Kriste was overweight and turning fifty. Her approaching birthday milestone was a harsh reminder that life was moving quickly and time was running out to become the woman she once imagined she’d be. Out of shape, uninspired, and riddled with self-doubt, Kriste was determined to make the changes necessary to tackle the next half of her life with grace, bravery, and self-love.

Fat Mom on a Mountain is an honest portrayal of a mother trying to find herself by peeling away the layers she has accumulated through life. Raw, sarcastic, and emotional, this book will leave you inspired and ready to conquer a mountain of your own.

Follow my journey on Instagram @kristeobrien

View fullsize What's your plan for the week? * * Hit the ground running today and be productive. I make to-do lists constantly. I add little drawn boxes before each one, and once I've completed a task, I checkmark the box. It's a great feeling to watch that long
View fullsize This is the view from the top of Mt. Willard, one of my favorite hikes in New Hampshire. The trail is only a 3.1 mile out and back loop, but the view from the summit is spectacular! Are you hiking this weekend?? #crawfordnotchnh #brettonwoods #hikemo
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View fullsize Happy World Book Day! * * Taking this day to thank my readers for their constant support of Fat Mom on a Mountain. I'm so excited that many resonate with my story. 📚 #worldbookday2024 #celebratereading
View fullsize How cool is it that we get to live here? #earthday2024🌎
View fullsize We stacked our bear boxes, which were filled with food for our REI trip, at the entrance to our campsite each night. That way, if any animals were messing around them, they would topple over, make noise, and wake us up. Mine was named "Pilot&quo
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View fullsize The beauty of Yosemite surrounded me on every inch of my 50th birthday adventure. Rushing waterfalls, blue skies, giant granite mountains, sandy pathways and enormous pines enveloped my senses. It truly is one of the most beautiful places I've ever s
View fullsize “There is a pleasure in the pathless woods, There is a rapture on the lonely shore, There is society, where none intrudes, By the deep sea, and music in its roar: I love not man the less, but Nature more” ― Lord Byron
View fullsize My first "up close and personal" view of Half Dome came as I sat on a Yosemite tour bus heading for Glacier Point. The tour bus driver navigated the curvy roads with one hand while sipping his coffee with the other. I was scared. The elevat
View fullsize This amazing view of the full moon rising over the snowy Sierra Mountains greeted me after I descended the Sub Dome and made it back to where my REI group was setting up for dinner. I had just successfully climbed Half Dome and was still on a high fr
View fullsize "The summit is what drives us, but the climb itself is what matters." -Conrad Anker * * Just like life, hiking is about the journey, not the destination. #hikehappy

What People Are Saying

“Fat Mom on a Mountain is fresh, funny, passionate, and 100% relatable to all women. Kriste shows us that it's never too late and you are never too old to reinvent yourself and accomplish your goals. It will motivate you to overcome your self-doubt and challenge you to climb your mountain!”

— Katie Orsino, Executive Director, National EMS Memorial Foundation

“Fat Mom On A Mountain is a must-read for anyone who is looking for inspiration, motivation, and to let go of excuses despite the realities of everyday life. The power of determination and perseverance will resonate in you through laughter, tears, and admiration. This book is for anyone searching to preserve their sense of self at any stage in life.”

— Melissa Termine Battite, CPRP, Director of Recreation and Community Programs, Lexington, MA

“Follow Kriste as she confronts the big 5-0, the rock face of Half Dome, and most importantly, herself. Touching and hilarious, Kriste’s journey is that of every woman trying to make peace with her aging body, her fears, and the past in the hopes of facing the future with grace, humor, resilience, and a margarita.”

— Jane Pierce Saulnier, Senior Lecturer, Communication Studies, Emerson College

Yosemite National Park, California. Climbing up the Half Dome Cables.

Photo Galleries

Training

Training, Losing the Weight and Facing My Fears

My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park

My Half Dome Journey and Yosemite National Park

Podcasts & Appearances