Diet Books

This book--this author--has changed the lives of several people I know including my own. The information contained within far exceeded my expectations for this book. It should be read by everyone. I would have given it 10 stars if I could have.

You should know that you will not get this information from your doctor. Most doctors know very little about the impact of nutrition and exercise on the most common diseases since it has not been until recent times that nutrition and fitness has been taught in medical schools. I especially recommend it especially to people of any age who are trying to prevent or overcome cancer, heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, arthritis, alzheimers, obesity.

I promise you will be inspired by this book! [...]

I have just finished reading Ruth Heidrich's latest publication. Found it an inspiring read for a vegetarian who aspires to veganism "most of the time". Ms Heidrich has obviously written this book to encourage readers to take that first step in thinking about their nutrition differently. May I say though that Ms Heidrich's dedication to veganism and competative running could present as daunting to the average punter who is looking for direction around lifestyle changes. This is acknowledged by Ms H. who does encourage her readers to start off slowly and work towards goals. I am planning to order Ms H's. cookbook and work towards refining my diet using ideas already discussed in this publication. MmmmmYum Yum...Kale & Celery for Breakfast..??? Reframe that (a technique Ms H. discuses in her book)... So much better than Beta Blockers & Anti inflammatories for brekky. More Please.

Lisa
Australia

I was searching for a book for a friend and ran across other books on running for seniors. Those reviews weren't very good, then I remembered this book that I read a couple of years ago. I realized that it was still timely, informative and the best info I've read on how to run safely until you're 100. I've followed the information in this book and it has allowed me to resume my running passion, place in races for my age group and just be content with finishing.
For those who say it may be a little difficult to follow the eating suggestions, it is much more difficult to watch friends and family succumb to the diseases of affluence...routinely having their chest cracked open for heart disease, going blind from diabetes, and enduring chemo. Ruth's program really works, you feel so much better, and interestingly, is similar to how the Olympic Kenyans eat. Well-researched, she quotes the works of Dr. John McDougall and Dr. Neal Barnard. Their work and books ought to be worthy of Nobel Prizes, for all the hundreds of thousands of people those doctors have helped over the years! Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes: The Scientifically Proven System for Reversing Diabetes Without DrugsTurn Off the Fat Genes: The Revolutionary Guide to Taking Charge of the Genes That Control Your WeightA Physician's Slimming Guide: For Permanent Weight ControlBreaking the Food Seduction: The Hidden Reasons Behind Food Cravings---And 7 Steps to End Them NaturallyDr. McDougall's Digestive Tune-UpMcDougall Made EasyThe Mcdougall Quick and Easy Cookbook: Over 300 Delicious Low-Fat Recipes You Can Prepare in Fifteen Minutes or LessThe Mcdougall Program for Maximum Weight LossThe McDougall Program for Women : What Every Woman Needs to Know to Be Healthy for LifeThe McDougall Program for a Healthy Heart: A Life-Saving Approach to Preventing and Treating Heart DiseaseThe New McDougall Cookbook: 300 Delicious Ultra-Low-Fat Recipes

Dr. Ruth's personal battle resulted in extensive research done by her for the benefit of all of us (male or female). She wanted answers to why she was ill and discovered that her illness (and its causes) were not all that unique. The rarity is in applying the information to one's lifestyle. Don't sit back and wait for yourself to become ill, use preventative measures to promote good health long into your "prime years" so that you won't have to be at the mercy of drugs, doctors and nursing homes like many of our parents.

This book was very inspiring, and motivated me to start a daily exercise program of walking and running.

This is an incredible book. I purchased it in June of 2006 and as of July 2006 I have already lost weight without any pain and frustration. It is easy to follow the advice and the facts are backed up by the research that was done. I am happy to say I have lost almost 12 lbs and the pounds are continuing to come off.

This is an easy read book and it is working for me. I have even given my 20+ year old son a copy. You are never to young to start taking care of you body.

I'm so glad that someone, other than Ellen G. White, is stepping up to the plate and teaching about proper health. Being a Seventh-day Adventist, former nurse, and cookbook author, I am very knowledgeable about the proper diet. I wish I could say that I have always praticed what I preached- no, I have gotten ill because of diary products and blood pressure problems because of the outrageous sodium in packaged foods. Now, happily, I am back to my Adventist vegan diet and feel much better. If anyone wants to know what God wanted us to eat, read the Bible( taking note that all clean meat is to be KOSHER), Ellen G. White's Ministries of Health book, or buy this book. Lastly, I will be doing my own cooking show on television soon, its in the worksd, and you better belive it will all be Adventist food- healthier viewers all around!
Sicily Yoder aka Teresa Phillips
Author of, "Amish Cooking with Sicily Yoder", and, "Leaving Lancaster County."

If you like healthful eating, this is a good book to have in your kitchen. It combines the spiritual well being with the physical well being.
God as our creator, gave us an abundance of certain types of foods to eat. The authors have provided great recipes. I have tried some of them with great results.

Too bad Mrs. Chris Rucker hasn't published many more books like this to the mainstream public. A lot of her books and health workshops are published by smaller companies. However, if you can find them, they are great and a must have also with this book.

In this book, she basically tells you about the diet of the healthiest people on the planet, worldwide of Seventh-Day Adventists. It's no secret! And she gives you a to-the-point overview of health, diet, and fabulously deliciously healthy cooking recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for real wellness. This book is easily 5 stars!

In 4 months I have lost 75 lbs. I still have a hundred to go, but have no doubt that I will get there. The simple weight loss plan put it all together for me. I know that by the time another 8 or 9 months go by I will never be fat again.

Though this book is written in large part by a Seventh Day Adventist, there is nothing about this book that promotes anything but a healthier lifestyle. I bought this book when it first was published, and it was an answer to a longtime desire to find a book that addressed pure eating- whole grains, raw vegetables, fruit-sweeteners- not just low-fat or low-sugar eating. The chapters are not only informative, but the recipes are easy and so tasty. This book was a great introduction to the world of the health food store, with even a glossary in the back defining various foods foreign to the average supermarket shopper, and the names and addresses of common health food brands. I highly recommend this resource for those ready to take the plunge into new eating habits.

This book was an incredible journey where you felt like you were right there with the author. I am usually not a poetry reader, but the prose that accompanies the chapters is amazing and perfect for each step of her journey through breast cancer.

I would recommend this book to anyone! Get the Kleenex ready.

A waltz of love and death danced to the music of poetry and prose in the ballroom of single heart.

I have been savoring Debbi's writing, even her personal health and family updates, for six years now. Her words never fail to resonate with me and soothe my soul. Slapped Awake is no exception, capturing every nuance of breast cancer in ways that are so brilliantly moving, I think it should be required reading. YOU ARE GOING TO LOVE THIS BOOK!!!
- Sara Williams, 9 year breast cancer survivor and Sister Study Recruitment Coordinator

I very much enjoyed reading Debbi's book. She has shared her journey through her recurrence of breast cancer and how she has lived her life to the fullest and not allowed this disease to control her life. I think this is a must read for anyone who has had breast cancer. She makes the thought of recurrence not so scary.

I tend to avoid books that I think may be "depressing." However, once I started reading this book, it seemed everything but that. Deborah's story is so riveting, it's hard to put "Slapped Awake" down. I was immediately drawn into her story, laughing at her sassy, irreverent humor, and deeply touched by her insights as she describes the realities of breast cancer. Even though she unsparingly details the journey of someone dealing with a terrible illness, the book never becomes maudlin or tragic. Instead, I felt uplifted by her spirited story--and by what it means to live deeply and richly even under the most challenging of circumstances. My husband read and loved this book, too. This is the kind of book you'll want to share with everyone you know.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzz! Er, uh, what? Sorry, I was catching a quick nap there before writing this review because we all know about the importance of getting in a good quality night's worth of sleep to our weight and health, don't we? DON'T WE?! Well, if you haven't heard about it before, then lemme tell you--if you want to lose weight, then you really do have to commit yourself to rest. Otherwise, all sorts of biochemical reactions with hormones and stuff like that will wreak havoc on your system until you can't go any more. The body will get what it needs one way or another and it's up to you to do your part with sleep. You'll reap the benefits of that, as the authors from Reader's Digest magazine state, including looking and feeling better and healthier than you ever thought possible. Included in this book are ways to get to sleep (interestingly, when it comes to recommended foods for sleep virtually ALL of them are high-carb--IMAGINE THAT!).

Even if its title may be a bit of an exaggeration, this book certainly offers a wealth of highly usable information, advice, and tips on how to sleep to be sane. With their highly entertaining and engaging style, the authors nicely tuck the forefront of sleep research into the covers of the book. Although the book's well-crafted and clever writing won't put you to sleep, the easy-to-implement sleep tips found within likely will. Getting a good night's sleep is no longer but a dream!

Did you know an extra two hours of sleep burns about 300 calories? And a study sited in this book showed that those who got an extra two hours of sleep ate nearly 300 calories less!!!

You are not alone in your need for sleep! This is an important book for women. We tend to take care of everyone and everything around us and neglect our own health and well-being. This book will help you (or someone you care about) understand and master good sleep. There are four parts to this book:

*Do you have a sleep problem?
Very short section to help you find your sleep style
*Surefire strategies for getting a good night's sleep
Filled with practical advice and ideas--you're sure to find something useful here
*Sleep saboteurs across the life span
This section covers a spectrum of sleep challenges from stressors, hormones, loss, nightmares, jet lag and more.
*The new meds: are they better than the old

If you are not well rested for ANY reason, this book will have some practical advice to help you on your way to being rested.

The investment you make in this purchase and the time it takes to read this book will serve you well.

If you're looking for a gift idea, how about a set of pillows, pjs, or sheets wrapped up with this book to top it off? Sweet dreams!


Laya Saul, author of the self-help book for teens, "You Don't Have to Learn Everything the Hard Way"

This book is very straightforward and easy-to-use. I don't have time to read a long, drawn-out text, but a friend recommended this book because it had helped her so much. At first, I just flipped to the chapters I thought would help me most, but now I've read the whole thing!
Who knew that just checking your e-mail before going to bed can delay sleep modes in the brain by 3 HOURS! No wonder I wasn't sleeping well.
This book is directed mostly at women, but there are great, simple, tips in here for everyone on getting to sleep faster and staying asleep.

I got this book for my girlfriend on a whim, she always had trouble sleeping...

Little did I know that it would actually work! She found it's advice cleverly written and useful. I of course found that it started making a difference in her sleep patterns and overall moods. Even better - I read the book, and now I know how to get myself prepared to be in sleep mode.

Hidden within its chapters I found some surprisingly useful nuggets of information. If you have ever have trouble sleeping - this is the book for you. Other books don't have this kind of information all in one place.

Worth every penny.

Dr. Jacknin has written a thoroughly user-friendly guide to the common skin and nail ailments faced by everyone at some point in his or her life. The information is presented in layman terms with explicit definitions and descriptions which allow the reader to pinpoint his or her own areas of concern. That information along with Dr. Jacknin's objective delineation of treatments available gives the reader the opportunity to make an informed decision about management of a skin or nail problem. This book is an excellent reference which should be alongside the medical encyclopedia in every home.

Dr. Jacknin has written a thoroughly user-friendly guide to the common skin and nail ailments faced by everyone at some point in his or her life. The information is presented in layman terms with explicit definitions and descriptions which allow the reader to pinpoint his or her own areas of concern. That information along with Dr. Jacknin's objective delineation of treatments available gives the reader the opportunity to make an informed decision about management of a skin or nail problem. This book is an excellent reference which should be alongside the medical encyclopedia in every home.

This beautiful and beautifully-written guide to skin care and common dermatalogic problems provides a wealth of conventional and complementary treatment approaches. Written in terms easily understandable to the layperson, the book is comprehensive and informative. Dr. Jacknin translates medical concepts into very understandable lay terms and is thorough in her explanations.

"Smart Medicine for your Skin" written by Dr.Jeanette Jacknin is a highly readable and comprehensive book. It guides the reader in conventional and homopathic treatments with clear explanations and remedies. Detailed instruction for your hair, skin and nails, diagnosis procedures and stress reduction is a "must" for all who are interested in maintaining health. This is a great book.

"Smart" is the word for this accurate, balanced dermatology guide that presents both traditional therapies and alternative medicine choices. Written for health care professionals, yet suitable for individuals who want to take charge of their own health, this is an excellent resource for skin care.

Smart Medicine for Your Skin is immediately useful and accessible. As a family doctor, I refer to it frequently for conventional allopathic treatment modalities. What I like most however, is that it gives me multiple alternative therapies that I can review with patients. The explanations are easy to understand and my patients like to have choices.

As a bonus, the reference section provides in-depth resources for further explanations, classified by condition. This section also provides helpful listings of manufacturers, publishers and organizations all easily accessible within the framework of this one book. It belongs on my bookshelf and I recommend it for yours.

Harriet Schanzer, M.D.

Our 4 year old son has multiple food allergies. We started cooking dairy, egg and peanut free 10 months ago and we recently had to add wheat and gluten to the list of banned foods. This is the only cookbook that I could find that provided recipes that are wheat, gluten, egg and dairy free. Don't worry, if you can eggs and/or dairy this is still the cookbook for you. The recipes are given with and without eggs and dairy. I have used the dessert section extensively and some of the breads and breakfast recipes.

This book has been a lifesaver for our family. Anyone with a small child knows that they still want bread, pancakes, chocolate chip cookies, birthday cakes, and brownies. Everyone in the family enjoys the food we cook using this book - even our 2-1/2 year old.

The only thing I would caution new users on is to thoroughly read the recipes before starting and you may not want too many little helpers in the kitchen the first time. My first try at pancakes had to be disposed of!

This is more than a cookbook. Special Diet Celebrations has helpful information on Celiac Disease and the gluten-free diet. Every recipe I have tried so far in "Special Diet Celebrations" is delicious. This is a "must have" cookbook for anyone on a gluten-free diet.

This book was a tremendous help to me when I had to cook for weekend guests - since I was gluten intolerant and didn't want to make two different meals, this book contains recipes on how to make "normal" meals that everybody can enjoy, yet be gluten-free. What is especially helpful is the menu plans for special occasions - no more pulling my hair out trying to figure out what to serve. And when my birthday came up, I was thrilled to see all the different cake recipes I can use. The cake and muffin recipes I tried were light, fluffy and scrumptuous. My guests had no idea they were gluten-free. And there are even several cake shapes and decorating ideas that would be especially fun for children. I highly recommend this book for anyone that is gluten-intolerant or has food sensitivities.

If you thought that you have to miss out on special treats because of food allergies or intolerances, think again! With recipes for everything from Cookies to Wedding Cakes, this book is just what you need. It is a complete guide to cooking special foods for those with food allergies or intolerances. Dr. Fenster writes from her own experience as a culinary professional and as an individual with wheat intolerance. In addition to original recipes, the book contains directions on how to make substitutions in other recipes and where to buy special products such as wheat-free flours. Her list of hidden sources of wheat, gluten, eggs, milk, corn and soy is an invaluable resource for those who need to avoid even small amounts of those foods. This book could help make cooking easy and eating enjoyable again!

Since I have checked this book out from our local library about five times, I guess it's time I bought one! I just baked the scones and I could not believe they did not use wheat flour, and I was the one who baked them! This book is wonderful and I honestly don't think I could stay gluten-free without it!

A wonderful book! Healthy, interesting, yummy recipes - each served with a side of humor. The book has a w-i-d-e variety of chicken recipes and the author gives terrific serving suggestions. A book that should be in every kitchen. - Thank You Mr. Leeds!

The sheer number of countries, cultures, and customs in these recipes is extraordinary. From my own Mediterrean homeland through Africa, Latin America and Asia...all done with ease, and humor. A wonderful gift for yourself or someone you love.

Easy to make, healthy recipes with more than a pinch of humor. Now I have NO EXCUSE for not starting my diet !

Finally there's a healthy cookbook that doesn't scrimp on flavor. The recipes are exciting, easy to make and real conversation starters !

This is the book I've been looking for.

This is a really fun book! It's great for someone who doesn't like to cook, like me, or for someone who loves to experiment with cooking, like my boyfriend. At the beginning, this cookbook sounded a bit exotic, but I was attracted to it's simplified receipes and it's cute notes. The use of the variety of spices and herbs gave me an opportunity to explore all sorts of ethnic supermarkets. Each receipe I've tried is so different and yummy. Last of all, this book just touched me because the author dedicated this book to his 'heart' donor.

Though not a race walker, I'm well beyond fittness walking, walking faster than many others run. It's hard to find a book that takes you beyond fittness walking, but this one does. It has plenty of material for the beginning or average fittness walker, but also has lots of exercises for those who are ready to take thier practice to the upper levels.
I also love the fact that there are also plenty of exercises for those who would like to combine thier spiritual practices with thier fittness routine. This is very practical those of us who have many demands on our lives & little time to go around.

I enjoyed this books suggestions on using mantras to encourage yourself to go that extra distance. It is written with the beginner and beyond in mind to motivate you to bring more "sacredness" in to a simple act that we often take for granted. It isn't packed with alot of technical information about aerobic walking but does suggest reliable resources for the absolute beginner. It also includes the author and other's stories of "flagging motivation" and how they were able to overcome it by bringing more mindfulness to the situation. This is key not only in walking but in life in general (try the mantra exercise the next time you need motivation to get that laundry folded or wash those dishes!) If you're looking for something to motivate you to put more "pep in your step" this is one great book to do it.

I've found this book remarkably helpful. As one who has not exercised for some time due to health problems, I am just getting back into exercise by walking. I'm finding this book helpful with ideas of how to walk to keep things interesting and moving forward physically and mentally. It also keeps me inspired. I read a little every couple days just to keep my interest and inspiration levels up. I've found it very helpful and would recommend it to anyone, whether a beginner at exercise or one who has been walking physically but would like more "spirit" in it.

This book is terrific for a beginner or experienced walker. She will get you out your door and moving! It's very easy to read, and conducive to looking at a chapter or two at a time. She writes especially well about working through mental blocks, and assures the reader that *every* walker has a moment in *every* work-out when s/he wants to give up. She also gives sound advice about stretching and walking form with some simple illustrations. She encourages readers to connect to their own spirituality without espousing a particular religion or belief system. I no longer wear headphones regularly when I walk because of this book: she's helped me turn my walks into truly active meditation, refreshing me mentally with every step. I tried one of her ideas of silently repeating a phrase while I walk ("I am fit, and I am strong") -- and it powered me through hundreds of training miles and my first marathon! Share this book with friends who think they're not athletes, and watch her inspire them to change their self-perception. Great advice for a 15-minute or 15-mile walk, and highly recommended by this Team in Training marathon alumna and Avon 3-Day Walk veteran.

This is an excellent book for anyone who is just starting to walk or for someone who walks on a daily basis. I highly recommend it.

This is a great cookbook. Everyday ingredients you probably already have in your house. I recommend this to all cooking skills and everyone I know is getting one for Christmas!

I love this book! Compared to other cookbooks I own, this one is much, much easier to read and use. I love how clear and appetizing the pictures are. I am also happy to see a book on clean eating that doesn't involve expensive ingredients or complicated, hard-to-follow recipes. The "Other Good Ideas" at the bottom of each recipe really comes in handy too. This recipe book is great for Moms trying to lose weight/get in shape. I am recommending it to all my friends and family!

Just received my copy of Squeaky Gourmet and am thrilled! Clean, crisp, easy to follow. Great writeups on eating healthy, and not the same old boring recipes. They are quick, easy and use ingredients we tend to forget about; quinoa, sweet potatoes, using meats from chicken to wild game. Also gives ideas for side dishes and leftovers. It is a full-size book, so it's not going to get lost in a drawer. The nutritional values for each recipe are very nice, takes out the guesswork, and helps to show that eating tastefully, does not have to ruin a days work of so called dieting. Everyone on my Christmas list is getting one this year!

If you are anything like me, you are frustrated by the lack of "healthy cookbooks" out there. I am someone that strives to eat clean(er) and healthy but I am also a "foodie". I don't want to sacrifice taste and the enjoyment of a good meal just to save some calories. Enter Squeaky Gourmet... delicious, easy to make recipes that are also good for you! I'm in Heaven! The cookbook is easy to read, breaks down the nutritional values of each dish (boy do I hate having to calculate those), and has the most gorgeous binding/photos. Finally, I am exciting to be cooking again! No recipes where heavy cream is the main ingredient, or super rare ingredients that I can't pronounce (or afford). Awesome cookbook for everyday, healthy, delicious food!

This isnt JUST a cookbook! It's filled with great information on nutrition that is easy to understand. Whether your a health and fitness enthusiast, mom/dad or on a special diet, Squeaky Gourmet offers something for every meal/time of day. I love the simplicity of ingredients and the recipes themselves, that arent hard to prepare (or shop for!) yet taste great! Even finicky kiddos will give a thumbs up.

While it is about dieting and weight loss as an attempt to try to fit in to a world that demand a certain body shape for women, that is not the entire purpose of this book. "Squeezing Your Size 14 Self into a Size 6 World" is about trying to fit yourself into other people's ideas of what you should be. The book is about breaking free from the molds you are trying to squeeze into just to satisfy others. Throughout the book Carrie Smith provides a gentle coaching method to get you to start breaking free and living a life true to yourself.

The book starts out by correcting false conceptions of reality - Barbie is not real, most magazine images are fake, don't base your idea of reality on fantasy, don't compare yourself to other women. Of course it does not end there but goes on into other ways that women tend to try to fit into the molds of others. Examples of these include games like the perfection game, reward and punishment, and head games you use to fool yourself into thinking you are healthier than you really are. All the head games are basically things we do to ourselves or that others do to us in order to alter our perception of reality. She concludes the body size section with a simple, yet profound statement. Don't give yourself away to the marketing hype, your true size is the size you were meant to be - the size your body is most happy with. Instead of striving for a size, strive for well-being.

Other suggestions include getting rid of clutter, both physical and mental. Decide what is important and get on with your life. She then turns back to the striving for well-being and discusses using your eating personality to your advantage, choosing a personal trainer, and myths and misunderstandings about exercise, strength training, etc. This is a recommended book for anyone who wants to proclaim independence from the commercial and social entrapments of life and become who they were meant to be. Will it work? I don't know. For many people it is an intense struggle to try to overcome the constant bombardments of the media trying to force you into a mold that will create a regular stream of monetary income for them. This book shines a light onto the correct path, but it is not an easy walk in our current social environment.

It seems there is no end to diet and self-help books -- with most of them not being worth the paper they are printed on. Then there is Squeezing Your Size 14 Self Into A Size 6 World: A Real Woman's Guide To Food, Fitness And Self-Acceptance by Carrie Myers Smith who draws upon her considerable experience and undeniable expertise to create a truly effective and "user friendly" manual that will enable her readers to successfully deal with the kinds of head games and body games that so often derail simple happiness and ordinary satisfaction with our selves. Carrie delivers the keys to successful self-care; shows how to control stress and not let stress be in control; how wellness means uncluttering our lives; how to overcome obstacles to fitness; figure out a fitness plan specifically appropriate for the reader's particular needs; as well as discovering what "eating personality" is ours and how to use it to advantage. Also very highly recommended is the companion title, Carrie Myers Smith's Squeezing Your Size 14 Self Into A Size 6 World Workbook (1891400967, $18.95) complete with exercises and worksheets to create a truly customized personal wellness plan.

Finally a book that has a realistic approach to who we are and how we feel about ourselves. The author reveals a very realistic and attainable approach to the health and well-being of women. Thank you Carrie for writing this book! I feel better already!

"...did you know you have a higher chance of dying from being skinny and sedentary than you do from being overweight and active? It's true." ~Carrie Myers Smith

With all the makeover shows on TV, we already realize it takes a lot of effort to look like a model. Since I tend to be one of those tall people who can't fit into petite clothes no matter how much I weigh, I'm always hunting for longer sleeves and wondering why being taller often forces me to buy clothes that are just too big for me. I had also started to disassociate myself from those who wield photo-capturing devices because I rarely liked how my pictures turned out. Is this because I'm comparing my pictures to pictures on the covers of magazines?

As I viewed the most recent Swimsuit Edition, I did wonder if even men were not longing to view some women with hips or a more comfortable shape. The facts are, most of the models we view are tiny or look sickly in reality. If pictures add pounds, imagine how skinny they really are. Many models (size 2-8) say they feel sick all the time. Why do we all want to look like teenage boys? I don't. I'm proud of my hips and feminine curves.

Carrie Myers Smith is also tired of the Media pushing an unrealistic image on the public and presents a realistic view of the fashion industry. Most of us will never be a size 4 or 6 and the facts are that the average American woman is a size 14. So, this book is definitely needed to show us the reality instead of the fantasy.

There is the fantasy body image and then there is reality. You can be healthy and not be a size 6. If you are tired of quick-fix theories and want to be who you are, then you can read about what is "eating you" instead of what to eat. Topics Include:

Why Diets Don't Work
Living Life on Purpose - Not by Accident
Stress-Savers
Self-Care or Self-Nurturing
Games Other People Play


Carrie talks about the much-needed topic of "Healthy Living Saboteurs." As my husband said, "Those are people who are purposely trying to sabotage your diet." To him I say: "Honey, stop bringing home those boxes of cookies and giant tubs of cashew nuts." OK, I can't eat either of those items, but still I think after reading this book I realized he does tend to bring home all the food I would never buy.

There is also a spiral-bound version of this book or you can download a workbook from the books' site. Each chapter has "Stepping Stones" points for reflection.

Do you need to:

De-clutter your life? Donate Items to Charity?
Develop healthy habits?
Be happier with your body type?
Set realistic goals?
Hire a personal trainer?

So, can you enjoy a few Leonidas chocolate squares and not feel guilty about it? Sure the author isn't presenting a diet plan. She is presenting an "Indi-Fit-ual" Plan. What are you trying to accomplish? There are many ideas for how you can multitask to fit in exercise. I've found I can fold laundry while doing the Walk Away the Pounds workouts, but you could also listen to motivational CDs while on your treadmill or take your pet out for a walk. I was thinking I couldn't go walking with my pets, but then I found a pet stroller for my cats.

Carrie Myers Smith has decided that no one and absolutely nothing is going to get in the way of her self-esteem. So, reading this book gives you a good helping of personal power and creative ideas for implementing her ideas. I loved her "Bringing the Spa Home" section where she talks about creating a sanctuary. Can I just say: "Er'go candles!"

This book could take any woman from tired and frazzled to self-nurturing and in control. It is amazing how much information this book provides in 250 pages. A must-read for every woman in our society who is fed up with being told she has to look like she is starving to death. While I know I'll never be a size 6 I have nothing against airbrushing a picture. I sure hope someone airbrushes the pictures from my last photo shoot. Hee..hee...

Buy this book and then go sit out in the sun, read this book and enjoy life. Life is far too short to worry about being a size 6 when you may always be a size 14. Look into Yoga, Pilates and a walking routine, it helps with the stress of life.

~The Rebecca Review

This book should/could be required reading for ALL women throughout the lifespan! The author, in a clever but straightforward manner, de-myths the impossible images and roles women feel compelled to fulfill. Her unique "coaching" approach can teach anyone how to analyze, cast-off, and adopt a love for her own self: body, mind, and spriit.