Fat Chance

 

By Nick Spalding

 

I love a good British book. They have such a witty humour and their quick responses always have me engaged.

The laugh out loud scenes kept me hooked and I whizzed through the 290 pages very quickly. A light read perfect for anyone just wanting an easy and funny book to read.

 

The main couple, Zoe and Greg Milton, are very much in love and completely endearing. They met quite young while very fit and active. Yet 18 years later and the attraction to each other has not wavered. An opportunity arises to participate in a six-month weight loss competition. After some unfortunate chair breaking and change room incidents they decide to enter the competition.

 

A few of my favourite laugh out laugh moments include Greg’s experience with quick weight loss gadgets which he sums up here: “The experience of Electromax, Ab Lunge, and StretchFit hammers home the fact that these fad machines do absolutely nothing for you, no matter how good they claim to be. They are all designed to make exercise seem easy and carefree. The problem is that exercise is resolutely not easy and it is never carefree. It is hard work that tests your endurance and stamina—which is kind of the point when you get right down to it. It’s the effort you put in that squares with the weight you lose. The more hard work you do, the more pounds you shift. It’s as simple as that. Any time you try to make shortcuts or avoid any actual exertion, all you’re doing is wasting your time and draining your bank account”. Well said Greg!

Another moment involves Zoe and her fad diets, full of gross food, many farts and uncomfortable bouts of hunger.

 

Of course there is also some sad moments. One being when Greg remembers the dinners out that Zoe and him used to have: “Those evenings out dwindled to nothing once we had piled on enough pounds. When you realise you are very overweight, eating becomes something you’d rather do in the privacy of your own home, where no-one can look at you and make snap judgments”.

 

I wouldn’t say this is a must read but I found it enjoyable. A great holiday beach read.