Sep
30
Teenage Waistland A Former Fat Camper Weighs in on Living Large Losing Weight And How Parents Can And Cant Help
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Abby Ellin, a journalist and former fat-camp attendee whose family’s attempts to “save her” from fatness proved counterproductive, has had a lifelong interest in figuring out how her parents might have done it better, and an abiding compassion for overweight kids. In Teenage Waistland she journeys with hope, skepticism, and refreshing humor through the landscape of today’s approaches to weight loss, visiting camps and community programs, talking to experts, overweight kids and their parents. What she discovers is ultimately deeply provocative for anyone who’s ever wrestled with weight issues.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Informative and helpful — an engrossing read
Prepare to laugh, cry and cringe — but also to learn — as Abby Ellin leads us through the landscape of obese teen life. First, though, a confession: When I volunteered to read this book, I feared that I was facing a hard, long slog through a dry tome packed with scientific studies on how to help an overweight kid drop a few pounds. Instead, I could barely put down this lively read. Ellin keeps a page-turning pace as she skillfully weaves her own story as a heavy, weight-obsessed teenager through the stories of other such adolescents.
Ellin begins with her own family, who courageously support her by not challenging her right to tell the unvarnished truth about the ways in which her home contributed to her weight problems and food fixations. Interestingly, the family’s attitudes toward weight resulted in the author’s sister becoming anorexic. Even as Ellin grew larger and larger, her sister began dieting by third grade.
Ellin’s grandmother was a major influence on her self-image, withholding affections when Ellin gained weight. On visits to Grandma’s house in Florida, Grandma weighed Ellin daily. At home, Ellin’s mother obsessed over her own weight, restricted her diet and exercised before stepping on the scales each morning. She taped a photo of an obese woman on the refrigerator door. Both grandmother and mother repeatedly drilled into Ellin and her sister the dangers of gaining weight. As a child, Ellin was devastated when her grandmother told her she couldn’t come to Florida for a visit at Christmastime unless she lost 15 pounds. The ploy didn’t work. Nothing really did, for many long, sad years.
Ellin spent six years at weight-loss camps. She lost weight but also learned more about dysfunctional eating and how to do it (one counselor sneaked Ellin out to buy a cart full of candy and cookies because “Your body’s getting used to the diet. You need sugar to give it a jolt.”). In describing her fat camp days, she tells us the story of the owners of weight-loss camps, beginning with her visit as an adult with the man who ran the first weight-loss camp Ellin attended. During her visit, she talks with young campers, giving us the first of many insightful conversations with teens seeking to lose weight. What they say about their parents can make a reader weep.
In TEENAGE WAISTLAND, we learn what has helped teenagers lose weight and, (heartbreakingly) more often, what has either not helped them or made them worse. Experts — from fat camp leaders to directors of weight loss programs to bariatric surgeons, researchers and fat activists (and more) — represent a variety of attitudes as each discusses the best way to help heavy adolescents. Ellin compassionately presents suggestions to parents on ways to support an obese child, all based on respect.
Although there is not a single solution to such a complicated problem, reading this book is informative and helpful. It is a horrifying and fascinating study in our culture’s warped attitude toward food and weight. Even if you don’t have a child with weight issues, TEENAGE WAISTLAND is an engrossing read.
— Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon (terryms2001@yahoo.com)
5 Stars Great book
I work in public health and struggle to find resources that are useful. This is a great book for everyone. There is no magic pill and there is no easy fix - but there are LOTS of ways to make things worse. Until we have changed our social norms, our environment, and the availability and ease to make healthy choices, it’s going to be a long, tough road. This book is a great read that describes what it’s like to struggle with weight - good for those of us who are lucky and think our 5-8 pound struggle is horrible, as well as those who struggle with real weight challenges and are ready to hear the painful truth of a child’s experience. Well done, Abby.
5 Stars intriguing and honest
An honest look at America’s obsession with weight loss and how it affects the younger generation. The author, a former fat kid and fat camp survivor (though not a parent, as she acknowledges) explores various ways to lose weight from fat camps to nagging to behavior modification and surgery, among others. Sadly, there is no quick fix or even well-planned diet and exercise program that works for all, or even some. Due both to lack of willpower or incentive, and physical factors beyond the dieter’s control, often the weight is lost then gained then lost again.
“Teenage Waistland” lets the young subjects speak for themselves. It is a fascinating look at a controversial subject.
5 Stars Extremely helpful
This book was extremely helpful to me and my family. As the parent of an overweight child, Abby Ellin’s insight as a “former fat kid” is a hands-on “what to do/”what not to do” primer for any parents dealing with these sensitive issues. You’re never really sure what to do until you’re faced with it head on and Ellin’s book showed that it’s the sensible approach that makes the most sense. Don’t panic; don’t over react (as is the most instant impulse). Just act sensibly. Well done!
5 Stars This book tells it like it is
Simply put, Abby Ellin “gets it”. She had a childhood relationship with weight, food, and family that stays with her, regardless of what the scale says today. She candidly tells her story, which isn’t always a happy one, but it’s often hilarious. When it comes to the “fat kid epidemic”, the author doesn’t claim to have all the answers, but is very willing to explore a variety of solutions. Teenage Waistland is tragic, eye-opening, humorous and true. Once you read the introduction: Fat Kid Blues - you’ll be hooked, just like the author is on Hostess cupcakes!
Sep
30
6 Day Body Makeover Drop One Whole Dress or Pant Size in Just 6 Days and Keep It Off
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6 Day Body Makeover Drop One Whole Dress or Pant Size in Just 6 Days and Keep It Off
DESCRIPTION: Lightning fast weight loss is now a reality with the 6-DAY BODY MAKEOVER. The secret to Thurmond’s bestselling, rapid fat-loss program is customization. By tailoring a regimen to an individual’s unique body type and metabolism, the program delivers dramatic results, making it easy for virtually anyone to lose a whole dress or pant size in just six days. Thurmond’s exclusive “blueprinting system” helps identify your individual body type so that you can select just the right foods in the right combination to trigger fast weight loss. With customized meal plans, menus and recipes, fat burning exercise secrets, a maintenance plan, and more, readers will be amazed at the difference six days can make.
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars need to do it
This book is such an easy read, I just need to get myself determined to do the actual diet!! My sister in law did it and was amazed!! She really looks great…I am for sure going to do it, I just am going to wait until after the holidays!!!!
4 Stars It Is An Uphill Battle But It Works
I was constantly bombarded by Michael Thurman’s commercial for the 6 Week Body Makeover every morning before I went to work. However, I don’t always trust infomercials and how they handle payments. So I looked for the book format and found the 6Day Body Makeover instead.
I haphazardly skimmed the book and it took some time for me to decide to go ahead with the diet because it takes some preparation. I was stoked going through the body profile questionnaire till I found out I was the body type who couldn’t have beans, white rice,bananas nor oranges as all of these were my favorite foods.
I lasted on the diet for only about 1 week and probably lost a pant size (I don’t believe in weighing myself) so I had to go and buy new clothes after that one week. I would like to have continued it after one week because I am sure the first week was mostly water weight loss as the diet heavily restricts you from salt and sodas. There is a reason I didn’t continue with the diet:
1) I starved.
The diet doesn’t starve you at all UNLESS you really don’t take the time to prepare your meals sometime during the week. I thought I could hack it with the grilled piece of chicken for the entire week… not so. You have to eat several times of day and then the variety is gone if you come in with the thought that two differently prepared meat dishes will suffice throughout the week. However, if you find yourself hungry, they allow for you to eat a little extra food like fruits or veggies or protein that’s on your list of foods for your body type. So you really don’t starve on this diet at all.
2) Its really restrictive.
I had to forgo milk products, salt, chocolate, oil, and bread. However, I still managed to lose weight even though I would cheat and have a cookie maybe once or twice a day. They have recipes to replace your sweet tooth foods… some of the recipes are okay… but not the same as a real chocolate chip cookie.
3) You become OCD.
As a person who rarely eats a prepared breakfast, let alone breakfast at all, this diet makes you super organized. I had to buy a super large lunch bag to carry all of the different tupperware containers of food for my day at work.
What really made it hard for me to get back on the diet is that I am the worse cook in the world. So I really couldn’t get the variety I needed in the diet and enjoy the food at the same time. I am thinking about starting this diet again if I can find a local dietician who can prepare my food for me in advance. Or, I can spend the extra money and buy the 6 Week Body Makeover for the numerous of recipes that they have. The other downer about this diet is that a lot of people complain about having headaches due to your new salt intake. I never had headaches on this diet unless I cheated and ate something with salt in it- this sensation can keep you attached to the diet even if you want to get off of it.
Pros about this diet includes:
1) I actually got used to really yummy fresh foods.
I learned how to make my own salsa which didn’t taste that bad and some of the baked chicken recipes didn’t hurt either. Whenever I wanted to cheat, and had something from a fast food joint or a Lean Cuisine frozen dinner, the fast food or Lean Cuisine stuff just didn’t taste as yummy as the fresh food I’ve learned to prepare on the diet.
2) You’ll eat healthy for once and learn to incorporate a healthy lifestyle.
I really didn’t understand this till sometime after ending the diet as I was listening to a nutritionist on the radio who talked about anti-inflammatory foods. The 6WBM makes you eat tons of these anti-inflammatory foods like strawberries and cherries which is good for those who are diabetic or may have heart issues.
3) I felt really good on that diet.
When I wasn’t starving due to my lack of food preparation.
I had suffer from something some docs considered a groin pull and a pinched nerve with my arm and when I was on this diet it seemed to magically cure these issues. Also, I had bloated/aggrivated stomach issues and those also went away. Now my new, more responsible PCP has diagnosed me with endometriosis. This type of diet is a diet highly suggested for those with endometriosis and PCOS. Also, your sweat on this diet isn’t stinky like normal sweat was, so I guess I was detoxifying my system at the same time.
One diet isn’t best for everyone, but I highly suggest for everyone to look at this book if you suffer from weight issues, or even if you’re still thin but just want to shed a few pounds because a lot of what is in this book covers what any basic nutrition class would teach you. The only thing that’s unusual is the water intake amount it wants you to have. Some may consider it extreme according to people’s weight and it may actually cause people to get sick. Instead of doing the 10 glasses or more water a day as suggested, I would just stick with 8. Even then I barely did 8 glasses a day and still managed to lose weight.
For a successful weight loss on this diet I would make a slow transition into it. For example, for one week skip having sodas and fruit drinks and drink water. Or slowly ween yourself off of cookies and stuff and substitute with fruits. Learn to give up your biggest sin before starting because if you go straight into it without shocking your body a little, you would probably go postal and no one at work will like you.
It took me some time to put on weight after quitting this diet. So that is why I am so sure this is a more successful diet than most.
2 Stars Not quite nutritionally sound
The book looks thorough enough. It looks well-researched and seems to have some great menus put together that are nutritionally sound. My husband followed the diet to a T. And yes, two days into the diet, he noticed about a pound come off and had more energy.
Unfortunately, three days into the diet, my husband began having charlie horse-like spasms all over his body. The book fails to take into account that not all sodium is bad for you, and that your body requires at least some sodium to function properly. After three days, my husband stopped this diet and reverted to The Zone: A Dietary Road Map to Lose Weight Permanently : Reset Your Genetic Code : Prevent Disease : Achieve Maximum Physical Performance, which works much better, is suited for long-term use, and is nutritionally balanced.
4 Stars It works
Well, it does work if you can stick with it. I did one week and dropped five pounds but after that it’s kind of hard to stick to. Well, at least for me. But you do feel good when you eat like that.
5 Stars It works, who would have thought?
I was really hoping that this book would work for me. yeah..another diet book. hum. But since I’m a big fan of extreme makeover I thought I’d give it a try.
I currently have 20 lbs to lose. I lost 7 lbs in 1 week. After 3 days I was able to get a pair of shorts past my thighs and was able to button them up without passing out!
The diet is a challenge to stick to. The first day was the day I experienced the most pain and suffering. Drink 100ozs? I never did make that amount. 64oz was my limit. After each day I knew where all the bathrooms were in every store I visited. Felt like being pregnant again.
I did prepare all the meals in one day..it did take a few hrs to get it all organized, as it was my first time. That is a great bonus beacuse I was able to grab and go the right thing to eat instead of being rushed and eating unhealthy foods full of fat.
Plus because I made the meals in advance I had lots of time to prepare meals for my family and sit down with them at mealtimes..with my own special foods.
Eating ‘on time’ was a bit of a challenge because I’m not used to eating 6 meals a day. I now look forward to those little meals and my stomach is so full before I can finish all the foods. Even though I know I’m supposed to eat everything I never did make it.
THE PROS
This meal plan taught me:
*To discover new vegetables and they are healthier and tastier to steam.
*To discover new spices and found balsamic vinegar and love it, Mrs Dash table blend is awesome.
* To drink lots of water throughout the day.
* knowing I’m reparing the damage I’ve done over the years and being happier that I am healthier.
* got my children interested in my varieties of veggies and they now love them also. (children and steamed veggies? never thought I’d see the day)
* My husband wants to try it for himself.
THE CONS
*I hated the turkey patties. I know they would have tasted better with ketchup and if I couldn’t have that as a dipping sauce that I couldn’t even go there.
*I couldn’t eat ‘greens’ without some sort of tasty dressing..so never ate them either. It was better to do without.
*It is hard not to break my bad habit of snacking after dinner. But I survived it by having 1/2 cup or 1/2 more grapefruit. The recipe with spenda and cinnamon is dee-lish! Also the rice pudding is amazing.
In the end I have learned to switch up meals. If I don’t want egg whites in the morning I eat chicken. Then have my egg whites in rice pudding for lunch. I figure as long as I get everything in during the day this can be accomplished otherwise it gets boring.
I’m going to keep going until I reach my goal. I am looking forward to having a baked potato again but instead of a big one will settle for 4 small creamer potatoes. Its all about compromise.
2 days before I got started with the plan as I was busy reading this book I was thinking? Gawd Almighty! I was so excited I wanted to start right away. Thinking I had 2 more days of unhealthy eating made me sick.
We are going on vacation next week. We will get a hotel room with a kitchen. I am preparing all my meals before we go and will eat them all week. I know it can be done.
This book is the best yet because it really does work if you are committed enough to stick with it. I love the fact that everything is listed and the right amounts. It’s really dummy proof.
I had no problem finding all the foods in my local supermarket.
Sep
30
Why Exercising for Weight Loss in Your ‘Fat Burning Zone’ is a Waste of Time
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Sep
30
Nicole Sullivan Joins Jenny Craig to Reclaim Her Pre-Baby Body
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Sep
29
The Remedy The Five Week Power Plan to Detox Your System Combat the Fat and Rebuild Your Mind and Body
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