New York Times Bestselling Author Endorses Local Author’s Book

New York Times bestselling author Tosca Lee has endorsed a book by Sarasota resident Jon Stanton. “FAT: A Life Unfiltered brings us face-to-face with the reality of what it's like to be big in a culture that condones all the behaviors that lead to obesity then shames the result,” said Lee. “Jon Stanton wades into this uncomfortable topic with rare humor and humility. His honest look at the inner and outer struggles of weight will cause you to laugh out loud and choke back tears. Highly recommended. A must-read for everyone who eats.” Lee’s bestselling books include “The Line Between” and “The Progeny.”

“FAT: A Life Unfiltered” is a frank portrayal of living with obesity, but with an emphasis on more humorous experiences of being overweight. “When you’re more than 100 pounds overweight for most of your life, funny things happen to you that don’t happen to thin people or even people who are just slightly overweight,” Stanton said. “It also affects your worldview, the decisions you make, how you form relationships – almost everything about your life is impacted in some way.”

Stanton said he wanted to keep most of the book humorous because laughter opens people’s hearts, allowing them to feel the pain and shame the extremely obese experience without being overwhelmed. The entire book isn’t funny, though. “I took time to discuss what goes on in our heads,” he said. “Nearly everyone I know who is as big as I am struggles with low self-esteem and negative self-talk, as well as denial. I couldn’t leave those things out of the narrative.”

Stanton has been as heavy as 430 pounds and as light as 200 pounds, within just a couple years of each other. From 2007-2009, he lost 230 pounds through eating better and exercising regularly, and he kept the weight off for over three years. He completed two half-marathons, a century ride (100 miles in one day) on his bike and appeared on NBC’s “Today” and the “700 Club” to tell his success story to others who struggle with weight. He also won the Governor’s Fitness Award from former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm. Over time, he eventually gained back more than 100 of the pounds he lost.

That, Stanton said, is why he wrote the book. “Battling weight all the time, especially in our food-saturated culture, is exhausting. I want to encourage people who have struggled, let them know they aren’t alone, and try to help people who have never struggled gain understanding of what life is like for people who are overweight.”

“FAT: A Life Unfiltered” is available from amazon.com (Kindle and paperback), barnesandnoble.com or at hopefortheheavy.com/book. Stanton is available to speak to civic, religious, and self-help groups interested in hearing more about maintaining hope while living with obesity. He can be reached at info@hopefortheheavy.com or by phone at 517-599-5029.