The Karl Lagerfeld Diet

by Karl Lagerfeld, Dr. Jean-Claude Houdret

"One fine morning I woke up and decided that I was no longer happy with my physique. Although I was overweight, I had gotten along fine and had no health problems. But I suddenly wanted to dress differently, to wear clothes designed by Hedi Slimane….But these fashions, modeled by very, very slim boys—and not men of my age—required me to lose at least eighty pounds....I did not think that it was possible to lose so much weight in one year....[But] in fact, it took me exactly thirteen months."
—Karl Lagerfeld

"Karl Lagerfeld’s case is spectacular as it shows how it is possible, through determination and willpower, to return to a harmonious balance even when excess weight is of a long-standing, deeply ingrained nature. I hope that many will be inspired by the example of the slimmed-down, elegant, and indefatigable Karl Lagerfeld to lose either the few pounds they feel should be sacrificed for their happiness or the several dozen pounds that are detrimental to their survival."
—Dr. Jean-Claude Houdret

The Karl Lagerfeld Diet , developed exclusively for Karl Lagerfeld by Dr. Jean-Claude Houdret, reveals the secret techniques of Lagerfeld’s amazing weight loss regimen. By first addressing the mental and behavioral causes of varying degrees of obesity, this book provides valuable insights and useful tips for preparing the mind and developing the willpower necessary to commit to this diet.

It then provides one hundred twenty gourmet recipes devised by Dr. Houdret, which cover breakfast, soups, starters and salads, eggs, seafood and fish, meat, pasta and pizza, vegetables, sauces, and desserts. Topping it off, Lagerfeld provides his personal tips for staying slim, attractive, and fit with additional chapters on skin care procedures, cosmetic treatments and surgery, general medical care, stress management, giving up tobacco, sleep, and exercise. Both an instructional guide and a motivational coach, The Karl Lagerfeld Diet is the ultimate accessory for healthy living.

Genres: Fashion, Diets, Nonfiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 31, 2004

About the author

Karl Otto Lagerfeld was a German creative director, artist, photographer and caricaturist who lived in Paris. He was known as the creative director of the French luxury fashion house Chanel (from 1983 until his death), as well as creative director of the Italian fur and leather goods fashion house Fendi and his own eponymous fashion label. Over the decades, he collaborated on a variety of fashion and art-related projects.

Source: wikipedia

Reviews

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my favorite quotes from the book-

"I like the smell of chocolate but I have never been all that crazy about eating it...There is chocolate in my home. It's not for me to eat. It fits in well with the color of my house in Biarritz. It is chocolate brown. And then there are the famous "Rocks of Biarritz," and Dodin-Bouffant's chocolate caramels. You can only find them here and I send them all over the world to tempt others" (Karl Lagerfield on how his relationship to food has changed. Pg. 33).

[Sophia Sun P. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Karl Lagerfeld is an elitist at heart, vainest of the vain, pop culture genius, fashion kaiser, and a cold-at-times-cruel thin thin man. And what can I say? I love him for it!
He could and would most definately make me cry since I am in awe of him and he's frightening in a boss way. So when I saw this at a second hand store [he would hate that, nothing bothers this man more than a bargain] I had to pick it up!
Mmmm... I didn't really take this as a diet book, since Uncle Karl is famously known for consisting on Diet Coke and the souls of young models for sustenance, but more as an insight to an eccentric man at an interesting time in his life. I mean he lost weight so that he could fit into a Dior suit! Ugh! Can we get any more Chanel than that?! No, he tops it. He's the Kaiser, and he will tell you fitting into clothes on the market is very important, he will tell you with a poker face darling that you don't really need to eat, just live!
Don't take it too seriously, laugh with it and politely golf clap at the end.

[Jane Do · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most honest guide to losing weight; a few pages longer and I would have given up being a vegetarian, made a protein satchel and bought some size 0 pants.

[Patrik · Rating 4 out of 5]

totally hilarious / thinspiration

[Ctny · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was just too ridiculous and tacky to pass up.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

uhhh... unkle karl, i don't think "lemon soup" is actually food.

[J K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, Lagerfeld wanted to slim down to fit into fashion, and good for him - he managed it. The philosophy seems a little crazy, but with patience (and a personal chef) it's probably manageable. Interesting recipes to try out, too. All diet books are nuts, after all, but a little 'eat less' prod at the end of the year never hurts.

[Molly]

If only because I believe the text will be hilarious

[Praj · Rating 2 out of 5]

Are you kidding me? Since the book encourages cosmetic surgery, I wonder whether Karl lost all his lard from a meal of low-fat yoghurt and fish soufflé or from a certain "body contouring" procedure.

[Faryal M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought a used copy of this, because the library didn't have it, and it was worth every penny.

[Kalina P]

yum

[Madame Pamita · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most unintentionally funny diet book you'll ever read - if you think chewing up chocolate and spitting it out is a good diet plan - LOL

[Ram Flores · Rating 3 out of 5]

More than a diet book, this is a synthesized chronicle about Karl Lagerfeld's life, but more focused on his impressive weight loss.
It is a pretty handy little book, it comes with a food chart letting you know what foods to eat, measure and some simply avoid. Includes a day by day easy to follow food programme, though some foods may sound a little posh, its not that big of a thing, thanks to google translate anyone can find these items in their grocery store.

[Shelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting to read a diet book from a european perspective. i initially picked this up because i was hoping it was filled with lagerfeld's mad ramblings about diet and exercise but there was not as much of that as i had hoped. good recipes though.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I imagined it would be a bit more outrageous than it is. It's full of serious diet talk and lots of European-style recipes (meat dishes prepared with all manner of fruit). Still, it's worth the price of admission to have a look at the weird still lifes of food with white figural sculpture.

[Kathleen]

Oh this books cracks me up every time I see it. Seriously, I am dying to read this!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of Karl quips, some fantastic old photos, and a genuinely inspired tone make this a must-read for Lagerfeld fans--especially since his litigious ways have halted all biographies thus far.

[Lynn Cooper]

This was supposed to be a "to read" book.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it... I purchased my Copy so I could re read it later on. :)