Book excerpt: Straight talk and a simple, no-fail diet and exercise plan for those who think they don't have the money or time to lose weight Linda Fondren, one of 11 children born to a single mother in the poorest and fattest state in America, watched the consequences of obesity ruin her sister's life—and was moved to open a gym in her hometown of Vicksburg, Mississippi with the motto "positively reshaping women." Then, witnessing how many middle- and low-income Vicksburg residents were brought up short in their fitness and health efforts by limited budgets and time, Fondren responded by striking at the root problem. In 2009, she spearheaded Shape Up Vicksburg, a City Hall–supported program in which she convinced the local hospital to offer free health screenings, restaurants to create low-cal menu options, and Wal-Mart to host weigh-in stations. Fondren signed up 10 percent of Vicksburg's 25,000 residents, most of who were taking charge of their health and nutrition for the first time. They lost over 15,000 lbs. in just 17 weeks. Shape Up Sisters! is a get-healthy prescription for regular people with jobs, budgets, and real-life challenges. Here are tactics for sedentary readers to become physically active with advice, recipes, and meal plans for improving eating habits on a budget. Fondren wraps it all in her empowering personal story and the uplifting tales of women who have changed their lives by following her simple strategies. With Fondren's approachable personality and practical advice, Shape Up Sisters! is both an easy-to-use guide and a bold statement in the greater national narrative about improving health and weight loss across socioeconomic lines.