Nov
30
Fat Chance Red Dress Ink
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As Americans throw themselves body, soul and pocketbook into the latest weight-loss craze, Maggie O’Leary’s informed column about the pitfalls of dieting is the one sane voice crying out against the dietocracy. Plus-size Maggie, also known as America’s Anti-Diet Sweetheart, is perfectly happy with who she is and the life she leads. Until she gets a call from Hollywood’s most enticing bachelor, Mike Taylor.
At first, Maggie thinks the call is one big joke put on by a particularly obnoxious colleague. But when Maggie learns that Taylor is the real enchilada and that he truly does need her to come out to Hollywood to help him on an upcoming film about a diet doctor, she’s in a pickle. Maggie can’t possibly turn down this opportunity of a lifetime, but she can’t exactly go to Hollywood looking like . . .well, herself.
Swearing her trusted assistant to silence, Maggie embarks on a “secret” makeover. From showdowns with her boss, who suspects his star columnist is losing her edge — er, girth — and send her Italian pastries to sabotage her efforts, to run-ins with her closest male friend, from walking through the famed red door of beauty to winding up on the wrong side of a positively lethal elliptical trainer, the newly svelte Maggie finds herself navigating a new course. Full of doubts about abandoning the comfortable life she’s known — not to mention deceiving legions of loyal readers who still think of her as their champion — L.A.-bound Maggie is hell-bent on living out her most tantalizing fantasies!
Bursting with wit, insight and heart, Deborah Blumenthal’s delicious debut novel reaches beyond the story of Maggie O’Leary to every woman who has tried to find fulfillment. Fat Chance is a lusciously guilt-free pleasure that is good to the last page!
User Ratings and Reviews
1 Star Uninterested
The premise of the book was pretty entertaining, but that’s about it. I had to force myself through the first 100 pages. I just didn’t care what happened. The writing style left me unamused and bored. I didn’t connect with the character, nor found her very believable (one perhaps leading to the other). I felt the story to be underdeveloped, as if I was reading the first or second write attempt. Shame. Not recommended.
2 Stars Too Stale for Me…
For sassy Maggie O’Leary, life is NOT about being skinny. As a New York City-based newspaper writer who spiritedly advocates acceptance of all body types, her successful column “Fat Chance” is one of her proudest achievements. Maggie’s never completely satisfied with her extra weight, but concludes that she cannot and will not fight nature and attempt to meld herself into the kind of super-skinny woman that society deems perfect. But suddenly Maggie’s comfortable world of newspaper columns and gourmet lunches with newspaper friends Tamara and Tex changes. Sexy movie star Mike Taylor calls and asks Maggie to visit Los Angeles to assist him with his latest movie about women and weight loss-and really, how can Maggie resist a plea from one of Hollywood’s hottest men? Yet moreover, how can Maggie meet him in her current un-svelte state? Thus begins Maggie’s wild ride toward self-acceptance, contentment and figuring out the puzzles of weight loss and love.
It’s clear from skimming the synopsis of “Fat Chance” that one can expect little more than frothy “chick-lit” type plot lines from this novel. The problem with “Fat Chance” isn’t that it fails to be sophisticated literature but that it fails to be a more-than-mediocre “fun” read. “Fat Chance”’s most serious flaw is its hit-and-miss humor. Maggie is a spirited and sometimes melodramatic heroine who lands in numerous situations that should be funny, but the reality isn’t so simple. While some of Maggie’s musings and situations will produce a giggle or two, others aren’t as funny as the author obviously intended and seem to be moments where Blumenthal is striving mightily and awkwardly to make a situation funny where is just ISN’T. Also, sadly enough, Maggie’s columns that are included in the text hardly seem excellent enough to be syndicated (as they are said to be in the novel). Many seem trite and overly straight-forward; the worst read like something from a health magazine. And yes, the characters can seem unsatisfyingly one-dimensional and silly (yes, I know this is chick-lit, but still…).
This book is a easy read and Maggie is usually a likeable enough character-readers will probably enjoy the novel’s cute, if too rushed, ending. However, this 2.2 star book is about as memorable as a store-bought cookie and readers could do far better in the area of literary consumption.
3 Stars Cute but predictable
I thought the back of the book made it sound really interesting as I am a big fan of chick lit and weightloss. (Fave Book: Jemima J by Jane Green) I have to admit that it really took me a while to get into the book. I did enjoy most of the book such as the main characters quick wit and friends but I also found the book TOO PREDICTABLE.
Overall it is more of a book to borrow from the library than actually purchase.
2 Stars Would I read it again? Fat Chance.
I just did not get this book. She’s fat - how fat, I never get a good idea. She’s about to meet some famous hottie, so she gets skinny - even though she’s been struggling her whole life with weight issues (so we’re told) she can suddenly lose it all for some guy? The “hot” affairs have no heat, the angst you’re meant to feel isn’t there, and the ending is predictable at best. (BORING at the worst).
The author seems to be trying to deal with 3 main issues - weight, food, and celebrities - without knowing a great deal about any. If you really want to read a fat-chick-lit, pick up Jemima J by Jane Green. This book is just a cheap knock-off.
3 Stars Think Huge
Everything is big - big people, big things, big talk, and big appetite. Maggie has her own column. She doesn’t believe in diets and she writes about it. She is not obese, just big. She gives talks, appears on TV, and she enjoys what she does especially the eating part. Each chapter consists of the story about Maggie and a copy of her article. Leading a fast moving life in New York City, she is a confident woman. Until a call from a movie actor, she truly believes that it is liberating to enjoy life being a size sixteen. She receives a consultant proposition and starts thinking about losing weight for the first time in her life. But, she has to keep it a secret. The many mentions of food and drinks in the book are mouthwatering even if the narration is chaotic and not that interesting.
Nov
30
Your Childs Weight Helping without Harming
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Your Childs Weight Helping without Harming
As much about parenting as feeding, this latest release from renowned childhood feeding expert Ellyn Satter considers the overweight child issue in a new way. Combining scientific research with inspiring anecdotes from her decades of clinical practice, Satter challenges the conventional belief that parents must get overweight children to eat less and exercise more. In the long run, she says, making them go hungry and forcing them to be active makes children preoccupied with food, prone to overeating, turned off to activity, and likely to gain too much weight. Trust is a central theme here: children must be able to trust parents to provide as much food as they need to satisfy their appetites; parents must trust children to eat only as much as they need. Satter provides compelling evidence that, if parents do their jobs with respect to feeding, children are remarkably capable of knowing how much to eat.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars helpful
As the parent of 2 children who have been at the same, albeit high, percentile on the growth curve since infancy, this book is very helpful. Now I see how I can tweak my part of the issue, and help my kids learn how to be who they naturally are, without feeling as if I am failing them.
I really appreciate this book, thank you Ellyn Satter.
4 Stars Revolutionary, though repetitive
I love Ellyn Satter’s healthy attitude toward food and eating. But I did get a bit tired of seeing the magic words “Ellyn Satter’s Division of Responsibility” on page after page. Still, Satter’s ideas are revolutionary enough that maybe she needs to repeat them frequently to get them across. Her basic idea? You are responsible for presenting your child with nutritious food at regular meal and snack times. You are not responsible for how much your child weighs, you are not responsible for how much (or how little) your child eats, and you shouldn’t even try to prevent your child from ever eating “junk” food. Just as important as Satter’s theory of how to feed a family is her critique of our “fat-phobic” culture. And she’s not just making it up as she goes along–she cites the research to support her theories. This is an important book.
5 Stars Helped dd loose weight without trying -
How much damage did my parents do to me by making me “clean my plate” because “there were children starving in Africa!” Urgh. After 20 years with a weight problem, I’m finally getting it under control (with the help of WW) A few months ago - I realized that dd was heading towards obesity herself - and I was helping her ! After reading this book, incorporating some of the suggestions, she lost 10 lbs over the past 3 months, without even trying. Definately urge an overweight parent to read it before putting a child on “a diet” or otherwise limiting food. So glad I did before I made the same mistakes with my other 3 children!
5 Stars Warding off obesity
I am thankful that we found this book early enough in my daughter’s childhood that we can implement the suggestions and really make a difference in her life. I have struggled with obesity my entire life, and my daughter appears to have inherited my genetic makeup. I learned from this book that many of the things my husband and I were doing WERE harming her and setting her up for full-blown obesity in the future. This book has helped us develop a more relaxed environment around eating, and we now have sit-down family meals for every meal we have at home. That is a key component of the whole philosophy, and even though we knew that was important in the same way that everyone does, we didn’t make it a priority until after reading this book.
5 Stars Life-changing for my whole family
I stumbled on this book while searching for family meal plans. What a revelation. We have one child who we have worried over for years regarding her eating habits and high weight. My husband actually picked up this book and read it cover to cover and, uncharacteristically, led the way in a radical change about how we think about meals and food in our household. This book is full of common sense for families who may be struggling with a child’s weight problem. The basic idea is so ZEN–stop controlling, stop struggling, stop worrying and you change the very nature of the problem. Now we’re no longer trapped in the double standard of telling one kid to stop eating and the other to finish her food. We’re seeing our picky 3 year old actually grab a carrot on his own!! My overeater pushes back from the table when she’s full and doesn’t crouch over her plate like a famished animal. My middle child is learning to sit in her chair and enjoy the food that is available instead of asking for alternate meals. My husband and I actually have time to catch up with the kids. And I have been able to look at my own eating patterns (and their origins) in a new way. This is a profoundly wise book and I’m so grateful to have discovered it.
Nov
29
So Fat Low Fat No Fat Desserts
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So Fat Low Fat No Fat Desserts
GIVE IN TO SWEET TEMPTATION!
Betty Rohde has transformed cooking styles across the country with her bestselling books. In So Fat, Low Fat, No Fat Desserts, she offers more than 160 luscious recipes for desserts, sweets, and snacks so delicious and satisfying you’ll never believe that they’re low- or no-fat.
Here are guilt-free versions of America’s favorite desserts, like Triple Chocolate Brownies, Lemon Pound Cake, Hot Fudge Sundae Pudding Cake, Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, and Cherry Crisp. Get your day off to a sweet start with Cinnamon Rolls or Make-Ahead Refrigerator Muffins, and try a piece of Spiced Snack Cake with Apple Cider Sauce or Pecan Pie Surprise Bars with a cup of afternoon tea. Cherry Wine Cake or Frozen Strawberry Pie is the perfect end to a special dinner, while Autumn Pumpkin Cake with Harvest Moon Frosting or a Frosted Fruit Gel lends a festive touch to a holiday table. And don’t forget to fill the cookie jar with Cinnamon Sugar Drop, Quick Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal, or German Chocolate Drop Cookies!
Now you can indulge yourself, your family, and your friends whenever the mood strikes, without worrying about calories or cholesterol.
Nov
29
40 30 30 Fat Burning Nutrition The Dietary Hormonal Connection to Permanent Weight Loss and Better Health
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• More than 400,000 copies in print
• Great supermarket shopping lists
• Guides for eating out, fast foods and prepared meals
• Vegetarian meals and recipes
Pioneering weight loss and sports nutritionists Joyce and Gene Daoust were part of the original team that worked with Dr. Barry Sears, developing and testing the “Zone Diet.” You’ll learn how to eat balanced meals: 40 percent of your calories coming from carbohydrates, 30 percent from protein and 30 percent from fat. You’ll begin to burn fat, add muscle and increase your metabolism. Best of all, your body will keep the weight off once you reach your goal.
User Ratings and Reviews
5 Stars Love this book, helped drop some weight
My husband visited a nutritionist and he highly recommended this book and that’s how we found it. This book was great and the recipes were wonderful. Nothing too fancy or crazy in taste. Has sections for Vegetarians, for the Fat Flush which is a specific diet you do for a few weeks to kick your body into gear losing the fat as quick as possible, and then a section on maintenance with new recipes and meal plans. The Fat Flush helped me lose 8 lbs. the first week and my husband lost 12 lbs. (men loose faster than women). The meals are about balancing your carbs, protein, and fats. I plan to re-read it again to refresh the nutritional information and advice.
5 Stars You Can’t Pass This Up !!!
I have finally found a weight loss book that is simple to understand and easy to follow. What I found to be extremely helpful was the Meal Planner Conversion Chart. It’s all figured out for you. You choose the plan that suits you best. Since I have been on this diet, all the cravings for junk food have gone. I was someone who lived for sugar and now I do not want any of it. I use to crave coffee in the morning as well but realized I didn’t want that wired up feeling & acid stomach. I switched over to a caffeine-free coffee substitute made from soyabeans I found on the net at www. S o y c o f f e e.c om. It so easy for someone to tell you to eat less, but if you are craving bad foods, eventually you will fail. In the first five days I was on this diet all the craving ceased and I was already 8 lbs down. If you were like me and cannot wait for your next slice of cake and at the same time really want to change your lifestyle, Try this. I lost 9 pounds in three weeks. Went from a size 18 jeans to a size 16. This is the only way to go!!!
5 Stars Zone made easy for regular people!
My doctor started me on this book in June 2004. I am 5′6″ and was hitting the scales at my highest ever - 200 lbs. I was having trouble fitting in my size 14/16s and couldn’t stand the thought of buying new, bigger clothes. I have always been a woman that “knew” what was good and bad in my refrigerator (I’ve read just about every article about dieting written), and had trouble fitting in exercise - especially after having two kids. The Zone was outrageously complicated, and so many other diets had huge restrictions on fruit and most veggies, and just didn’t seem to make sense from a nutritional standpoint - I couldn’t stick with them for long. My cravings, weird rules and the heavy restrictions on almost everything I loved was always a bomb ticking away inside. Then I found 40-30-30.
It is now six months later, I’ve lost 40 pounds and counting. I have a new way to eat for life! I lost 14 pounds the first month, then seven, then six and the rest has been consistently coming off ever since and - get this - I haven’t managed to fit exercise in yet (still trying). I was very religious the first three months, then fell in to more of a settled routine where I am comfortable with the general parameters without refering to the book or my notes very often. And the beauty is, since you are changing the way you build your meals, I can “cheat” - I really consider it more like living your life, not cheating. I had chocolate cake at my son’s & daughter’s birthday parties one month in to the diet, had a glass of wine WITH my dinner during the second month but it was no big deal! My new way of eating wasn’t disrupted, weight loss continued, and I very rarely have any cravings - I find that most of them are psychological anyway (a habitual reaction to stressful situations, etc.). Odd thing is that most of the things that I used to REALLY love (all carbs), don’t return the same old satisfaction anymore - just not the same response from my body - that’s definitely not something I expected.
I even managed to stay “even” during the difficult holiday weeks (Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year’s). I thought for sure that my excesses would tip the scale since I seemed to indulge in so much! But here I am, right on track! Looking back, I seem to make enough slightly different choices at all of these events to still maintain some balance (like eating shrimp cocktail along with some chip & dip instead of a plate of straight carbs).
Some of the key things for me were:
1) The ability to substitute my ZonePerfect bars (Fudge Graham are best) for up to two meals a day - really a lifesaver when you’re on the go at work and with the family and it’s critical that you not skip your meals.
2) There are really quick & easy meals that fit in to a life that was used to all of the convenience foods.
3) Please, those of you reading those “the cost of good food is so high!” reviews… have you added up the cost of all of your sodas, chips, ice cream, etc., lately? Even with the cost of fresh fruits, vegetables and lean meats, I’m still spending less.
4) New, clear approaches to fast food and restaurant eating is outlined - I even check the websites of different companies to makes sure my picks keep my carbs, protein & fat in balance - it would surprise you what some of the “healthy” items add up to!
5) I have almost completely eliminated hydrogenated oil and aspartame from my diet - not easy considering they’re in darn near everything these days! (I’m not sure if that came from my doctor or the book.)
6) First meal within one hour of getting up, last one four hours before bed.
Good luck! It’s a great book, clearly and simply written, and it’s been a lifesaver for me!
5 Stars This book worked for me twice!
I bought this book in December 1998, at the recommendation of the womens gym where I had been exercising. I followed the “Fat Flush” sample meal planner and lost 16 pounds. Now it’s April 2004, I am 5 months post pardum, and have lost 10 pounds in 5 weeks, using the same meal plan. I’ve lost the carbohydrate cravings and truely feel great! The sample meal planners are satisfying examples. Chapter 8 “Putting it all together” provides all the tools you need to creat your own 40-30-30 meals in the portions right for your weight and activity level. Chapter 4 “The Glycemic Index” is an excellent resource for good-better-best carbohydrate choices.
4 Stars A good introduction to a workable system
This was the first book I read on the subject of weightloss by combining macro-nutrients in the right percentage. I chose this over “The Zone” as it seemed more user-friendly, and I was right. The system can be complicated at first, until you get used to it, and the Zone’s “blocks” are an additional complication.
The authors do a great job at explaining why it is so important to balance the right amounts of carbohydrate, protein and fat, and how to choose wisely. It could very well be the first health/fitness book a person reeds and the reader would not feel overwhelmed, as the information is given in a way that it can be easily understood without any previous experience or background in the field of nutrition. The data is complete but you don’t feel you need to be a biochemist to understand it, like in some other health books.
The book also offers one week of menus, in different variations: the regular ones, the vegetarian and the “fat flush”, for those who want a more rapid weight loss. The meal plans are furtherly taylored to your individual needs by establishing which type of 4 (A-D) you fall in, depending on your weight and activity level, and therefore being able to establish the right quantity of each food contained in the daily menus.
There is also advice on what to choose when dining out and nutritional info on common commercial products, as well as a food value guide (how much protein is in 4oz of chicken breast?) to help the reader make the right choices and design his menus following the 40-30-30 regimen.
Overall, a very good guide, which doesn’t get 5 stars just because at an attentive eye (from someone who has a background in nutrition/health/fitness), the plan would be even better if it was lighter on the sodium and dairy, but still, it’s a great improvement over the current nutrition of most people.
I would suggest it to anyone who wants to lose weight but also to anyone who wishes to improve his/her fitness performance and energy levels.
Nov
28
The Mandells Its Not Your Fault Youre Fat Diet
