The Fiber-Factor Diet, July 10, 2008
"The absence of fiber in American's diets is a major risk
factor for weight gain." ~ pg. 5
Tanya Zuckerbrot is a board-certified dietitian with a master's
degree in nutrition and food studies. She has an answer for
everything and that answer is FIBER. This book is not just about
losing weight it is also good for anyone struggling with
diabetes or high blood pressure.
If you love to eat out, then there is a special section on
making the best food choices while at a Greek, Indian, Italian
and Mexican restaurant. If you love to cook, one third of the
book is recipes. You may want to try:
Strawberry Yogurt Shake
Tandoori Chicken
Classic Steak House Filet Mignon
Grilled Fruit Kebabs
Moroccan Lentil Soup
Turkey Chili
For recipes with pasta, the author uses multigrain versions.
When making Macaroni and Cheese you get five grams of fiber per
serving. Raspberries, dried figs, dried apricots, blueberries
and pears also have a lot of fiber. So when you think
"fiber" don't automatically think "dry hard to
swallow cereal." This book is filled with delicious ideas.
Through reading this book you can find out how many calories you
should be consuming in a day to lose weight or to maintain
weight. You may also start thinking differently about salads as
they don't have as much fiber as I originally thought they did.
It is more what you add to the lettuce that counts, for example
adding beans and red bell peppers helps with the fiber content.
It was surprising to learn that you'd need to eat eight apples
to get the recommended amount of fiber in one day. Of course
that is not something you want to do but shows how much fiber is
lacking in the daily diet of most Americans. This book also
explains why it is a bad idea to skip meals.
The best way to use this book is to type up a basic menu for one
day in one of three columns. I'd suggest the one recommended in Make
the Connection: Ten Steps to a Better Body and a Better Life.
Put his suggestions in the second column and then put in all the
variations for the diet in the third column. This way you can
see what you are eating for Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Snacks
(put those words in the first column so every item has a row of
its own). For instance if you look at the breakfast section you
will see fruit as an option. Type out all the fruit options that
are high in fiber in the third column. As you read through the
book make a note of anything that looks good and is high in
fiber. This really helped me to figure out what I wanted to eat
for a day and makes shopping much easier.
~The Rebecca Review
Make the Connection
A Fat-Reduction Program, July 8, 2008
"Muscle burns fat, so you certainly don't want to lose
muscle. This is one reason diets don't work in the long
run." ~ Bob Greene
Over ten years ago, Oprah and Bob Greene wrote a book to tell
the world how to lose weight in a healthy way. While Oprah still
has issues with her weight (most recently because of thyroid
problems - how I can relate) she continues to be a beacon of
hope for the rest of the world. While many of us can relate to
the roller coaster of weight loss and weight gain, this book
shows that with a proper diet and serious exercise you can stand
on firmer ground.
Oprah's entries from her diary reveal the source of her eating
problems before she had to deal with a thyroid problem. She lost
weight by following Bob Greene's ten-step formula which is based
on increasing metabolism and shedding excess weight through
exercise.
I liked all the extra information along with the diet which is
based on the food pyramid. You are instructed to eat more fruit
and veggies and to eliminate most fats from your diet. I was
surprised to read that you should avoid frozen vegetables. They
are so convenient. Bob Greene answers some of the following
questions:
Why do you initially gain weight when you start a new program?
Why do you reach a plateau?
Why can eating more boost your metabolism?
Why should you avoid alcohol if you are serious about
exercising?
If you are ready to make exercise a part of your day then you
are ready for this book. Walking alone can help you lose weight.
I lost 25 lbs just by walking and eating less. I can highly
recommend the Subway veggie sandwich if you are trying to
increase veggies, especially fresh and delicious ones.
You may also want to read: The
Black Book of Hollywood Diet Secrets
~The Rebecca Review
Hollywood Diet Secrets
A Fun Read with Good Advice, July 1, 2008
"We interviewed A-list stars and their trainers and
nutritionists because celebs have no choice but to stay in
shape; it's their job." ~ Introduction
"The Black Book of Hollywood Diet Secrets" is a book
filled with not-so-secret tips for weight loss. While it is true
that you may have heard it all before (eat your veggies and
protein), this book puts the tips in an easy-to-read format that
is really fun to read. The tips include the basics of a healthy
diet along with ideas for exercising more and more. The book
begins with stars either saying they exercise all the time or
that they don't at all. Are you willing to work out six times a
week? There are very few stars in this book that say they don't
exercise.
Have you heard that artificial sweetners make you fat? If you
need more motivation not to use them this book also explains
that they dehydrate the skin. One surprise is that chocolate can
help you burn fat. I'm sure they mean dark chocolate. It would
have been helpful if the authors had promoted "stevia"
as a natural sweetener. You may also be surprised to learn about
the healthy benefits of parsley and asparagus.
In the first French Toast recipe, the instructions tell you to
mix egg whites in a bowl but they don't list how many eggs to
use in the ingredient list. I assume they want you to use two
eggs. They do remember to put in the egg whites in the second
Banana French Toast recipe. Some of the stars interviewed say
you should eat only egg whites while later in the book it is OK
to eat whole eggs. Which is it? At times there is no consistency
because everyone has a different idea on how to lose weight. It
seems you have to make a decision based on the facts presented
in each case.
Here are some of the items mentioned in the book (in case you
want to order them along with this book - they don't give
specific brands):
Original
Wu-Long Weight Loss Tea Bags, 60 Servings
Itoen
Tegaruni Matcha (Japanese Green Tea Powder 30 gram)
Bernard
Jensen Black Cherry Concentrate Extra-Quality 16oz from Bernard
Jensen
Amber
Agave Nectar Syrup 16oz (100 % Pure Raw Cetified Organic)
Nature's
Bounty CINNAMON 1000 mg - 100 Capsules
Bigelow
Chinese Oolong Tea, Tea Bags, 20-Count Boxes (Pack of 12)
Parsley
Herb 100C
Benefiber-Natural
Fiber Supplement, 25.6oz 190 Servings
The
F-Factor Diet: Discover the Secret to Permanent Weight Loss
So will this book help you lose weight? I think the advice on
walking is encouraging as I've lost 25 pounds walking one hour a
day on my treadmill. I plan to lose even more now that I have
some extra tips from this book. The advice about exercise is
correct as far as I can tell and the diet tips could make a
difference in how you view food on a daily basis. Little changes
in your lifestyle could mean a loss in weight and that is what
this book is all about.
~The Rebecca Review
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