The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl is an account of one girls battle to forever say goodbye to her Bonds Cottontails Full Briefs, size 24. At her largest, Reid weighed over 350 pounds. As her weight increased her self esteem went into steady decline. The witty and candid book is written in the form of a diary- focused around a blog Reid posted on the internet for a number of years. She recounts her unhappy childhood growing up in a dysfunctional family on a farm in New South Wales, Australia. Her mother was a Weight Watchers leader. She played a fundamental component in Shauna’s binge eating- a habit that grew in frequency and intensity. Her constant overeating led her to shame, self-loathing and episodes of severe depression.

Reid is a pretty and talented red-head; she has to struggle with combating crippling low-self esteem, as well as shedding over one hundred and seventy pounds. However she is fortunate enough to have her sister, Rhiannon, who is a source of love and support in both good times and bad. Without her sister’s constant cheerleading, it is unlikely that Shauna would have had the strength to overcome her demons.

The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl should not be confused for a weight-loss primer encased with healthy recipes and exercise regimes. Reid does describe her eating and exercise regimes that gradually helped her shed weight gradually. Overall the book is a insightful memoir that traces her journey to emotional and financial independence. The reader shares her excitement when she finally achieves her goals; making new friends, travelling around Europe and even finding romance. We applaud her self-deprecating humour, honesty and her determination to become physically and mentally fit despite setbacks that would hold back even the most resilient person.

In the end after 333 weeks of ups and downs, Shauna is able to appreciate her appearance in the mirror and ends with this: “The True reward is finding peace and acceptance and embracing my own skin, with all its quirks and charms.”