I was disappointed with this book. I applaud Dee Hakala's personal struggle and transformation. I am thrilled with the basic premise of this book (i.e. that everyone, whatever size shape or fatness level CAN and SHOULD enjoy moving his/her body). However, as a fat and fit adult who is fairly knowledgable about nutrition and health, I felt that this bood was treating me as a fat, stupid, ignorant child. This is precisely what rational adults who have abandoned the absurd and harmful dieting jail do not need! Try Marilyn Wann's Fat?So! instead! It's smart, funny, and just as inspiring.

I really wanted to like this book because I see alot of Dee in myself. Although I didn't have as rough of a childhood and didn't quite get as fat as her, I am an overweight woman who is starting out in the fitness industry. I can relate to the obstacles she's had to overcome and her successes are truly an inspiration. Truly -- and I completely admire her!

My disappointment comes from the first half of the book where she painstakingly details her abusive childhood, failed relationships, yada yada yada. She's right to say that alot of fat women have been down these roads and I understand the cathartic value in sharing your painful past in order to gain the confidence of the reader and to work out some inner demons. I just wish she'd done in one or two chapters, not half of the book!

I wanted more information on how she got herself off the couch and into the gym. I also wanted more specific information on how she started exercising -- maybe even some brief instruction. There was a bit of it towards the end, but I wanted more. I also wanted some more cultural analysis -- perhaps too much to ask for a small paperback -- but some insight would have been nice.

I know that Dee has a wonderful book sitting inside her, just waiting to come out. I wish she hadn't sold out for the cheap paperback and gone for the gold and written a revolutionary book. Perhaps she will come out with a Vim and Vigor guidebook. I'd be first in line for that!

As it stands, I lend this book to my students and ask them to take the best from it. We need visable plus-sized women, especially in fitness, and she has alot to offer. But there is still room for improvement and I make my critiques gentle in hopes that she will bless us with some more refined words.

Dee Hakala's memoire of her struggle with weight and dieting was very well-written and completely inspiring to me. Despite our differences (e.g. I am about 15 pounds overweight), I identified with her as a woman stuck in a culture which values women most for what they look like, and especially how much they weigh. Her story was riveting and so much more interesting than what you find in typical diet and exercise books. Her no-nonsense advice is right on target. She is a living, breathing example of assertiveness and taking life by the tail. I will read this again!

...after a carrer ending injury. This is a very touching book, with many sad and joyful parts to it.

The map guide is a nice compact New York City-only version of the larger Let's Go guide for the USA, plus some very handy laminated maps. Its easy to carry this one around and not look like a tourist. The sights picked, often have a good local sensibility about them, in that they may not be typical touristy places. All the Map guides are great, but this one dissapointed because it never listed cross streets for addresses (a must for most new york cabbies)

What we found most useful in the guide is its geographic listing - after attending an event or touring NYC, one can flip through the guide and find one of the many great restaurants in a nearby neighborhood, use your cell phone to call and make a reservation. The ratings and reviews of the food and ambience appear to be more accurate than other guides. We had so more more luck eating in great restaurants using Marcellino's book. Looking for 1999's version, and keep 1998's until then.

This map is terrific for getting around Manhattan and using the subway system. Very easy to use and read.