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Downsizing: How I lost 8 stone, reversed my diabetes and regained my health
'An honest and fascinating account of the journey that Tom made from discovering he was a type 2 diabetic to doing something about it. This book will change lives.' Michael Mosley
'Two years ago I turned 50, weighed 22 stone and was heavily medicated for type 2 diabetes. I thought it would be all downhill from there. By radically changing my nutrition, cutting out sugar, and taking up exercise, I've changed my life and reversed my diabetes. I hope my story will inspire others to regain their health and happiness and discover the new lease of life I'm experiencing.'
Tom Watson began to put on weight in his early twenties, having developed an appetite for fast food and cheap beer while studying at the University of Hull. As time progressed - and his penchant for anything sweet, fatty or fizzy persisted - he found himself adjusting his belt, loosening his collar and upsizing his wardrobe to XXL. He continued to pile on the pounds when he entered the world of politics as MP for West Bromwich East (despite short-lived flirtations with fad diets and fitness classes). By December 2014, his bathroom scales had tipped to 22 stone. After being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in late 2015, he decided to take control of his diet and exercise. He started to feel better quickly and within a short time his long-term blood sugar levels were within normal range. By July 2018, he came off medication.
256 pages, Paperback
Published January 7, 2021
138 people are currently reading
140 people want to read
About the author
Tom Watson
3 books3 followersTom Watson is the MP for West Bromwich East. He campaigns against unlawful media practices and led the questioning of Rupert and James Murdoch when they appeared before Parliament in July 2011. He is the deputy chair of the Labour Party.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
January 9, 2021
As a person who needs to loose more weight and diabetic 2 mine could be controlled by eating, or rather, what I eat so I thought I’d take a look at this book.
Not much into Politics so didn’t know who this person was, so, not the reason I wanted to read it.
It’s informative as per most books like this.
As all diabetics are told......eat less carbs as carbs turn into sugar which causes us problems.
Less sugar in general.
Tom went on a low carb high fat sort of regime. I think he mentioned Keto as one one of the successful.
I’m in no doubt and awe that he’s lost so much weight which is astounding and I praise him for that. It’s the most difficult things to do, loose weight, then.......keep it off!
There’s no easy way, there’s no magic wand.
Being in his position I’d love for him to rally for manufacturers to less the sugar content in food.
To lobby for better healthier foods. We are getting bigger as a nation, I’m one of them. We sit more too as we e “machines” that do housework, chores, work and let’s not not forget, online shopping!
We don’t need to move much!
He gave an honest and open account of his life which I can relate to in part.
Would I recommend this book?
Yes, I think I would as it’s got some really good advice and let’s face it.....
He’s lost a half of his body weight. He’s reversed diabetes in his life so far.
It’s no easy fete that! I admire him.
Not much into Politics so didn’t know who this person was, so, not the reason I wanted to read it.
It’s informative as per most books like this.
As all diabetics are told......eat less carbs as carbs turn into sugar which causes us problems.
Less sugar in general.
Tom went on a low carb high fat sort of regime. I think he mentioned Keto as one one of the successful.
I’m in no doubt and awe that he’s lost so much weight which is astounding and I praise him for that. It’s the most difficult things to do, loose weight, then.......keep it off!
There’s no easy way, there’s no magic wand.
Being in his position I’d love for him to rally for manufacturers to less the sugar content in food.
To lobby for better healthier foods. We are getting bigger as a nation, I’m one of them. We sit more too as we e “machines” that do housework, chores, work and let’s not not forget, online shopping!
We don’t need to move much!
He gave an honest and open account of his life which I can relate to in part.
Would I recommend this book?
Yes, I think I would as it’s got some really good advice and let’s face it.....
He’s lost a half of his body weight. He’s reversed diabetes in his life so far.
It’s no easy fete that! I admire him.
January 13, 2020
I listened to this on Audible and am now following the low carb high fat plan too. All good so far!
This is a very personal account of Tom's journey and, for the most part, it was extremely engaging and fascinating. I felt it got a bit deep when talking about the sugar companies and lost focus for a while there but overall, a great read. He's got a lot to say and we should listen.
This is a very personal account of Tom's journey and, for the most part, it was extremely engaging and fascinating. I felt it got a bit deep when talking about the sugar companies and lost focus for a while there but overall, a great read. He's got a lot to say and we should listen.
February 11, 2021
Inspirational, and very informative. Thank you Mr Watson
June 22, 2020
Good for him.
My one issue is that he assumes all type 2 is due to obesity. In my family we all get it, irrespective of lifestyle. The one who almost died was my 6’ 5” skinny uncle, because his doctor never thought to test. When I was diagnosed I was walking 7 miles a day and at the gym three times a week, and well within standard calorie recommendations (but, as we too worked out, far too many carbs).
I also have fat friends whose life threatening illnesses were missed because their doctors got fixated on their weight.
But that apart, everything here is sound. You can control and even reverse type 2 diabetes with diet. The long term consequences of diabetes are immense (see the amputation epidemic in the US).
Good luck with your journey.
My one issue is that he assumes all type 2 is due to obesity. In my family we all get it, irrespective of lifestyle. The one who almost died was my 6’ 5” skinny uncle, because his doctor never thought to test. When I was diagnosed I was walking 7 miles a day and at the gym three times a week, and well within standard calorie recommendations (but, as we too worked out, far too many carbs).
I also have fat friends whose life threatening illnesses were missed because their doctors got fixated on their weight.
But that apart, everything here is sound. You can control and even reverse type 2 diabetes with diet. The long term consequences of diabetes are immense (see the amputation epidemic in the US).
Good luck with your journey.
January 5, 2020
An appropriate book to read as my first one in 2020. Tom Watson’s account of how he lost eight stone and reversed his type 2 diabetes is inspirational and anger-inducing in equal measure. Anger-inducing because of the way he exposes the sugar industry for the way they have obfuscated and lied over many years about the products they peddle. Inspirational because of the sheer size of Watson’s achievement in shedding his bulk and embarking on a new healthy lifestyle. He did it by essentially following a low-carb diet, based largely on Fast Diet founder Michael Mosley’s nutritional approach. It certainly seems to have worked for Watson, who tells his story in an engaging and honest way. I may not agree with Tom’s politics all of the time, but full marks to him for sharing his story in this book. Now he has stepped down from active politics, I hope that he finds the time to take the fight to the sugar industry and that he becomes a public advocate for the much needed measures we need to improve UK citizens’ health and wellbeing.
July 21, 2021
I feel that my review - much like this book - needs to be split into 2 parts. The first, focusing on the author’s personal weight loss journey, was truly humbling and inspiring to read. Over 2 years, Tom did his own research and in the process lost a whopping 100+ lbs, allowing him to regain his life and have innumerable happy experiences with his children.
The latter half of the book focused on the dangers posed by ‘Big Sugar’ to our collective health. Watson used well-researched statistics and analysis to highlight the way that Big Sugar manipulates and lobbies government policy to change the very way we perceive sugary foods. This part of the book - while clearly reflecting Watson’s political activism - did serve as a rallying cry and did give me cause for thought about how little we actually know about the food we eat.
Overall, an inspiring and yet also concerning read.
The latter half of the book focused on the dangers posed by ‘Big Sugar’ to our collective health. Watson used well-researched statistics and analysis to highlight the way that Big Sugar manipulates and lobbies government policy to change the very way we perceive sugary foods. This part of the book - while clearly reflecting Watson’s political activism - did serve as a rallying cry and did give me cause for thought about how little we actually know about the food we eat.
Overall, an inspiring and yet also concerning read.
August 1, 2021
A good account of his remarkably successful weight loss. Seems pretty clear that cutting sugar and carbs and doing lots of exercise, works. My question would be though what the fat might do to his health long term ?
If you're tempted to read this for what he thinks about Murdoch or Corbyn, don't bother. They barely get a mention as he sticks to the subject. Indeed, it gets a bit repetitive so didn't score higher.
If you're tempted to read this for what he thinks about Murdoch or Corbyn, don't bother. They barely get a mention as he sticks to the subject. Indeed, it gets a bit repetitive so didn't score higher.
January 8, 2022
You can watch this review on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/55Lci56AmeQ
Tom Watson was a prominent Labour MP. He was quite a large man, not that that’s important to his politics, but a couple of years ago I saw him on tv and I thought, “Tom Watson? I thought he was – Is that the same Tom Watson?” After I’d double checked that it was the same man, I was really taken aback by how much weight he’d lost and I thought, wow, all due respect because that would not have been easy.
I found this book very easy to read, I flew through it. This is quite a sanitised version of Watson’s life, his political career sounds very shiny and lovely and there are almost no negative opinions voiced about his contemporaries, this book has given me no idea about Watson’s political views, other than that he’s staunchly Labour and believes in making everybody’s life better, not very specific. What Watson is focusing on in this book is his diet and weight throughout his life, and importantly how he lost 100lbs in the late twenty-teens. Watson is very clear from the outset, that this is his story of what worked for him, he is not recommending it for everyone.
Watson talks about his upbringing and his diet which included the processed foods that most families eat, at Uni he enjoyed takeaway food and drinking, as many students do. It’s a lot easier for your body to handle taking on weight when you’re younger and you can still be active when required, even if carrying some extra pounds. Watson has always come across to me as someone more interested in his politics than his appearance, and this also comes across in the book; whilst he was aware that he was getting bigger and he wasn’t jumping for joy about it, his mind was more consumed by his current job and the activity of the moment.
Watson recalls some embarrassing stories related to his weight and eating habits, such as; being trapped in a security capsule as it locked shut and set off all the alarms because an inbuilt sensor had detected two people in the capsule, breaking numerous pieces of household furniture as well as cracking the bath. And, my favourite, not noticing that he was finishing off some leftover cake that a customer had left behind in a café.
Watson discusses his compulsion to eat, ‘For me, wolfing down the entire block of chocolate was a physical and physiological compulsion: I couldn’t not eat it all.’ I can completely relate to this. Watson talks about the fatigue he felt before he sorted his diet out, this is symptomatic of carb abuse, he laments about the lost time when he didn’t have the energy to spend with his children. and he describes the burst of energy that is gained from cutting out carbs.
Watson talks about how he ignored his health concerns; because of his career, he was often working long hours and eating on the go, this is a recipe for a bad diet. Not only did Watson not want to face the reality that he could have a serious health problem, he also felt ashamed that he had got himself into this situation. When Watson did eventually speak to a doctor, he was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, but he still struggled to take control of his weight. He was advised by the NHS to consult the Department of Health’s ‘Eatwell Plate’ which recommends five portions of fruit/veg a day and meals based around carbohydrates with fat, especially saturated fat, reduced. Watson did have a go at this eating plan, but it was not very successful. He recalls, ‘carefully weighing out 20g of dry porridge oats – which probably equated to a fifth of my usual supersized serving – and wondering how on earth that was going to sustain me until lunchtime. More often than not it didn’t, and I’d find myself indulging in elevenses, and loading up with a croissant or two.’ ‘Despite implementing these changes, and despite trying to follow the standard guidelines, my weight seemed to plateau rather than plummet and, disappointingly, I continued to experience overwhelming carb and sugar cravings.’ This led to wobbles, but even when Watson did give in to his cravings, he became more aware that he was giving into something that he wanted to resist.
Because of his failure to progress, Watson was even recommended for weight-loss surgery, but this was not an avenue he wanted to pursue. He wanted to a more natural approach to weight-loss, but after losing hope in the standard NHS dietary advice, Watson looked for alternatives. Despite his new wealth of knowledge, Watson took a while to make the leap into eating a low carb high fat and protein diet, but he did start doing some exercise. By the time Watson seriously tried to use exercise to lose weight, his fitness was at a shockingly bad level, he struggled to walk half a mile which is a terrible situation to be in. He got a personal trainer and his retelling of their first session in a kid’s playground is both hilarious and tragic.
Watson began following a low carb high fat ketogenic diet. This means cutting out breads, pasta and rice, as well as high carb fruit and veg, and more difficult than all of those – refined sugar. Having a higher level of fat in your diet allows you to resist the calls of sugar more easily. You should also be eating more natural and unprocessed foods, and cutting out industrially produced oils. If this sounds like cutting out most of your diet, you’re completely normal, but just because those foods are normal does not mean they are not really bad for our health. Instead of these things, you eat more meat, poultry and fish, eggs and dairy, salads, leafy green veg and berries. This diet is fucking delicious, much better than alternative diets. You soon realise that these are all the best bits of meals, and that carbs are just fillers. And what is in many ways the best thing about a low carb high fat diet is expressed here by Watson, ‘more to the point, I wasn’t hungry anymore. No pangs, no cravings, no rumbling stomach. I could barely believe this was happening to me.’ This diet also recommends intermittent fasting which is much easier and more rewarding than you would imagine.
On a ketogenic diet, Watson finally started losing serious weight, and he felt great. Watson successfully got down to a size XL which meant he could buy clothes in regular shops rather than outsize retailers. He also felt more awake and more energetic which meant he was able to enjoy his time with his children more. Another great success was when his type 2 diabetes went into remission, although he also felt a tinge of regret, ‘I had spent five years of my life in denial about my health issues, yet had I got my act together sooner I could have sorted it out in three months flat.’
As he became more active, Watson had a growing interest in exercise; from weight lifting, to cycling and mountain climbing, an incredible turnaround from not being able to walk his half a mile journey home. Watson even embraced meditation and learnt the importance of restful sleep.
Since taking control of his sugar addiction, Watson has also tried to tackle the power of Big Sugar, and he speaks passionately about it, although that is a hell of a dragon to take on, and we only have to look around us to see how much power it continues to wield. Most of us don’t have the time to read scientific papers and investigate every aspect of the world we are given, we trust that authorities have done the necessary checks for us. More often than not, no-one has done the checks, and it is a painstaking effort by individuals to highlight the important issues, which many producers will then side-step by replacing one ingredient with another that may be equally bad for health, ‘while preaching active lifestyles as the answer to the problem, these companies are manufacturing food that is so drenched in sugar and additives that it makes it harder – psychologically and physiologically – to get into a routine of regular exercise.’
Watson highlights the millions of people living with type two diabetes in the UK, a condition that not only comes with health complications but also a feeling of shame and fear. Many of these people could improve their condition by changing their diets; their conditions will not improve with the foods that are being promoted left, right and centre, all around us. In his ‘remission for all’ mission statement, Watson challenges the ‘one size fits all’ healthcare advice, ‘Of the people I know who have put their diabetes in remission, the majority have done so by ignoring Public Health England’s controversial Eatwell Guide.’
Watson is a fan of technology to keep him challenging himself and having lots of wins along the way, he used apps for tracking his fitness progress as well as to give breakdowns of what he was eating including calories and macronutrients. He had a Fitbit and website subscriptions, he watched YouTube videos and listened to podcasts, as well as reading lots of books. I have looked up a few of the books referenced in ‘Downsizing’, and they’re definitely on my future reading list.
This was a very easy book to read and it held my attention throughout. I would particularly recommend this book for anyone looking to lose a lot of weight. Watson gives lots of details of the everyday struggles of being overweight, and he begins his weight loss journey with small steps designed to give regular achievements. This is really encouraging for anyone who has that big journey ahead of them, it’s also great for people who are interested in their health to remind them of what they need to keep on top of. You can watch this review on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/55Lci56AmeQ
Tom Watson was a prominent Labour MP. He was quite a large man, not that that’s important to his politics, but a couple of years ago I saw him on tv and I thought, “Tom Watson? I thought he was – Is that the same Tom Watson?” After I’d double checked that it was the same man, I was really taken aback by how much weight he’d lost and I thought, wow, all due respect because that would not have been easy.
I found this book very easy to read, I flew through it. This is quite a sanitised version of Watson’s life, his political career sounds very shiny and lovely and there are almost no negative opinions voiced about his contemporaries, this book has given me no idea about Watson’s political views, other than that he’s staunchly Labour and believes in making everybody’s life better, not very specific. What Watson is focusing on in this book is his diet and weight throughout his life, and importantly how he lost 100lbs in the late twenty-teens. Watson is very clear from the outset, that this is his story of what worked for him, he is not recommending it for everyone.
Watson talks about his upbringing and his diet which included the processed foods that most families eat, at Uni he enjoyed takeaway food and drinking, as many students do. It’s a lot easier for your body to handle taking on weight when you’re younger and you can still be active when required, even if carrying some extra pounds. Watson has always come across to me as someone more interested in his politics than his appearance, and this also comes across in the book; whilst he was aware that he was getting bigger and he wasn’t jumping for joy about it, his mind was more consumed by his current job and the activity of the moment.
Watson recalls some embarrassing stories related to his weight and eating habits, such as; being trapped in a security capsule as it locked shut and set off all the alarms because an inbuilt sensor had detected two people in the capsule, breaking numerous pieces of household furniture as well as cracking the bath. And, my favourite, not noticing that he was finishing off some leftover cake that a customer had left behind in a café.
Watson discusses his compulsion to eat, ‘For me, wolfing down the entire block of chocolate was a physical and physiological compulsion: I couldn’t not eat it all.’ I can completely relate to this. Watson talks about the fatigue he felt before he sorted his diet out, this is symptomatic of carb abuse, he laments about the lost time when he didn’t have the energy to spend with his children. and he describes the burst of energy that is gained from cutting out carbs.
Watson talks about how he ignored his health concerns; because of his career, he was often working long hours and eating on the go, this is a recipe for a bad diet. Not only did Watson not want to face the reality that he could have a serious health problem, he also felt ashamed that he had got himself into this situation. When Watson did eventually speak to a doctor, he was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, but he still struggled to take control of his weight. He was advised by the NHS to consult the Department of Health’s ‘Eatwell Plate’ which recommends five portions of fruit/veg a day and meals based around carbohydrates with fat, especially saturated fat, reduced. Watson did have a go at this eating plan, but it was not very successful. He recalls, ‘carefully weighing out 20g of dry porridge oats – which probably equated to a fifth of my usual supersized serving – and wondering how on earth that was going to sustain me until lunchtime. More often than not it didn’t, and I’d find myself indulging in elevenses, and loading up with a croissant or two.’ ‘Despite implementing these changes, and despite trying to follow the standard guidelines, my weight seemed to plateau rather than plummet and, disappointingly, I continued to experience overwhelming carb and sugar cravings.’ This led to wobbles, but even when Watson did give in to his cravings, he became more aware that he was giving into something that he wanted to resist.
Because of his failure to progress, Watson was even recommended for weight-loss surgery, but this was not an avenue he wanted to pursue. He wanted to a more natural approach to weight-loss, but after losing hope in the standard NHS dietary advice, Watson looked for alternatives. Despite his new wealth of knowledge, Watson took a while to make the leap into eating a low carb high fat and protein diet, but he did start doing some exercise. By the time Watson seriously tried to use exercise to lose weight, his fitness was at a shockingly bad level, he struggled to walk half a mile which is a terrible situation to be in. He got a personal trainer and his retelling of their first session in a kid’s playground is both hilarious and tragic.
Watson began following a low carb high fat ketogenic diet. This means cutting out breads, pasta and rice, as well as high carb fruit and veg, and more difficult than all of those – refined sugar. Having a higher level of fat in your diet allows you to resist the calls of sugar more easily. You should also be eating more natural and unprocessed foods, and cutting out industrially produced oils. If this sounds like cutting out most of your diet, you’re completely normal, but just because those foods are normal does not mean they are not really bad for our health. Instead of these things, you eat more meat, poultry and fish, eggs and dairy, salads, leafy green veg and berries. This diet is fucking delicious, much better than alternative diets. You soon realise that these are all the best bits of meals, and that carbs are just fillers. And what is in many ways the best thing about a low carb high fat diet is expressed here by Watson, ‘more to the point, I wasn’t hungry anymore. No pangs, no cravings, no rumbling stomach. I could barely believe this was happening to me.’ This diet also recommends intermittent fasting which is much easier and more rewarding than you would imagine.
On a ketogenic diet, Watson finally started losing serious weight, and he felt great. Watson successfully got down to a size XL which meant he could buy clothes in regular shops rather than outsize retailers. He also felt more awake and more energetic which meant he was able to enjoy his time with his children more. Another great success was when his type 2 diabetes went into remission, although he also felt a tinge of regret, ‘I had spent five years of my life in denial about my health issues, yet had I got my act together sooner I could have sorted it out in three months flat.’
As he became more active, Watson had a growing interest in exercise; from weight lifting, to cycling and mountain climbing, an incredible turnaround from not being able to walk his half a mile journey home. Watson even embraced meditation and learnt the importance of restful sleep.
Since taking control of his sugar addiction, Watson has also tried to tackle the power of Big Sugar, and he speaks passionately about it, although that is a hell of a dragon to take on, and we only have to look around us to see how much power it continues to wield. Most of us don’t have the time to read scientific papers and investigate every aspect of the world we are given, we trust that authorities have done the necessary checks for us. More often than not, no-one has done the checks, and it is a painstaking effort by individuals to highlight the important issues, which many producers will then side-step by replacing one ingredient with another that may be equally bad for health, ‘while preaching active lifestyles as the answer to the problem, these companies are manufacturing food that is so drenched in sugar and additives that it makes it harder – psychologically and physiologically – to get into a routine of regular exercise.’
Watson highlights the millions of people living with type two diabetes in the UK, a condition that not only comes with health complications but also a feeling of shame and fear. Many of these people could improve their condition by changing their diets; their conditions will not improve with the foods that are being promoted left, right and centre, all around us. In his ‘remission for all’ mission statement, Watson challenges the ‘one size fits all’ healthcare advice, ‘Of the people I know who have put their diabetes in remission, the majority have done so by ignoring Public Health England’s controversial Eatwell Guide.’
Watson is a fan of technology to keep him challenging himself and having lots of wins along the way, he used apps for tracking his fitness progress as well as to give breakdowns of what he was eating including calories and macronutrients. He had a Fitbit and website subscriptions, he watched YouTube videos and listened to podcasts, as well as reading lots of books. I have looked up a few of the books referenced in ‘Downsizing’, and they’re definitely on my future reading list.
This was a very easy book to read and it held my attention throughout. I would particularly recommend this book for anyone looking to lose a lot of weight. Watson gives lots of details of the everyday struggles of being overweight, and he begins his weight loss journey with small steps designed to give regular achievements. This is really encouraging for anyone who has that big journey ahead of them, it’s also great for people who are interested in their health to remind them of what they need to keep on top of. You can watch this review on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/55Lci56AmeQ
March 3, 2020
An inspiring of how this politician transformed his health by loosing a huge amount of weight. Near the end it became a little too political. However, the personal triumphs made it a great read. Very inspiring.
January 21, 2020
Tom Watson was, until very recently, the deputy leader of the British Labour Party. A few years ago, he was diagnosed as suffering from Type 2 Diabetes. At the time, he was 50 years old and weighed over 300 pounds.
In this deeply honest and gripping account of his struggle to regain his health, Watson spares nothing — at his worst, he was unable to do the short walk from his apartment to Parliament, and could not climb a single flight of stairs.
Much of the book is a description of what he did to lose over 100 pounds and reverse his diabetes in just a few short months. It’s a remarkable story even if the formula he used can already be guessed at — he went for a low-carb, high-fat diet, he began exercising regularly, and he used the My Fitness Pal app to record what he ate.
What makes this book different from others is that Watson is a life-long trade unionist and social democrat; he includes several chapters about the nefarious influence of the sugar lobby, and urges the creation of a grassroots movement to encourage people to wean themselves from sugar and embrace healthier lifestyles.
This book was an inspiring read and I hope many others will follow in Watson’s footsteps (literally).
In this deeply honest and gripping account of his struggle to regain his health, Watson spares nothing — at his worst, he was unable to do the short walk from his apartment to Parliament, and could not climb a single flight of stairs.
Much of the book is a description of what he did to lose over 100 pounds and reverse his diabetes in just a few short months. It’s a remarkable story even if the formula he used can already be guessed at — he went for a low-carb, high-fat diet, he began exercising regularly, and he used the My Fitness Pal app to record what he ate.
What makes this book different from others is that Watson is a life-long trade unionist and social democrat; he includes several chapters about the nefarious influence of the sugar lobby, and urges the creation of a grassroots movement to encourage people to wean themselves from sugar and embrace healthier lifestyles.
This book was an inspiring read and I hope many others will follow in Watson’s footsteps (literally).
July 14, 2021
Interesting to follow Tom's awakening to the world of low carb and exercise. Found the narrative irritatingly self-agrandising in places, irritating because I don't really think Tom is like that. It's hard in an autobiographical work to strike the right tone of humility, when, after all, the work is all about you and you have achieved some rather cool things in your career. Unfortunately, with this book about his experiences, Tom is simultaneously evangelising while playing catch-up to a wide body of experience and research. I guess that is our issue, isn't it, that those in a position to change things are often behind the curve on what the rest of the world already knows...? Still, it's grand that he has grabbed the opportunity to augment the message.
Allowed myself to remain detached from his political reputation and recent history as I read. He wisely doesn't dwell on politics in his tale, keeps it focused on his personal journey and battle vs diabetes.
I like Tom, and have met him personally. I found it easy to read this book. It's sad that he has left politics as he did start using his position to commission enquiries and studies to help move the war against the sugar industry along. I wonder if he could have achieved more if he'd stayed in parliament? We didn't really get into the role of Pharma in this - the big bucks made from metformin prescription.
Anyway, 4 stars from me for an easy read on an important topic: every little helps.
Allowed myself to remain detached from his political reputation and recent history as I read. He wisely doesn't dwell on politics in his tale, keeps it focused on his personal journey and battle vs diabetes.
I like Tom, and have met him personally. I found it easy to read this book. It's sad that he has left politics as he did start using his position to commission enquiries and studies to help move the war against the sugar industry along. I wonder if he could have achieved more if he'd stayed in parliament? We didn't really get into the role of Pharma in this - the big bucks made from metformin prescription.
Anyway, 4 stars from me for an easy read on an important topic: every little helps.
February 9, 2020
Interesting read and interesting diet. Although I now feel that he was so fixated on his diet that he took his eye off the Brexit ball. I’m pleased he lost weight but I’d rather have stayed in the EU...
September 18, 2020
Tom Watson is a politician whose politics I can quite fathom. That doesn't really matter because this book isn't about politics, although they do creep in. Instead, it's a rather life affirming story of how one man managed to turn his life around. In that respect, it's quite an inspiration.
The backdrop is rather familiar to me. Ageing, overweight, diabetic, hypertensive, all of the conditions that I, along with many of my friends, face. What can we do about it? Lose weight and take more exercise. Easy to say, but not as easy to do. I have to admit that after reading the book, I do feel a bit more motivated to become a bit more active and I do feel that I need to make an effort to lose more weight than I have already.
Perhaps that's why I liked the book? I do feel that it spoke to me as an individual. That it embraced my story, even though it was Tom Watson's story. It is written in such a plain and human style that you can't help liking the man and identifying with him. Of course, he's a politician, it's his job to do that. But I do feel better for having read the book.
I'm not sure about all aspects of the diet the author followed. I can see bits that would work for me, and I can see bits that wouldn't. Equally, I can find parts of the exercise regime appealing and parts that turn me off. I suppose that just underlines how individual this all is. It was useful though to hear what worked for someone else because elements of that could work for me.
The argument is easy to follow and you find yourself easily led to the same conclusion as the author. The final reveal is that the book is to act as a political manifesto. The reader might not like that, but it is difficult to argue against. However, since then the author has left politics, so perhaps it hasn't acted as a rallying call.
The book is easy to read. It's written in a conversational style and you feel as if the author is in the room talking to you. It isn't condescending and not at all preachy, even when it is. For that reason, I would recommend the book.
The backdrop is rather familiar to me. Ageing, overweight, diabetic, hypertensive, all of the conditions that I, along with many of my friends, face. What can we do about it? Lose weight and take more exercise. Easy to say, but not as easy to do. I have to admit that after reading the book, I do feel a bit more motivated to become a bit more active and I do feel that I need to make an effort to lose more weight than I have already.
Perhaps that's why I liked the book? I do feel that it spoke to me as an individual. That it embraced my story, even though it was Tom Watson's story. It is written in such a plain and human style that you can't help liking the man and identifying with him. Of course, he's a politician, it's his job to do that. But I do feel better for having read the book.
I'm not sure about all aspects of the diet the author followed. I can see bits that would work for me, and I can see bits that wouldn't. Equally, I can find parts of the exercise regime appealing and parts that turn me off. I suppose that just underlines how individual this all is. It was useful though to hear what worked for someone else because elements of that could work for me.
The argument is easy to follow and you find yourself easily led to the same conclusion as the author. The final reveal is that the book is to act as a political manifesto. The reader might not like that, but it is difficult to argue against. However, since then the author has left politics, so perhaps it hasn't acted as a rallying call.
The book is easy to read. It's written in a conversational style and you feel as if the author is in the room talking to you. It isn't condescending and not at all preachy, even when it is. For that reason, I would recommend the book.
February 27, 2022
This is such a brilliant and inspiring book which I personally feel should be made essential for anyone thinking about starting their weight loss journey or to motivate them to keep at it.
Tom Watson writes with an amazing balance of sense of humour which resonated within me of my painful workout sessions with my personal trainer to then balancing with emotional and hard hitting facts that if he hadn’t convinced himself to finally lose weight in his 50s then his longevity would’ve severely reduced with limited time to spend with his children, friends and family.
I particularly found it fascinating and empathetic in the last chapters of how he felt so ashamed and awkward to admit he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and needed help after three decades of sedentary habits and binge eating. This was due to society’s harsh and judgemental remarks of blaming the individual for their unhealthy lifestyle choices rather than protesting towards the food industry and government policy of how addictive sugary and fatty foods are to consume and easily access through advertisement.
Overall this book is such a wake up call and brought me joy to read of the success to Watson finally being able to order smaller sized clothing, taking control over resisting unhealthy foods and his increased stamina.
Tom Watson writes with an amazing balance of sense of humour which resonated within me of my painful workout sessions with my personal trainer to then balancing with emotional and hard hitting facts that if he hadn’t convinced himself to finally lose weight in his 50s then his longevity would’ve severely reduced with limited time to spend with his children, friends and family.
I particularly found it fascinating and empathetic in the last chapters of how he felt so ashamed and awkward to admit he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and needed help after three decades of sedentary habits and binge eating. This was due to society’s harsh and judgemental remarks of blaming the individual for their unhealthy lifestyle choices rather than protesting towards the food industry and government policy of how addictive sugary and fatty foods are to consume and easily access through advertisement.
Overall this book is such a wake up call and brought me joy to read of the success to Watson finally being able to order smaller sized clothing, taking control over resisting unhealthy foods and his increased stamina.
January 25, 2021
From the start Tom says that this is not a instruction book on how to lose weight but rather his story about his weight loss journey. Great I'm hooked. . Tom admits he's over wright, does research, finds a new diet, starts with a PT and boom weight loss goal achieved. All seems pretty easy right? well that's how it came across to me. There was no, throwing up at the first gym session, no can't move the next day, no struggles against the new diet and creating new habits. No falling of the wagon, no mention of his mental state when he hit a down day. But who knows perhaps it wasn't for Tom what it is like for the rest of us. Perhaps he did just wake up one day and never ate sugar again, perhaps he could do a full PT session and not feel any ill effects. If so good on him, I just would have preferred a little more warts and all honesty so that I don't feel like a complete moron when I can't run the distance between telegraph poles without looking like a beetroot. A little less promotion of doctors books (this is was a bibliography is for) and a little less political soapbox would have also been appreciated.
March 20, 2021
An interesting take on the diet book, from the former deputy leader of the Labour Party, Tom Watson. Watson was a self-confessed addict - to sugar, to food, to eating. It was a reward he sought throughout his days, his portion control was out of control, he was too big to exercise - even a short walk through Whitehall was beyond him - and he was approaching the age of 50 and tipping the scales at 22 stone.
After being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, Watson got the wake up call he needed and went all in on reversing the self-imposed situation that he'd dragged his health into - he revamped his diet, he started exercising, and he transformed himself physically, mentally and emotionally. "Downsizing" is a chronicle of of his life-changing epiphany and subsequent campaigning to reduce the millions of fellow Brits who end up on the same path he was on previously.
This is a very personal view of one man's health journey, and Watson's style is decidedly Marmite - he has a very "no-nonsense" style which I found a little too bombastic for my liking and ultimately exhausting. Most of the glowing reviews I've seen have been written by other men, who seem to respond more to his gruff / rough / tough approach.
After being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, Watson got the wake up call he needed and went all in on reversing the self-imposed situation that he'd dragged his health into - he revamped his diet, he started exercising, and he transformed himself physically, mentally and emotionally. "Downsizing" is a chronicle of of his life-changing epiphany and subsequent campaigning to reduce the millions of fellow Brits who end up on the same path he was on previously.
This is a very personal view of one man's health journey, and Watson's style is decidedly Marmite - he has a very "no-nonsense" style which I found a little too bombastic for my liking and ultimately exhausting. Most of the glowing reviews I've seen have been written by other men, who seem to respond more to his gruff / rough / tough approach.
January 28, 2020
"By 2025 it is estimated that there will be five million people in the UK - nearly five times the population of Birmingham - with a diagnosis of diabetes."
As one of them, I found this book and Tom Watson's journey, enlightening, beautifully written and absolutely fascinating. "I can't deny that my transformational health journey has changed me as a person, has given me a much deeper sense of what really matters and has provided me with a whole new outlook." Not only is it a heartfelt account, the scholarly approach and meticulous research was fascinating. I picked the book up out of curiosity and was hooked immediately in the story, casting aside a book of fiction I was halfway through so engrossed did I become. Anyone who has the slightest interest or concern about Britain's sugar epidemic, the poisoning of our children by sugar stealth couldn't fail to engage with this book one fat blokes journey - except he is so much more than that -the health statistics, the personal battles with weight and sugar addiction, it's positively eye opening and I like his philosophy that success lies in the aggregation of marginal gains. The book he has written is so encouraging. It's awesome and humbling. My first five star read of this year (and I mainly read fiction) It would be my dearest wish to reverse my Type Two diabetes too, but it's been very enlightening reading this marvellous book. I wish him congrats and all the best in his future endeavors.
Yes, I do agree with others that some before and after photography would have enhanced the book, but it didn't detract in any way from the writing, for me, so it is still a 5 star read from me. Highly recommended.
As one of them, I found this book and Tom Watson's journey, enlightening, beautifully written and absolutely fascinating. "I can't deny that my transformational health journey has changed me as a person, has given me a much deeper sense of what really matters and has provided me with a whole new outlook." Not only is it a heartfelt account, the scholarly approach and meticulous research was fascinating. I picked the book up out of curiosity and was hooked immediately in the story, casting aside a book of fiction I was halfway through so engrossed did I become. Anyone who has the slightest interest or concern about Britain's sugar epidemic, the poisoning of our children by sugar stealth couldn't fail to engage with this book one fat blokes journey - except he is so much more than that -the health statistics, the personal battles with weight and sugar addiction, it's positively eye opening and I like his philosophy that success lies in the aggregation of marginal gains. The book he has written is so encouraging. It's awesome and humbling. My first five star read of this year (and I mainly read fiction) It would be my dearest wish to reverse my Type Two diabetes too, but it's been very enlightening reading this marvellous book. I wish him congrats and all the best in his future endeavors.
Yes, I do agree with others that some before and after photography would have enhanced the book, but it didn't detract in any way from the writing, for me, so it is still a 5 star read from me. Highly recommended.
September 22, 2024
Before taking this book in my hands I
didn't have clue who Tom Warson was. Now I know that he is British politician who made tranformation from morbidly obesse to fit man ih his 50tis, but whatsoever this book is hardly what I expected or was looking for. Between 3 and gor 4 stars I still inclined to 4 stars, because positive message, his wish to make change in the world that consumers have better and more infomed choices about sugar content and effects of foods that Sugar Industry put on the shelfs jus like that, with labeling and marketing who are far away from the truth. He touched very important things really. I just was expacting kind of diary of loosing 50 kilos which this book is not. He only mentione that he was on ceto diet, low carbs, doing excersizes, but I wish it was more about that tranformation, he simply trought one chaper goes from morbidly obesse to fit man, to fast for me.
didn't have clue who Tom Warson was. Now I know that he is British politician who made tranformation from morbidly obesse to fit man ih his 50tis, but whatsoever this book is hardly what I expected or was looking for. Between 3 and gor 4 stars I still inclined to 4 stars, because positive message, his wish to make change in the world that consumers have better and more infomed choices about sugar content and effects of foods that Sugar Industry put on the shelfs jus like that, with labeling and marketing who are far away from the truth. He touched very important things really. I just was expacting kind of diary of loosing 50 kilos which this book is not. He only mentione that he was on ceto diet, low carbs, doing excersizes, but I wish it was more about that tranformation, he simply trought one chaper goes from morbidly obesse to fit man, to fast for me.
January 7, 2020
This wasn’t 100% what I was expecting. As a political junkie, a big Tom Watson fan and someone who has struggled with weight issues, I thought this was a must read. I loved all the autobiographical insights (effectively chapters 1-6) but found the diatribe against sugar manufacturers (chapter 7) a little dry and tough going. I also didn’t agree with the thesis as despite these evil sugar giants, the whole personal story is how Tom overcame and made better choices therefore surely it holds others can make the same good choices rather than requiring government intervention? I was also really hoping for a ‘Tom Watson’ diet and the book isn’t that at all. Also, where were the classic before and after photos?? I know they’re easily available on the internet but a glossy centre piece of photos would have moved this to 4 stars for me.
July 7, 2021
Tom Watson's "wake up call" was a diagnosis of type 2 Diabetes. However, it took him some time and a lot of research before he committed to changing his diet and lifestyle, literally one step at a time.
He stresses that one size does NOT fit all, as he shares the changes he made to his eating habits, and his fitness journey from taking a taxi for short journeys, and a lift instead of stairs, to increasing his exercise tolerance to short walks, cycling, weight training and eventually climbing a mountain.
Tom's transformation was not just on a physical level, as friends and colleagues commented on his calmer and more compassionate demeanor.
"Downsizing" is an inspiring read that will encourage many others to follow his lead.
He stresses that one size does NOT fit all, as he shares the changes he made to his eating habits, and his fitness journey from taking a taxi for short journeys, and a lift instead of stairs, to increasing his exercise tolerance to short walks, cycling, weight training and eventually climbing a mountain.
Tom's transformation was not just on a physical level, as friends and colleagues commented on his calmer and more compassionate demeanor.
"Downsizing" is an inspiring read that will encourage many others to follow his lead.
September 24, 2022
Informative book about how a 'normal' person with no training or medical knowledge can advocate for their own health and take matters into their own hands when others seem to have given up on them. In this light, too, this tale is one of self-empowerment, of coming into one's own, which then made for a very entertaining read as well. The book is very well-written and flows easily.
Really appreciated how the author went in stating, at multiple points, that this account is his own and no one should take it as gospel, that everyone should find what works for them. However, the methodology followed in his journey is one many can use as example to proceed to advocate for themselves
Really appreciated how the author went in stating, at multiple points, that this account is his own and no one should take it as gospel, that everyone should find what works for them. However, the methodology followed in his journey is one many can use as example to proceed to advocate for themselves
May 19, 2023
Wow what a transformation to reverse Type 2 diabetes .A very realistic account of Tom Watson's journey to lose weight and reverse his diabetes diagnosis .Easy to read and very informative ,especially with regard to the food manufacturer's influence over what we eat and the impact on our diet and health .They have alot to answer for and so have the Government who stress the importance of eating healthily ,but do nothing about the amount of sugar put into our food ,without us knowing .Sugar is in every part of processed food ,no wonder diabetes is on the rise .
Enlightening read ,and hopeful if you can follow the keto plan of dieting which can help to put diabetes into remission .
Enlightening read ,and hopeful if you can follow the keto plan of dieting which can help to put diabetes into remission .
January 31, 2021
Interesting insight into the mindset of someone who appears to have had a road to Damascus moment regarding their health. Funny in parts, it does sometimes pour the benefits of Keto on a bit thick (pun intended). One suspects that this sort of dedication to a more conventional healthy lifestyle would have reaped similar rewards. I.e., Watson's commitment to the lifestyle was more important than the details of the lifestyle itself. Most interesting is the part about sugar and the damage it does and the "Big Sugar" industry. Will be reading more into this.
October 13, 2021
Inspiring read of an immense personal achievement.
Not a 'how to' as such but gives a great insight into how powerful personal transformation is possible and necessary.
Interesting on the national picture including how our national diet, food culture and production and obesity crisis is crippling the NHS. After Johnson's brush with death in intensive care with Covid he pledged to tackle obesity- haven't seen much action or progress so far.
I hope this inspires to continue my own aim of weight loss through changing the way I eat and getting more active. If Tom can do it, so can I.
Not a 'how to' as such but gives a great insight into how powerful personal transformation is possible and necessary.
Interesting on the national picture including how our national diet, food culture and production and obesity crisis is crippling the NHS. After Johnson's brush with death in intensive care with Covid he pledged to tackle obesity- haven't seen much action or progress so far.
I hope this inspires to continue my own aim of weight loss through changing the way I eat and getting more active. If Tom can do it, so can I.
May 25, 2025
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February 11, 2020
Listened to the audio version, it's nothing special Tom talking about his weight loss journey with a few snippets from his time in politics. There's frequent sections of the book devoted to tweets Tom has received congratulating him on various things which go on for too long - we get it Tom, Twitter is impressed by you! But his story is inspirational and it is paced relatively well, but it is basically an extended blog post on someone's weight and fitness journey.
February 21, 2020
I did not like this at all. Hardly anything about dieting. Lots of mundane day to day dialogue like walking downstairs and having a glass of water. Too much politics. It's good that people have asked him for help since he lost weight. It will be great if he makes changes to policy. But the book was dull.
August 3, 2020
A very quick read and a very engaging personal journey. I enjoyed the fact that the (limited) political insights are so recent. The last couple of chapters felt a bit of a tirade but the first few chapters were great and easy to relate to. I agree with his views on big sugar and their role in sponsorship and advertising. Thought-provoking.
July 10, 2021
It’s a readable story with advice in the form of he tells you what he did and it is inspirational but I wished he put more effort into directing others exactly how he went about it as that would help others instead of huffing and puffing about the food industry. A bit disappointing really… a guide and that’s it.
January 8, 2022
An interesting and inspiring book that proves anyone can change their life.
Tom Watson comes across well in this book and his story is inspirational give how much weight he has lost and the health improvement journey he has gone through.
It lacks any specific advice though and some sort of guide (even if basic) would have made the book feel more complete.
Tom Watson comes across well in this book and his story is inspirational give how much weight he has lost and the health improvement journey he has gone through.
It lacks any specific advice though and some sort of guide (even if basic) would have made the book feel more complete.
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