Learning to Lighten Up with Loretta LaRoche

By Alice Gray – Staff Writer

I've always steered clear of self-help books, so I was thrown for a loop when I was asked to review Loretta LaRoche's, Lighten Up! The Authentic and Fun Way to Lose Your Weight and Your Worries. To my relief, however, I was not faced with a "watch-your-problems-and pounds-melt-away-by-following-these-easy-steps" kind of book. In fact, LaRoche exposes "fad diets" for what they are: set up for failure.

LaRoche weaves in her own experience throughout, never asking of her readers more than she herself is capable of. She suggests keeping an activity log for monitoring food intake, but in the same breath admits, "I'm not great at it myself."

Although I agreed with most everything LaRoche wrote, and enjoyed the floating gray text boxes where she highlighted notable books, facts, activities and ideas, many of her observations and suggestions seemed to me like simple common sense. I am not, however, her target reader. This I knew for sure when I blushed in embarrassment at her silly jokes and exercise suggestions like, “Find a favorite song or album with a beat that makes you want to wiggle your hips.” LaRoche’s readers are middle-aged mothers and wives who have already tried everything and have picked this book up hoping for fresh, feasible counsel.

LaRoche is practical, honest, relatable and a sound giver of advice. If you feel stuck in unhappy and unhealthy habits, Lighten Up! may contain just the right amount of humor, inspiration and understanding for you-like having a psychologist, nutritionist, personal trainer and comedian that you can hold in your hand.