I guess I don't want to be a Skinny B*tch...
By katsmeow1213
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
United States
May 24, 2010 5:44pm CST
I brought the kids to the library this afternoon, and was browsing through the diet books. I picked up a book titled Skinny B*tch... it says "A no-nonsense, tough-love guide for savvy girls who want to stop eating cr@p and start looking fabulous".
Well, since I've had a rough weekend and ate far more than I was supposed to and am feeling like I still want to continue to gorge myself, I thought perhaps this book would help get me back on track. I did open the book about half way to read a bit of it to make sure I'd like it, and from what I read it sounded like it would be informative.
So I got home and started reading. Half way through the first chapter I already got mad at the book... it told me to give up my coffee!! NOOOOOO!!
I put it down at that point, but picked it back up a little while later.. figuring I'd ignore the coffee part and keep reading.
I actually ended up skipping about half of each chapter, one was talking about why milk is so bad for us, another was saying that we don't really need much protein. Eventually I just read the contents and found a chapter I thought I'd like... but it turns out I didn't like that one either. It turns out this book wants me to become an organic vegan! Hey, I'm all for healthy, but that's a bit out of my league!!
Oh, the book is also a little raunchy in some places.. the first line in the chapter about why milk is bad... well, let's just say that I am not even allowed to put that on Mylot! It's bad! Who knew vegans had such dirty mouths?
So, unless you enjoy a vegan diet, I would not recommend this book!!
Have you ever picked up a book you thought you'd like but it ended up being terrible?
7 people like this
17 responses
@skysuccess (8858)
• Singapore
25 May 10
katsmeow1213,
Honestly, from the title of that book, I would not even want to pick it up from the shelf to read it, let alone, me help find its way to the cashier's table.
I am sorry, books like this one not only wants you to stop eating cr@p but are full of cr@p in the first place. I just wonder how do they even get published or made it to the shelves in the first place. However, I have been noticing quite an increase of these weight management books on the shelves, some even made it into the self improvement sections and just shake my head with a number of these authors.
For me, I am very particular with the books I purchase and hence have yet to experience ending up with a wrong book in my couch.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
25 May 10
Glad I got it from the library and did not have to pay money for it.
4 people like this
@GardenGerty (160935)
• United States
25 May 10
Major advantage of going to the library. I think there is a book called "The Goddess Diet" not sure. Enjoyed it a lot, whatever it was.
2 people like this
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
25 May 10
Maybe we should try and stop insisting on our own ways and finally admit that our ways may be wrong?
I mean, don't get mad at me, but if such a book says milk is bad, there really must be something about milk that is bad, or coffee, or in not turning vegan that we don't know of.
Or that there must be something wrong with the present-day milk compared to the olden days. I mean, what are the odds?
I am not vegetarian although I always wish I could be. I once tried it because my uncle is and one time he cooked for us. It really isn't that bad. It was really tasty. If you are not really sick yet, you can violate some rules without causing too much damage.
In my case, after eating such meal, the day after when I sat on the "throne", I moved my bowels wonderfully. I always have difficulty moving my bowels because I easily get either constipated or at times, getting LBM. And no, the instant effect was not psychological. I saw the change. Maybe I owed it to the fiber, perhaps? I don't know, but all I know is if I keep getting that kind of bowel movement each day, I know eventually I'd feel much healthier.
Maybe the book had a purpose for landing on your hands, kat.
Have a nice day ahead.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160935)
• United States
25 May 10
Some people have the enzymes to digest milk and others do not. Just because something is written in a book does not make it healthy. You have to look at the credentials of the writers. There are books that tell you to swallow tape worms to lose weight and be healthy!!!! No way.
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
25 May 10
Hi ambie, nice one, but God also gave us the wisdom to study the things that he created for us. There are many things here on Earth that are bad for us which will make us question why God made them in the first place.
So now, new studies have come out that says that some substances that we know as harmless before but now pose some danger.
I am not saying that we must believe everything we read or hear. My point is, we need to stop and investigate first before deciding if that is worth believing or not.
The author is clear that she is against some of the ideas presented in the book. What if there was really truth in that? Did she even stop to question "why"?
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (182065)
• United States
25 May 10
probably, but I cant think of any right now. One that is hard to read is a book on Mason and Dixon. It is kind of written in old english script and I thought it would be interesting but I cant take the time o read it. My boyfriend likes it though and is somehow managing to plow his way through it.
1 person likes this
@merlinsorca (1118)
• United States
25 May 10
Hah, "no-nonsense," yeah right. That sounds like a load of nonsense. Milk isn't bad and you need protein for everything. You were right not to listen to this book, this isn't healthy at all. We need all that "crap" like milk and meat to stay healthy (we're omnivores) so choosing to only eat one type of food is a bad idea.
These kind of diet books that tell you not to eat stuff won't work - you will just be malnourished.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
25 May 10
Not only malnourished, but I can't imagine anyone being able to give up a food that they enjoy.. that will not make the diet successful. We need to be able to eat everything we like... only eat the less healthy foods in moderation.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160935)
• United States
25 May 10
Thanks for the very informative review, I think I will pass on that one. I eat a lot of veggies, but I drink milk, and eat other things that they say are bad. I want to be healthy, and I think I am heading that way.
@GardenGerty (160935)
• United States
25 May 10
I searched online, there is a Goddess Diet, I knew I had read the book from my library. I like the emphasis on being good to yourself and not neglecting what you need. I will probably look for it when I go to the library again, it has been a while.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
25 May 10
I'll certainly look for it on my next library trip as well... I hope I'll enjoy it as well.
I have a problem with the fact that there is just too much information out there, and some of it is honestly very bad advice, but some poor schmuck takes it to heart and ends up hurting themselves. When I began changing my eating habits I got so stressed out over what I should eat, what I shouldn't eat, how much, etc etc. One expert says low carbs, another expert says low fat, now there's another moron saying no protein.
Eventually I just decided to do it my way.. the way I learned while growing up. My mom was on a low fat diet for her cholesterol, and a low salt diet for her high blood pressure. In school we learned fatty foods should be eaten less often. So, that's what I did.. low fat, healthier carbs like whole grains (so I still eat bread, and lots of it cause I love bread) and less junk foods. It has worked well for me. My new eating habits mixed with a daily work out has led me to lose nearly 75 pounds.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
25 May 10
These sorts of things really bother me.. like the original Atkins diet said no veggies or fruits. Honestly there are experts out there who will tell you anything is bad for you. Whatever! I think we each have to do what's best for us, something we can do for the long haul, that doesn't really involve cutting out the things we enjoy. Our bodies tell us what we need, so if we crave breads and pastas obviously we need more carbs, and should not ignore those cravings... just indulge in moderation and in a healthy way.
1 person likes this
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
27 May 10
Hi Kats,
The title may have caught my attention but from what you have to say, I don't think I'd have done more than a skim thru at the library. The title while it may have grabbed my attention, does not give me the impression that it held great and amazing ways to lose weight. It sounds really as if some skinny btch with an eating disorder may have written it. You gave it more credit than I would of.
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
27 May 10
I know what you mean. As I said, the title itself would have grabbed my eye. I really can't in all fairness say more than that. I guess some of my response also comes from reading your story. I can't honestly say what my reaction would have been had I never heard anything about the book.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
27 May 10
I should have skimmed better.. but the title sounded good.. I like no nonsense.. and the page I opened up to sounded good as well.. must be the only page in the book I agree with, lol.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
26 May 10
There was one I picked up that I thought was a motivational book and it ended up being all about how milk was poison and meat was poison and so on. Maybe it was written by a skinny vegan chick?
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
27 May 10
Me too... makes me crave a nasty, greasy burger loaded with cheese! And an Iced Coffee!!
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
26 May 10
Sounds like it. As far as I know only vegans don't eat dairy or eggs or milk... can't imagine how they survive on nothing but veggies alone!!
1 person likes this
@cupkitties (7421)
• United States
25 May 10
Gah why must us skinny people always be referred to as a betch!?? I know it wasn't your fault. Its the book. The books should have been titled Stupid betch from the sounds of it. I think some (note I said some not all) of those vegan/vegetarians lie about things being bad for you that arent.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
25 May 10
I think if you wanted to you could find a reason for anything and everything to be bad for you, even if it's not. Also I know a lot of overweight people find reasons to think junk food is good for you. It's all in how you want to look at it.
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
26 May 10
Okay, while you may not need to be an organic vegan to be fit and healthy, it sure does help. The book probably delivers exactly what it promises (a fit and healthy life), though it may make some points you disagree with.
I never read diet books, I prefer to stick to my fiction and I'm a good healthy weight anyway. I never drink coffee (Oh yes, you heard that right. Coffee, especially caffeine, is not all that great for your health.), and I'm a vegetarian. I'm not a VEGAN, but a vegetarian. I don't eat meat, but I will eat dairy products and eggs. I like milk, and I think it's very healthy for you. But the book is right about the protein, you really don't need as much as you've been told that you need. In fact, you can get all the protein you need in your diet without ever eating a scrape of meat. But eating meat isn't bad for you, if that's what the book claimed.
I've read plenty of books I thought I would like but in the end, didn't. It's okay. Plenty of books in the bookstore, and I'm a fast reader. I'll find a book that I can enjoy in no time.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
26 May 10
Personally, I don't think a fit and healthy lifestyle means you have to give up the things you enjoy... and that's exactly what this book said to do, give it all up.
I think when you're forced to give something up, before long you'll want it back so the diet will be blown! Instead I believe in moderation, I believe that is truly the key to success.
As for protein... I don't eat the types of foods it's found in aside from meat. I don't touch soy, tofu, nuts.. whatever else it's in that I don't know about. I like my meat, and I like my muscles. Considering I do a MINIMUM of half of hour of stregnth training every day.. I really don't think it would be wise for me to cut down on proteins.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
26 May 10
Cutting back and giving up are 2 different things.. also there are healthier options if you enjoy pizza and burgers. I was able to find a way to continue to eat all the same foods my family loves, but made them all healthier by using whole grain breads and pastas, and switching ground beef to ground turkey. We still have burgers all the time... only we use ground turkey (and we grill not fry). We still have pizza a lot too.. only we make it at home with whole wheat dough.. sometimes I'll go with fat free cheese, sometimes I won't. I've been able to lose over 70 pounds..
Sure everyone has a different idea of what will work for them.. and everyone has different appetites and tastes too. As I said, I don't eat soy.. and probably never will. I'm not at all interested in changing my diet that drastically. I think the small changes I've made are good enough, because I don't feel deprived but obviously I'm a lot healthier. I'm not interested in becoming a vegetarian or a vegan or anything else.. I'm happy it works for you for whatever reason you chose your lifestyle.. but would you be at all open to someone attempting to tell you that what you're doing is wrong? That's what this book is doing, it's telling me that I'm wrong... if I were so wrong how am I so healthy without following their advice?
1 person likes this
@allyoftherain (7208)
• United States
26 May 10
Maybe not entirely, but if you enjoy fatty foods like pizza and hamburgers than you're going to have to do some cutting back. It might be hard, but it's possible. The diet that works best for you is not going to work best for everyone. People are all different and our bodies are all different.
Believe it or not, lots of successful body builders are vegetarians. Soy actually provides you with more protein than beef. So becoming a vegetarian doesn't mean cutting back on protein, just changing where you get it from. Now, you can eat meat and like meat. That's okay. But you don't need to eat meat to get sufficient protein. That's my point.
@Jennlk84 (4205)
• United States
25 May 10
I've seen this book time and time again at the local book store. I've never bothered to pick it up to even see what it was about though! I did have a friend of mine that said she read it and enjoyed it. Everyone has different tastes though! Thanks for the warning. Doesn't really sound like a diet/healthy eating book I'd enjoy.
1 person likes this
@evepin (721)
• Philippines
25 May 10
i know that book hahaha and i know it also has expanded its "series" even i think to males. hehehe. anyways, yes i've gotten around 2 books that i thought were ok but turned out to be very bad. yuck. i dont even remember the titles of these two books but i clearly remember the feeling that time when reading them. i was very disappointed considering that those books were not exactly cheap. oh well, you get those at least once in your life, i guess!
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
25 May 10
I don't normally buy books, I just get them from the library. My husband has bought a couple books for me that turned out to be useless. The last one was a cookbook I got for Christmas.. it didn't have any recipes in it I could actually use.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
25 May 10
Nobody is perfect... I've already lost a lot of weight, but we all slip up from time to time. This isn't my first slip up and it won't be my last.
@rogue13xmen13 (14402)
• United States
25 May 10
katsmeow1213, in the words of Niecy Nash "I love my jiggly parts!" I have lost a lot of weight, but I don't want to lose so much weight to the point that I look like a twig or I look like a push over. I like my hips, my butt, and my other parts, and I don't want to lose them. Guys love gals with a little "junk in the trunk". There is nothing wrong with just a little extra weight, just don't let it get too out of control. Basically, don't become too overweight and don't become too skinny.
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
25 May 10
I thought that at first too... when I first began losing weight my goal was a size 12 and 150 lbs.. that's where I was 8 years ago before my twins were born. Well, I passed the size 12 a few months ago, I'm in single digits now.. and the 150 is about where I am now.. actually a couple pounds above still, but close enough. But I'm not happy here. Now I am aiming for 140. I have a lot of muscle, so although I'm thinner than I was 8 years ago I'm still heavier.. and the muscle will ensure I never get too skinny. But I still have a bit of flab around the middle that I don't like, so I will shoot for 140, and after that perhaps I'll get that tummy tuck!
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
27 May 10
More than once have I picked up a book thinking that I was going to like it and it will end up that I hate the book. The reason that this happens so often to me is because I am one that judges the book initially by the cover. Right off the top of my head I can't think of an example (I've blocked them out of my memory.)
Now, as far as the book that you were referring to, I think that I would have picked it up just like you. And, just like you did, I wouldn't have finished reading it.
@irislenor (3)
• Guam
25 May 10
yes. i have tried that lots of times. Never judge a book by its cover!