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Finding It: And Satisfying My Hunger for Life Without Opening the Fridge Audiobook
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(3.04) - 422 listener ratings
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Welcome to Valerie’s home again. Her 16-year-old son is on tour with her ex-husband and she’s working to maintain her very public weight loss, as well as trying to drop five more pounds--the proverbial five that haunt her and everyone else like a To Do list that never gets done. But then matters are complicated when her mother and brother, inspired by her success, sign up for their own weight loss adventure with Jenny Craig, Eddie stumbles on the road, and Wolfie makes a confession that sets Valerie on a whole new course.
Finding It is Valerie’s conflicted, humorous, and highly personal tale of her search for answers to life’s big questions – like if God is loving, why does She tempt Valerie with spinach and artichoke dip on a day when she’s feeling like a failure as a mom? With her same extended family and friends we met in Losing It, Valerie’s continuing transformation finds her in a situation many women know too well: After having made some profound changes in her life, namely losing nearly 50 pounds as the world watched, she wonders if this “new, slimmer, healthier” version of herself is for real, especially when she suffers slips and emotional setbacks. She finds that she's the same Valerie as before, even as her life changes dramatically around her.
Valerie also faces life changes as her son grows up and finds independence--now, instead of arranging carpools to after-school play dates, Valerie finds herself on the phone with the mother of her son’s girlfriend, trying to assure her that it’s okay to let her daughter visit Wolfie on the road. Upon hanging up, she turns to Tom and says, “Am I crazy? Did you hear what I was saying? What’s going on here? What’s happened to me?” What’s happened is that she has let Wolfie grow up, as if she had a choice in the matter. It makes Valerie realize the tasks of motherhood are only just beginning. And that’s more apparent than ever, during a break in the tour when Wolfie confides that he struggles with low self-esteem. In this emotional story of family and the bonds and patterns that persist through generations, Valerie also connects with her own mother in a profound new way.
The questions that arise set her off on an exploration of the courage it takes to make such a profound change in her life, the faith required to maintain it, and the belief that she actually deserves it. Finding It is an optimistic story in trying times about believing in love and happiness, having faith that both are possible, and finding out that God does want you to enjoy life’s desserts even when you’re on a diet.
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"I have been a fan of Valerie Bertinelli since I was a kid watching "One Day at A Time." In this follow up book from "Losing It," Valerie tells how she not only kept the weight off but how she lost even more. This book is more then losing weight and maintaining weight lost, but it is more about her life. I found it very interesting that she seems to be seeking a relationship with the Savior. She mentions several times how she knows there is a higher power and sometimes prays. I know I will continue to ask the Lord to work in her life that she may indeed come to know Him in a very personal way. If you are a fan you will enjoy this book!"
— Tim (4 out of 5 stars)
Finding It Listener Reviews
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" I like Valerie Bertinelli's story, and this book found me at the right time. She says some important things about maintaining positive change in your life that I needed to hear right now. I also like her honesty. "
— JM, 2/20/2014 -
" Uplifting and makes you think. "
— Twiga21, 1/26/2014 -
" A laugh out loud book that shows us that celebs are just normal people too who deal with the same struggles we do just in a more glamorous way :) A truly inspiring book. "
— Liberty, 1/24/2014 -
" Fun read-and gives ideas to thinking differently. "
— Jggriffin8, 1/13/2014 -
" Great book. Really enjoyed it. "
— Linda, 1/12/2014 -
" Very repetitive, I didn't even finish it and I hate not finishing books. Maybe her first one would have been better... "
— Lindasueanne, 1/10/2014 -
" Easy to listen to "
— Dee, 1/9/2014 -
" I thought this one was better then her first one. All about finding the best person that she can be. She seemed to be really honest in this book. "
— Krystal, 12/30/2013 -
" Seriously if I wanted to read a political rant then I would've bought a different book!!! "
— .tiffany, 12/17/2013 -
" Some people, at particular stages in their lives, might be able to take a lot away from this book. I wanted to, but it just wasn't there for me. "
— Jenny, 12/8/2013 -
" This book covers the time in Ms. Bertanelli's life after she reached her weight loss goal, while she was attempting to begin maintenance. The focus is truly on the maintenance where her first book had alot more about her life in general. "
— Melissa, 11/27/2013 -
" Valerie show that life can go on and move forward. It's not always easy, but she tells how she couldn't help herself without God and sharing your beliefs can open up doors for other people. In the end nothing can be accomplished without His Grace. "
— Teri, 6/11/2013 -
" I liked this book better than her first one. In fact, I feel inspired in a few ways, including using more will power and losing four pounds :) "
— Madalene, 5/14/2013 -
" I didn't realize when I started it but I read this at a time when I really needed it. "
— Ellen, 12/11/2012 -
" Easy read -but slightly disappointed - first book was a little bit better. I would lose 10 pounds as well and get in bikini shape if I had a personal trainer as well "
— Helen, 12/4/2012 -
" I loved Valerie's first book, and I wanted to like this one, but I found it to be unstructured and well...boring. Sorry Valerie. "
— Laura, 10/18/2012 -
" Listened to this on CD. Great and motivating. "
— Cindy, 6/28/2012 -
" I'm always interested in people's stories and Valerie's is pretty good. Some of her "a-ha" moments are one's I found a long time ago, but it's a pretty good read. She is a little wordy. "
— Barb, 4/5/2012 -
" This is a frivolous memoir written after the success of her first book about her journey in losing weight. I could not get interested in reading about her trying to have "the sex talk" with her son. It is entertaining and still inspirational but just barely. "
— Carol, 2/18/2012 -
" Very inspiring. :) "
— Nikki, 12/24/2011 -
" Such an everyday person! Great follow up to her first book! Highly recommend! "
— Connie, 11/17/2011 -
" Funny. Insightful. I'm not even on a diet and I could relate to her. "
— Debbie, 8/28/2011 -
" Not just about maintaining weight loss but about finding spirituality and dealing with a teenage son. Very nicely written and engages the reader from page one. "
— Barbara, 8/21/2011 -
" Not as good as her first one, Losing It: And Gaining My Life..., but still worth reading if you like Valerie Bertinelli and care about her recent journey to lose weight in the public eye. "
— Peebee, 8/5/2011 -
" Not just about maintaining weight loss but about finding spirituality and dealing with a teenage son. Very nicely written and engages the reader from page one. "
— Barbara, 5/16/2011 -
" Includes more of the internal journey of her current approach to food than the external. Conversational style;as if you catching up with an old friend. Motivating! "
— Susie, 2/26/2011 -
" Fun read-and gives ideas to thinking differently. "
— Jggriffin8, 1/26/2011 -
" I thought this one was better then her first one. All about finding the best person that she can be. She seemed to be really honest in this book. "
— Krystal, 1/16/2011 -
" I really enjoyed this second book from Valerie Bertinelli. I'm in "maintenance" mode myself after having lost 50-odd pounds in the last couple of years, and what she's gone through really spoke to me. "
— Sio, 7/18/2010 -
" better than her first one -more about who she is than what she's done "
— Marci, 5/23/2010 -
" I liked this book better than her first one. In fact, I feel inspired in a few ways, including using more will power and losing four pounds :) "
— Madalene, 4/27/2010 -
" seems great so far, I love the way she writes. "
— Shaina, 4/19/2010 -
" Very repetitive, I didn't even finish it and I hate not finishing books. Maybe her first one would have been better... "
— Lindasueanne, 3/7/2010 -
" Funny. Insightful. I'm not even on a diet and I could relate to her. "
— Debbie, 3/5/2010
About Valerie Bertinelli
Valerie Bertinelli is an actress and TV personality, best known for starring in the 1970s sitcom One Day at a Time. She now hosts the Emmy Award–winning Food Network show Valerie’s Home Cooking, as well as Kids Baking Championship. She is the author of Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time and the follow-up Finding It: And Satisfying My Hunger for Life without Opening the Fridge, as well as Valerie’s Home Cooking and One Dish at a Time.