A Funeral for My Fat

I wear black when I work out; it’s a funeral for my fat.

Why a funeral? Because death is permanent; when something dies, it’s not coming back.

Sharee Samuels was seventeen and 256 pounds when she hit her rock bottom. But with incredible determination and an unflaggingly positive attitude, she went on to lose more than one hundred pounds over the course of five years. When she began documenting her journey on Tumblr, she never expected to become such a powerful voice for health, fitness, and self-love, but her blog, called Funeral for My Fat, soon morphed into an inspirational guide for hundreds of thousands of individuals looking for support and advice on their own fitness journeys.

Here Sharee tells her story. Integral to her success has been her burgeoning passion for teaching group fitness classes, including Zumba, as well as her commitment to eating vegan. However, she firmly believes that it is important for everybody to follow their own paths and find what works for them while treating themselves and their bodies with care and respect.

If you have a journey ahead of you, Sharee has a story worth reading.

Sharee Samuels is the founder of the popular “fitspiration” blog Funeral for My Fat on Tumblr. She was featured on the cover of People (January 2014), profiled again in People for the magazine’s Half Their Size: The Ultimate Diet Guide (July 2014), and has also been featured on Good Morning America, E! News, EXTRA, and OMG Insider. She holds a master’s degree in school psychology from Central Washington University and lives with her husband in Federal Way, Washington.

“Sharee is a constant source of inspiration, who empowers with kindness and authenticity. For anyone feeling hopeless or overwhelmed with their weight and looking for guidance around transitioning into a healthier lifestyle, this is your book.” —Leslie Woodward, holistic nutritionist & yoga therapist

“Sharee’s story is not only inspiring, but extremely motivating. With interactive features, this book is a must read.” —Nika “FitNika101” Bekavac, Certified Personal Trainer and Sports Nutrition Specialist

“I have followed Sharee’s journey since the beginning and her book is the perfect guide of how she completely changed her life, lost over 100 pounds, and found the healthiest her. The interactive sections at the end of every chapter are so helpful for both those starting on their journey, and those well into their journey. It will make you laugh, cry, and motivate you to find the healthiest you.” —Natasha Rusilko, founder of Make That Change Fitness, certified personal trainer, and fitness nutrition specialist

“Most of us know how much of an amazing inspiration Sharee is to the fitness community but this book, which lays out her story, takes it all to a brand-new level. This isn’t just the usual ‘eat this to lose weight’ health book, it’s a completely brand-new way of helping you set yourself up for success. Most books and articles never address the most important part of a weight-loss/fitness/health journey, and in this book, Sharee does. Sharee completely understands that there is no one size fits all, and she helps you to find YOUR size. She is honest and straightforward and helps you to become less fearful and daunted by the whole journey ahead of you. She has even helped me revaluate and shone a new light on my own journey. If you need help seeing light at the end of the tunnel, Sharee can be your light. I promise you will not be disappointed.” —Rae Elizabeth, personal trainer and founder of Raevolution Personalized Nutrition & Health