You Gonna Eat That?

Fatty in the Can....

2009-09-21T12:47:09-04:00

Hi there. Just delivered the finished manuscript of, I'm With Fatty, to my publisher in New York. Whew....

Starting a new book today. Hope to announce the topic soon. I've got to sell it first.

Not So Fatty...

2009-05-06T11:41:32-04:00

Just a quick update on the new book. I've lost about 30 pounds with four months to go. I'm down a few pants sizes and several belt loops. Still, I've got a long way to go before I'm done.

I'm playing a lot of racquetball, working out with my trainer, and eating healthy but delicious food. I'm cooking nearly everything I eat. Ironically, I thought being a foodie would be a curse for this project. To the contrary, being able to cook, loving food, understanding how to make things taste good, has been my secret weapon. I'm losing weight and I've not spent a single day suffering or starving. In some ways I'm eating more delicious stuff than I was before.

I'm totally off sugar. The silver lining is that I don't miss it....I swear. One of the big lessons I've learned (from my nutritionist) is that sugar itself is an addictive. You eat it, you want more. Get that sugar out of your system and your body doesn't crave it like before. (I am eating tons of fruit, so I get natural sugars anyway.) The good news is that you can eat all the fruit you want. Going into the summer, when the fruit stands are full of local products, is a great time to focus on your health. Forget about the "bikini body" crap that fad diet plans and health clubs are pitching this time of year. Think of all that insanely good food you can cook or eat for dessert.

I dream not of washboard abs. I dream of sweet corn and summer peaches.

My daughter and I just planted a big garden. Hopefully we'll be eating a lot of home-grown vegetables over the coming months. We planted cherry tomatoes, yellow tomatoes, cucumbers, yellow peppers, banana peppers, green beans, radishes, carrots, rosemary, cilantro, parsley, basil, and sunflowers. The sunflowers are a "surprise" gift from my girls to their mom for her birthday. Sasha keeps whispering to her mom that she can't tell her about the surprise sunflowers..."because the sunflowers are a secret."

So far we've got nothing but dirt and a bad back but the garden's already a big hit.

I'm With Fatty is due to come out in the spring of 2010.

More to come,

August 2008: Creepy...

April 2009: Getting There....

Update

2009-02-02T12:50:13-05:00

Hi all. As you've no doubt noticed, I'm not posting a lot of new stuff here these days. I'm knee deep in writing my new book and putting all my energy into I'm With Fatty. As there's more to tell, I promise to post new info here. Check back from time to time for updates.

I'm With Fatty

2008-11-21T21:34:16-05:00

My daughter came into the bathroom yesterday, just as I was stepping off the scale...

Sasha: Daddy, How much do you weigh?

Me: 244 pounds.

Sasha: Wow! You're tall.

Weinstein Books Acquires New Memoir by Ed Ugel

2008-09-02T16:46:26-04:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WEINSTEIN BOOKS ACQUIRES NEW MEMOIR BY ED UGEL

I’M WITH FATTY to be published in Spring 2010

NEW YORK, NY (August 25, 2008)—Weinstein Books has acquired Edward Ugel’s new book I’M WITH FATTY: Losing Fifty Pounds in Fifty Miserable Weeks, for a Spring 2010 publication. Weinstein Books Publisher Judy Hottensen, who acquired World Rights from Farley Chase at the Waxman Literary Agency, said “We instantly fell in love with Ed’s self-deprecating humor and his adamant determination towards a commitment he’s made to his health and to his family. We are rooting for him all the way.”

I’M WITH FATTY will chronicle 36-year-old food obsessed Ugel and his attempt to follow his doctor’s ultimatum to shed one-fifth of the weight of his 253-pound frame, or risk serious health consequences. As his doctor pointed out, this is not about cosmetics or feeling good at the beach: this is about crisis and death. Told with Ugel’s unique blend of humor and candor, the book follows him as he navigates a new world—one without his favorite Dim Sum joint every Thursday with his three-year-old daughter, or his passion for sweet capicola and mortadella on weekends. It’s a world with a nutritionist, a personal trainer, a yoga teacher, a shrink, and no diet pills. A sincere chronicle of love, family, pain and struggle, I’M WITH FATTY will also be a hilariously personal story of weight loss from the male perspective, a testament to the trials and tribulations of being overweight in a world where temptation reigns.

Ugel is the author of MONEY FOR NOTHING: One Man’s Journey Through the Dark Side of Lottery Millions (Collins, 2007) which was featured on PRI’s This American Life and was recently optioned for film by Tobey Maguire and Michael De Luca for Warner Brothers.

# # #

CONTACT:

Katie Finch

Director of Publicity

Weinstein Books

646-862-3807

katie.finch@weinsteinco.com

I'm With Fatty

2008-08-20T13:24:43-04:00

This week's Publisher's Weekly contains the announcement for my new book deal with The Weinstein Company's publishing division--Weinstein Books.

A Pound a Week

"Weinstein publisher Judy Hottensen has acquired world rights to Edward Ugel's memoir, I'm with Fatty: Losing Fifty Pounds in Fifty Miserable Weeks from Farley Chaseat the Waxman Agency. The book follows chronically overweight Ugel, under orders from his doctor to get his 250-pound frame in better shape or risk serious health consequences, as he navigates an unfamiliar world of nutritionists and trainers. Ugel, who adds a male voice to the canon on body image and weight loss, is the author of Money for Nothing: One Man's Journey Through the Dark Side of Lottery Millions, published by Collins last year and recently optioned for film by Tobey Maguire and Michael De Luca for Warner Brothers."

I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to write this book, much less to do so with the folks at TWC. I'm being paid to exercise, get healthy, and write the book of my dreams.

I'm With Fatty takes a serious look at the surging obesity epidemic in our culture. I'm also writing about growing up in a family that was (and still is) passionate about food. My relationship with food (like many folks) is complicated. I'm an avid foodie, a lifelong cook, a passionate epicurean. Still, of late, my foodie life has gotten out of balance. This book seeks to re-establish my relationship with food...without giving up my obsession with it.

I'm dead set on having it both ways. I'm going to write about food as I know it: intimately and in great detail. I'm also going to continue making delicious and healthy food for my family every day. Cooking hasn't made me fat. Eating poorly out of the house and bringing worthless crap home is what's killing me.

Finally, Fatty chronicles this coming year of my life as I attempt to shed the weight that's been literally and metaphorically killing me. Yes, doctors are involved. Yes, the stakes are high. But, I want this for myself and my wife and our girls--all of whom I care about more than braised pork belly, or Thai pan-roast duck breast, or pasta carbonara, or Hanger steak, or corned beef, or dim sum. Oh God, what have I done?

New Book is Sold

2008-08-07T16:45:57-04:00

The official announcement is coming any day now. Still, I wanted to share the news on my blog.

My new book has been sold!

I love the publisher. It's a perfect fit. I can't wait to lay out the details.

More soon.

Anxious in America

2008-06-30T09:51:28-04:00

"I continue to be appalled at the gap between what is clearly going to be the next great global industry — renewable energy and clean power — and the inability of Congress and the administration to put in place the bold policies we need to ensure that America leads that industry."

Thomas L. Friedman had a great op-ed in Sunday's NY Times. Click here to read it.

“Whose World Could You Change?”

2008-06-25T10:39:49-04:00

The Washington State Lottery has a new TV commercial that's actually quite good. Still, instead of flying a chicken and a penguin around in a hang glider, they should show what winning the lottery is really like by having a vulture swoop in and eat the birds.

Click here to see the ad....

Here's Your Coat...

2008-06-04T08:14:23-04:00

Maureen Dowd has a great op-ed in today's NY Times. In related news, I think she and I would make a great couple.

Click here to read it

The Camera Adds 40 Pounds

2008-05-22T23:14:32-04:00

I was a guest on the CBC's Sunday morning show.

Click here to see the interview

Why the Dems Can't Act Happy...Yet

2008-05-10T09:49:58-04:00

I think I love Peggy Noonan....

You've got to read her WSJ column about the Democrat race and Hillary's, "if it ain't me, it ain't gonna be him" strategy. I wrote an article for The Huffington Post saying something very similar. Ms. Noonan says it better.

Click here to read it.

The New York Times Calls Senator Clinton Out...

2008-04-23T08:23:39-04:00

What took them so long?

The editorial board of The New York Times finally spoke up and called out Hillary Clinton's campaign for its ugly tactics. The article does point out that Obama is coming down to her level. Still, they are as turned off by her campaign as I am. I hope everyone in Indiana and North Carolina reads this...because, you know, evereyone in Indy & NC just can't wait to get their hands on The Times every morning....

Here's the article.....

It's About 2012, Stupid!

2008-04-21T16:27:18-04:00

New article on The Huffington Post today. It's about Hillary Clinton making a play for the 2012 Democratic Nomination. Here's the link.

News...

2008-04-16T09:28:08-04:00

Some exciting news hit the trades today. After many months of biting my tongue, I'm thrilled to announce that Money for Nothing has been optioned by Warner Independent Pictures, Michael De Luca Productions, and Tobey Maguire's Maguire Entertainment. Peter Steinfeld is writing the screenplay.

More soon....

Here's the story in today's Hollywood Reporter

This American Life

2008-03-17T11:20:13-04:00

Last year, This American Life, the legendary radio show hosted by Ira Glass, did a story about me and my book. Producer extraordinaire Alex Blumberg interviewed me for the piece. Alex later did a blurb singing my praises for the back of the first edition of my book.

Being on TAL was a big deal as they are the gold standard in radio and the top story tellers in any form of media working today. Collaborating with them remains the highlight of what has been an incredible few years for me.

To this day, I get more hits on my website and blog coming from This American Life than any other sources combined.

Having done TAL put me on the map. It's like being a part of a very cool club, Phi Beta Kappa's for the story telling set. There is no secret handshake....or is there???

This weekend (March 21-23), This American Life will be replaying the episode in which I was featured.

I was fortunate enough share the hour with two incredibly talented writers and humorists: Sarah Vowell and John Hodgman. My story follows John Hodgman's live appearance at Royce Hall in Los Angeles. He kills it. the room goes nuts for him. Following him was tough. My own sister called me in the middle of his piece and told me she was already sad that my story had to follow the Hodgman piece. You've got to listen to his segment.

This American Life airs on public radio stations nationwide at various times throughout the weekend. Also you can click on the link below to hear the segment at anytime right there from your computer.

I hope you enjoy it. Click here to listen to the episode from the TAL website.

So Much More Than Coffee and Muffins....

2008-03-12T13:01:51-04:00

Sasha: "Daddy, why don't you have a vagina?"

Me: "Because Daddy's a boy and boys don't have vaginas. They have penises."

Sasha: "When I grow up, will I have a penis?"

Me: "No, you'll always have a vagina."

Sasha: "Can I buy a penis at the store?"

Me: "Which store?"

Sasha: "7-11. They sell everything there. Plus, I'll get a slurpee."

Mamet vs. Mamet

2008-03-12T10:50:38-04:00

David Mamet.... I'm obsessed. I love him. I'm confused by him. I don't fully understand him. He's a lot smarter than me.

He wrote a wild article in The Village Voice about liberalism (I think). I don't agree with a lot of what he says but he sure has a hell of a way with words.

It's all over the map but if you find Mamet even remotely interesting, give it a read.

Click here to read Mamet's article.

It's 3:00am and Somewhere in Washington, DC a Democrat is Sleeping With a Hooker....

2008-03-11T20:32:59-04:00

Another Article on The Huffington Post. Today's theme: hookers and politicians. Move over chocolate and peanut butter. It's a comparison between Eliot Spitzer's call girl scandal and good ol' Larry Craig doing the bathroom two step last year.

Click here to read the post.

Hee Haw Hee Haw

2008-03-07T16:43:27-05:00

Here's another new article I wrote for The Huffington Post. It's about the internal fighting within the Democratic party.

(FYI: The photo is supposed to be a donkey banging its head against a wall...get it?)

Click here to read it.

New Article on The Huffington Post

2008-03-04T17:27:09-05:00

If you're a political junkie like me, tonight's a big night. Sadly, I'm more excited for the primary results out of Ohio and Texas than I was for the Super Bowl.

Whatever your politics, if you can't cozy up to some election coverage tonight and feel interested, if not entertained, well...don't call my house anyway.

I just posted a new article on The Huffington Post about the way Bill and Hillary Clinton are handling themselves over the last few weeks. Click here to read the post.

McDonald's vs. Starbucks: The Coffee Wars

2008-01-16T15:05:46-05:00

Hi all. here's my latest post on The Huffington Post. It's about McDonald's plan to add coffee bars to all of their restaurants by the end of the year. Starbucks vs. McDonald's: this time, it's personal. It also references Mr. T, which makes the post worth reading in and of itself. Read More here...