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Category: Diet & Weight Loss

Giveaway: Fit for Life by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond

[ 90 ] August 8, 2010

3 readers will win a copy of Fit for Life by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond!

It’s the program that shatters all the myths: Fit for Life is the international bestseller that explains how to change both your figure and your life. Nutritional specialist Harvey and Marilyn Diamond explain how you can eat more kinds of food than you ever ate before without counting calories…and still lose weight! The natural body cycles, permanent weight-loss plan that proves it’s not only what you eat, but also when and how, Fit for Life is the perfect solution for those who want to look and feel their best. Join the millions of Americans who are Fit for Life and begin your transformation with:

* The vital principles that bring you permanent weight loss and high energy

* The Fit for Life secrets of timing and food combining that work with your natural body cycles

* A 4-week meal plan, menus, shopping tips, and exercise

* Delicious recipes and more.

Mandatory entry: Please comment on this post with your e-mail address.

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This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only. Deadline to enter is midnight on August 30th.

Giveaway copies are provided free of any obligation by Wellness Central. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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“Skinny is Overrated” by Danielle Milano, MD

[ 6 ] July 8, 2010

Reviewed by Poppy J.

In Skinny Is Overrated, Dr. Danielle Milano discusses the facts of weight loss, and offers real guidance for anyone struggling with a weight issue. The main premise of the book is that being skinny should never be the goal of a weight loss program. One should strive for a healthy lifestyle, not for a certain number on a scale after weeks or months spent dieting. Skinny Is Overrated encourages readers to embrace the healthy aspects of their heritage and incorporate those healthy food choices into their daily life.

The weight loss plan promoted in Skinny Is Overrated includes creating goals and sticking to them. These goals are meant to be in line with a healthier lifestyle. Dr. Milano suggests keeping a log and developing a schedule that works with the reader’s lifestyle, and stresses the importance of keeping active on a regular basis.

Dr. Milano goes over the trans fat myths and lists foods that should and should not be eaten. Different fad diets are discussed in detail. All of the misconceptions surrounding poly, mono and saturated oils and fats are explained, as well as high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) warnings, fat free substitutes and other process foods. Dr. Milano also explains the concept of BMI, and advises that it’s best to forget about the BMI chart and focus instead on eating healthier foods daily.

While some of the information has been extensively covered in other resources in the past, the book was well worth reading. Skinny Is Overrated offers great advice on how to live better and take the steps necessary for creating a better life today, without relying on the excuse of taking those steps tomorrow.

After a decade of working in several NYC law departments and teaching, Poppy decided she enjoyed writing full-time. She currently works as a freelance writing consultant, and lives with her husband and sons on the East Coast.

This book was provided free of any obligation by Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Giveaway: “This Is Why You’re Fat” by Jackie Warner

[ 108 ] June 1, 2010

Publisher’s Description

“Being fat isn’t your fault; staying fat is.” That’s what Jackie Warner, America’s favorite no-nonsense celebrity fitness trainer tells her own clients, and that’s why no one delivers better results than Jackie does.

Now for the first time, Jackie shares her revolutionary program, showing readers the best ways to drop pounds and inches fast, without grueling workouts or deprivation, and keep them off for good! Her two-tiered approach provides a complete nutritional makeover and a failure-proof condensed workout routine PLUS all the emotional support and encouragement you need to get to the finish line and beyond.

Giveaway:

I have 3 hardcover copies of This Is Why You’re Fat to give away!

Mandatory entry: Please comment on this post with your e-mail address.

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This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada residents only. Deadline to enter is midnight on June 15th.

Giveaway copies were provided free of any obligation by Hachette Book Group. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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"Substitute Yourself Skinny Cookbook" by Chef Susan Irby

[ 5 ] May 24, 2010

Reviewed by Jen K.

Author Susan Irby is known as The Bikini Chef because her recipes capitalize on fresh herbs and citrus flavors, which are referred to as “figure flattering flavors”. Her aim with this book is to teach us how to make simple substitutions with ingredients to make the same great tasting dishes that contain fewer calories.

To be totally honest, the title of the book had me a little worried that her calorie cutting recommendations would be things like replacing full fat mayo with reduced fat mayo, coupled with a heavy reliance on fat free cheeses. Honestly, those substitutions seem pretty self evident and I’m fairly sure most people could work those out on their own. Sure, this book does make use of those common sense recommendations, but I was relieved to find that Susan takes it much further. She puts an emphasis on healthy cooking, while also reducing the fat content of the dishes. The recipes call for whole wheat breads, pastas and tortillas, lean meats, and of course, plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

I think the best part of Substitute Yourself Skinny is that is teaches how to make dishes that feel as though they are more indulgent than they really are. You can eat lighter without feeling like you’re depriving yourself of the treats! Feeling snacky? Grab a handful of baked tortillas chips and take your pick of Queso Dip, Three Cheese Dip, or Blue Cheese Dip. Need something to soothe a savage sweet tooth? Choose from a full chapter of desserts that include tweaked classics like Peanutty Butter Cookies and Apple Pie to the more decadent Mud Pie or Chocolate Torte.

It’s very helpful that calorie counts are provided for each dish, but I think it’s silly that she claims how many calories you are “saving” from the original dish. The “Calorie Savings” figures even show up in a highlighted box at the top of each page. Since the original, higher calorie recipe is not provided, hopefully readers won’t rely on these numbers as accurate. That one paltry annoyance is easy to overlook compared to the positive aspects of the book.

I love how she depends on a wide variety of spices and juices to add so much flavor that you don’t even realize the calorie reduction when you sit down to eat. There are plenty of full page, full color photos scattered through the book, and great written intros for each recipe. Plus, extras called “Skinny Secrets” show up in the outside columns – little useful tips from the author. I appreciate that that the book includes a full range of recipes from simple soups and salads to company worthy entrees and accompanying sides. Make yourself an easy lunch of Summer Savoring Mac n’ Cheese, whip out Chuck Wagon Chili on a cooler day, and save Bavarian Cornish Hens for company. Overall, a very useful cookbook for people who need just a bit of help lightening up their cooking.

Jen lives in Michigan with her husband and five year old son. She writes reviews of children’s book on her blog, FIRR-Kids. She enjoys trying new recipes and using her baking as an excuse to add more cookbooks to her collection.

This book was provided free of any obligation by FSB Associates. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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"The Mayo Clinic Diet: Eat Well, Enjoy Life, Lose Weight"

[ 0 ] March 4, 2010
Reviewed by Vera (Luxury Reading)
The premise of the The Mayo Clinic Diet is that it will be the last diet you will ever need. The Mayo Clinic has helped many individuals lose weight and keep it off, and The Mayo Clinic Diet is the compilation of these tested techniques. Each section draws on the experience of various health care professionals – internists, psychologists, nutritionists and so on – and emphasizes creating your own plan using the concepts in the book. One of the motivational tools suggested in The Mayo Clinic Diet is recording your food intake, level of exercise and goals for the day. While this recording can be done in any notebook, the book does come with a companion journal which can be helpful in keeping you on track.

The Mayo Clinic Diet consists of two parts: Lose It and Live It. The Lose It part is designed to help you lose 6 to 10 lbs. in 2 weeks to give you a jump start and results to keep you going with the program. The Live It part is longer and chock full of tips and suggestions for healthy and active living. This part discusses things like portion control, changing damaging behaviors, and making good choices while eating out. While following the rules of the first part for longer than 2 weeks may result in faster weight loss, the Live It part is easier to follow and more adoptable to an every day lifestyle.

I decided to follow at least the Lose It part and see if The Mayo Clinic Diet would live up to its weight loss promises. The rules were simple: break 5 habits, add 5 habits and add 5 bonus habits for 2 weeks. These habits included things like fitting in at least 30 minutes of exercise every day, eating whole grains, avoiding sugar and snacks, and not watching TV while eating. I also took advantage of The Mayo Clinic Diet Journal and recorded my progress. On the first day, I recorded my starting weight, BMI and waist measurement, as well as my goal weight. I also took the time to write down my daily goal, everything I ate and what physical activity I accomplished that day. At the end of 2 weeks, I lost 5 lbs and I believe I could have lost more if I did not cheat on a few occasions.

I found The Mayo Clinic Diet to be a refreshing change to the usually restrictive and unsustainable fad diets. The book was colorful, well organized, pretty easy to follow and just enjoyable to read. I finished the first part in one seating and could not wait to start implementing the habits into my day – they seemed like a very straight forward way to get rid of some extra poundage. I am now making my way through the Live It part and learning how to make healthy choices every day.

The book and journal were provided free of any obligation by FSB Media. No monetary or any other form of compensation was received.

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Review & Giveaway: "The One-Day Way" by Chantel Hobbs

[ 0 ] January 7, 2010

Reviewed by Erin N.

Do you struggle with weight? Have you just given up all hope of ever being a healthy size? Chantel Hobbs has developed a way for you to lose all the weight you want and keep it off for life. The plan is based on applying the simple mechanics of weight loss (burn more calories than consumed) but also keeping the focus on just one day at a time. Chantel says that what derails most weight loss efforts is the demoralization brought about by making mistakes and by creating unrealistic goals. In her books she helps you work through these issues and provides you with tools to achieve the lifestyle you deserve.

In The One-Day Way, Chantel speaks about her own struggles with weight and how she overcame them. She also provides real life examples of people who have tried her weight loss plan and have succeeded. Through her book, you can learn how to break destructive eating and exercise habits. Learn how to change your “fat” mind to a “thin” mind. Learn how to build a new life and body just one day at a time.

Lamenting about the piece of pie you had last night should never cause you to give up on yourself. With the The One-Day Way, it never will. Yesterday is history and tomorrow hasn’t happened yet. Chantel Hobbs will show you how to set goals for today and how to celebrate your daily successes.

Erin fell in love with the written word as a small child and subsequently spent most of her life happily devouring literature. She works as a freelance news, marketing, and technical writer. Erin lives just outside of Cleveland, Ohio with her husband, children, and grandchildren.

Author Bio:

The author of Never Say Diet and The Never Say Diet Personal Fitness Trainer, Chantel Hobbs is a motivational speaker, life coach, personal trainer, marathon runner, wife, and mother of four whose story has been featured on Oprah, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Fox & Friends, the 700 Club, and the covers of People and First magazines. She appears weekly on two fitness-themed radio programs and promotes her One-Day Way Learning System on television. Visit Chantel at ChantelHobbs.com for fitness updates and coaching tips.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Giveaway
I have a hardcover copy of The One-Day Way to give away, courtesy of WaterBrook Multnomah!
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This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
Deadline to enter is midnight on January 22nd.
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Mood-Boosting, Waist-Shrinking Lunch Ideas

[ 0 ] November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

I know most of us will be loosening up our belts on Thursday and getting our fill of delicious turkeys, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green bean casseroles and whatever else our families prepare for Thanksgiving. Here are 10 equally delicious lunch ideas to offset the “damage” of the Thanksgiving feast. These recipes were taken from Eat Your Way To Happiness by Elizabeth Somer, which we reviewed here.

10 Day’s Worth of Mood-Boosting, Waist-Shrinking Lunch Ideas


1. Wrap It: Fill a Mission Life Balance flour tortilla with 2 ounces of turkey breast meat, 1⁄2 cup shredded romaine lettuce, 2 tablespoons grated carrot and 1 tablespoon low-fat Caesar salad dressing. Serve with a glass of 1% milk and a piece of fruit.

2. Salad Fixings: Top 3 cups of baby spinach and/or romaine lettuce with 1⁄2 cup berries, 1 tablespoon pecans, 1⁄2 cup broccoli florets, 1⁄3 cup kidney or black beans and 2 tablespoons low-fat dressing. Serve with 100% whole-grain bread and a slice of low-fat cheese.

3. Pocket It: Fill a 100% whole-wheat pita with 1⁄2 cup black beans, 1⁄4 cup grated carrot, 1⁄4 cup chopped cucumber, 1⁄4 cup diced red peppers and 2 tablespoons light Italian salad dressing. Serve with Rachel’s yogurt and a glass of 100% juice.

4. Burgerville: Top a 100% whole-wheat burger bun with a vegetarian burger, 2 tablespoons low-fat crumbled feta cheese, 1⁄3 cup baby spinach leaves, and 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard. Serve with a piece of fruit and a glass of 1% milk.

5. Chicken of the Sea Sandwich: Top 2 slices of 100% whole-grain bread with 2 large romaine lettuce leaves and a mixture of 2 ounces drained, water-packed tuna, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon fat-free mayo and 1⁄4 cup diced celery. Serve with a side salad or piece of fruit and a glass of soy milk.

6. Take-out Desperado: If you must go, then order a kid’s cheeseburger, a side salad with fat-free dressing and apple dippers, or Wendy’s Ultimate Chicken Grill Sandwich (hold the mayo), a carton of low-fat milk and a Mandarin Orange cup.

7. Soup ’n’ Sandwich: Have a bowl of Campbell’s Healthy Request Savory Chicken and Long Grain Rice soup and add extra frozen vegetables. Serve with fresh fruit and a grilled cheese sandwich made with 2 slices of 100% whole-grain bread, low-fat cheese and cooking spray instead of butter or oil.

8. Veggie Broil: Cut in half and toast a 100% whole-grain English muffin. On one side, put 2 tablespoons mashed avocado, 1⁄4 cup alfalfa sprouts, 1 thin slice red onion, 1 teaspoon sesame seeds and 2 teaspoons low-fat ranch dressing, and top with 1 ounce grated, low-fat cheddar cheese. Place under broiler and heat until cheese bubbles. Remove and add other side of muffin to form a sandwich. Serve with tomato juice and a side salad or fruit.

9. Campfire Crunch Sandwich: Mix 2 tablespoons fat-free cream cheese with a dash of lemon juice, lemon peel, 2 tablespoons dried tart cherries, 1⁄4 cup grated carrot and 3 tablespoons trail mix. Pile onto a slice of 100% whole-grain bread, spread evenly and top with second piece of bread to form a sandwich. Serve with 1% milk and a piece of fruit or a salad.

10. Bagel Sandwich and Slaw: Spread 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard on half a 100% whole-wheat bagel; layer red onion, cucumber, red pepper slices, spinach leaves and low-fat cheese; and top with the other half of the bagel. Serve with broccoli slaw made with broccoli-coleslaw mix, low-fat coleslaw dressing and dried cranberries.

The above is an excerpt from the book Eat Your Way To Happiness by Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D.. The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.

Copyright © 2009 Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D., author of Eat Your Way To Happiness

Author Bio

Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D., author of Eat Your Way To Happiness, is a registered dietitian and author of several books, including 10 Habits That Mess Up a Womans Diet, Food & Mood and Age-Proof Your Body. She is a member of the editorial advisory board of Shape magazine and editor in chief of Nutrition Alert, a newsletter that summarizes the current research from more than 6,000 journals. She appears frequently on NBC’s Today and other national television shows.

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"Eat Your Way To Happiness" by Elizabeth Somer

[ 0 ] November 22, 2009

Reviewed by Carly L.

Elizabeth Somer is an expert on the effects food has on our bodies and minds. She’s written numerous books on the subject, including Age-Proof Your Body, 10 Habits That Mess Up a Womans Diet, and the popular Food & Mood. I was excited about her newest book, Eat Your Way To Happiness, but I couldn’t help but wonder what else this author possibly had to say on the subject…

Happily, Somer’s newest book did not disappoint. The chapters are divided into diet “secrets” and each secret provides guidelines for living a healthier life by making the connection between changing your behavior and creating positive change in the way you feel throughout the day. The recommendations are easy to understand and flexible enough to be adapted and effective for any lifestyle.

One of the best features of the book is the variety of personal stories and experiences that the author has scattered throughout the book. In each chapter, the reader hears the voices of people who have been there and made the changes themselves. The stories talk about frustration, issues in confidence, the outside pressures of balancing a healthy lifestyle with demands from work and family – all obstacles that any chronic dieter has become deeply familiar with. It is simply impossible not to feel hopeful and inspired when reading that someone else made a few changes and dramatically changed their life.

As someone who has experienced the frustrations of finding a healthier lifestyle, I’m constantly on the lookout for a fresh, yet simple, approach. After reading this book, I’m armed with all sorts of tools and ideas to make positive changes in my life and I’m feeling better already. I’d strongly recommend this book to anyone whose looking for a big push to get them started or just some helpful hints about raising their quality of life. In the vast sea of diet and fitness guides, this book is a winner!

Carly lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, with her husband and their two cats. Her favorite thing to do is to curl up by a window with a library book. When she isn’t reading, she’s usually writing on her blog at www.beingcarly.com.

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