enLIGHTened: How I Lost 40 Pounds with a Yoga Mat, Fresh Pineapples, and a Beagle Pointer
An absorbing, entertaining diet memoir with humor, empathy, and yoga. Meet your new best yoga-and-healthy-eating friend in this smart, accessible, and funny memoir of dieting and discovery. For years, Jessica struggled with fluctuating weight and bouts of unhappiness. Like many of us, she found comfort in food and craved cigarettes and self-confidence. Then one day Jessica took her first yoga class in Katmandu. She lost 40 pounds and changed her life forever. In enLIGHTened, Jessica
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(out of 26 reviews)
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Review by http://www.bookshipper.blogspot.com/ for enLIGHTened: How I Lost 40 Pounds with a Yoga Mat, Fresh Pineapples, and a Beagle Pointer
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I discovered the joys of yoga and pilates a year ago. I love it, although I am not as flexible as I would like to be (Jessica actually talks about this in her book). So, of course, this book hit me and I had to read it.
It is extremely well written, with honesty and I love that Jessica was completely opened about her weight issues, as well as some of her relationship issues with her parents. This book feels like a girlfriend and I talking –
I love the subject matter and Jessica touches on Ayuverda which is something that I have developed an interest in as well. Its almost as if Jessica was reading my mind.
I even love the quick and healthy recipes that are in the book. I have to say though, that, at times, Jessica makes the whole overeating thing a little too simplistic. As someone with an eating disorder (binge eating( its not always quite enough to talk to yourself or go for a long walk – but Jessica is right about trying to get to the root of the problems.
One of the things that I felt a little off about was the fact that Jessica always seems to have the time AND money to do all the things she wants to do. ALthough she and her hubby sounded as though they were not necessarily stable in the finance dept, especially since he was looking for another job – she goes ahead and becomes a yoga teacher and from the rest of the book, I did not get the feeling as though Jessica really ever had a full time job other than that of teaching yoga. Yet, she seems to be able to benefit from everything from Kripalu retreats to invitro, etc. I felt a disconnect there – what about the rest of us who have to hold down full time jobs, juggle kids and are just making ends meet???
I know that Jessica claims that you don’t need a lot of $$$ to be healthy, etc. – she does not really lead by example on that particular subject. Yet, this is her story, so I guess she is just telling us what she lives.
I know, from experience, that if you want to get totally healthy and eat all these nutritious meals and enjoy walking, yoga and other various activities as suggested, you had better have a gift for making time for yourself AND a nice little amount of money to do it with.
Still, this book is hearwarming and encouraging and i loved it.
Review by K. Levin for enLIGHTened: How I Lost 40 Pounds with a Yoga Mat, Fresh Pineapples, and a Beagle Pointer
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This book is like a pep talk from a friend about taking responsibility for your body, your mind and your choices in your life — it tells you things you may already know, probably have thought about repeatedly, have made failed resolutions to attempt, but for whatever reason, you haven’t actually been able to JUST DO IT already! Jessica Berger’s words are encouraging and hopeful, and this is the kind of book you can read and continue to come back to when you need someone to set you back on track. The chili recipe was my favorite and is already in heavy rotation at our house!
Review by K. Brennan for enLIGHTened: How I Lost 40 Pounds with a Yoga Mat, Fresh Pineapples, and a Beagle Pointer
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I really loved this book! EnLIGHTened is a perfect mix of the practical and inspirational. It is written in a very user-friendly manner. The descriptions and pictures of the yoga poses are clear and helpful. Ms. Gross also highlights important take-aways in each section that can serve as great references. But in addition to being useful, Ms. Gross’ story is motivating, candid, funny, and touching. As I read it I felt as if I was talking to a girlfriend. Her journey to wellness can serve as a motivation for all of us.
Review by Sarah A. La Rosa for enLIGHTened: How I Lost 40 Pounds with a Yoga Mat, Fresh Pineapples, and a Beagle Pointer
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Part spiritual memoir, part how-to manual for diet and lifestyle change, the words filling these pages are both relevant and inspiring. Jessica Berger Gross succeeds in making friends with her readers by doing something we rarely get the chance to see- she exposes her very real past pain for all to see, and allows herself to remain real and accessible as she does so. Sharing hurt from a dysfunctional and abusive childhood, emotional over-eating, ineffective coping strategies, getting on and falling off the diet wagon, and eventually making a sustainable change in her own life, Berger-Gross reaches out a compassionate hand to us all, cheering us each on in our own path to happiness and health, with pages and pages of touching and humorous anecdotes along the way. I have tried nearly every one of the recipes she has included in her book- all to wild success and a huge hit for several dinner parties I’ve thrown since. She peppers the book with yoga poses- all intended to be used by real people- no impossible poses intended for those perfectly sculpted, impossible hollywood bodies. With the poses, she gives the traditional title, along with meditations to ponder and integrate with the practice itself. Her recommendations for music, books, websites and more was tremendously helpful for me, and I have happily used several of these resources to support myself in my own food/yoga life.
Since reading her book, and the few books she recommends in her pages, I have moved from a committed vegetarian to a passionate, and compassionate vegan. I have never felt healthier, happier or looked better. Reading EnLIGHTened, I felt I had made a friend for life, and will enjoy every re-read of Jessica Berger Gross’ words. I have purchased this book for friends and family, and highly recommend it to everyone and anyone!
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Review by Keen Observer for enLIGHTened: How I Lost 40 Pounds with a Yoga Mat, Fresh Pineapples, and a Beagle Pointer
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When I see this type of memoir (a yoga memoir, no less), I expect to dislike the author (as someone who talks more than practices). So I was pleased to find myself enjoying the book from the first chapter AND liking the author. It’s a light read, but the story and themes are weighty. The lessons might seem pat (like a women’s magazine feature blown up to a whole book), but I came away remembering certain anecdotes and tips, which says a lot. […]