Confessions of a Couch Potato, Or, If I'm So Skinny, Why Do I Still Feel Like Flounder?

by Stephen Furst

Book Overview

A hysterical memoir of growing up as a husky . . . plump . . .heavy-set . . . OK, FAT child, who struggled with weight problems through adulthood, Stephen Furst shares his tips and recipes for how he... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1580401449
• ISBN13: 9781580401449
• Release Date: September 2002
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill/Contemporary
• Length: 136 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Furst's First Good; Could Be Better

Stephen Fursts's mini-autobiography is interesting. As a Type 2 diabetic, he let himself gain weight and decline in health to the point where his neuropathy (loss of feeling in the limbs) allowed a sore on his foot to become infected. Faced with amputation, he made several lifestyle changes and not only kept his foot but lost half his weight and improved his overall health. The second part of the book is his own commentary interspersed with recipes. The recipes are interesting, though not always appetizing. For instance, his instructions on making diabetic ketchup makes you question of you ever want any kind of ketchup period. He uses things from around the house and supermarket to create these substitutes for dishes he decided he liked but could not eat. What he lacks in style here he makes up for in creativity. The downsides of the book are few but glaring. In one instance he calls the reality show Survivor as Survival. There are a few of the naggling little mistakes throughout the book and one realizes that Furst probably wrote the book without the help of a ghostwriter but also wonders why the ADA editors didn't do their job completely. A second edition with more recipes, ana expanded autobiography, and an update to the present (the book was published in 2002) would all take this book from just pretty good to excellent.

This book does anything but "flounder"!

What a fantastic memoire! I've enjoyed Furst's films for many years and was delighted to discover this book. I've struggled with weight my entire life and it seems like about this time (New Year's) every year I end up searching for another "diet" to follow. This year I get to say "NO" to the diet books and read Furst's book instead. Furst doesn't preach- he only shares his experience, his hope, and his fabulous sense of humor! The book will leave you feeling upbeat and ready to conquer the battle of the bulge using his sensible lifestyle recommendations that can be taylor-made to fit your life. You won't be hungry a moment and a guarantee you'll lose weight following his recommendations. Enjoy!

I finally see the light!

I highly recommend this honest, funny and motivating book! I have been on every diet that has been out on the market. These diets always left me starving. Thanks to Stephens book for the first time I finally see the light! This book teaches you that you can feel full while losing weight. Our media sells us starve yourself diets that don't work. This book points you in the right direction to eating healthier fat free foods and had great recipes. I have tried all of these recipes and can tell you I love them! Diabetics will find hope, courage and a good laugh in this book. Thank you Stephen for helping me finally really understand that I can lose weight (or maintain a healthy weight) and still feel full. I have read a many books on weight loss and it was Confessions of a Diabetic Couch Potato that finally made me see the light. Bravo Stephen!

This is not another dumb diet book!

Finaly, a keep the weight off book.any book will tell you, how to loseweight. This is the first to to tellyou how to keep it off. To paraphrase the book ... diet booksdeal, with what people can see, the FAT. not what people can`t see YOUINSIDE. they CAN'T They're not YOU.they're just books ... This is must read for us "Flounders"out there LOL ;-) even for those,who have ask the person, sitting at the next table in a restaurnt. "to please, move, so I won't have to look at a fat person, while I'm eating". It's in the book, also I've been asked to move. It hurts! Deep!

More about this book...from the ADA

A MUST FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO LOSE WEIGHT, HAS LOST WEIGHT, OR JUST NEEDS A GOOD CHUCKLE!A hysterical memoir of growing up as a husky... plump...heavyset...Okay FAT! child, who struggled with weight problems through adulthood, Stephen shares his tips and recipes for how he went from an out-of-control 320 pound person with diabetes, to his lean, mean, low-fat eating machine of 175. (Although he still refuses to wear a Speedo!) A self-help cookbook of epic proportions or actually epic portions, filled with all kinds of tips, anecdotes, it includes everything from real recipes, (like cheesecake, soup, and pasta) to how to get through the holidays without killing yourself instead of your relatives. You've tried everything else, try laughing your way to better health. Key features: & #61623; Inspirational and humorous-tells Stephen Furst's story of overcoming his problems with weight and out-of-control diabetes & #61623; Includes the recipes that helped Stephen lose 150 lbs. and manage his diabetes & #61623; Tips for eating out at restaurants without sabotaging your dietStephen Furst has been an actor for the past 23 years, starring in the classic movie comedy Animal House and two multi-award winning television series-St. Elsewhere and Babylon 5. After tipping the scales at 320 lbs. even though he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at the age of 17, Stephen found himself in the hospital with the prognosis of a foot amputation. He decided to take charge of his life and dropped to his current weight of 175 pounds-where he has held steady for the last six years.