Wellmania is a tremendous book about the search for wellness by Brigid Delaney. The narrator of Wellmania is Delaney, a woman approaching her forties. Delaney realizes that her current lifestyle will destroy her beauty and confidence, vital attributes she needs to continue excelling in her journalism career.
The novel opens with Delaney deciding to leave her poor lifestyle behind and adopt healthier living methods as she approaches forty years. Throughout her life, Delaney has been an alcoholic, a smoker and a carefree eater, which has made her gain a lot of weight. Delaney is as a senior writer for the Guadian in Brooklyn, but now she has decided to leave for her native home in Australia to start her new life.
After arriving in Australia, Delaney starts her first controversial assignment, a vicious 101-day fasting. Delaney's clinician tells her that fasting for three months is highly toxic and dangerous, but she is ready to take the assignment because she wants to be thinner and sexy. When Delaney starts fasting, she is optimistic that she will achieve her wellness goals. In addition, Delaney starts meditating, attending yoga classes and participating in-group psychotherapy sessions. After several days of adopting the new lifestyle, Delaney realizes that achieving her anticipated lifestyle is tedious and gruelling. For instance, she starts experiencing chest pains and general weakness in her entire body. Delaney starts realizing that the wellness industry is a multi-billion dollar industry worldwide because many people want to stay fit regardless of the financial implications.
In the book's last section, Delaney realizes that achieving an anticipated body shape can be a pipe dream for many people. However, Delaney admits that some practices, such as yoga, controlled eating and meditation, can help an individual have peace of mind. Throughout the book, Delaney explores the wellness industry, using herself as an example to show readers what they should expect if they choose to follow her path.
