I Do It with the Lights On

And 10 More Discoveries on the Road to a Blissfully Shame-Free Life

By: Whitney Way Thore

Narrated by: Whitney Way Thore

From the star of TLC's My Big Fat Fabulous Life and the YouTube sensation "A Fat Girl Dancing" comes an empowering memoir about letting go of your limitations and living the life you deserve. Right now.

Whitney Way Thore stands five feet two inches tall and weighs well over 300 pounds, and she is totally, completely, and truly...happy. But she wasn't always the vivacious, confident woman you see on TV. Growing up as a dancer, Whitney felt the pressure to be thin, a desire that grew into an obsession as she got older. From developing an eating disorder as a teenager to extreme weight gain in college to her ongoing struggle with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), Whitney reveals her fight to overcome the darkest moments in her life. She holds nothing back, opening up about the depths of her depression as well as her resilience in the face of constant harassment and mistreatment. Now Whitney is on top of the world and taking no BS (body shame, of course). And she's sharing the steps she took to get there and the powerful message behind her successful No Body Shame campaign. She even reveals her favorite F word (it's probably not what you think), the thrill of doing it with the lights on, and the story behind the "Fat Girl Dancing" video that started it all.

Exuberant and utterly honest, I Do It with the Lights On is the inspiring story of how Whitney finally discovered her fabulousness when she stepped off the scale and into her life, embracing herself unconditionally - body, heart, and soul.

©2016 Whitney Way Thore (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Whitney’s story is one of radical vulnerability. She is a vibrant example of what it means to choose confidence when insecurity beckons from every corner. She is cool, funny, and shameless - in the best possible way." (Kelsey Miller, author of Big Girl: How I Gave Up Dieting & Got a Life)

“Soaring above expectations, I Do It with the Lights On delves into the complicated relationship between a woman and her body. With her trademark charisma, Whitney emerges triumphant, plucking from the mire some of the most important realizations one can hope to have. If you have a body, this memoir is a must-read." (Linda Bacon, PhD)

Extremely powerful read

This should be mandatory reading for everyone in America- regardless of weight or degree of self confidence. As a fat person new to body positivity and trying to encourage it in my friends and family, I found a lot in this book that resonated with me. While Whitney has had considerable privilege in her life, she acknowledges it and owns it. Her understanding of that makes her that much more endearing. If you're not a fat person, you have certainly seen fat people, and probably know fat people. This book should be read by you too. The harmful attitudes that our culture (and others!) has surrounding weight are important for everyone to understand and resist. I laughed at parts of this book and I cried, especially at difficult parts towards the beginning and at the very end. The book is read by the author, not a professional narrator, but give her a chance. I was used to her voice after a couple of minutes and she doesn't try to do any type of jarring "voice acting". It's like having a long, but one-sided conversation with a dear friend.

I have never seen her television show, so this review was my first real exposure to Whitney. I'm so glad her voice is out there and I'm looking forward to future books!

Honest and Real

I've never followed Whitney's show, but a good friend suggested this book to me and I loved it! It gets into the meat of what overweight women deal with and think about on a daily basis. I have recommended to a friend and I'm sure I'll be listening to it again!

Whitney is a Little Whiney

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, it helps to hear the problems that other people face - makes our own problems seem less dramatic.

What did you like best about this story?

The dancing parts.

Which character – as performed by Whitney Way Thore – was your favorite?

Whitney, of course.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, definitely not.

Any additional comments?

Am a big fan of Whitney and this added some insight to her issues but I really get upset to hear that her dad did something when she was 8 that she just can't let go of. Give that a rest and get on with it, girl!!

Loved it

This was such an engaging story, I listen to it the whole day. Completely relatable experiences and in a way lethargic to know that other people have gone through what I have as much as it sucked to go through it.

You don't have to be fat to love this message!

Great story and well preformed. Whitney is a very intelligent woman. I found myself smiling many times, and even got teary eyes once or twice. I've recommended this book to many women in my life already. Hell, men should read it too!