Skinny girls. You know the ones. Those girls who seem to eat whatever they want, yet never gain a pound. You can't help but envy their skinny jeans and high metabolisms-but now you don't have to.The truth is, skinny girls live by a set of Skinny Rules, whether they realize it or not. And now dietician and nutritionist Molly Morgan has collected their 101 secrets so you can free your inner skinny chick and lose weight-without dieting! Drawing on the latest research and featuring insights from top experts and your favorite skinny celebs, The Skinny Rules shares the simple rules that every skinny girl follows, so that the rest of us can live like a skinny chick and look like one, too.
I participated in a market research project for Harlequin a while back. As a thank you, they sent us a $75 check and three books. This was one of the three.
Putting aside for a moment what an insensitive and inappropriate choice a diet book is as a thank you gift, I'd like to clue you all in on something: this book is full of shit.
You see, I'm a skinny woman. Have been my entire life. At my very largest, I was a size 10. Mooooo, amirite? Currently, I'm about a size 6. And contrary to the book's claim that "skinny girls live by a set of Skinny Rules" only two things have contributed to my size and shape: genetics and sheer dumb luck. There's nothing about my lifestyle than an overweight person can learn from. I drink a can of sugary soda every day. I substitute cream for milk in box mac n' cheese and add fried bacon and onions to it. Anything less than whole milk can DIAF.
You see, despite the media desperately wanting the "obesity epidemic" to be a simple matter of fat people being lazy lardasses who make bad decisions, it's not that simple. Every body is different, and focusing on what you eat, rather than how genetic engineering and hormones have changed our food while our lives started to revolve around sitting for long stretches, is missing the big picture. Additionally, any book that makes dieting about body image is fat shaming, plain and simple. This book is just a guilt trip from your mother that you can hold in your hands for $12.95. It's asking you to pay for the privilege of being demeaned.
And this is why a diet book is an inappropriate thank you gift. Not only is it awkward for any recipient who struggles with body image issues, it also puts a diet book in the hands of people who don't diet, and who see the book for the pile of bullshit it is.
The first was that there is no new information here. Everything in this book has been written before, ad nauseum.
The second problem was that most of the eating suggestions come from unreliable sources that have been proven wrong- such as the government's food pyramid.
Third, the fashion section was condescending and unnecessary. Page-filler, really.
You want to be thin!? There are a few basics and no matter how you approach it the basics are always the same: eating less, eating healthy and exercising. Follow that and most people will lose the extra pounds. The end.
So... the question is whether or not yet another book about being skinny and how to get there is worth the money.
I like the layout of the book. That's essential with this sort of book. It has 101 secrets a.k.a. rules that are numbered and in large letters as they appear. The book is further broken down into eight sections: 1. Surprising Skinny Rules- like "splurge every day" This author eats a bit of chocolate. 2. Skinny Fitness- like maybe you should simply determine to exercise at home instead of attempting to get to a gym regularly. 3. Skinny Foods- like portion your snack foods; that is much more important than what the snack food is. 4. Skinny Cooking- like spices add flavor without calories. 5. Skinny Party and Travel- like go to a party full. (I hate this rule and thinks it's rude to the hostess.) 6. Skinny Eating Out- like split an entree with a friend. 7. Skinny Fashion- like "Find your skinny jeans" which is true. Go try on jean after jean until you find the right fit (and ask for assistance) 8. Conclusion
But truly, there is nothing new or unique here about being, getting or staying skinny. Eat less, exercise more. That is ultimately the downfall. We all know this stuff, every last bit of it we just need the will power to do it and stick with it. If you need to regroup and get with your regimen for slimming down and staying there; this book will give you the boost to start.
This is a great book for anyone who likes little tricks and tips for an everyday healthy lifestyle.
The Skinny Rules is arranged into sections involving different scenarios for healthy living, such as "Skinny Fitness Rules", "Eating Out the Skinny Way," and "Skinny Cooking". While some of the rules are philosophy-based (to believe in yourself , not to stress the small stuff, etc), most of the rules involve ways to lighten up food, create strong exercise habits, and the dos and don'ts of eating out.
While I don't intend to follow all of these tips, many of them were interesting new ways to cut corners. As Morgan says, the little calorie amounts are often the ones that add up the fastest, so she makes suggestions on how to avoid those extra pieces that really make the difference over time. There are also a lot of great recipes for light, veggie-based foods, and great ways to make foods that still taste the same without the fat/sugar/calorie content.
Pretty good ideas for people looking for new ways to stay fit and healthy.
I'm still reading this but was so impressed by it that I had to review it early. Although I was almost too embarrassed by the title to check it out from the library I'm glad I did because this is actually a great book about how to become more intentional about your health. The title obviously needs to go, it eliminates entire audiences and targets only a few. There is so much information in this book about nutrition, making healthy food choices, being aware of what is in less healthy foods and that you don't have eliminate cake from your diet. Even if you think you are eating right and exercising enough this is a great book to reinforce what you are already doing and if you need a nudge to think about making healthier choices this is the book to read!
I'll be honest, this book was an impulse read. I struggled with disordered eating when I was younger, so when I saw this book in a LFL I felt like challenging myself to read it without falling into the same bad headspace as 14 year old me was in. Lo and behold, I made it through!
It's written in a way that doesn't seem condescending, but instead invites the reader to take the advice at their own pace.
Hmm, I was expecting more than just a collection of tid-bits from every magazine blurb on how to loose weight. Not one single original idea or "ah-ha!" inspiration. Nope, just quotes from other people that had been published elsewhere. Sometimes I wonder what publishers are thinking when they publish something like this!
Pleasantly surprised. This is not one of the predictable weight loss/diet books that I hae picked up in hopes of losing weight. Instead, it has hundreds of small "baby steps" to cut calories here and there without depriving yourself. Things that you can do without and not miss them. This makes people like me feel that I can do it!
It's a great preview book, but I realized midway I needed a book that was more detailed over the nutrition aspect. If you're educated about nutrition and health and simply need an easy reminder or if you would like to learn about it this is a great book to pull you into the healthy world.
2.5 stars technically. The last few pages are unnecessary fashion tips. Should have stuck to nutrition & motivation. It reads like a collection of magazine articles. Nothing ground breaking. Easy read.
It's not a bad book to flip through but the information in it is nothing new.My mom has been skinny all her life and she only drinks coke and snacks on bbq chips throughout the day.