IT'S HERE!!! Confessions of a Carb Queen has hit the Book Stores!!

Hello all!!

Hope everyone is having good holiday! Just wanted to share news that the book I wrote with my sister, Confessions of a Carb Queen, is officially out today, December 26, by Rodale Publishing. Below is a review... and more info can be found at www.susanblech.com.

Happy New Year!!

Warmly, Susan

Below is the Starred Review from Publishers Weekly Web Exclusive Review.

Confessions of a Carb QueenSusan Blech with Caroline Bock. Rodale, $15.95 paper (368p) ISBN 9781594867767Once a bodybuilder (now a motivational speaker), Blech had ballooned to 468 pounds by the time she checked herself into a Durham, N.C. weight loss clinic. In this painfully honest memoir, Blech recounts her shameful spiral into obesity, her life as a social outcast and the difficult road back to a healthy weight. Though funny and consistently entertaining, Blech pulls no punches regarding life with “The Body,” from clothing and ordering food in front of people to sex and fire department-assisted elevator extraction. Descriptions of eating binges border on the pornographic (“I’m in that sultry, full, near comotose state, surrounded by the smell of grease, salt, fish, meat…”), arguably more so than descriptions of phone sex. After a dose of reality, Blech enrolls at age 39 in the Durham-based Rice Clinic. What follows isn’t a ringing endorsement but rather a frank account of the discipline she—and, she argues, anyone who wants to overcome obesity—had to cultivate to reach her goal. The obese and their loved ones will gain practical advice, as well as a large measure of insight, from this intense, bravura memoir. (Jan.)

Holidays, Holidays, Holidays!!!!!

Damn this is hard! Visiting this person and that person..."OH, do you want to come over on Sunday...we're having a party." That's code for....yummy food, off my schedule, desserts (notice the plural!), wine, cheeses...need I go onnnnnn!!! It's hard, very hard. I'm working out every day. That is a MUST! However, even that can get hard when I'm off my schedule and eating higher fat foods and more sodium and getting to bed later than usual. But this is life. Life is about choices. Life has its ups and downs, sideways and backways. I'm living my life happily and enjoying the little extras that I'm eating, compensating by exercising more and being conscious of everything that I put in my mouth. As long as I do all of that....I'll be OK!!!!

So glad to get everyone's emails!!! Seems like others are having challenges, so we're in this boat together!! We'll make it through...just ENJOY every minute!!! Before you know it we'll be talking about spring time and summer shorts!

Keep me posted!!

Warmly, Susan

Holidays, Holidays, Holidays!!!!!

Damn this is hard! Visiting this person and that person..."OH, do you want to come over on Sunday...we're having a party." That's code for....yummy food, off my schedule, desserts (notice the plural!), wine, cheeses...need I go onnnnnn!!! It's hard, very hard. I'm working out every day. That is a MUST! However, even that can get hard when I'm off my schedule and eating higher fat foods and more sodium and getting to bed later than usual. But this is life. Life is about choices. Life has its ups and downs, sideways and backways. I'm living my life happily and enjoying the little extras that I'm eating, compensating by exercising more and being conscious of everything that I put in my mouth. As long as I do all of that....I'll be OK!!!!

So glad to get everyone's emails!!! Seems like others are having challenges, so we're in this boat together!! We'll make it through...just ENJOY every minute!!! Before you know it we'll be talking about spring time and summer shorts!

Keep me posted!!

Warmly, Susan

The Holiday Season is Upon Us!!!

Hey Everyone!
Thank you so much for all of your emails!! I'm so glad that you all are gaining inspiration and motivation!!

I wanted to give some unique tips this holiday season:

1. Don't just eat proper portions during this holiday season because you are forcing yourself....realize that you are worth making an effort to eat in proper portion control.

2. Make exercise part of your daily routine. This is a must, not just for the holiday season. Exercise is different for everyone. Some people can just get out of bed and walk back and forth around the house and some people can do three hours at the gym. Whatever is exercise for you...THAT'S YOUR EXERCISE!!!! Keep up the hard work and you will all be in the gym doing kick boxing and a killer ab class!!!

3. Give. Give of yourself. Give of your time. Give to charity. Giving to someone less fortunate...taking the time to talk to someone when they really just need to vent, buying a toy for a toy drive...these are all ways of giving. Find your unique way to give this holiday season. It will, hopefully, make you realize what you have to be grateful for in this world.

4. Don't make a resolution. I know..sounds crazy because isn't that what we all do??? But do something different and let the New Year blend into your life instead of making promises to yourself that may be hard to keep "perfect." The minute we don't meet our expectations of that resolution, we begin the same cycle of low self esteem and shame. Enjoy the New Year celebration with moderation and a feeling of renewal. Allow yourself the time to create change and welcome change in your life without expectations.

I hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season so far!!!!

Keep me posted on how your doing!!!

Warmly, Susan