After having been obese for most of her adult life and thinking she'd magically lose weight "some day," Karen Anderson finally got it together and lost 55 pounds in 2005. She became a weight-loss "success story" with her picture on the cover of a weekly women's magazine and appeared in a national commercial for a popular weight loss web site. She was on top of the world.

But like the vast majority... of people who lose a significant amount of weight, she then proceeded to regain half the weight she'd lost. That's when she started writing with the intention figuring out just what the heck was wrong. Why couldn't she just lose weight and keep it off?

She decided to stop trying to change her body and changed her mind instead. She stopped signing up for other people's goals and dreams and finally realized what it she really wanted. And most importantly, she stopped hating her body. The result? Well, like many "before and after" stories, the results were NOT typical.

Part memoir and part "day in the life" reflections, AFTER (the before & after) is the result of Anderson's belief that having a healthy body (mind and spirit) shouldn't be a life-long struggle. It's about the power of self-acceptance, and it's about realizing that it takes as long as it needs to take. And that's okay.

Anderson is a freelance writer. Her blog, "Before & After: A Real Life Story" (http://kclanderson.com/before-and-after) chronicles the lessons she continues to learn after ditching the diet.

Book signing and discussion: Monday, August 22 · 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Location: INCITE Wellness Center, 208 Otrobando Ave., Norwich, Connecticut

Available from Booklocker.

Visit Karen's Blog and Website.

By HWO Staff

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