What do you think?
Rate this book
Get Real and Stop Dieting!
In today’s high-speed culture, sensible human nutrition has been sidetracked by convenience foods and fad diets. Attempting to cut through the hype can be overwhelming for anyone, even when you have the best of intentions about adopting healthier eating habits and committing to long-term wellness. Fortunately, wellness expert Brett Blumenthal has created a straightforward diet and nutrition program to demystify the secrets of healthy eating once and for all. She identifies five simple principles, founded in fact, that can easily be applied in everyday life. Her “GET REAL” toolkit outlines tips on establishing proper portion size, shopping smart at the grocery store, and making healthy substitutions in cooking, along with advice about exercise, hydration, and stress reduction. And with forty pages of simple, satisfying recipes at your fingertips, you can jump-start your nutritional makeover the tasty way, at breakfast (Mushroom and Asparagus Egg-white Omelets and Pleasantly Surprising Whole-grain Pancakes), lunch (Spinach, Raisin, and Chickpea Salad with Chicken and Farm Fresh Italian Calzones), and even dessert (Grandma’s Chocolate Clusters and Summer’s Over Apple Crumble).
Hailed as “the ‘diet book’ for people who hate diet books,” “GET REAL” and STOP Dieting! will inspire, empower, and motivate you to live a healthier, happier life.
178 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 9, 2009
140 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Brett Blumenthal
10 books68 followersBrett Blumenthal is co-creator and illustrator of I Wish for You. Prior to becoming a full-time artist, she was the International bestselling author of the wellness book series - 52 Small Changes. Her art career began after giving birth to her son and daring to paint his nursery art. Passionate about wildlife, animals, and the environment, Brett uses her art to raise awareness about the importance of preserving our beautiful planet. You can purchase her artwork directly at www.tinytoesdesign.com.
Brett received her MBA from Johnson at Cornell University, where she graduated as a Park Fellow; she also earned her bachelors degree from Cornell University. She is certified by WELCOA (Wellness Council of America) and AFAA (Aerobics and Fitness Association of America).
Brett received her MBA from Johnson at Cornell University, where she graduated as a Park Fellow; she also earned her bachelors degree from Cornell University. She is certified by WELCOA (Wellness Council of America) and AFAA (Aerobics and Fitness Association of America).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
March 9, 2014
I think this book is a very good guide for beginners but if you have been trying to make changes in your diet for a couple of years now, like me, this book provides very little in terms of new information.
I already know to avoid all kinds of processed foods and drinks as they contained sugar and there is nothing more harmful than sugar. I already know to eat as many veggies as possible and drink as much water as I can. You are supposed to eat brown rice but I heard it taste bad, so just eat white rice in moderation.
I've also heard that if you don't feel well in the morning after your coffee is most likely the milk, you supposedly loose the ability to process milk at a very early age and your adult body may have a small reaction to the dairy if it doesn't you are just drinking fat. I cut out on it and I feel tons better in the morning after my coffee.
So, just eat fresh fruits and veggies, drink lots of water and avoid all those processed foods, peeps.
I already know to avoid all kinds of processed foods and drinks as they contained sugar and there is nothing more harmful than sugar. I already know to eat as many veggies as possible and drink as much water as I can. You are supposed to eat brown rice but I heard it taste bad, so just eat white rice in moderation.
I've also heard that if you don't feel well in the morning after your coffee is most likely the milk, you supposedly loose the ability to process milk at a very early age and your adult body may have a small reaction to the dairy if it doesn't you are just drinking fat. I cut out on it and I feel tons better in the morning after my coffee.
So, just eat fresh fruits and veggies, drink lots of water and avoid all those processed foods, peeps.
November 27, 2019
This will be the book that I will go back and reference. It got some wonderful advice about eating.
This is an excellent book to read if you are concern about weight. I like where it tells you to eat smaller meals throughout the day.
This is an excellent book to read if you are concern about weight. I like where it tells you to eat smaller meals throughout the day.
May 27, 2021
Too basic for me
Would be good for someone who knows little about nutrition
Would be good for someone who knows little about nutrition
April 29, 2012
Diets are big business, it is true, and it seems almost every day that someone is coming out with the way to lose weight. Of course, such guides are only part of the solution. Willpower and changing ones lifestyle are probably more important factors that authors of self-help books cannot assist with.
In "Get Real and Stop Dieting!" author Brett Blumenthal attempts to cut through a lot of the hype and faddish trends that are often central to dieting and weight loss and provide a manageable route to healthy eating. Of course, it sounds simple enough, eat less, eat healthier and exercise sufficiently and the weight will just f-a-l-l off. Reality, on the other hand…
Here in this quite easy-to-read guide you get to learn five key principles that underpin everything, namely keep it whole, natural and simple; focus on fibre; pack lean proteins into every meal; enjoy healthy fats and finally eat small, mindful and frequently.
Each principle is then examined in detail. For example, many people will buy so-called healthy option foods (from the same manufacturer of presumably less-healthy foods with the same brand) yet when you learn to look at the ingredients panel on the package you can be in for a shock. As an exercise, the author compares and contrasts an instant oatmeal product compared to traditional rolled oats. The latter contains, err, rolled oats whereas the former contains oats, sugars, flavouring, colourings, additives and host of other ingredients. For a small amount of convenience one is suddenly eating a lot moe "less desirable" components that can conspire to pile on the pounds.
Many small factoids are provided that can often give the "lightbulb on" moment, such as eating low-fat foods can lead to over-consuming snack foods as your perceptions are changed by serving size and a reduction in guilt (well I am eating healthier, right, so this little reward…)
Times have changed. As a society we do less physical work, eat more richer, less healthier foods and find too many things competing for our attention. Fads and promises of near instant solutions are very tempting, and why wouldn't they be? Most diets and healthy eating programmes are broken, mostly through frustration and yet a basic adjustment to our lifestyles might make a credible difference even if a total transformation does not come.
Blumenthal then provides a toolkit to help you change your habits and implement a healthier regime, and backs this up with some specimen recipes that will help you along your path of change.
Of course, opinions are just that, but the author does manage to project an interesting set of opinions that don't require expensive "brand name" diet products. Of course, the hard part is still to come, and that is your input and dedication. But a compelling methodology and roadmap has been provided for you, if you choose to give it a try...
Get Real & Stop Dieting!, written by Brett Blumenthal and published by AmazonEncore. ISBN 9781935597292, 142 pages. Typical price: GBP7.
// This review appeared in YUM.fi and is reproduced here in full with permission of YUM.fi. YUM.fi celebrates the worldwide diversity of food and drink, as presented through the humble book. Whether you call it a cookery book, cook book, recipe book or something else (in the language of your choice) YUM will provide you with news and reviews of the latest books on the marketplace. //
In "Get Real and Stop Dieting!" author Brett Blumenthal attempts to cut through a lot of the hype and faddish trends that are often central to dieting and weight loss and provide a manageable route to healthy eating. Of course, it sounds simple enough, eat less, eat healthier and exercise sufficiently and the weight will just f-a-l-l off. Reality, on the other hand…
Here in this quite easy-to-read guide you get to learn five key principles that underpin everything, namely keep it whole, natural and simple; focus on fibre; pack lean proteins into every meal; enjoy healthy fats and finally eat small, mindful and frequently.
Each principle is then examined in detail. For example, many people will buy so-called healthy option foods (from the same manufacturer of presumably less-healthy foods with the same brand) yet when you learn to look at the ingredients panel on the package you can be in for a shock. As an exercise, the author compares and contrasts an instant oatmeal product compared to traditional rolled oats. The latter contains, err, rolled oats whereas the former contains oats, sugars, flavouring, colourings, additives and host of other ingredients. For a small amount of convenience one is suddenly eating a lot moe "less desirable" components that can conspire to pile on the pounds.
Many small factoids are provided that can often give the "lightbulb on" moment, such as eating low-fat foods can lead to over-consuming snack foods as your perceptions are changed by serving size and a reduction in guilt (well I am eating healthier, right, so this little reward…)
Times have changed. As a society we do less physical work, eat more richer, less healthier foods and find too many things competing for our attention. Fads and promises of near instant solutions are very tempting, and why wouldn't they be? Most diets and healthy eating programmes are broken, mostly through frustration and yet a basic adjustment to our lifestyles might make a credible difference even if a total transformation does not come.
Blumenthal then provides a toolkit to help you change your habits and implement a healthier regime, and backs this up with some specimen recipes that will help you along your path of change.
Of course, opinions are just that, but the author does manage to project an interesting set of opinions that don't require expensive "brand name" diet products. Of course, the hard part is still to come, and that is your input and dedication. But a compelling methodology and roadmap has been provided for you, if you choose to give it a try...
Get Real & Stop Dieting!, written by Brett Blumenthal and published by AmazonEncore. ISBN 9781935597292, 142 pages. Typical price: GBP7.
// This review appeared in YUM.fi and is reproduced here in full with permission of YUM.fi. YUM.fi celebrates the worldwide diversity of food and drink, as presented through the humble book. Whether you call it a cookery book, cook book, recipe book or something else (in the language of your choice) YUM will provide you with news and reviews of the latest books on the marketplace. //
January 3, 2011
Ok, if you are one of the masses who has made a resolution to eat healthier and lose some weight this year raise your hand. If you are like me then your hand has shot up in the air. Since the birth of my two kids I've really let myself go and I can definitely feel it. So after visiting my brother and seeing how my sister-in-law manages to squeeze in all these veggies, whole wheat, flax, etc. into what she's cooking and it still comes out tasting amazing I decided I needed to make the effort. So it was quite timely that this book was offered to me for review.
It's a quick read at 156 pages and that includes about 40 pages of recipes but summarizes nicely all the things you need to know about eating healthier and not necessarily dieting. Blumenthal points out if you eat more whole foods, foods high in fiber and less processed food you will naturally lose weight without actively dieting. Each chapter ends with a short bulleted summary of the chapter which is nice to reinforce the information. You learn about what are good fats and bad fats, what are whole foods, how to read food labels and more. My favorite part was the recipes. I was wondering how to incorporate things that flax seed into my cooking, when to substitute Greek yogurt for regular yogurt and how to substitute in whole wheat flour. I am definitely going to have to try out the calzones recipes as I love those and yogurt parfaits are a staple in my breakfast menu so finding a way to beef up the health factor is a definite plus!
This is definitely a handy little book to have around if you need a refresher on healthy eating or want to get a quick overview of the basics, don't go in expecting a weighty, in depth tome about nutrition though.
It's a quick read at 156 pages and that includes about 40 pages of recipes but summarizes nicely all the things you need to know about eating healthier and not necessarily dieting. Blumenthal points out if you eat more whole foods, foods high in fiber and less processed food you will naturally lose weight without actively dieting. Each chapter ends with a short bulleted summary of the chapter which is nice to reinforce the information. You learn about what are good fats and bad fats, what are whole foods, how to read food labels and more. My favorite part was the recipes. I was wondering how to incorporate things that flax seed into my cooking, when to substitute Greek yogurt for regular yogurt and how to substitute in whole wheat flour. I am definitely going to have to try out the calzones recipes as I love those and yogurt parfaits are a staple in my breakfast menu so finding a way to beef up the health factor is a definite plus!
This is definitely a handy little book to have around if you need a refresher on healthy eating or want to get a quick overview of the basics, don't go in expecting a weighty, in depth tome about nutrition though.
July 27, 2011
This is a very interesting book. It has lots of ideas and recipes. You can eat healthy and not be on a diet. That's the concept of this book. Eating healthy while still losing weight. Which makes so much sense. I mean who likes to diet, I sure don't. I can never stick to it. But this book shows you how to diet without actually dieting. This book also has some great recipes that I will be trying out. They really sound so good. If you want to read a book about eating healthy this is the one.
January 16, 2011
knowing absolutely nothing about nutrition and hoping to change that i picked this up after amazon had a blurb on it's kindle post.
book is a super-quick read, and there are a lot of recipes at the end of the book which i'm going to see about trying.
book is a super-quick read, and there are a lot of recipes at the end of the book which i'm going to see about trying.
February 2, 2011
Great, short read on how to eat healthy. All of the advice is sound, but the toolkit is what makes this book the good buy that it is. The author give you tips on reading nutrition labels, portion sizes, grocery lists and 40 recipes. Some recipes are really easy to make. Great staple on health.
June 21, 2021
Eating sensibly and curbing fast food choices for more life- building food is just part of this book. I enjoyed it as I am trying to find the best combpo of foods, hints, recipes and diets and exercise to lose weight.
November 8, 2013
Great beginners guide!!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews