RUNNING WITH ANGELS: The Inspiring Story of a Woman Who Turned Personal Tragedy into Triumph over Obesity

Don't dismiss this as just another weight-loss memoir. Yes, first-time author Hansen does describe the long road she traveled in losing 100 pounds through diet and exercise (no surgeries, diet pills or quick fixes here). But even more affecting is the story about why she gained the weight in the first place: her struggles with food began when she was recovering from the grief of losing an infant daughter to a rare heart defect. As Hansen increasingly turned to food for comfort, she imagined that its solace would help her get through the dark days after the tragedy. Little did she know that the next years would be filled with more heartache: two of her other daughters were diagnosed with crippling auto-immune disorders, and another infant was stillborn. Hansen shares how her Mormon faith helped her feel close to Christ even in these excruciating circumstances, and taught her to look forward to a future reunion with her family in heaven. Shortly after that last terrible loss, she began walking every day and gradually lost the pounds through the help of Weight Watchers and, eventually, marathon running. Readers will enjoy cheering her on toward the finish line even as they reach for the Kleenex to wipe away tears of compassion. (Apr.)