I’d like to suggest you guys check out the books “Food Rules” by Michael Pollan and “The Skinny Bitch” by Kim Barnouin and Rory Freedman.
This book was super straight forward and an easy read at less than 100 pages! What I liked about Pollan’s writing style is that he wasn’t too preachy about eating like most people get. Go sit in a weight watchers meeting–everyone who has reached lifetime is rather cult-like in their following of what they did to reach their good health. What works for one person may not work for another. BUT there are definitely simple rules you can follow to modify your eating to be healthy.
The main idea of the book is as follows:
“Eat Food. Not Too Much. Mostly Plants. That’s what it comes down to.”
Some of my favorite tid bits were…
- “It isn’t food if it arrives through the window of your car.”
- “Avoid food products containing ingredients that a third-grader cannot pronounce.”
- “Eat animals that have themselves eaten well.” – One of the most important things I took away from this book and “Skinny B*tch”! You’ll be happier if you’re eating an animal that has lived a happy and low stress life.
- “The whiter the bread, the sooner you’ll be dead.”
- “Have a glass of wine with dinner.” – Red wine is good for your heart. In moderation… which brings me to my final favorite…
- “Break the rules once in a while. ‘All things in moderation. Including moderation.’”
The Skinny Bitch
This book is not for the faint of heart… well, at least one chapter is not.
I got through about half of the segments on animal cruelty, almost threw up 3 times, cried a little, and skipped to the end of the chapter. Beware of “You Are What You Eat.” I am glad I read it because I will never take a piece of meat for granted again. But I’m also going to buy organic and free range as much as humanly possible…
What really appealed to me about this book was how tongue-in-cheek the writing was, but also how downright brutally honest these women were in what they had to say.
They’re absolutely right: If you really wanna get skinny, then stop eating crap. Period.
I know Weight Watchers is all about teaching you moderation first. But I’m sorry… I’ve been a weight watcher for 2 years, hit my goal weight 3 times, and the only way I get to it is when I cut certain items out of my diet. I can’t eat pizza or fast food every week–not that I ever have. Since eating healthier, whole foods that stuff makes me sick to my stomach.
Moderation isn’t really the right word–there needs to be a word for eating crap once in a blue moon.” Then you realize you’d rather have a piece of marinated fresh grilled chicken and an artichoke instead… more bang for your buck and health.
Now I hate to break it to the authors of this book… but I’m not going to become a vegan. Sorry, Kim. I feel for those animals, I do. I actually have been making a concerted effort to try vegan and veggie imitations just for the sake of trying it out. But imitation chicken just isn’t the same…
I’m going to meet you in a few weeks (she’s doing a book signing at Kaeng Raeng’s booth at the Natural Products Expo West) and I’m going to have to look you in the eye and say “I liked your book, but I’m still a carnivore.”
My favorite little takeaway from the book (albeit a tiny one) was the reference to soda as “liquid satan.” I’ve started using that from now on. My friends who still drink that crap get mad at me when we lunch, cause I ask them how liquid satan tastes today. Any better than yesterday? 😉
I lost my first 5 lbs by cutting soda out of my diet a few years ago. I now drink a ton of water and crystal light iced tea.
If you’ve got an open mind and you want to pick up some extra health tips to apply to you life… check both of these books out. It’s worth saying you’ve taken the time to educate yourself.
Happy reading! 🙂