT AND AND NOT BEING THE "AVERAGE" SIZE 8. I HAVE A WHOLE NEW RESPECT FOR MY SIZE AND HEIGHT - THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE BORN WITH AND THIS BOOK IS A REVELATION FOR ANYONE WHO ALWAYS FELT THAT THEY NEVER QUITE FIT THE STANDARD "WOMAN" OF THE 90'S. EMME IS JUST LIKE YOU AND ME - SHE IS WONDERFUL AND REAL.
Better than a big sister! - Rated 
I caught the special on E! about Emme and just happened to notice that she had written a book. Later that week, I was in the bookstore, and I swear, the book called to me. From that all natural, but gorgeous cover photograph, to the last pages of large-size store and catalog companies, this book sucked me in! Women with weight problems have finally found a voice with Emme. She's the big sister I never had, encouraging me to like myself, and helping me to see the positive side of being larger than the cover models that we face each day. It doesn't get draggy with a lot of psychobabble, either. It's Emme's struggle and how she overcame her obstacles, while helping us to see that dreams are possible through very real and everyday eyes.
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