Losing It - and Gaining My Life Back, One Pound at a Time

By: Valerie Bertinelli

Narrated by: Valerie Bertinelli

Length: 4 hrs and 49 mins

Publisher's Summary

Losing It is Valerie Bertinelli's frank, motivational look inside the life of one of TV's most adored actresses. It tells the inspiring story of her young stardom as the girl next door - cutie Barbara Cooper on the hit show One Day at a Time - her complicated family life, her struggles to maintain a healthy self-esteem while coping with celebrity, her tumultuous 20-year marriage to rock star Eddie Van Halen, her struggle with depression, and her life-long battle with weight. With courage and candor, humor and emotion, she shares her fears, insecurities, and triumphs, including how she took control of her own life and gained happiness.

Valerie takes listeners behind the scenes in her acting career and marriage. She discusses the stresses and concerns of being a rock star's wife and the joys of motherhood; the challenges of divorce and becoming a single parent; and the fears she had to address so that she could start dating again, trust a new relationship, allow intimacy, and let herself feel loved again. Through it all are surprising, sometimes shocking anecdotes about the other celebrities she has known, as well as stories of her loyal family and the friends who stood by her.

©2008 Tuxedo Ltd. (P)2008 Simon and Schuster Inc.

Not Just Weight Loss

This isn't a weight loss book, although she does discuss her weight issues throughout. It's much more than that. She discusses her entire life, pre-fame, One Day at A Time, marriage to Eddie Van Halen, motherhood, with a great deal of honesty. If you came of age watching One Day at a Time, you'll enjoy this book very much. Valerie herself narrates, and does a great job. It's like listening to a good friend talk about her life.
If you're looking for just another "how to" weight loss book, this is not for you.

Politics

I give this a low rating because Hollywood thinks we care about what they think. Bye bye Bal

Interesting listen but abridged

Valerie’s self deprecating humor, as well as her ability to call herself out for the behaviors towards Ed and others, which her insecurities had driven, was impressive. It speaks to the with she’s put into improving herself and understanding the root of those insecurities. As someone who’s done it, and thereby lost 40 pounds, I can say it’s no easy feat.

Maybe celebrities get used to their lives on display but still, I can only imagine the strength it must have taken Valerie to call herself out and be so honest in a book. Money is incentive but it takes more than a lucrative book contract to be thus transparent about her weight struggles. Well done, Valerie.

Some reviewers mentioned disappointment because they felt the book was not mainly about Valerie’s weight loss. I disagree. I thought that the book did a great job tracking Valerie’s life long weight struggles, highlighting periods in her life where her eating demons were apparent. It walked you through Valerie’s mindset and journey to get to honesty with herself about her weight. The book was well written and delivered the message Valerie intended.

Why I deducted a star:
At the end, it was mentioned that the book was an ABRIDGED version of the audiobook version, which was a let down. I had thought that by purchasing the audiobook, I was buying a the complete book, versus the cliffs notes. Oh, well.

Don’t waste your money!

A superficial, self entitled spoiled narcissistic shallow person. She acts like she’s the first person on the planet to ever have a child. I was truly disappointed when she brought up politics every chapter . I actually lost brain cells listening to this .Unbelievable! don’t buy this piece of trash

Loved it!

I've always loved Valerie's work from TV, movies, and cooking shows. I never thought that a celebrity could be so relatable! I know, she was the wife of the greatest guitar players of all time (in my humble opinion), but the struggles she faced are really no different than so many people. This was a great book and highly recommend!

Interesting, but disappointing

This book delivers a lot of what it promises, but it also provides plenty of stuff I wasn't as interested in..especially the number of men Valerie Bertinelli slept with along her path from "Barbara Cooper" to Eddie Van Halen's ex. Every man she discusses is described by his physical characteristics, and she was pretty eager to jump in the sack with all of them. I loved "One Day at a Time" back in the day (Val and I are about the same age) but I no longer have a crush on her...instead I feel sorry for her many, many insecurities.

Great story teller

I love this book. It’s nice to know the truth. I find it comforting to know that other people have similar weight issues to my own.

Hopeful for new book

I love Valerie (and Van Halen!). The story was great and I appreciate it written in 2008 when the diet culture was in full swing. The Jenny Craig diet gave her her life back. How many times has a diet given you your life back, only to gain the weight back and take your life ? I can’t wait for her new book where she learns to love herself no matter how much she weighs.

very inspirational

it's nice to hear the human side of the celebrities and not just what you read in the tabloids (not that I believe them) I love Valerie's cooking show and even tried some of her recipes and I love how genuine and down to earth she is her size does NOT matter! but I do agree with her question , why are peoples imperfections entertaining to people?? doesn't make sense....just keep being your genuine self valerie! be happy ! some of love your personality....no matter what size

Loved it!

I loved the book and knowing it was narrated by the author. I felt the book was cut short. The first 4 chapters were detailed and delivered passionately, however the last chapter was rushed and totally different from the rest of the book. It left you wanting for more!