The Slim Fast Body, Mind, Life Makeover

Rating:
Summary: INFO FINE; BUT WHERE'S LAUREN?
Review: I am only a day and a half into the program outlined in this glossy, attractive book which has many features that one can employ to attack the on-going problem of weight control from all angles. I bought this book for two reasons: 1) I am drawn to "candy bars" and it's an Achilles...not heel but RUMP with me, hee haw, and so I thought I could get the illusion of eating some candy by using Slim Fast Diet Bars. Well! I have used the chocolate peanut bar and adore it. It will do it for me, I know. I can settle myself within this framework. Even after one day, I know it's workable FOR ME and probably everyone else. The second reason, and probably the thing that tipped me to buy the book, was LAUREN HUTTON's name. I once saw Lauren engage with McLaughlin of "The McLaughlin Report" on PBS, the crusty ex-Jesuit who brooks no quarter or quarters no brook? And I found her enchanting, a fascinating, outspoken, clever, sexy, riveting, vibrant person! She had ol' McLaughlin ready to UNSTARCH, yea, to MELT. I was thrilled at her control and the way she mesmerized, and at her bright and captivating mind & acuities! SO...when I saw her name on this Slim Fast book and needed to shuck 25-30 lbs., I went for it. And I have not read every word, so I will report back, if necessary later and do a reprise if I am WRONG, BUT...I ask this: based on my readings and perusal so far, WHERE IS LAUREN in this book? She announces at the outset, seeming urgently to assure readers that she does NOT back products for just the money, that she would not back products which she flatly disagreed with, e.g. leopard skin coats, cigarette ads. She went on the defensive on the first page. Then she talked about how she checked out the veracity of Slim Fast products. She made it a point to ask people she respected as being strong, individualistic, risk-taking, brave and straight-shooting, in this case her friends, professional scuba-divers, which is a beloved hobby of Lauren's, on one of their dives in Malaysia or someplace. And at least some of them had tried it and had used it whenever their wet suits got tight! They gave it a stamp of approval and this encouraged Lauren, who, to some standards, did not have "that much to lose" but she did lose fifteen pounds rather comfortably, after fighting it for a coupla days and giving in to urges for snacks and extras. Something then clicked in and she felt great and kept with it, and she was at her goal in just a few weeks, I am guessing around six, since she lost 7 lbs. in three wks. After this much information, well, she popped in later on to say she liked spicy, hot foods and can pop jalapenos into her mouth whole as snacks, but I didn't "hear her voice" in the book too much, and her closing felt "canned" and rather lacklustre and flat to me. I don't know. It's not that this book will not work for you, I think it will. It is very nicely presented, it is written clearly and concisely, the photos are bright and beautiful, the success stories are inspiring, the nutrition info sound, the recipes, especially, really look marvelous and better than MOST diet and recipe books I have bought previously - and I buy books! books! - so if you buy this, buy it for the workableness and usefulness of the diet, not just to glean insight into Lauren Hutton's makings, for she is well nigh invisible in this tome, sad to say. I wish to heaven she had been anecdotal about the whole food/wht. issue and had let her hair down a bit (she has plenty of lovely hair in the cover pyx!) and shared some funny things as well as info things, which I am sure her capable co-author Deborah Kotz wrote. In fact Deborah Kotz, in miniscule print on the frontspiece of the book, is the real author here. And she's done it up very well and is not to be faulted by this reader's wish to find a bit differently SLANTED diet book, one that is more human and down home and written in challenging, rich language. Somehow, seeing Lauren with McLoughlin, well, I thought she'd be overflowing into this book like Dolly Parton's bra! But she was nowhere. What Lauren was was injected into the book piecemeal, little bitsy pieces, too, not enough for me. But! I give it four stars because it will work and the recipes look great and the tips for relaxation and the directive to document weight daily, a departure from recent trends away from frequent weigh-ins...well, there are many little jewels in this book. One thanks Danny Abraham belatedly for getting started on this idea years ago. For, to this dieter anyhow, the Slim Fast Snack Bar satisfies me. I can get four glasses of water sipped along with one of those bars, you know how sweets make you want to sip beverages. Well, with those snack bars I feel I am eating my sweetheart CANDY and I am getting those required EIGHT GLASSES of water EFFORTLESSLY. I don't think I will do shakes. I will stick to the bars and luxuriate. This is the WAY TO GO for me. I just wanted more of the Lauren I saw dispatching and disarming the Mighty McLaughlin is all! :-)

Rating:
Summary: INFO FINE; BUT WHERE'S LAUREN?
Review: I am only a day and a half into the program outlined in this glossy, attractive book which has many features that one can employ to attack the on-going problem of weight control from all angles. I bought this book for two reasons: 1) I am drawn to "candy bars" and it's an Achilles...not heel but RUMP with me, hee haw, and so I thought I could get the illusion of eating some candy by using Slim Fast Diet Bars. Well! I have used the chocolate peanut bar and adore it. It will do it for me, I know. I can settle myself within this framework. Even after one day, I know it's workable FOR ME and probably everyone else. The second reason, and probably the thing that tipped me to buy the book, was LAUREN HUTTON's name. I once saw Lauren engage with McLaughlin of "The McLaughlin Report" on PBS, the crusty ex-Jesuit who brooks no quarter or quarters no brook? And I found her enchanting, a fascinating, outspoken, clever, sexy, riveting, vibrant person! She had ol' McLaughlin ready to UNSTARCH, yea, to MELT. I was thrilled at her control and the way she mesmerized, and at her bright and captivating mind & acuities! SO...when I saw her name on this Slim Fast book and needed to shuck 25-30 lbs., I went for it. And I have not read every word, so I will report back, if necessary later and do a reprise if I am WRONG, BUT...I ask this: based on my readings and perusal so far, WHERE IS LAUREN in this book? She announces at the outset, seeming urgently to assure readers that she does NOT back products for just the money, that she would not back products which she flatly disagreed with, e.g. leopard skin coats, cigarette ads. She went on the defensive on the first page. Then she talked about how she checked out the veracity of Slim Fast products. She made it a point to ask people she respected as being strong, individualistic, risk-taking, brave and straight-shooting, in this case her friends, professional scuba-divers, which is a beloved hobby of Lauren's, on one of their dives in Malaysia or someplace. And at least some of them had tried it and had used it whenever their wet suits got tight! They gave it a stamp of approval and this encouraged Lauren, who, to some standards, did not have "that much to lose" but she did lose fifteen pounds rather comfortably, after fighting it for a coupla days and giving in to urges for snacks and extras. Something then clicked in and she felt great and kept with it, and she was at her goal in just a few weeks, I am guessing around six, since she lost 7 lbs. in three wks. After this much information, well, she popped in later on to say she liked spicy, hot foods and can pop jalapenos into her mouth whole as snacks, but I didn't "hear her voice" in the book too much, and her closing felt "canned" and rather lacklustre and flat to me. I don't know. It's not that this book will not work for you, I think it will. It is very nicely presented, it is written clearly and concisely, the photos are bright and beautiful, the success stories are inspiring, the nutrition info sound, the recipes, especially, really look marvelous and better than MOST diet and recipe books I have bought previously - and I buy books! books! - so if you buy this, buy it for the workableness and usefulness of the diet, not just to glean insight into Lauren Hutton's makings, for she is well nigh invisible in this tome, sad to say. I wish to heaven she had been anecdotal about the whole food/wht. issue and had let her hair down a bit (she has plenty of lovely hair in the cover pyx!) and shared some funny things as well as info things, which I am sure her capable co-author Deborah Kotz wrote. In fact Deborah Kotz, in miniscule print on the frontspiece of the book, is the real author here. And she's done it up very well and is not to be faulted by this reader's wish to find a bit differently SLANTED diet book, one that is more human and down home and written in challenging, rich language. Somehow, seeing Lauren with McLoughlin, well, I thought she'd be overflowing into this book like Dolly Parton's bra! But she was nowhere. What Lauren was was injected into the book piecemeal, little bitsy pieces, too, not enough for me. But! I give it four stars because it will work and the recipes look great and the tips for relaxation and the directive to document weight daily, a departure from recent trends away from frequent weigh-ins...well, there are many little jewels in this book. One thanks Danny Abraham belatedly for getting started on this idea years ago. For, to this dieter anyhow, the Slim Fast Snack Bar satisfies me. I can get four glasses of water sipped along with one of those bars, you know how sweets make you want to sip beverages. Well, with those snack bars I feel I am eating my sweetheart CANDY and I am getting those required EIGHT GLASSES of water EFFORTLESSLY. I don't think I will do shakes. I will stick to the bars and luxuriate. This is the WAY TO GO for me. I just wanted more of the Lauren I saw dispatching and disarming the Mighty McLaughlin is all! :-)

Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: I have used slim fast before to loose weight after a surgery. I lost about 40 pounds. I have not been sticking to it well the last year and 15 pounds have crept on. I am proud to say that in my first week back on it, I have lost 5 pounds. SlimFast is a great way to loose the weight. However I do not think this is a long term solution though. It is great to initially lose the weight, but it does teach you how to eat more healthily.

Rating:
Summary: Great
Review: I just started on the slim fast plan 3 weeks ago and i have already gone from weighing 172 to 162. It has really changed my life around. i know that soon i will reach my goal of 135lbs. The last time i weighed that much i think i might have been in 5th grade. If it can work for me i know it can work for anyone!

Rating:
Summary: Just getting started
Review: I just started on the slim fast plan 3 weeks ago and i have already gone from weighing 172 to 162. It has really changed my life around. i know that soon i will reach my goal of 135lbs. The last time i weighed that much i think i might have been in 5th grade. If it can work for me i know it can work for anyone!

Rating:
Summary: Motivating and Inspirational!
Review: I read this book in two days. It really gives you lots of good weight loss tips and ideas. Helps you see the plan as a lifestyle where you can keep the weight off. Recipes, vegetarian included, with emphasis on fruits, vegetables and salads. The before and after stories are phenomenal!

Rating:
Summary: Too much book
Review: I was quite disappointed at the size of this book when it arrived in the mail. I was hoping that I would be able to carry the food diary with me back and forth to work. Unfortunatly, I couldn't do that. It would be nice if the diary came separately in a paperback or spiral bound form.

Rating:
Summary: Too much book
Review: I was quite disappointed at the size of this book when it arrived in the mail. I was hoping that I would be able to carry the food diary with me back and forth to work. Unfortunatly, I couldn't do that. It would be nice if the diary came separately in a paperback or spiral bound form.

Rating:
Summary: Motivating and Inspirational!
Review: I wasn't sure what to expect about another weight loss book by a celebrity. I was delightfully impressed! I've always liked Lauren Hutton and thought she has always been classy. This is what I've needed. I'm not a big breakfast or lunch eater so the Slim Fast plan fits exactly what I need. Also, it's nice that you get the $15 product rebate on the inside cover. It was fast reading and has good recipes and motivating success stories. I have started the plan as of today and feel that I can lose the weight I'm wanting to.

Rating:
Summary: Very impressed!
Review: I wasn't sure what to expect about another weight loss book by a celebrity. I was delightfully impressed! I've always liked Lauren Hutton and thought she has always been classy. This is what I've needed. I'm not a big breakfast or lunch eater so the Slim Fast plan fits exactly what I need. Also, it's nice that you get the $15 product rebate on the inside cover. It was fast reading and has good recipes and motivating success stories. I have started the plan as of today and feel that I can lose the weight I'm wanting to.