CARNIE WILSON - GUT FEELINGS
*From Fear and Despair to Health and Hope"
When Wilson's gastric bypass surgery was broadcast over the Internet in 2001, it made news not simply because of Wilson's role as singer/songwriter with the pop group Wilson Phillips, nor because she is the daughter of The Beach Boys's Brian Wilson, but also because she had been (and remains) an advocate for self-acceptance, regardless of size. Despite years of dieting, Wilson suffered with morbid obesity, which threatened her health with skyrocketing cholesterol levels, hypertension, sleep apnea, sciatica, breathlessness, and joint pain. Gut Feelings is a wonderfully candid revelation of Wilson's life from childhood to maturity. Her weight problems were family rooted with nature and nurture both contributing and she frankly discusses her feelings about herself, her family, and her friends. After undergoing the bypass surgery, she lost over 150 pounds and had to relearn how to eat and, equally important, how to adjust emotionally to the new Carnie. Beyond the personal story, this book offers appendixes in which a bariatric surgeon, nutritionist, endocrinologist, and psychologist answer questions about open and laparoscopic gastric surgery. These appendixes are invaluable for anyone interested in weight-control surgery, but readers will get at least as much insight into it through the author's tale. Recommended for health collections. Anne C. Tomlin, Auburn Memorial Hosp. Lib., NY
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.
CARNIE WILSON - I'M STILL HUNGRY
"Finding Myself Through Thick and Thin"
As the daughter of Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson, Carnie Wilson grew up in the fast lane and has had a lifelong struggle with obesity. Here, she picks up on her previous title "Gut Feelings", showing the progression of weight loss through a personal diary and detailing how she got her head in the right place as she lost more than 150 pounds. Carnie goes on to discuss how she re-established her career as an actress and singer in Hollywood, as well as her minute-by-minute description of posing for "Playboy" Magazine. Finally the last part of the book reveals the specific weight-loss plan that Carnie still uses to keep slim. However, she points out that this is certainly not the end of the road yet. She honestly admits that she's "still hungry" for knowledge, love, acceptance - and yes, a piece of chocolate or two.
