"FITlosophy 1" by SharnyandJulius

TITLE: "FITlosophy 1"

AUTHOR: SharnyandJulius™

DIETY?: no

IE?: somewhat

MY RATING: 4****

SharnyandJulius™ are an Australian husband and wife team who teach fitness & nutrition. They describe this book as a “collection of parables for athletes”. But really, they also say that an “athlete” is anyone “who is doing something physical with a goal in mind” (p.107).

This book talks about guilt, food addiction, intensity, play, mobility, excuses, failure, athleticism and laziness. The chapters are short — only a few pages each — but they pack a punch. I think my favorite chapter was “You, Athlete“. It talked about “default plays”, and about how you can change those.

The only thing I did not like about this book was the chapter where Julius wrote about his food addiction, as he started off with a story about a friend of Sharny’s that had come to visit, and he went into far too much detail about his bodily functions. He also swore a lot in that chapter, and I thought that was unnecessary. This is the only chapter in the whole book that was like that.

Overall, though, I really liked this book, as it takes aim at so many of our excuses. And, it’s readily readable. Recommended.

Every Body Matters by Gary Thomas

TITLE: "Every Body Matters"
AUTHOR: Gary Thomas
DIETY?: somewhat
IE?: yes
MY RATING: 4****

Back in November, I was really excited to have found the book, “Lifestyle Choices…Up to You!” by Ginger Woods O’Shea, as I’d thought it was going to talk about the link between our spiritual lives and how we treat our physical bodies. And, while that book started off well, it ended up being a rant against the FDA and it was a huge disappointment to me.

This book, on the other hand, is exactly what I’d been looking for! Its byline reads, “Strengthening your body to strengthen your soul“. And inside, Gary talks about the need for discipline in our eating and exercise habits, and a focus on obedience to God instead of on our appearance.

I really liked that Gary kept mentioning the importance of waiting for true, physiological hunger before eating. I’m a big fan of that method myself! I also liked that he’s a runner, and so he talks about that a bit, too, and the endurance it takes.

Throughout the book, we’re reminded that, in order to be “holy, useful to [God], and prepared to do any good work” (2 Timothy 2:21), we need to be physically ready in addition to being spiritually ready. In other words, we can’t be lazy and indulgent. Instead, we are to be disciplined and strong. Gary uses the examples of the prophet Jeremiah, and of the apostle Paul, stating how these men must’ve been in great physical condition in order to have withstood the stuff that life threw at them!

The same goes for us. If we’re weak and lazy, we’ll be unprepared to meet the challenges of life, and we certainly won’t be able to fulfill our callings (not well, anyway). We won’t be living the abundant life that God has promised us.

Overall, this is a great book, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone seeking to have a greater purpose in their efforts to get healthier.

Hungry by Allen Zadoff

TITLE: "Hungry"
AUTHOR: Allen Zadoff
DIETY?: yes
IE?: no
MY RATING: 4****

Allen Zadoff used to be 360 pounds. He would hide in his apartment, and he would sneak food. He would eat enough, at one time, to feed three people! But then he had an epiphany… and he got help.

 

This book is a compilation of short (1-2 page) chapters, with humorous tidbits about gaining & losing weight. Mr. Zadoff doesn’t suggest a diet plan, but just shares what worked for him, in the hopes that you will have inspiration to get thin, too.

 

He says on page 123, “The principles of this book will be extremely useful to all people struggling with any compulsion around eating.” And, yes, there’s a short bit about anorexia & bulimia in here, too. But, most of the book is about being a food addict… compulsively overeating.

 

Definitely one that you should check out, if you struggle with food/weight. It’s light-hearted, and quick, but full of wisdom.

I Got This! by Jennifer Hudson

TITLE: "I Got This!"
AUTHOR: Jennifer Hudson
DIETY?: yes
IE?: no
MY RATING: 3***

This is Jennifer’s memoir of her journey from normal Chicago girl, slightly overweight, to American Idol reject, to award-winning singer/actress who is learning to be healthy, and make healthier choices.

I didn’t like that a lot of the book felt like Jennifer was bragging about her accomplishments. And, there wasn’t much in the way of “this is what you should do if you want to get healthy” as there was “join Weight Watchers — it’s great!”

I was impressed, mind you, by her determination, and perseverance. I like her feistyness. And, I like that she got 75 of her relatives to join Weight Watchers with her — that’s incredible! Obviously, Jennifer is a very persuasive person! LOL

Overall, this book was just okay.

Lifestyle Choices: Up to YOU! by Ginger O'Shea

TITLE: "Lifestyle Choices: Up to YOU!"
AUTHOR: Ginger O'Shea
DIETY?: yes
IE?: somewhat
MY RATING: 2**

Whoo-boy, this book was a long one! Almost 400 pages in length, and I honestly think it could have been about half its size, and still gotten its point across.

While I found a lot of helpful and insightful information inside, I also was very bogged down by the style of writing, and very frustrated by the author’s attempt to push her agendas across. She had a lot to say about governmental control of our food, and about vaccinations, and about political-type evils. This stuff was putting me to sleep, so I ended up skipping several chapters in order to get through the book quicker. I hate doing that, but it was absolutely necessary to keep me reading through to the end.

The book requires a lot of brain power, so I am going to be picky in who I’d recommend this to. Again, it’s a good book, with some helpful information. But, it’s not necessarily for just anyone.

Reshaping It All by Candace Cameron Bure

TITLE: "Reshaping It All"
AUTHOR: Candace Cameron Bure
DIETY?: somewhat
IE?: somewhat
MY RATING: 4****

Candace Cameron Bure used to play “DJ Tanner” on the television show “Full House“. I watched her on that show for years, growing up, as part of TGIF Fridays. 

So, I was really excited to see that (1) she’d written a book, and (2) she’s a Christian! 

This book is part memoir, and part weight loss advice. Candace tells the story of how she went from suffering from bulimia, to finding freedom through the hunger/fullness method of eating less. She also incorporates exercise (she loves Pilates), and chooses healthier foods when she does eat.

I loved that, throughout the book, Candace has included some of her family’s favorite recipes. They all look like they’ll be really easy to throw together, AND they’ll taste good (turkey tacos, anyone?). She also includes fan mail, along with her answers at the end of each chapter. And, there’s a whole slew of photographs of Candace in the middle of the book. 

I definitely recommend this book! Candace’s words are really motivating and inspirational. And, I’m a huge fan of the hunger/fullness method — it’s what I use myself — so I can’t help but love that she uses it, too!

The Vice-Busting Diet by Julia Havey

TITLE: "The Vice-Busting Diet"
AUTHOR: Julia Havey
DIETY?: yes
IE?: no
MY RATING: 4****

This is a book about making small, continuous changes over a period of 12 weeks. Each week, you focus on busting just ONE diet “vice” ~ the common ones being soda, fast-food, and watching too much television ~ and then you build on that, in the following week, by adding another vice to bust.

So, in week 2, not only are you practicing avoiding sodas, but you are also working on busting your fast-food (or other unhealthy eating) vice. That means, you’re replacing your bad, unhealthy habit with a healthier action.

Of course, at the end of 12 weeks you aren’t “done” — this is about lifestyle changes, after all. But, the main “plan” is for those twelve weeks. That gets you started, and gives you a basis for continuing on.

I enjoyed this book, and think it’s very sensible. Where the author talked about busting your TV habit, I substituted a “sedentary” habit — I sit around WAY too much, and could stand to be more active, for sure!

Definitely recommended, especially if you’re frustrated about never being able to stick with something for very long. 

Rated: B+

Your Best Body Now by Tosca Reno

TITLE: "Your Best Body Now"
AUTHOR: Tosca Reno
DIETY?: somewhat
IE?: no
MY RATING: 4****

DESCRIPTION: New York Times bestselling author Tosca Reno knows exactly how you feel. She went from being a flabby, 200+ pound woman to a slim and sexy fitness expert—all past the age of 40! Now, for the first time ever, she reveals her secrets to looking better every year. Using the simple, Eat-Clean principles that have helped millions lose weight and featuring all-new advice from Tosca and her team of top experts, discover how you, too, can:

· Boost your metabolism to burn fat fast

· Turn back the clock and age-proof your body

· Look and feel younger than you have in years

· Create your best body—now!

Despite it’s somewhat diety nature, this was actually a good book. 

This book really focuses on weight training. Tosca is 50 years old, and she looks like she’s 25! She probably has the energy & vitality of a 20-something, as well! She’s certainly fitter than me. And, I liked that, in this book, she gives her story… of how she used to weigh over 200 lbs, but then got a wake-up call (in the form of a life situation) and decided to make a change for the better.

Tosca’s plan also includes “eating clean” ~ mostly fresh fruits & vegetables, as well as lean proteins, and avoiding “whites” (flour, rice pasta) and processed foods. I don’t think I could ever fully “eat clean”, as I love my sugar and my ‘whites’ a little too much. But, I have been wanting to eat healthier for quite some time, and I’ve been slowly switching some of the stuff I eat — we eat a white pasta that has all the benefits of whole grain, and we like theTexmati rice (which has long grains, as well as the white rice).

If you’re looking for an inspirational read about health, I’d definitely recommend this one. Tosca, herself, is an inspiration — if she can do it, we can, too! 

"The Carb Lovers Diet" by Frances Largeman-Roth

TITLE: "The Carb Lovers Diet"
AUTHOR: Frances Largeman-Roth & Ellen Kunes
DIETY?: somewhat
IE?: somewhat
MY RATING: 4****

First of all, let me say that I didn't read this whole book from cover-to-cover. I mostly skimmed it, reading bits here and there until I got the general gist of things. Reason being, I'm not looking for another "diet", and don't want to fill my head with stuff that might sway me off of my intended path (I'm learning that I tend to chase after too many false leads if I'm not careful).

But, this book is really sound. Sure, you'll still find some diety things inside. But, overall, the authors encourage you to watch your portion sizes, stop eating when you've hit satisfied (not stuffed), and mix-and-match the recipes to suit your tastes and preferences. Not bad, at all.

I liked this one, especially, for two reasons: (1) The recipes that are included all look so very good! For me, I normally find maybe a handful of recipes in "diet" books that I think I might like to try. Everything else either requires me to go out of my way to find the ingredients, or it just seems too far off from what my family and I normally like to eat. This book was different... this one has about 75 recipes, and I think I copied about 30 of them to put in my binder and try at some later date (and, FYI, I've already tried 2 of the recipes since finishing the book yesterday, and they were both yummy!)... And (2) the "success stories" included in this book --complete with pictures-- show women who've lost weight at a realistic pace of only 5-10 pounds in 3 weeks. They aren't super-skinny, and they didn't have drastic results... They are normal women, and their weight loss was slow and steady. That's encouraging, and makes me think that following the advice in this book could truly be a benefit. When the weight comes off more slowly, it is more likely to stay off for good! ;)

The book's main focus is to include more Resistant Starches into your daily eating. There are eleven of them, some of which include: Potatoes (baked or sweet), Peas, Whole Wheat Pasta, Beans & Lentils, Baked Potato Chips!, etc. Yep... you even get to have chips, wine, and chocolate with this one! (I couldn't believe it when I was reading through the sample meal plans and found that one of the snacks was a Reese Peanut Butter Cup! YUM!!!)

The only thing I'm not big on with this book is the fact that you have "phases": Phase 1 is your Kickstart phase where you aim to eat only 1200 calories per day. You would probably have to follow their included 7-day meal plan to get the intended results. And, Phase 2 is your Immersion phase which lasts for 21 days and lets you up your daily calorie intake to 1600 calories. Again, there are 21-days' worth of meal plans included.

You aren't encouraged to give up anything, necessarily -- no food groups are said to be excluded. Mind you, you are technically avoiding "whites" (flour, bread, rice) by CHOOSING to have the whole-wheat versions instead. Very clever of the authors, if you ask me. Not to mention, focusing on the term "Resistant Starch" instead of saying the usual "complex carbs". Tricky-tricky... but effective!

So, yeah. Overall, this is not a bad choice for a plan. Especially if you're a carb-lover, like me! It can easily work with the intuitive-eating method (that I prefer), and just teaches you to make healthier choices, and to cook more of your meals for yourself (note: all of the meals included don't seem to take more than 30-40 minutes to prepare, so there's also the ease-of-use factor to this plan!)

REVIEW: "Dr. Colbert's 'I Can Do This!' Diet" by Dr. Don Colbert

TITLE: "Dr. Colbert's 'I Can Do This!' Diet"
AUTHOR: Dr. Don Colbert
DIETY?: yes
IE?: yes
MY RATING: 3***

While this book often encouraged “mindful eating” — of which I’m a huge fan! — it also highly promoted herbal weight-loss supplements, and recommended giving up all “whites” (flour, sugar, etc). I don’t agree with having to give up anything, unless you have an allergy/sensitivity, or were told by your own physician to do so.
I hated that the author kept promoting his own books and website over and over again. And, I really disliked the push for eating foods “in the right combinations”.

But, the parts about mindful eating — waiting for true, physiological hunger, and watching for your satiety signals, and that sort of thing — were great!

There is a little bit of everything in this book, so it’s not terrible, and I’m sure that it can be really useful to some! I know people who need to stay away from the “whites” as recommended by their doctor, so this might be a book that they can use!

In general, though, this book wasn’t for me.


Rated: C

REVIEW: "The SuperFoods Rx Diet" by Wendy Bazilian & Steven Pratt

TITLE: "The SuperFoods Rx Diet"
AUTHOR: Wendy Bazilian and Steven Pratt
DIETY?: yes
IE?: somewhat
MY RATING: 4****

I found this book online, the other day, while searching for books about healthy eating & the Mediterranean-style of eating. It just so happened that my local library had a copy (at my branch, nonetheless), so I went and picked it up, and started reading it right away. I didn’t intend to read the whole thing, but it was quick and really interesting!

This book has an absolutely fascinating concept as far as a weight loss plan goes… it has the SlimDown, which is two weeks of more strict adherence to get you off to a good start, and then the FlexPlan to loosen things up a bit while still maintaining control. But, the most interesting part was the “Prep & Practice” week you do before the SlimDown. It’s where you start planning what you’ll do in your SlimDown, and you practice some of the meals & exercises. Very cool!

Now, when I talk about “strict adherence” for the SlimDown part, please don’t misunderstand me… this seems different than other diet books I’ve read where you have to give up all sorts of different foods and/or categories of foods. For this, it’s more about adding in the “superfoods”, and making sure you follow the plan. It’s not difficult, nor does it seem like too much.

Some of the “superfoods” listed are: Oats, Blueberries, Soy, Turkey, Oranges, Tomatoes, Broccoli, and Spinach… and a whole slew of “sidekicks” (other foods that are good for you, that you should add into your new plan).

I also liked that you basically make up your own meal plans, based off the SuperFoods categories (there are 3 main ones), and you can pick and choose what works best for you for exercise.

This plan is very flexible, and has some great ideas! The book even promotes listening to your hunger cues, so that was a big plus for me! (I’m a big fan of that!).

While there are still some points of this book that I don’t really agree with, overall I really like the concept, and think it’s a good thing to try out, especially coming into a new year! (the “Prep & Practice” week could be the last week of the year, and then you start the SlimDown come January 1st!)

Recommended. Rated B+

REVIEW: "Fit For My King" by Sheri Rose Shepherd

TITLE: "Fit For My King"
AUTHOR: Sheri Rose Shepherd
DIETY?: yes
IE?: no
MY RATING: 3***

This book sets out a 30-day diet plan where you fast off of the “whites” (flour, sugar, corn, potatoes, etc) and all artificial foods & sweeteners. You also make sure to exercise 5 times a week, and get enough water & rest.

There are 30 days of devotions on topics like anger, self-image, forgiveness, divine appointments, etc. And, the back of the book has a bunch of recipes.

I’m no longer a fan of diets (see here for what I am a fan of), especially ones that ask you to cut stuff out. But, this book would certainly be helpful for some. I definitely recommend this one to those dealing with the eating disorder of bulimia, as Sheri has struggled with this, and she shares about overcoming that in this book.


Rated: B-

REVIEW: "I Can Make You Thin" by Paul McKenna

TITLE: "I Can Make You Thin"
AUTHOR: Paul McKenna
DIETY?: yes
IE?: somewhat
MY RATING: 4****

An interesting, yet short, book that will teach you the basics of ‘intuitive eating’. There were several exercises for you to try, and 4 or 5 success stories of people who’ve used McKenna’s program with success. I thought some of the ideas presented were a little too weird for me, but otherwise, I thought the book was good.

Rated: B-

REVIEW: "WW Tools for Living Companion"

TITLE: "Weight Watchers' Tool for Living Companion"
AUTHOR: Weight Watchers International
DIETY?: yes
IE?: somewhat
MY RATING: 4****

Weight Watchers’ Tools for Living Companion is a handy, little reference book that outlines their 8 “Tools for Living“:

• Winning Outcomes


• Empowering Beliefs


• Anchoring


• Storyboarding


• Mental Rehearsing


• Motivating Strategy


• Reframing


• …and Positive Self-Talking

I’d read about these before, and thought them to be really helpful. I’m glad to now own this book where I can reference back to these from time-to-time, and find inspiration!

Rated: B+

REVIEW: "Naturally Thin" by Bethenny Frankel

TITLE: "Naturally Thin"
AUTHOR: Bethenny Frankel
DIETY?: yes
IE?: some
MY RATING: 3***

While this book teaches you the basics of non-dieting (eat only when hungry, eat what you love, pay attention, stop when satisfied, etc), there’s also a lot of ‘avoidance‘ mentality, too.

Even though Ms. Frankel is constantly encouraging you to eat what you want, and what your body needs, she also frequently mentions how she avoids this or that food, and suggests that you should “choose” to do the same if you want to be naturally thin.

Still a good book with a lot of great advice, but I just don’t agree with having to avoid foods, regardless. If you’re going to follow your hunger signals to be naturally thin, that’s all you need. I learned that through practical experience, so I know it’s true.

Rated: C

REVIEW: "The Thin Commandments Diet" by Stephen Gullo

TITLE: "The Thin Commandments Diet"
AUTHOR: Stephen Gullo, Ph.D.
DIETY?: yes
IE?: some
MY RATING: 4****

One of the better “diet” books I’ve read, this one mainly focuses on changing your MINDSET with regards to food and eating.

Dr. Gullo recommends knowing your food “history” so you can build a *strategy* that will work for you, personally.

If you have trouble / problem foods, he recommends you either “Box them In” (meaning you allow them, but only at spefic times), or you “Box them Out” (meaning you totally avoid them).

I didn’t care for the menu-plans, or the advice to eat low-fat or fat-free. But, I really liked most everything else! I think it’s smart to learn how you ate all of your life up to this point, and then build a strategy that works with that in order to change your thinking and your habits.

Recommended.

Rated: B-

REVIEW: "First Place 4 Health" by Carole Lewis

TITLE: "First Place 4 Health"
AUTHOR: Carole Lewis
DIETY?: yes
IE?: some
MY RATING: 4****

When I first heard about this book, I was intrigued as I'd read the original "First Place" book several years ago. I was curious to see what --if anything-- Ms. Lewis had changed.

As it turns out, quite a bit has changed! The main focus is still on giving Christ "first place" in one's life (Matthew 6:33). But this new program also focuses on acheiving balance in the four main areas of life: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.

Also changed is that they've removed the term "commitments", and instead use the more grace-filled term "invitations". You are "invited" to walk the journey toward living a more balanced, healthy lifestyle.

Like the old "First Place" book, there are many success stories shared throughout the pages, and these are very inspiring.

What I didn't like about this book was the sense that the author just wants more people to buy her program and sign up for the local support groups. She was constantly promoting these groups, and her other books (the Bible studies).

In the original "First Place" book, the whole program was laid out for you so that, even if you couldn't attend a support group, for whatever reason, you could still know how to follow the plan. But, in this newer book, that doesn't happen. She gives you an idea of what you'll find in the support group, and of the kinds of things you can learn there, but she doesn't outline the plan for you. So, I was a bit disappointed in that fact.

Over all, though, I found it to be a really motivational book, and there was a lot of good stuff inside. In fact, some of the new thinking includes things that are very similar to the Intuitive Eating approach (of which I'm terribly fond). For example, on page 174, it says:

"...you'll learn to eat slowly and savor your meals. You'll relearn what hunger really feels like and listen to your internal hunger cues--and stop eating when you are full... Trust your gut -- God made that, too!"

The author encourages you to give this plan a full year -- that way you're not looking for a quick fix (that doesn't exist), and the plan has a chance to work, and you have a chance to be changed from the inside-out. Also encouraged are "baby steps" -- doing as much as you can to start, even if it's not a lot, and continuing to work at it, because eventually you'll get stronger, and will be able to do more. :)

A good book.

Rated: B-

REVIEW: Half-Assed: A Weight Loss Memoir by Jennette Fulda

TITLE: "Half-Assed: A Weight Loss Memoir"
AUTHOR: Jennette Fulda
PAGES: 239
DIETY?: somewhat
IE?: somewhat
MY RATING: 4****

This was a great memoir about a woman who originally weighed about 372 pounds, but then got off her tush and lost half of her body weight! She lost over 200 pounds the "old-fashioned" way (as opposed to surgery) by eating sensibly and exercising.

My favorite part of the book was where she refused to say what "diet plan" she used, as she believes that everyone is different, and therefore no ONE plan is going to work for everybody. She says you need to find your own balance, and what works for YOU, personally.

The details she gives about what it felt like to go from being grossly overweight and basically "invisible" to a more "normal" size and getting attention from others was really interesting. And, when she talked of actually learning to love eating healthier and moving her body, it was really inspiring! Her transformation is very motivating!

The author's blog, www.pastaqueen.com, has some great "interactive" before and after photos! Check 'em out!

Recommended.

Rated: A-

REVIEW: The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl by Shauna Reid

Title: "The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl: The Hilarious and Heartwarming Tale of a Real-Life Superhero Who Battled the Bulge and Won!"
Author: Shauna Reid
Pages: 397
Diety?: somewhat
IE: somewhat
My Rating: 4****


I found out about this book a week or two ago, while surfing around online. Found the website, and found the book...then found that my library had a copy -- yay!

Shauna Reid started out at about 351 pounds... she went to a Weight Watchers weigh-in with her sister, and had a moment of decision: she couldn't live like she'd been doing any more. So, she made up her mind right then to change. She signed up for Weight Watchers, and she started her journey.

Shauna didn't stay with WW, though. Eventually she learned to make up her own plan, and she joined a gym. This is her story of how she lost half of her body weight, and learned to make peace with her body and her life. :)

Hilarious book, but full of inspiration. You can't help but be moved by Shauna's story (which was originally just her blog-posts on her website, and then got turned into a book -- there's more content in the book, though).

Recommended.

Rated: A+

REVIEW: Winning After Losing by Stacey Halprin

Title: "Winning After Losing: Keep Off the Weight You've Lost - Forever!"
Author: Stacey Halprin
Pages: 261
Diety?: somewhat
IE: somewhat
My Rating: 4****

Finally a book for those who've already lost the weight (or, most of it), and are looking for help with the 'maintenance' phase.

Stacey Halprin knows what it's like to have a weight problem. Before having gastric bypass surgery, she weighed over 500 pounds. She knows all about the 'invisibility' and other feelings that come with being majorly overweight.

After going through with GBS, she made the decision to do whatever necessary to keep the weight off, and continue to get healthy. She has now maintained her loss for 5 years.

While this book focuses on maintaining your weight loss, those who are still working on it can find a lot of inspirational tips and motivation here, too. I, myself, am still working on getting the weight off, and I found this book to be really inspiring and helpful.

Because it's more about maintenance, there are no menu plans, or "formulas" for getting thin. She does talk briefly, though, about nutrition and exercise.

Lots of good help here... I'd recommend this one!