I think Valerie Bertinelli has been able to make a lot of money. And she was blessed with a nice appearance. But she's a strange bird in my opinion. Too many contradictions, and worse yet she helped create an unstable home and than landed a child in the middle of the chaos.

I thought it strange when Valerie Bertinelli married Eddie Van Halen, didn't you? I bought this CD because people gave it good reviews and because I thought I'd find out why she married him. But I still wonder why she married him. He abused: drugs, alcohol, cigarettes (even after getting cancer in his mouth) her mother (verbally) her (by cheating on her and cussing at her), her son (by doing cocaine when Wolfgang was in his custody). So why did she pick this person as a partner? Didn't we all think Eddie Van Halen was capable of all of the above? Well, we were right. This book confirms it.

After listening to the book I also kept wondering about her upbringing. She credits her parents for being strict with her and thereby keeping her on the straight and narrow. But her morals are very strange to me. She slept around, cheating on her serious boyfriend and her husband, and she admits that she wanted to have an affair with a woman. How do those things, along with her choice in a husband, fit in with her strict upbringing?

I wouldn't waste my money on the book, unless you like looking at train wrecks.

Like everyone else who seems to have posted a review here, I was interested in reading this because Valerie Bertinelli is about my age and I liked her as Barbara Cooper on "One Day At A Time".

Anyway, I was expecting a lot more depth and insight in this book. It jumps around a lot and we rarely get any thoughtful, mature introspection. Another reviewer said that it was like a school girl's diary, and that perfectly describes it. There are loads of experiences summed up in half a paragraph, without the background, the impacts, and so on.

Throughout the book Valerie constantly says that she can't stand criticism, but I wish her editors had pushed a bit and tried to get her to focus on a few events and give us more - especially on her weight loss, since that was the point of the whole book. She should also have been encouraged to give us less of her politics. A trite bio by a television actress is hardly the appropriate platform for politics.

I'm only a few years younger than Valerie and grew up watching "One Day" and emulating her hairstyles as a kid. I've always found her likable and entertaining and frankly, to be a little envied (before I knew better) when she married Eddie Van Halen, which was the talk of my high school at the time.

Her book, while not exactly cerebral, is an interesting read, and actually confirmed what I surmised from watching her interviews over the years: She is a good person with a natural sweetness but is much more edgy and a spitfire than one would believe from watching any of her work. It certainly makes her more interesting.

I do have to say, though, that she might have been better off had she kept her politics out of the book. I'll say up-front that I am somewhat of a conservative and therefore my exegesis is slanted right, but I cringed when she states she hasn't "forgiven" her dad for his conservative views and is encouraging him to become a Democrat, yet she voted for Clinton because she liked his wife. This sort of superficial, knee-jerk, bumper sticker politics is typical of Hollywood and frankly, sounds dumb. She is obviously trying to sound politically aware but comes across childish and naive. She owes Mr. Bertinelli an apology for the public condescension and frankly, more respect,as she could certainly learn a few things from him.

I was surprised at the number of grammatical errors, many of which were obvious. What was the proofreader thinking?!

All in all, though, the books is fairly engaging and she is very frank and honest about her own role in the events played out across its pages. She appears to have brought up a good kid and made a real effort to make a difficult marriage work, so I have to give her props for that, her silly political musings notwithstanding.

And let's face it...she still has great hair.

Valerie Bertinelli has led a very full life and she is still young! The book describes her climbing the ranks of television and how food has played a very large part in all of that. She was very candid about her struggles in her younger years with food and also how she was not as innocent as people believed as her character on "One Day At A Time"

Where I got a little lost and where I felt she was not being as candid is when she describes her relationship with Eddie Van Halen. Everyone knows he is no poster boy for Husband or Father of The Year, but I felt she placed all the blame of their marriage on his infidelity and drug and alcohol use and did not take any of the blame on herself. She did fess up to her infidelity as well, but I felt at parts she painted herself to be the saint of the marriage, when she had her faults as well.

I did enjoy this book, but I just took some of the parts that pertained to her part in their marriage with a grain of salt since she did a lot of finger pointing, but did not look in the mirror that closely.

But if you want a Hollywood tale of sex, drugs and rock 'n roll, you will definitely enjoy this book.

Yes, this book is a MUST HAVE! I too could not put it down (that's how I get with a book that grabs me). I read it all in the first week! Valerie has a way of telling her story that is so easy to read, so 'real', and so motivating!

Editor of Jennifer Winston's women's bestseller How to Snag a Guy and Keep Him Hooked: 99 Ways to Make Him Ache for You

This book was a revealing look into the life of the "good girl" we grew up watching on TV. Valerie was very honest in telling us all about her life. I ended up liking her as a person and respecting her for what she has accomplished.

Curiously, although the frequent swearing in this book didn't bother me, the dated, ugly slang did. This book will date faster than a newspaper.

The author doesn't visit a friend, she "hangs" with him. They don't go out to dinner, they "grab some food." She "freaks out" at "frickin'" things.

When she reproduces her conversations with others, people seldom say, "Okay." It's always, "Cool." She doesn't vow to stop blurting out stupid things; she vows to "get her act together."

Two hundred and seventy-seven pages later, the reader is left with the feeling of having spent an exhausting evening with the high school friend from the seventies who never moved out of her parents' house. I almost expected her to invite me into a linoleum-floored basement to smoke a joint and watch "SNL." (After all, she quotes Roseanne Roseannadanna.)

The other, more important flaw in the book is her tiresome insecurity. The predictability of her actions and reactions is set after the book's first chapter. She feels fat, she feels wrong, she feels undesirable, she feels - oy. Couldn't she lie about feeling good about something, just to break up the monotony of this book? When she claims that her legs are good-looking (but only from the knees down, of course), it's too little, too late.

Good grief, the woman even feels wrong about how she feels about her feelings! She seems to have written this book to inspire people, but the reader wonders, inspire them to do what? Second-guess their every word and thought, and expect a round of applause for it?

Worst, nothing really happens in this book. Her husband's addictions make his behavior predictable and redundant: using, treatment, sober, relapse. And I cannot conjure a single memory of the twenty-plus TV movies she describes making. Her description of location shoots are deadly: She rides stationary bikes in hotel rooms.

It's a snooze, filled with lengthy descriptions of nothing in particular and slang so dated I suspect Tony Orlando edited the book.

Poor little Valerie. I bought this book because I thought it would help be an inspiration to my daughter for loosing weight. Most people who have a weight problem would consider themselves lucky if they weighed 134 pounds! But Valerie made it sound like it was the end of the world. Yes, I'm sure that this would be a problem for an actress, but I don't think Valerie has a clue about what "normal" people go through in their challenge to loose weight. I found the rest of the book boring - I usually give a book 150 pages, if I still don't like it by then I close it and put in the pile to give away. I found that I couldn't wait to get to page 150 on this one!

I'm trying to decide whether I'm less for today's in-your-face paparazzi-pushing, lifestyles of the teen and tarty, or the ways of the '70s and '80s, when the only info fans were privy to was in the pages of "Teen Beat" and "16" magazines. Well, that and the picture painted by the PR machines promoting their stars the way they wanted them perceived, giving the public an untrue view of who they really were. (Remember, this was before cable programming, when TV shows were highly promoted by network talk shows and in the press, and before we got a lot of the behind-the-scenes paparazzi shots and TMZ videos of our faves partying at all hours.)
I was a huge fan of "One Day at a Time"--and Valerie Bertinelli was my favorite actor on the show. I could relate to her--Italian descent, cute but not beautiful, good-girl image, who married young and in love. At least that was my perception and the image the public was given of Valerie at the time. But this book by her is a bit disconcerting and gives us the true story of Valerie, her not-so-squeaky-clean ways and her rocky and rolly marriage to Eddie Van Halen. If you're looking for a light read, this book is perfect. Nothing too in-depth, not a lot of soul searching going on here. It is a wonderful piece of public relations for Jenny Craig, however. I would have liked to see a little more introspection. Bertinelli is not well educated although she is no dummy, but this book reads like not a whole lot more than a diary of this happened, then that happened, and then the other thing, oh, and I gained weight, without much deep thought. I don't agree with many of her decisions--the drinking and drugging and infidelity that came before her son was born is sad, but not all that difficult to understand given the Hollywood and rocker lifestyle, but some of her decisions post-Wolfie are perplexing, such as why she would leave her son with her drugging and drinking husband while she is in another state for months at a time. She found cocaine in Van Halen's wallet, transported on a flight he took with the boy to visit Bertinelli, but she doesn't confront him here. She is upset personally that he would do such a thing and put her son in danger, but she slips the packet back in the wallet--and Ed and Wolfie go on their merry way back to LA. Huh? She overly obsesses about gaining a couple pounds, but is able to look the other way when she knows her husband is putting her son's life at risk.
I suppose the moral of this story is that each of us has control of our own bodies and lives, and we are in the position to change what is wrong or go on living the way that makes us miserable. Not an uncommon premise for a celebrity book.

LOSING IT: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time by Valerie Anne Bertinelli is a captivating memoir of her life as a child star, marriage to a rock & roll legend, and life in California. Many people know her as the spokesperson for a weight loss company, but she first became popular as Barbara Cooper, the younger daughter, on the great TV show One Day at a Time - The Complete First Season when she was fifteen. MacKenzie Phillips from American Graffiti (Collector's Edition) played the other daughter Julie, and the juxtaposition of the very different personalities made for a realistic, interesting show. Later, after a few Hollywood dalliances, Valerie married Eddie Van Halen when she was twenty, and began a fast-paced, hectic life on the road with the band.

Throughout her life, she has struggled with self-esteem issues and weight fluctuations. Reading her memoirs is like being with an old friend who you really want to see succeed. It's nice to see her get it together.

Charlie Z
July 18, 2008

I was a teen in the 70s when Bertinelli was on TV. We're the same age. I was a huge fan, but I'm sorry I chose to read her bio. Reading her disclosures of using some hard core drugs (for the day) while she was on her sitcom just burst the image that was shoved down our throats by the many interviews she gave to Seventeen magazine back in the day, portraying herself as a "good girl." Mackenzie Phillips got all the heat while on that show--but Bertinelli was just as guilty, though obviously more careful. It's hypocritical that she propagated the image of a good-girl while doing the sitcom when she was just as wild with drugs and sexually promiscuous as Phillips. You have to remember, the 1970s were still relatively tame for otherwise "normal" teens in the U.S., so I was taken aback at her hypocrisy without nary an apology for pulling the wool over fans' eyes.

The big turn off was her constant pontificating about her hatred for anyone who doesn't think like she does (and most of Hollywood), read: Republicans and moderates. It's either her liberal highway or nothing. Also, another hypocritical point is her constant harping about how great Jenny Craig is yet her own, bloated, overweight and really fat kid is allowed to play nothing but video games (that emulate his dad). And allowing him to go on tour at the age of 16 with his drug addled dad??? Bertinelli's parenting skills are non-existent when all she writes is that she cried buckets when she saw him off to travel the world with a has-been, drunken, drug-addicted, sexually debauched rock band.

Yeah, I'm glad I don't think like she does. Wirting a book that showcases just how out of touch and clueless she is is a fine way of showing the world her ignorance in thinking, period.

This is a book I picked up as a result of my interest in Valerie Bertinelli's very public weight loss efforts. I knew who Valerie was before her Jenny Craig days from watching One Day At A Time years ago, but I haven't followed her career since then and would not have otherwise purchased a book about her life. Nevertheless, once I started reading the book (which actually has very little in it about her Jenny Craig days although her struggles with weight loss and food "addiction" are peppered throughout), I found it to be a quick and interesting read about someone whom I grew to like more and more after hearing her tell her story in a very honest way.

The book follows Valerie's life from her early years to her current status as a Jenny Craig spokeswoman. Through the years, her weight fluctuated along with her mood and situation (or more accurately, her dependence on food as comfort fluctuated), a common theme throughout the book. It seems that the Jenny Craig opportunity came along at the right time, i.e., a time when her personal and emotional lives were falling into place, which allowed her to open herself up to success in weight loss as well. For those of us who also have emotional eating issues, this need for alignment of the planets is something we can understand.

The book is written in a very conversational, laid back style, which makes it an easy, quick read. I found the story rather interesting - from how she initially got interested in acting, her experience with her fellow castmates on One Day At A Time, to her rollercoaster relationship with Eddie Van Halen, and her love of being a mother. I was entertained, which is about all I could expect from this sort of book, especially since I came into it with no particular affinity for, or dislike of, Ms. Bertinelli.

Losing It is certainly not a great work of literature, but I am glad I read it and enjoyed learning a bit more about the person behind the image. As a result, I am rating it 3 stars for an enjoyable book that kept me reading.

I passed this book up a couple times because I thought it was just a woman's book. I finally thought I would just give it a chance and am sure glad I did! Valerie really puts it all out there and holds nothing back. I was surprised at some of the things I found out and am sure you will be too. It's a good, fast read. Men and women will enjoy this book!

I have always been a fan of Valerie's. ODAAT was on when i was about 3 but I always caught it in reruns. Marrying Eddie certainly put her into a bigger spotlight and I began to relate to her. She is very frank about her weight, her marriage and her family. I have never thought she is fat and I was bummed at how hard on herself she was. But she is clearly in a better place now and seems like a wonderful mother. I gave the book to my mom after I read it and she also enjoyed it very much. I recommended the book to all my friends, you will finish it in a day like i did!

I found Valerie's story to be refreshingly candid. As a long-time fan and someone who has also recently lost a significant amount of weight, I was very interested in her story. This is not a "how-to" weight loss book -- actually, she doesn't spend a lot of time on that issue. But it is an honest look back at her life and how she got to where she is now. Enjoyable read.

I got this book for insight into what I thought was an interesting life. However, the book, which could have gone into depth about some really interesting times, only serves to show Ms. Bertinelli's lack of depth and intelligence. Yes, she comes off as sweet and well-meaning. But really, with all the problems going on in the world today, the biggest thing she has to say is commentary about her repeatedly gaining and losing 20 pounds? Seriously??

This woman's self-worth is measured by her weight, as she reminds us ad nauseum by relaying her current weight at every juncture in her life. She has no introspection about anything else in the world or her life. She treats Jenny Craig like the Messiah. (Wonder how Ms. B. will feel when her contract runs out and she gains all that weight back because obviously you can't sustain a healthy weight loss you achieved eating chemical cheese curls [Hello Exhibit A: Kirstie Alley]).

This could have been an interersting book, but instead comes of as a Jenny Craig commercial written by a nice, not very deep and not very intelligent woman who despite having lived some interesting times, lacks the intelligence and introspection to write about them in other than a superficial manner. The weight obsession is very immature, redudant and annoying (typical eating disordered behaviour, but not too interesting for the reader).

Check it out of the library if you are interested. Not worth the cover price. Not that much info on her marriage other than Eddie drank a lot and did a lot of coke, they both cheated, they didn't have sex very much, Eddie had good taste in gifts and they love their kid who now plays bass in van halen. Oh, and Val likes David Lee Roth now. There I saved you $25.

Oh, and what is up with the HORRIBLE inside picture quality. How could any publisher let that go to press??

Lite on insight, long on product plugs, this vapid autobiography appears to have been ghostwritten by Jenny Craig's publishing division.

Once an appealing young television personality, Bertinelli now seems content to be a self-absorbed diet shill who spends as much time here dithering over her yoyo-ing waistline as she does her declining acting career and failed marriage to a drug happy rock star. Then one day she discovered Jenny Craig. . . and the rest reads like the world's longest People magazine profile.

Look elsewhere for anything remotely resembling a shocking revelation--Bertinelli foolishly revealed all the juicy parts (and there weren't that many to begin with) on TV during a pre-publication media publicity blitz.

So what we're left with here is a book-length paid ad for Jenny Craig--only readers are the ones footing the bill. The corporate brown-nosing ranges from Bertinelli's alleged admiration for Kirstie Alley's "success" on Craig's diet plan (Huh??? Has she looked at a tabloid lately?) to the inclusion of an unflattering, out-of-focus shot of Jenny herself, accompanied by the ridiculous caption "Isn't she beautiful?" (No, at least not here.) And--did she mention?--Valerie really does love Jenny's cuisine!

Yet despite her alleged new-found grasp of responsible eating, Bertinelli is apparently so busy admiring her svelte self in a mirror that she has somehow failed to realize that her seriously overweight son Wolfie now looks like a teenage Jenny Craig spokesperson just waiting to happen. And, with Mom's connections, he just might.

Will be interesting to see whether she maintains her weight loss once her Craig contract expires and the TV talk shows have moved on to weightier matters than the dial reading on her bathroom scale.

Lite on insight, long on product plugs, this vapid autobiography appears to have been ghostwritten by Jenny Craig's publishing division. Even the title sounds like blatant promotion for the weight-loss plan.

Although once an appealing television personality, Bertinelli now seems content to be a self-absorbed diet shill who spends as much time here dithering over her yoyo-ing waistline as she does her declining acting career and failed marriage to a coke-snorting rock star. Then one day she discovered Jenny Craig. . . and the rest reads like the world's longest People magazine profile. Look elsewhere for anything remotely resembling a shocking revelation--Bertinelli foolishly revealed all the juicy parts (and there weren't that many to begin with) on TV during a pre-publication media publicity blitz.

So what we're left with here is a book-length paid ad for Jenny Craig--only readers are the ones footing the bill. The corporate brown-nosing ranges from Bertinelli's alleged admiration for Kirstie Alley's "success" on Craig's diet plan (Huh??? Has she looked at a tabloid lately?) to the inclusion of an unflattering, out-of-focus shot of Jenny herself, accompanied by the ridiculous caption "Isn't she beautiful?" (No, at least not here.) And--did she mention?--Valerie really does love Jenny's cuisine!

Yet despite her alleged new-found grasp of responsible eating, Bertinelli is apparently so busy admiring her svelte self in a mirror that she has somehow failed to realize that her seriously overweight son Wolfie now looks like a teenage Jenny Craig spokesperson just waiting to happen. And, with Mom's connections, maybe he will.

Shall be interesting to see whether she maintains her weight loss once her Craig contract expires and the TV talk shows have moved on to weightier matters than the dial reading on her bathroom scale.

Was this vapid autobiography underwritten by Jenny Craig's publishing division?

Although she used to be an appealing television personality, Bertinelli now seems to be nothing more than a self-absorbed diet-plan shill who spends as much time here dithering over her yoyo-ing waistline as she does her declining acting career and failed marriage to a coke-snorting rock star. (Who, for reasons she never really makes clear, is now allowed to traipse the couple's teenage son around the country as part of his party-hardy rock concert tour. Thanks, Mom!)

The corporate brown-nosing ranges from her alleged admiration for Kirstie Alley's "success" on Craig's diet plan (Huh???) to the inclusion of an unflattering, out-of-focus shot of Jenny herself, accompanied by the ridiculous caption "Isn't she beautiful?" (No, at least not here.)

Yet despite her new-found grasp of responsible eating, Bertinelli is apparently so busy admiring her svelte self in a mirror that she has somehow failed to realize that her seriously overweight son Wolfie looks like a teenage Jenny Craig spokesperson just waiting to happen.

Will be interesting to see whether she maintains her weight loss once her Craig contract expires and the TV talk shows have moved on to weightier matters than the dial reading on her bathroom scale.

Was this vapid autobiography underwritten by Jenny Craig's publishing division?

Although she used to be appealing television personality, Bertinelli now seems to be nothing more than a self-absorbed diet-plan shill who spends as much time here lamenting her expanding waist size as she does her horrific marriage to a substance abusing rock star. (Who, for reasons never really made clear, is now allowed to include her beloved teenage son as part of his rock concert tour.)

The corporate brown-nosing ranges from her alleged admiration for Kirstie Alley's "amazing" success on Craig's diet plan (Huh??? Doesn't Val look at the tabloids?) to the inclusion of a very unflattering (and not even in-focus) shot of Jenny herself, accompanied by the ridiculous caption "Isn't she beautiful?" (No!)

And despite her alleged new-found grasp of responsible eating, Bertinelli is apparently so busy admiring her svelte self in a mirror that she has somehow failed to realize that her seriously overweight son Wolfie looks like a teenage Jenny Craig spokesperson just waiting to happen. Or maybe that's just part of the Bertinelli career re-invention master plan?

I ordered this book in March, it is now July and no book!!! I contacted the seller but I might as well saved my energy!!! They stole my money and I got nothing in return. Amazon should ban crooked people like this from using their web site to scam people!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for nothing!!!!

IN my opinion Valerie could have been moe forthcoming with additional information in numerous places of this book. Although I enjoyed this book, it seems that everytime I was waiting for the big finish to a story or wanted more information, she would fail to follow up with details. Perhaps due to the fact that I am an investigator I get easily annoyed with half stories. Seems to me that if you are in half way then you either go all in or not in at all. You choose.

So poorly written that I didn't bother to finish reading it. I wish I had kept a tally of the number of times she used the word "foxy" to describe someone she thought was beautiful. Unless you're a huge fan of Ed Van Halen or Valerie Bertinelli, I would skip this one. If you're looking for a motivational book about weight loss, try reading Fit or Fat by Covert Bailey. If you're looking for an interesting memoir, try The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls.

Excellent book. I could hardly put it down. Looked forward to reading it every chance I got.

What an inspiration this book is! The honest way she speaks about her past is wonderful and makes you feel like you are her friend. A great summer read and one that gets you up off the couch and inspired to becoame a better person!

Wow! Little Barbara having sex and doing drugs at such a young age. I found the book interesting and honest. I felt she could have left out the bagging on Republicans. It started to get annoying. Her weight loss battle was very typical of most woman that have low self esteem issues. I also thought it interesting that she would allowed her minor age son to travel with his alcoholic father and think that was acceptable. With that said, I enjoyed the book and will pass it on.

I have always been a fan of Valerie Bertinelli & like alot of other people, had watched with interest, her life with Eddie Van Halen. Hearing about all the trials and tribulations they had gone through made me wonder how they stood the test of time for so long. This book really is an eye opener. I love how honest and forthright Valerie is not just about her marriage. but everything. She really does make you feel that she is just one of the girls with problems just like anyone else. I myself had lost some weight before reading the book, but now I feel new inspiration to keep going. Thank you Valerie for your honesty (so rare these days). I know alot of people will enjoy this book as much as I have.

Wow! Little Barbara having sex and doing drugs at such a young age. I found the book interesting and honest. I felt she could have left out the bagging on Republicans. It starting to get annoying. I also thought it interesting that she would allowed her minor age son to travel with his alcoholic father and think that was acceptable. With that said, I enjoyed the book and will pass it on.

I listen to books on CD on my long commutes and Valerie's is at the top of my favorites! Listening to her share her life experiences made me feel like she was one of my best friends, sitting in the passenger seat talking directly to me. And I can't believe how many similarities we share, including the specific foods we like, and Scout and Atticus! This book was amazing and I will listen to it over and over again!

I read this book in two days, I could not put it down. This is a book that was beautifully written, it truly was Valeries own words. I could hear her voice in every word I read. She truly shared her true inner feelings which being of the same age I could identify with.

Mostly bought the book because I saw Valerie B. on Rachel Ray show. She introduced Kindle to me saying she had her book on her Kindle. Wow I did not know this wonderful product existed! Being the avid reader that I am this was perfect for me. Story was very different than I thought it would be, so in reading it did not know what to expect next. I do think it is sad however that it takes someone so long (most of adult life) to feel good about themselves and feel happy with their lives. Yes it is true that when younger we looked at ourselves and thought we had big butts or were told that by others. Pictures don't lie and when we look at them now we know it is the media,magazines etc. that is warped. A big thank you to Valerie for making me aware of the Kindle.

I have a saying when ever encountering anyone who is real and genuine in character and disposition. "You got to be true to you," which is exactly what Valerie Bertinelli has accomplished in her book. She shares with us the good, the bad, and the ugliness in her life. Valerie then some how blends it all together and makes it seem palatable, as she pours her life out across its pages.
From the first time I laid eyes on Valerie Bertinelli over thirty years ago I noticed two things, her million-dollar smile, and her attractive and shapely figure. The same holds true in my mind today.
I must admit, prior to reading her book "Losing It," I was more a fan of Eddie Van Halen than I was of Valerie. "Not anymore." In fact, I am ready to declare angel like status for Valerie for hanging on as long as she did with Eddie. I know she did this for her son Wolfie's sake in trying to make the marriage work.
On another note, I to have struggled with my weight. In just 167 days, I went from 246 lbs. to 173 lbs. It is true, people do treat you differently when you look and feel great as opposed to being overweight.
In closing, I would like to make the following statement: I can think of only one person more beautiful and attractive than Valerie Bertinelli and that is my lovely wife of 30 year's - Jackie Dee. My wife and I enjoyed your book more than words can say.
Thanks Val for sharing so much of yourself with us. God Bless You and Yours.

Also recommended: For a love story that easily tops them all check out D. W. Gutridge's "Captured by a Smile."
Captured by a Smile "Imprisoned by Love": A Memoir of Young Love that Refused to Die

I am just old enough to have watched the last few seasons of "One Day At A Time," although I think the show had jumped the shark by time I saw it. (Handyman Schneider proposing to Bonnie Franklin on horseback is a scene I can recall.) I was never a particular fan of it or Valerie Bertinelli, but since I am maintaining a 35 lb weight loss I thought reading "Losing It" might be inspiring. Plus I find it hard to resist celebrity memoirs. They provide a revealing counterpoint to all the glossy magazines and interviews in which celeb lives are constantly sold as perfect.

Such was the case with Valerie Bertinelli's life. How many times over the years did I read glowing things about her relationship with Eddie Van Halen? They were always painted as the perfect couple. I was surprised when they broke up. (Clearly I don't read tabloids!) So hearing the real truth about their relationship makes for a good read. Their courtship is touching (Eddie does seem like a sweet guy) but is doomed pretty early on by Eddie's alcoholism and artistic focus. Scenes from their marriage sound miserable; Bertinelli was the classic rock and roll widow. She hints that her constant nagging and need for attention played their part in dooming their love story. Both were unfaithful and lied to each other about it for years.

The story of this domestic misery makes for compelling reading. The transformation Bertinelli goes through -- finally realizing she can't make her marriage work -- will be relatable to many. Sometimes divorce really is the best option for all involved, and clearly Van Halen and Bertinelli didn't rush into their split. There is an almost palpable breath of fresh air when they finally go their separate ways.

I also loved scenes from Bertinelli's career (especially the judgmental and imperious Della Reese) and details about her book club. I would have liked to hear more about both.

Where the book starts to bog down is during Bertinelli's weight loss story. She easily falls into every cliche, making the search for selfhood synonymous with a number on the scale. I think Oprah is responsible for starting this idea that identity is strongly wrapped up in how well you take care of yourself. The better you think of yourself, the better you look. This is nonsense, of course. Looking your best often means doing harm to yourself, including trading the pleasures of food for a grumbling stomach at bedtime. Weight loss and restrictive eating are tradeoffs in the classic sense; although it feels great to be thinner, life actually gets a little bit harder. I also find it quite sexist to imply that women who don't look their best are somehow lesser people.

In addition, Bertinelli's philosophy lacks an internal logic. For instance, in the intro she states, "If you're starving right now because you're on a diet, ask yourself if your hunger has anything to do with food. I know the answer to that question." If someone is starving and on a diet, of course the hunger is about food. Hunger is physiological; a sign that the body needs fuel. Bertinelli's quote is as illogical as saying, "If you're nodding off on the couch, ask yourself if you really need sleep. I know the answer to that question." There are both physiological and psychological elements to weight loss and maintenance, but Bertinelli only focuses on the second. It's not all about emotions. Food is not optional.

The book also badly needs a copyeditor. At one point Valerie identifies Alex Van Halen's fiance as a woman named "Valeri"; then a few pages later she talks about his wife being named Kelly. A transitional sentence is missing ("Al had broken up with Valeri, and was now married to a woman named Kelly."). During her brief fling with Steven Spielberg, she mentions that it's March 1980, then a few pages later says, "It told me he still had a thing for Amy (Irving), whom he would marry six years later in 1985." On page 256, she writes, "I wouldn't go to be (sic) before I reached ten thousand (steps.)" On 199, it's "I coinfronted her." The first would be missed by spellcheck, the second implies they didn't even run it before publication.

So, much like weight loss itself, "Losing It" contains both the good and the bad. I enjoyed it, but don't think it has much to say that hasn't been said many times before.

It was ok - gave alot of insight into her x-husband. Talked about how she lost weight. Straight forward book.

Altough I still adore the Valerie Bertinelli of my mind I found her book filled with alot of "Poor me".
There is no depth in the story telling - more like an outline of movies she made, food she ate, how much she weighed, how wonderful Wolfie is and how rotten Ed is. Please, tell me a story in depth with emotion AND let some of Ed's good points shine thru as well (surely after 20 years of marriage there had to be something!).
The book needed the help of a co-writer to get it to the next level.

This was a very entertaining book. I do think she may have dropped too many names in this book BUT this is what made it so funny to read. The struggle with her weight and her honesty about it really hit home....and it is so nice that the glamorous people struggle with the sames things others do. I was facinated to know that Eddie Van Halen was half dutch...so is my husband. I thinks this was a fantastic book!

Like most of America, I thought Valerie Bertinelli was adorable. Being of the body in th '80's - I was intrigued with anyone that could snag Eddie Van Halen. Man, was I ever wrong.

I have to say after reading this tripe - who cares? About any of it. Frankly, after her first name drop of Pamlyn Ferdin who got a bigger part than her in Apple's Way, I realized Valerie was always going to be the victim. Everything from Eddie's cheating, to Della Reese - Valerie sees herself as a victim.

I do not care about her political stance - because she gave me no reason to care. She mentioned she voted for Jimmy Carter in 1980. How about telling me why - other than just mentioning a few time you don't like Republicans?

Val - you're still making bad choices. Who lets their 16 year old son of a coke head go on tour with the coke head? Will we be reading Wolfgang Van Halen's memoirs in a few years? "My Life as the son of a coke head and a selfish stupid actress" also known as My Mom is an Idiot.

And to to publisher - the pictures were horrible. Blurry and out of focus.

I'm so glad Val donated her size 12 FAT clothes to a thrift shop. I probably bought them.

I am currently reading A thousand Splendid Suns. It is the best book I have ever read - but it may be because I just finished the worst book I have ever read.

It's interesting to read about Bertinelli and her weight loss, but her real issues with insecurity are some that we all face and how she overcame them is the real story. Another inspiring read on that is the book, "Saddle Up Your Own White Horse" by Saundra Pelletier. Saddle Up Your Own White Horse: 5 Principles Every Woman Needs to Know

She's quite some lady, good inspiration for weight & other things we all deal with in life!
timely shipping & great condition

I loved how she kept everything real and didn't make the book about anything other then her challenges. Good Book.

I kind of liked Valerie Bertinelli before I read this book. She always came off as breezy, pleasant and easy-going in interviews. After reading her book, I think this is more of a phony persona.

I realize no one is up and perky all the time but the anger and vengeance in this book was kind of shocking. It seemed like anyone who may have looked at her the wrong way got taken down.

Ex-husband Eddie Van Halen got the brunt of it. He apparantly did nothing right. He bought unreliable cars. He bought her jewelry when she wanted time (even though she was always working too.) He played guitar to her pregnant belly when she didn't want him too. I may be being a little facetious, he is obviously not a saint and is fact a well-documented drunk and cheater but still she seems pretty hard to please.

Eddie wasn't Betinelli's only victim. She also accuses Victoria Principal of not hiring her for her infomercial because she was fat even though Principal cited other reasons. In a particularly petty move, Bertinelli throws in that she is not crazy about Principal's products.

Poor Michael Anthony wasn't even safe from the wrath of Bertinell. Not only does the poor guy get fired, so that Eddie's teenage son Wolfie can fill his spot on the tour but Bertinelli accuses Anthony of badmouthing people behind-the-scenes. I have to say it was not her place to say anything. Not only did Anthony issue a really generous statement explaining why he would not not be on the tour but he urged people to give Wolfie Van Halen a chance. She has nothing to do with band. It's her ex-husband's project. It didn't help an already difficult situation. Honestly, he had every right to bad mouth people behind the scenes. He got replaced by a sixteen-year-old when everyone wanted to see the original band.

The only one who got props throughout the book is Jenny Craig. Bertinelli missed no opportunity to talk about the program and wonderful it is. She even worked in product placement throughout the book by mentioning certain food items one can purchase if they join Jenny Craig. It is also more than a little suspicious that she makes it sound like her life just sucked up until she started Jenny Craig and all of a sudden everything seems to get better. It is remarkable to me that someone would manipulate their entire life (and their fans) just to schill for a product.
Losing It: And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at a Time

It was nice to see a celebrity admit that they obsess over their weight (like I do). She really seems like anybody's next door neighbor in the book-she just happens to have a high profile job! I found her book honest and refreshing- One woman's account of growing up into adulthood. It was also great to see she didn't trash her ex-husband like she clearly could have. At the end of the book, I found myself truly wishing her well.

Like most of America, I thought Valerie Bertinelli was adorable. Being of the body in th '80's - I was intrigued with anyone that could snag Eddie Van Halen. Man, was I ever wrong.

I have to say after reading this tripe - who cares? About any of it. Frankly, after her first name drop of Pamlyn Ferdin who got a bigger part than her in Apple's Way, I realized Valerie was always going to be the victim. Everything from Eddie's cheating, to Della Reese - Valerie sees herself as a victim.

I do not care about her political stance - because she gave me no reason to care. She mentioned she voted for Jimmy Carter in 1980. How about telling me why - other than just mentioning a few time you don't like Republicans?

Val - you're still making bad choices. Who lets their 16 year old son of a coke head go on tour with the coke head? Will we be reading Wolfgang Van Halen's memoirs in a few years? "My Life as the son of a coke head and a selfish stupid actress" also known as My Mom is an Idiot.

I am currently reading A thousand Splendid Suns. It is the best book I have ever read - but it may be because I just finished the worst book I have ever read.

Wow - is this something I really wanted to read - for all the wrong reasons! Sorry Valerie, but when you & Eddie got married, it absolutely ruined my fantasies of hanging out with the coolest guitar player in the world. But, as it turns out, I found my own rock star, and later, non-rock stars. Seems like in the end, we're all just girls who want to be appreciated for who we are, and if we have a wilder ride getting there, it's more interesting. I think this book is so inspirational, and I love the surfer commercial! You go! And, I saw VH in San Antonio, and Wolfgang is the man (or is he still a kid?) Good for you Valerie, and your boy will know what a real girl is all about! Thanks for the read! And the motivation to move ahead!

I really enjoyed reading this book. Valerie is open and honest about her struggles and accomplishments. She is an insperation.

I love Valerie Bertinelli and enjoyed reading her book. It is a very personable story and interesting to see that everyone has battles to deal with and how they do deal with them. Valerie truly inspires me.

I was a Van Halen and One Day at a Time fan back in the day. I always wondered why this 20 year marriage broke up. The reasons are hardly shocking, but the author presents them in an interesting and straightforward fashion. She assigns blame equally, which was refreshing. Her life story was fascinating, about how a regular girl becomes a star without losing her way. Apparently the answer is decent parenting. Hmm, who knew?

As for the diet stuff. Well, the story of her yo-yo weight was interesting, but when she started getting into the Jenny Craig stuff, she lost me. Jenny Craig put her on 1200 calories per day? Well, duh. Who wouldn't lose weight that way? Luckily, she does keep the shilling to a minimum.

She did keep talking about how basically her son's fingers were grafted to the videogames, and the photos reveal he could use some 1200 calorie diets himself. But she didn't mention it, even when the photos made it glaringly obvious that she isn't the only one in the house with weight issues. Of course, she's a parent, loves him no matter what, blah, blah. And of course she does. But it was a huge elephant in the room that wasn't addressed and I just thought it was odd. And flame away, but the truth is the truth.

All in all, a really good book. It kept me interested throughout.

This was a wonderful insight and written with quite a bit of humor. Very nice read. I read it in one day!

This is a great read, especially if you were a fan of Valerie from One Day at a Time.

The book seems to fixate on Eddie Van Halen alot, which can be good or bad, depending if you're a fan or not.

A good read.

This book touches many people in different ways, whether struggling with weight issues to just accepting changes in one's life. This book is great for anyone trying to deal with a change i their life. It is a quick read and it can inspire you to take your life back one pound at a time!