SECRETS OF A FORMER FAT GIRL isn't truly a diet book.  You will not find diet plans inside.  Instead it is more of a motivational guide written by a woman who was a chubby child, overweight teen, and obese adult.  Diets failed her, but eventually she found what it took to drop seventy pounds and keep it off for two decades. 

I found that most of the information within the book is generally common sense.  Exercise is of the utmost importance, but the author focuses on one issue that few books touch--emotions are just as important to losing weight.  Many overweight women are emotional eaters, the more we hear we are fat, the more we turn to food for comfort.  It's a never ending cycle and the author shares her tips on how to break out of that cycle and find success. 

My own issue with this book is that I've seen many diet books where the author claims to have lost pounds and inches, but they offer no proof.  I'm a visual type, show me proof.  Show me before and after pictures that are not so fake that you can tell the images have been computer enhanced.  In this book, the author does not include any pictures of herself before.  While that's her prerogative, I wish I'd had the visual proof to see that her tips truly work.