Thank you Shauna

How often have you rolled your eyes as you spot the latest bestseller wonder-diet book on the shelves? Are we really convinced that ballroom dancing changed Norm Hewitt’s life, or that the Movie Star Diet is the thing for us?

I certainly won’t waste my time reading books that tell me everything I’m doing wrong, or spend money to be preached at about how I should live.

The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl by Shauna Reid fits into none of these categories. Shauna isn’t claiming she can change your life or save you from yourself. She is, quite simply, telling you her story.

Not that the story is simple. Shauna takes her readers through not just the journey of her weight loss, but the journey of a huge part of her life – the influences that created her weight issues, her struggles with social isolation, and her battles with depression. But it’s not all about the hard stuff – what superhero adventure would be complete without triumph: overcoming evil, exciting travel adventures and a great love story?

I chose to read Dietgirl in two sittings – three hour flights to and from Sydney. I was crying within the first dozen pages and cursing Shauna for wreaking havoc on my makeup. Sleepy passengers were several times close to lynching me for snorting with laughter. But mostly there was most un-Sue-like silence as I devoured the story of this amazing woman.

I suspect Shauna would tell you she is just an ordinary person. If she is, then she has an extraordinary ability to communicate. If you have visited the Dietgirl website you know that, but reading the book shows the depth of her ability.

So Shauna, thank you for bring us your story. You may have changed your own life, but you have touched mine profoundly.