How to Be Thin in a World of Chocolate

by Michele Connolly

What if you could enjoy chocolate, wine, and pizza — and still stay slim?

Forget fad diets, calorie counting, and joyless workouts. How to Be Thin in a World of Chocolate is the witty, anti-diet guide that shows you how to look and feel your best without guilt, deprivation, or willpower you don't have.

Michele Connolly, award-winning author with a background in psychology and coaching, doesn’t skip food groups or spend hours at the gym. Instead, she shares 57 clever, real-life strategies that help you:

• Enjoy your favorite foods without overeating

• Outsmart cravings and emotional eating

• Add simple movement — micro-exercise that fits real life

• Stay motivated without perfectionism or guilt

• Build sustainable habits with room for dessert

If you’re tired of diets that make you miserable, this is your sane, sustainable alternative.

Life is short. Have the chocolate — and feel your best while you do.

Genres: Nonfiction, Audiobook

157 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 21, 2017

About the author

Michele Connolly is an award-winning author of quick-read self-help: How To Be Elegant, Chic Minimalism, A Chic Year, How To Be An Introvert In An Extrovert World, 10-Day Life Audit, and more. She is an advocate for curating a simple and elegant life.

Visit her website https://micheleconnolly.com/

Join her free Substack, 'The Chic Minimalist' https://micheleconnolly.substack.com/...

Reviews

[Karen Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a confession to make. I have never read a diet book in my life. So, what made me read this one? Two things. One: I have just submitted my latest novel which involves a chocolate maker, so the title of this book (which I adore) piqued my interest. Secondly: it was recommended to me as not only a quick, tremendous read, but a potential Xmas present (though, I don’t know I’d want to give any of my friends a book on dieting…).

Only, How to Be Thin in A World of Chocolate isn’t only a diet book. It’s really about how to feel good about oneself despite so many forces aimed at making you feel the complete opposite – especially those that come from within.

Packed with common sense, written in a warm, engaging way, I laughed out loud, found myself nodding away, and felt like rather than reading a book about how to look and feel my very best, I was having a conversation with a really empathetic, wise and funny friend. One that doesn’t believe there is anything such as a non-Abba person – my kind of gal.

The kind of book you can dip in an out of as well as read from cover to cover, I suspect it’s one many will return to again and again. Divided into sections around eating, moving and thinking, it offers little pearls, for example about exercise, reminding us of the sixteen rules of exercise we can completely ignore (eg. Exercise in the morning; do 30 minutes a day). There is only one rule we must follow (and when you read it, it’s obvious but I until it was in front of me, I couldn’t have identified it). I’m afraid you’ll have to read this little gem of a book to discover what that rule is.

So, if you’re looking for a little stocking filler that’s beautifully written and packaged and aren’t afraid to slip your family member/friends a book that on first appearances seems to be only about dieting, then this book with the great title is terrific.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really cute and a right giggle. Does make you feel good about enjoying being yourself and being kind to yourself in order to lose weight. Thanks for the fun!

[Andy · Rating 3 out of 5]

no surprises here - a lot of calorie accounting, are you getting pleasure from the calories - like you have a calorie budget

focused I feel on female readership

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up with not much anticipation, thought I would just read the first page, then maybe flick through it a bit. Before I knew it, I was on page 55 having read every single word. Brilliant little book. Very well written, keeps you turning the pages - "I'll just read this next bit......"

There are far too many diet tip books that "blah, blah, blah - heard it before - not at all useful - if it was that easy I would have already done it" But this book is so full of very helpful tips that you think to yourself "Why haven't I thought of this?" or "I know this, I must already know this as it make so much sense. Maybe I used to know this and have forgotten it". Every suggestion is useful and practical and just sounds so right for me. Maybe I read it at the right time and it just resonated with me.

Life without diets, restrictions and using common sense to cut calories (not count them!) and get more exercise into my day. What could be simpler - now to just apply it - should be easy - right???

[Karrah X · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute and concise collection of reminders for those of us that struggle with our relationship to food that strict rules and restrictions are not the way. How to be Thin in a World of Chocolate is not groundbreaking science, but it is real and relatable (and amusing). This was a great little audiobook to listen to while cleaning the house (and while simultaneously being in a workout slump).

[Shannon King · Rating 3 out of 5]

The usual weight loss nonsense but sometimes that’s good to hear. Loved how this just felt like listening to a podcast episode. Made cleaning the house easier for sure lol

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a giveaway from Goodreads. What a great little book! Easy to read with lots of simple, straightforward strategies to be more mindful of what we eat and make exercise a part of daily life. Simple messages that make so much sense and are very motivating.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very surprised with how much I liked and took from this book.

I don't belive I am the target audience (early 20's, uni students), but this book was really worth my while.
I found the advice helpful and relevant- not just for food, but really just some common sense advise.

I would recommend this book to someone like me, wanting to start *really* trying to healthy- but without the urge to remove all joy from life.

-received as a good reads giveaway-

[Kiara Selena · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the stars for this review is especially for when the author mentioned putting a list of better things than comfort/stress eating attached to the pantry, fridge or freezer.

I'm torn on the first part of this book. I'm not a fan of wasting food and I'm certainly not a fan of a book telling me it's perfectly okay to waste food while not adding something like 'compost the food scraps and maybe start a suitable garden - which will taste better and of higher quality than store-bought, plastic-wrapped vegetables!'

On the other hand, I am not the target audience for this book and naturally it does not align with my pre-existing love of fruits, the avocado toast or toasties I have for breakfast, or grilled tomato I'll have for lunch because it is my favourite snack.

[Ashiyana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Left a weird taste in my mouth.
I've never dieted in my life, but I related with all the "tips" in this book. It was an interesting look at the rhetoric that diet books preach. The advice was good, but the tone was too high and mighty.

[Susanna Chin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely “Food for thought “😝 it made a lot of sense and I’m sure everyone can identify themselves somewhere amongst the pitfalls of embarking on the journey of weight loss. A short but “sweet” read!

[Nino · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was all cute and fun while giving diet changing advices🩷 Would recommend it to people who have suffered through diets and bad habits around food, so that they could also achieve peace and calm in their weight liss journey.🥰

[Cindy Sin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had this as an audiobook and it was a nice easy listen. It just reiterates the knowledge that we all have about dieting and what it is that we should all be doing but in a lighthearted manner

[Katharine Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few good tips. Short audiobook.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some decent weight loss tips.

[Mandy Derwin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Written completely from a place of privilege. Am glad it was short as most of it was ridiculous. Don't waste your time. The Book description is most very misleading!

[Eleanor D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable book with some good tips.

[Milagros · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet reminder we don't have to live on a diet constantly!

[Suzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

good fun quick read. I like the "spend your calories wisely"

[Brenda Rosser]

Excellent (and a 20 min read)
Re-read April 2019, still great, just need to implement