Skinny Bitch: the review
Given all the hype this vegan diet book has been receiving, I decided to jump on the bandwagon and read Skinny Bitch myself. It’s a very quick read – I think it took me a couple hours tops to get through it, and I’m not a particularly fast reader. Readability always scores points with me.
The main gist of the advice (eat natural, whole plant-based foods, while giving up chemical-laden processed and refined foods) is definitely a sentiment I can get behind. Eat food that looks like food, not something that looks like it came from a plastic factory. Read labels. As the authors of the book like to say, “duh”. And it is definitely refreshing to see a diet book advocating vegetarianism instead of an all-meat-all-the-time approach to weight loss.
Although marketed as a weight-loss book, the advice within focuses more on healthy vegan eating than actual weight loss; this might come as a disappointment to someone who picks up the book hoping to learn the weight-loss secrets of models everywhere, but it makes the book more appealing to people like me. I even learned a few new healthy-eating tips (which I plan to highlight in a follow-up post).
Skinny Bitch also spends a couple chapters exploring the dark side of the American food industry, from corruption at the FDA to the chemicals that are pumped into farm animals. These stories don’t receive nearly enough press in the US, and it’s good to see them highlighted here. The USDA is not your friend. Milk does not “do a body good.” Again, take the time to learn about your food.
There were a couple aspects of Skinny Bitch that I didn’t like. The long list of “acceptable” processed foods towards the end of the book seemed to dilute the whole “don’t eat processed foods” message. The authors make it clear that the goal of strict veganism is much more important in their eyes than the goal of eating whole, natural foods; I disagree with this sentiment, whether the objective is health or weight loss. I doubt small portions of organic lean dairy products or even fish are less healthy than small portions of vegan junk food.
Personally I didn’t mind the casual tone of the book, though I can see how it could rub some people the wrong way. There’s something a bit off about two skinny authors (who have never been fat) using terms such as “your fat, sorry ass” to address their readers looking for weight loss advice. Actually the main drawback of the tone (paired with things like an author claiming to be a “self-taught know-it-all”) is that it makes the facts contained within the book sound a little less credible at times.
Overall I think Skinny Bitch contains a lot of useful advice and important information, and I’d strongly recommend it for anyone who is looking to shape up his or her eating habits. Perhaps hearing about the dangerous potential health consequences of aspartame or the calamity that is the USDA will be the encouragement you need to clean up your diet and improve your health.
So, what did you think of Skinny Bitch?
Hi Emmy,
My Dad is on the road all day, as well, and I bought him a portable warmer/cooler that plugs into any car. He keeps his in his trunk and it’s no bigger than a regular cooler. It’s made by Coleman and runs between $20-$30. I bought his at Target for $20. You should try wraps! I’ve been able to make so many different ones. I use whole-wheat wraps with avacado, sliced carrots, “fake chicken”, lettuce, peppers, hummus and many other veggies. You can experient with sauces as well. They have some pretty good ones in “Skinny Bitch in the Kitchen”. And don’t forget about those almonds…they are just the right thing when my tummy is gowling and I’m running out the door or chasing after my 2-year old ; )
Thank you Animal Friendly Vegan!
Those are great suggestions. I’d never heard of those coolers/warmers. I will definately have to get one.
Thanks again for your help!
This book is absolutely ridiculous. It made me enraged by many things, but mainly because of its ploy as a way to get skinny, when really their entire agenda is to stop animal cruelty. I’m all for ending animal cruelty, but when you try to trick readers into thinking your book is something that its not…thats just wrong. Humans were supposed to eat meat and drink milk….in moderation!!! There are plenty of healthier ways to get ’skinny’, by EXERCISING and eating smaller portions! ‘duh’
I agree Ellen! And I am a vegetarian!
I am all for putting a stop to animal cruelty as well, but I AM NOT a fan of cramming ones opinions down the general publics throat via false advertising!
Tricking people into reading a novel under the pretense that it is focused on weight loss/health and then @ the very end of the novel giving a “disclaimer” that the book is not even about losing weight it is about bringing the horrible reality of meat to the public.
I was so angry I returned the book and MADE the bookstore give me my money back….and I have NEVER done that in my life!
It’s people like the author’s of this book that give vegetarians and vegans a bad name.
yes, imagine caring about animals. yuck.
I read the book first in October. Here’s where I have gotten with it all, 6 months later:
Sugar is the Devil: I have now given up cane and beet sugar. It is awesome! I now see that the “oh my god it’s soo good” effect was merely because I was addicted. I know this, because I had a tiny ice cream sundae the other day (because it was about 80 degrees in New England) and it was good, but not amazing, not better than a peach would have been.
Even if it weren’t for the many health benefits of being sweetener-free, it is indescribably wonderful to have the monkey off my back! Now when I want to eat, it is always because i need food, never because i have a craving!
My other dietary changes have been thus: lots more salads, veggies, and fruits. More whole grains (not whole grain flour) and beans. A lot less meat, dairy, and eggs. And those animal products i do eat are almost always organic–I am heading towards “always organic” but I admit a lapse here and there so far. These changes feel great, I am healthier and more satisfied with food in general than i was before.
be well,
Faith
Vegan Nutrition & Tiredness Question:
**Now first of all, I do not feel like being flamed. I am a person with a question, and I believe that I have a right to politely ask a question without being sneered at, scolded, attacked, or shamed. So if you are amoung the 1% of vegans who feels it is their right and duty to be mean to non-vegans, please, refrain. It is divisive, alienating, and unhelpful.**
My Question:
I have been vegan and vegetarian in the past, for years at a time. Every time, I eventually felt extremely tired, even lethargic. Each time, as soon as I ate meat, it went away instantly. The first time I tried eating meat, it was in about 1999 and I had tried every chronic fatigue remedy that i could find. Eventually the only thing I hadn’t tried was meat, and it worked like a charm.
At the time, I had read a couple articles in vegetarian-friendly sources (not mainstream publications) which talked about this fatigue being a result of protein deficiency. Since then, have seen, again and again, the opinion that people get more than enough protein from vegetarian sources, so that could not have been the problem. Yet, meat worked, so there must have been *something* in there that i desperately needed and wasn’t getting.
It is worth mentioning that when I was vegetarian, I was eating pretty well with good veggie cookbooks. When I was vegan for one year, I was living at a yoga center which provided a well-planned veggie buffet three times a day, and where many other vegans and vegetarians were doing fine on the food, as far as I know.
Does anyone know of a specific nutrient or anything that could explain this?
Thank you and good eating,
Faith
Faith,
Yes, there is, its called vitamin B12 and isn’t found in any vegan sources other than fungi I believe. So either, take a supplement, or seriously up your intake of mushrooms and the like.
Im a vegetarian btw
Type vitamin b12 into wikipedia and you’ll find out a lot more.
Hope that helps!
Hi Alicia,
Back when i was veggie i was not taking B12 supplements, I was just hoping to get enough from eating nutritional yeast regularly. It may indeed have been the culprit! Thanks!
Faith
Faith, Alicia is right! As a vegetarian, I take B12, calcium, iron, magnesium and a “One A Day” supplement each day. I try and get the nutrients through my diet, but these supplements keep me energized and balanced. My doctor had recommended the combination of Calcium and Magnesium because I was getting serious headaches while I was nursing my son, and I haven’t stopped taking them since. Also, drink lots of water! Did you know that a glass of water along with an apple is more effective than a cup of coffee? Try it, I’m telling ya, it really works. It’s my snack before I go run 5 miles.
Well, after hearing so much talk every where I turn about how veagan is so much better for you, I decided to read this book. A friend went veagan after reading it and said I would never touch a peice of meat, dairy, etc. after reading this book.
It was a quick and funny read. I am fat and I still found it pretty hillarious. But I’m one of those people who doesn’t like to mince words. I also found the facts in this book so disturbing that I actually had a bad dream eating all this garbage. I was so grossed out that I haven’t had any meat, poultry, fish or dairy since the day I read it.
So, in a nutshell, the book worked for me.
Nice skinny hot girls telling people they are fat when they were never fat- come to work office and the vegans top the scales there.
Kinda a silly book, fact are a little skewed..For example- Fruit is the best thing in the world because it take no time to go through your intestines….(the truth)the longer it takes to process food the more your motabolism gets a boost. One reason you eat fiber is because it slows down the process….eat some fiber with your fruit they should suggest. But a fun read.
This book has helped me realize that I need to pay attention to everything that I put in my body. Before reading “Skinny Bitch” I always had a “Cruise-Control” attitude of eating. I ate whatever was available, easy, and instantly gratifying. After reading this book last week I have given up Diet Pop, Sugary Junk Food, Dairy Products, and Meat. Hallelujah~! And I have taken up water, vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts, and soy products that are an alternative to meat.
Giving up the Diet Pop was huge for me. I thought I was going to go through a long withdrawal period from lack of caffiene, but actually I only had one day of headaches after giving it up.
I think the best thing about this book is that it gave me information to actively make a decision about what foods I use to fuel my body. I have a new perspective about food, health, nutrition, diet, and wellness. I feel like I am in control of what I eat now. I pray that I stick with it!
Halfway through Skinny Bitch, I rushed over to Whole Foods and stocked up.
For the first time in my life, I am giving up all meat, dairy, coffee, cigarettes and everything non organic.
I am 204 pounds, 5′6, 18 years old. I will post again in a week from today and tell everyone my results.
I am planning on doing pilates 3 times this week.
I loved the book, recommend it EVEN if you don’t want to lose any weight
I liked this book for several reasons. I did not buy this specifically to lose weight. I didn’t realize it was a weight loss book until I was well into it. I picked it up because the title was interesting. I liked learning the nasty truth about the FDA, artificial sweetners and animal growth hormones. The things I didn’t like included the fact that the authors kept insisting that people eat veggie burgers and other processed frozen veggie products. Have they actually picked up a package and read the ingredient list? There are about a hundred ingredients in them, not to mention they are loaded with sodium. Also, they talk about how people were never supposed to eat meat. They compare the shape of a true carnivore’s teeth to a human’s teeth and they note the difference. Of course, humans are not going to have the same shape teeth of a true carnivore that only eats meat. People were not meant to only eat meat. People have the same general shape teeth as raccoons who are omnivores. Not giving up meat anytime soon, but definitely reading labels.
It’s been 10 days, and so far I’ve lost 6 pounds.
Keep you guys updated in another week.
Hey everyone, it’s amazing this comment section has gone on for so long! I first read Skinny Bitch about a year ago, and initially had a “oh, they’re just promoting the vegan lifestyle….I already know the benefits…blah blah” attitude. However, I have found my initial reading was more an attitude problem with me, not the book. I firmly believe in halting animal cruelty, and every person that is positively effected by this book to stop eating meat, dairy, and eggs drastically impacts the industry.
I was vegetarian a few years ago, and had dropped quite a bit of weight, getting down to a size 10–the smallest I’ve ever been. Life happened and I gained it all (and then some!) back and just have not been willing to take the personal responsibility to take control of my life since then. Now, a year later, I discover that I am lactose intolerant; I really don’t know how long this has been the case, I just recently made the connection between the sick feeling I had and my addiction to pizza.
It’s been 5 1/2 weeks since I’ve given up all dairy, most meat and eggs (working one small step at a time), and been exercising on a more consistant basis. So far I’ve lost 17 pounds and will keep moving towards a whole, meat and dairy free existance. I just love that such a book invites such divisivness–it means the message is getting out there.
I also am a HUGE (no pun intended) environmentally conscious individual and recognize that this way of life not only aids the health of man and animal, but the planet that is our home. I just hope that people do take to heart that what you consume effects more than just yourself. Peace.
I bought the book when it first came out because I loved the snarkiness of the title. I didn’t expect it to be about veganism. After reading the book, so many of the ideas were well-grounded but avoided the tone of smugness that I find repugnant of many vegans I have encountered. I’m not taking shots at anyone here; just vegans I have met during school or at the health food stores. Why go dairy-free? Duh, because you don’t need it and it’s full of calories. I was much more receptive to that than “think of all of the cows penned up and pumped full of hormones.” Truthfully, I could care less about the cows. Calories now–that’s resonant.
I liked that it was an unconventional approach to adopting a vegan diet. Regardless of the bitchy tone–isn’t it better to have converted another carnivore (moi)? I have given up caffeine, eggs, dairy, and all meat. I feel better and I’ve lost 15-20lbs and kept it off for 10 months.
This is a damn good book. The recipes in the Skinny Bitch in the Kitch book aren’t that great though.
Regarding the B12–many soy products now are fortified with B12. It is a tricky vitamin to make sure you get enough of.
I just started on the Skinny Bitch lifestyle after hearing about the book from a friend 2 weeks ago. I’ve been sticking to it about 90% – cake at work and using up the food I already had has prevented me from my 100% goal. I have already lost 6 pounds in one week and the change has been surprisingly easy…
Yesterday I started a blog about my experience to share recipes and what I eat each day. I would love for anyone interested to comment or become a participating author.
Seems I’m a little behind on the hot topic, but, I just purchased and read (quickly) this book, and I loved it. I had recently became a vegetarian months ago after one too many visits to the PETA.org website. This book really hit home, and I’ve begun employing all the aspects of veganism in my life. I live in a (granted, LARGE) metropolitan in Canada, but it’s tough to find these things easily and at a fair price.
My only question having read this book is the issue of chemical additives. The authors kick up a fuss about the poisons and chemicals that we are putting in our bodies, but they don’t touch on the fact that most vegetarian products are processed and contain chemicals so to imitate the ‘real thing’ more appropriately. I was thrown a little on that one. They push the reader to eat soy cheese instead of real cheese, but they don’t touch on the fact that most of those products are LADEN with chemicals and preservatives…What does everyone think?!
Chelle, I haven’t read the book (I’m new to this blog and this was not one of my posts). I think you pose a very interesting question. I’m going to do some more research and ask the question of the readers. Maybe we can find out what other people think about the chemicals.
Personally, I’m not a fan of them. I try to eat fresh as much as possible, but I do like frozen chik pattie, meatless corndogs, etc on occasion.
Just a heads-up, Some people cannot absorb the pill form of Vitamin B-12. To be able to, you must have the “intrinsic factor” which is produced by parietal cells of the stomach, where it is eventually absorbed in the illieum. If you find that B-12 in the pill form is not causing changes for the better, you should talk to your doctor about getting VB-12 in the injection form where it by-passes the whole digestive system.
I had been a vegetarian for three years, before picking up this book. Now I’ve been completely Vegan for six months.
I have never felt better in my life. I take a daily multi-vitamin, and an iron supplement. (I’ve always been anemic.)
I picked up Skinny Bitch before a flight to Chicago… It convinced me to dump anything processed, anything with additives, anything without naturally occurring sugars, anything not organic.
I gave up soda, began drinking water. I had already refrained from most dairy products, but now I completely cut dairy out. (I used to it if it was baked into breads and the such)
I’m eating fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, and drinking no more coffee.
I am SO MUCH happier, and healthier. Even my hair dresser mentioned how much more shiny my hair has been.
I have lost a total of 25 lbs. I do yoga everyday. I take my dog for runs at the park. My husband has taken to sticking to my vegan lifestyle while in the house (He eats meat sometimes for lunch, maybe once or twice a month)
But even he has noticed how cutting out animal products has made us feel better, and more confident too!
I can not be happier…
We plan on starting a family in the next couple years, and will be raising our child(ren) vegan.
As a nurse, I now recommend this lifestyle to my family and anyone who wants to feel better.
It also feels to reduce my carbon imprint, and save animals.
As a Christian myself, people often try to quote religious reasons why I “should eat meat”, but it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks.
I believe God would want all his animals to live long, healthy lives.
I happened upon this site by accident. I was at Trader Joes this evening and mentioned the book to one of the clerks. He said that he lost 50 pounds by going vegan, and this was helpful, particularly as a personal trainer. He mentioned that at least 2 of his patients-female of course (why???) per week mention how the book has affected their lives.
I love your last sentence, Jen. The clerk said something cool like, “animals live such nice lives (well they can!)…why let them not live?”
Tonight on Chef, the contestants have to go to a meat packing plant, and some have to eat a conglomeration of different parts of the cow. Many were sick. I imagine that the parts were cooked, but how decent that they came up close to what these poor animals looked like, instead of cooking away happily, when the parts come into the kitchen looking all lovely and sanitized. If more people went to slaughterhouses and saw the cruelty, they would be hard pressed to say “I couldn’t care less about the cows”…I just want to make myself feel better. Vegan for selfish reasons beats meat-eating for selfish reasons!!!
These girls ROCK & tell the truth. Noone else will. The book is KICK ASS!!! i am a vegetarian. But when i started chapter 6, “You Are What You Eat.” I was furious. I was so upset and angry about the animal cruelty it made me cry. It’s so inhumane. Right then and there I made the decision to convert to vegan. I’ve always liked the veggie side better. I know it is the right choice for me. I support these two girls 100%!!! I can’t wait to read Skinny Bitch In the Kitch.
As a meat-eater with a conscience, I was looking for more information about being vegan, and how to make the ‘conversion’. I found this book, on the whole, very useful. However, one sentence sticks out in my mind about people who eat veal being “selfish whores”. As someone who was looking for some guidance to change the path they were on, I did not find this helpful at all. It is my view that people consume animal products for a whole variety of different reasons, with the main factor being total lack of correct information.
Ignorant? Yes I definitely was. A selfish whore though? I did not read this book to be insulted. If people’s attitudes are to be changed, this is not the way to it.
Also, please please please read The China Study – this book has changed my life.
I love this book! I read it two times. The first time I couldn’t stick to my vegie diet, but now I’m doing it with a friend and I feel so much better! I already lost 4kg (67->63kg) and it only has been 3 days!
ok, so I bought this book after trying many different diets for about 8 years, I could not loose the weight I had gained from 2 pregnancy’s. I weighed 175 in June 2007, I put this diet in play and the book went everywhere with me, with my “fat” picture as my book mark. I started doing just the minimum exercise, they say 20 minutes cardio 5 days a week. I followed the diet to a T. It took about 6 months, and I was down to 135. I have been able to maintain the weight now to this day, April 2009. I have so much more energy, I sleep better and feel better about me. These ladies, hit the nail on the head with this book. I am a Licensed Massage Practitioner and I share this book with all my clients and have been witness to a few who have followed suit. Thank you to GOD for his strength and to Rory and Kim for taking the time to write such an honest easy to follow book!
Absolutely loved the book! I have been dieting non-stop for over a year now and I received this book for my birthday in March. Once I got past all of the trash talk, veganism just made sense. When I started off wanting to lose weight and learned about the suffering of animals I just couldn’t look at a steak the same way again. Then when I learned about everything that is in food it’s just disgusting. I also quit smoking a year ago and for me to now put all of these other chemicals into my body through food just seems to defeat the purpose. I’ve been doing a lot of research as anyone should when changing they’re lifestyle and the health benefits far surpass the old way of not thinking about what’s being consumed. I’ve also found that people get very offended when it comes to their meat where as I feel great and I am now full of energy all day long. For those knocking this book, you’re taking it way too seriously and they even state to check with your doctors and to do research before changing your lifestyle.
I honestly thought I ate fairly healthy until I read this book. What a mind opener. I cannot begin to imagine how many chemicals I was putting in my body each day with the “100 Calorie” snacks, diet soda, sugar free gum, etc, etc. I do have my moments when I look back at my blissful ignorance and wish I was still there. Overall I mentally feel better after eating Skinny Bitch style for a week, but I honestly can’t say I have noticed any major physical changes yet. I aim to be Skinny Bitchin for at least six weeks so I’m anxious to see the effects after that time. I still have not been able to give up the two mugs of coffee in the morning. I was able to do it when I was pregnant last year so hopefully I’ll kick that habit soon.
People are definitely designed and required to eat moderate amounts of meat, hence the nutritional deficits of a Vegan diet.
First of all, I wanted to check out this site to see what a large number of people thought of “Skinny Bitch.” I was hoping for at least a little bit of independent thought on the parts of American society, but I suppose I was being overly optimistic. Therefore, I’m afraid I have to be the one to “piss on everyone’s parade” with this one.
Let me begin by saying that I took a nutrition course during my senior year of college, and it helped me more than any “fad book” possibly could. Speak to the people who are the most physically fit, and the story is more or less the same: eat a well-balanced diet and exercise moderately. It’s a timeless formula…because it WORKS. I am so incredibly sick of everyone allowing themselves to have this crap spoon-fed to them and changing their entire lifestyle because a couple of skinny women decided it was “life-threatening” to eat processed foods and meat. I read the book, and I’ve never felt such a brain-washing attempt at making a person feel guilty for eating normal foods in my life. I mean, is this what American society has become? We have nothing better to worry about than how horrible it is to eat animals and dairy food? It seems that no matter what the “hip” thing to do nutritionally is, people continue to allow one or two people dictate what is good and bad about certain foods, while completely discounting the concept of common sense. I mean, in the 80s, saturated fat became the devil, in the 90s it was carbs, and now it’s processed foods. It will never stop, people. There’s always going to be a book or TV show or magazine article or celebrity-endorsed product like “The Zone” that will tell you what to eat and what not to eat. Sure, it’s going to make perfect sense while you’re reading it and you may rationalize your way through it, but that’s just the work of a well-written book. I bet I could write an equally persuasive book about the benefits of consuming mass amounts of alcohol, and (if the marketing behind it were executed effectively) I’m sure I could have millions of people following suit. Why is everyone always looking for “THE answer” to all their nutritional issues, without holding themselves accountable for their own bad eating habits? Face it: if you’re fat or you feel crappy all the time, it’s probably because you’re not eating healthy foods and you’re not exercising enough. It’s not about “processed foods” and meat; it’s about common sense. The food pyramid wasn’t something that was arbitrarily made up; it was a concept that was implemented and backed up by years of scientific research and studies. I was overweight for most of my life, and it was because I didn’t think twice about eating junk food. Well, I started eating low-fat foods, exercising regularly, and now I’ve dropped 30 pounds. It’s about lifestyle changes, and also about not depriving yourself of an occasional craving. If I want a piece of cake now and then, I tell myself “I’m going to eat this piece of cake, and I’ll just work out more tomorrow.” Once again, common sense. I find it hilarious that these two women who wrote this book have never been overweight a day in their lives, yet they claim they have the secret to a healthier lifestyle. I’m not going to discount the book’s sermons on veganism…if that’s your choice, good for you. I was never one to impose my beliefs on another. However, I cannot sit idly by and watch thousands of women (including a couple of my friends) alter their lifestyles completely due to something one or two people have said. Also, as far as the USDA ranting and bad-mouthing of the meat industry, I think it’s incredibly skewed and exaggerated. I think it’s yet another one of the social diseases that the U.S. suffers from, besides an unhealthy obsession with being super thin. I was born in Iraq and mostly raised here in the U.S., and it’s amazing how very little this sort of stuff comes up when your country is so economically devastated that you’ll take any sort of food you can get. Books like “Skinny Bitch” just serve to further illustrate my theory that Americans have waaaaaay too little to worry about these days and are splitting nutritional hairs. I’ll be damned if I’m going to let a couple of American women make me feel guilty for eating meat, when it’s a natural part of the food chain. Some of the healthiest people I know are meat eaters, and they feel wonderful due to the fact that they eat balanced diets and they exercise. God forbid that should include an occasional can of green beans, a glass of milk, a chicken breast, or a Lean Cuisine frozen dinner. *GASP* How dare they??
If people REALLY want to feel great about themselves, how about spending a little less time with your noses buried in a fad book and a little more time helping others like the homeless or less fortunate? You’d be surprised at how great you feel at the end of the day by taking a prescription for kindness. Millions of people are starving in other countries, while we’re turning our noses up at french fries, canned foods, and steak. I can’t help but wonder how “picky” Americans would be if food were more scarce. Somehow, I don’t think books like “Skinny Bitch” would be selling hundreds of thousands of copies. Next time you feel like spending a few dollars on making yourself feel better, try digging into your heart and helping another person, and thank your lucky stars that you even HAVE food to eat. Meat and dairy are not the epidemic our society is suffering from; rather, it’s self-righteousness and an obsession with trivialities such as processed foods that are the culprits.
I suppose if there’s one point that I’d like to drive home in this comment, it’s this: Take everything you read with a grain of salt and use some common sense rather than letting one book change your entire life. God gave us brains for a reason. Remember that good old thing called “independent thought?” Try it some time.