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?

Post from: Blisstree

Skinny Bitch: the review