Lots of good tips.May 30, 2009 B. Webb 61 out of 72 found this review helpful
I'm a big Real Housewives fan and I bought this book because of that. I'm glad I did. A lot of it really makes sense too. I know that many people don't agree with a lot of the advice that Bethenny Frankel has to offer, but if it works for her then it'll work for others too. The recipes are also really good. Another great book that I read that has some really good weight loss and maintenance tips in it is Goodbye, Fatty! Hello, Skinny! How I Lost Weight And Still Ate The Foods I Loved-Without Dieting. Like this book, it not only has some really good information, but it's also an entertaining read.
What I needed to hear, how I needed to hear it.March 14, 2009 Baker Girl(Oakland, CA) 51 out of 64 found this review helpful
I have read every weight loss book on earth. I myself could write volumes on how to lose weight...what I could not do is follow someone else's rules on what, where, when, and how much I should eat and exercise to drop my extra pounds.
This book combines all things rational and real regarding "normal" eating. It calls on you to be an adult, make your own choices, be accountable and responsible, and enjoy your meals without obsessing or over restricting.
Betheny has most likely never been overweight, but she clearly understands the daily battle with her food choices. Will I be virtuous today, or sneaky and hide my consumption?
I have been applying her 10 rules for the last week or so and have already dropped 5 pounds EFFORTLESSLY. I am just checking in, balancing my choices, and including more fruits and veggies. I haven't been able to give up eating in fromt of the T.V. yet, but this gentle approach to eating has taken the charge out of certain food. It is true that when everything is allowed, it evens the playing field.
So far so good.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who struggles with their food choices and wants to end the constant battle with food.
Excellent, Intelligent, FUN!March 21, 2009 Rebecca R. Wright(Michigan) 18 out of 21 found this review helpful
Ok, so I know Frankel metions in this book that you won't neccessarily lose weight super fast with her program....but I must share that I've been reading it for two days and I'm only on chapter 5 but I've already lost three pounds. This has been a factor that has made me realize what a pig I have been! I have often thought to myself it's a wonder I don't weigh more because of the way I eat! Umm HELLO what a stupid thought. The 10 pounds a year I was gaining should have been a wake up call....but no. I was the girl who was always done eating first, shoveling into my mouth without thinking. My plate would be empty and I didn't even remember eating, so I'd just reach for more. If I was bored, happy, sad, tired, out with friends, lounging, going working, whatever I was doing I was eating. If I let myself get hungry I would really over do it. I was out eating my husband.
But now I'm changing. Yes, this book is commons sense, but Frankel puts it all in order to make it easy for you to make better use of your own common sense. Her annalogies and cleaver "rules" make it so much easier to "Check yourself before you wreck yourself" as she says. Here's an example of how my eating has changed.
I work late on Friday nights closing down the gym I work at (yes I am the chubby girl who works in a gym which is embarrasing itself). I close the place late Friday night and have to open it back up early Saturday morning. I never give myself time to make breakfast in the morning, so it's my routine to drive through Tim Hortins and order their biggest sugar filled cappucino and bagel with cream cheese. I would usually down it all about 5 minutes, feel miserably full for 2 hours, then the hunger would come back. This week, I bought my usuall breakfast (except the smallest cap. this time), but I sat down to concentrate on my eating and use Frankel's methods. As a result I ate about 25% of what I usually would, eating only a quarter of the bagel and drinking a few sips of the cappucino. I felt satisfied and I knew that if the hunger came back I could have a few more bites of my breakfast, I wrapped it all back up and ended up giving it to a co-worker because the hunger did not come back!
I feel great. Before, I would leave the table three times a day feeling bloated and tierd for hours, untill the next meal came so that I could do it all again. Now I feel light and full of energy....I really feel like I'm thinking like a Naturally Thin person and I fully intend on sending Frankel a thank you letter for finally telling me that it's ok that I'm a pig on the outide because my inner skinny girl was just waiting for someone to help her unleash!!
Life changing, realistic, refreshing,... thank you Bethenny!March 18, 2009 booklover123(Louisiana) 30 out of 37 found this review helpful
This book is awesome! I have a shelf FULL of books like Bob Green, Dr. Oz, Atkins, etc. This book, by far, is the best book concerning what you eat and how it can fit into your everday life. I was always amazed at how some of my friends seemed to eat whatever they wanted and stayed so thin. Now I realize that they were just practicing what Bethenny is preaching.
This is NOT a diet, this is NOT deprivation. I can actually have a cupcake if I really want one! SERIOUSLY! I know you're thinking, "Well, how can I actually lose weight if I can eat what I want?". But this book is not about a diet, it's not about losing 20 pounds in a month. If that is what you looking for, this isn't the book for you (and good luck with that). I tried all the lose weight fast stuff, and you know what? It doesn't work. Even if I lose the weight, I gain it right back, because I never fixed the real issue, which is my terrible eating habits.
I am the girl who goes through drive-through everyday for lunch, who eats a pint of icecream in one sitting, and who loves the big plate of spaghetti with garlic bread. I've finally realized that this is disgusting, and I'm eating like I'm a starving child from Africa. I thought to myself, "Grow up and take responsibility. This is stupid. It's just food, and you have control over it." I realized that I can still have those things in moderation without feeling guilty (not to mentioned bloated). The other day I really wanted a snickers, so I got a snickers easter egg (hence, it being close to Easter). I sat down and slowly ate my egg and savored every morsel. And you know what? I was good, I satisfied my craving. Normally, I would devour an entire Snicker's bar! I could've eaten five of those eggs, but I didn't, because there is tomorrow. If I really want another one, I will have it tomorrow. THAT is what this book is teaching you.
If you are sick of dieting, if you are sick of feeling deprived, if you are sick to death of dealing with your weight, get this book. I love it!
Good common sense that people need to be toldMay 21, 2009 Lady Atana(Atlanta, MO USA) 8 out of 8 found this review helpful
This is the diet/nutrition version of the Total Money Makeover. It is a book of common sense. These are the things we all know are true, but need someone to spell them out.
The premise of this book is MODERATION. Don't kill yourself with exercise (ie the Biggest Loser), and don't deny yourself foods (almost every other diet book out there).
The 1st part of the book is a list of 10 simple common sense rules, such are "your Diet is A Bank Account", "Pay Attention", & "Downsize Now". Each rule has its own chapter, and there are some delicious looking recipes, that I plan on trying out.
The 2nd part is a7-day breakdown( Mon - Sun) of putting the Naturally Thin ideology into practice.
One of my favorite aspect of the book is the "Heavy Habit" sidebars. Basically these are reality checks to people's crazy ideas. I.E. paying Nutri-System for portion control when you can easily do it yourself, or thinking you just HAVE to have whatever you are craving (what are you? 2 years old and ready to throw a fit? *paraphrasing*)
All-in-all, I enjoyed this book. Even though there isn't really anything new going on here, it just takes all the common sense about diet and puts it into a good format. I recommend.
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