Thin for Life : 10 Keys to Success from People Who Have Lost Weight and Kept It Off

Rating:
Summary: Tell me what I don't know!
Review: Recently I'd lost 35 pounds by exercising, lifting light weights with Denise Austin tapes (she's fun), and eating a little less. However,I'd hit a plateau, and wanted some good advice that maybe I hadn't considered. I know I have to do the above things to get into shape and lose weight, it's common sense.

What this book tells me is that I have to count calories and fat grams, drink water, try to find a way of eating where I can lose weight that works for me. It tells you that some people lose weight with diet programs, others do not. That most weight loss "masters" exercise, but some don't. That you have to be positive in your attitude about weight loss or you will regain any weight you do lose. It tells you that when you're really ready to lose the weight, you'll find a way, and if you're serious and positive, you'll find ways to keep it off, to avoid allowing the weight to creap beyond control. What about this didn't I already know?! It's all common sense, or certainly things you can find out on your own. I can't imagine that anyone trying to lose weight doesn't already know these things. I was hoping for something new, something fresh, and this really didn't deliver at all. I'm really disappointed, and feel that I've wasted my money.

I did give the book 3 stars because it covers, very thoroughly,
the subject of weight loss, and what seems to work best for those who were able to keep the weight off. I also gave it three stars because, after reading this book I decided to count fat grams, not calories, and have lost an additional 5 pounds. I refuse to "diet" by going to Weight Watchers or doing some fad diet, like Atkins, but instead I eat what I want, just less of it. Of course, I credit the additional weight loss to the fact that I was really ready to get over this plateau, I'm exercising every day by either riding my bike 10 miles, runnning 30 minutes, and doing the Denise Austin tape for Abs and Arms, which is a really good tape if you want a fun, short upper body workout. Since the original 35 pounds came off, I've been eating less, but hadn't been counting calories or fat grams. I knew counting calories alone wouldn't work for me because I'd tried that, and gotten them down to around 1,500 to 1,800 per day, which sounds like a lot, but isn't because of my BMR and activity level. I'm still in deficit, but had quit losing. When I decided to keep my fat grams between 40 - 50 a day, it seems to be working. I also will try implementing drinking more water to see if it makes any difference. I'm not a big water drinker, so I'll be able to see if it makes a difference.

If you want a book that tells you everything you already knew, gives you a diet to follow, and recipes to make, then this is the book for you. If you already know, and don't want to be told, to eat less, exercise more, drink water, be positive, quit fooling yourself that diet or exercise alone will produce lasting effects, that trying to lose weight with a partner will help, not to let eating reach binge proportions, that eating smaller meals more often will keep your metabolism stoked, then this is not the book for you. Save your money and buy a good jump rope or pedometer!

Rating:
Summary: This is what works
Review: So many books tell you exactly how to eat and specific exercises to do. This book is different. The author studied real life stories of people who have successfully lost weight and kept it off. She found that they each had to find a customized solution that worked for them. This has been my experience too. I have gone up and down in weight and tried many diets, but it wasn't until I began to eat healthier on a permanent basis and do some regular, physical activity that I actually enjoyed that it all clicked for me. It is a change of lifestyle not a diet that really works and that is what the author has outlined in this book.

Rating:
Summary: I loved this book
Review: This book has been very helpful to me. It was easy to read and had a lot of great tips. Hearing all the success stories gave me the confidence to see that I too could change my life and lose the weight I need to. It has inspired me to get motivated to exercise and realize that I need to take care of myself.
I received this book for my birthday along with this amazing new beverage as an alternative to coffee. Made from 100% soy that's organic, its absolutely delicious! It's caffeine-free and comes in 8 delicious flavors. Just google it under "s oyfee" to find it and you won't be disappointed.