Skinny Bitch: the review
Given all the hype this vegan diet book has been receiving, I decided to jump on the bandwagon and read Skinny Bitch myself. It’s a very quick read - I think it took me a couple hours tops to get through it, and I’m not a particularly fast reader. Readability always scores points with me.
The main gist of the advice (eat natural, whole plant-based foods, while giving up chemical-laden processed and refined foods) is definitely a sentiment I can get behind. Eat food that looks like food, not something that looks like it came from a plastic factory. Read labels. As the authors of the book like to say, “duh”. And it is definitely refreshing to see a diet book advocating vegetarianism instead of an all-meat-all-the-time approach to weight loss.
Although marketed as a weight-loss book, the advice within focuses more on healthy vegan eating than actual weight loss; this might come as a disappointment to someone who picks up the book hoping to learn the weight-loss secrets of models everywhere, but it makes the book more appealing to people like me. I even learned a few new healthy-eating tips (which I plan to highlight in a follow-up post).
Skinny Bitch also spends a couple chapters exploring the dark side of the American food industry, from corruption at the FDA to the chemicals that are pumped into farm animals. These stories don’t receive nearly enough press in the US, and it’s good to see them highlighted here. The USDA is not your friend. Milk does not “do a body good.” Again, take the time to learn about your food.
There were a couple aspects of Skinny Bitch that I didn’t like. The long list of “acceptable” processed foods towards the end of the book seemed to dilute the whole “don’t eat processed foods” message. The authors make it clear that the goal of strict veganism is much more important in their eyes than the goal of eating whole, natural foods; I disagree with this sentiment, whether the objective is health or weight loss. I doubt small portions of organic lean dairy products or even fish are less healthy than small portions of vegan junk food.
Personally I didn’t mind the casual tone of the book, though I can see how it could rub some people the wrong way. There’s something a bit off about two skinny authors (who have never been fat) using terms such as “your fat, sorry ass” to address their readers looking for weight loss advice. Actually the main drawback of the tone (paired with things like an author claiming to be a “self-taught know-it-all”) is that it makes the facts contained within the book sound a little less credible at times.
Overall I think Skinny Bitch contains a lot of useful advice and important information, and I’d strongly recommend it for anyone who is looking to shape up his or her eating habits. Perhaps hearing about the dangerous potential health consequences of aspartame or the calamity that is the USDA will be the encouragement you need to clean up your diet and improve your health.
So, what did you think of Skinny Bitch?
Tags: book-review, diet, healthy-eating, Kim-Barnouin, Rory-Freedman, skinny-bitch, vegan, vegetarian, vegetarian-books, Weight LossRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Books, Reviews, Veg Health and Science, Weight Loss
123 opinions for Skinny Bitch: the review
Veggie Chic
Aug 6, 2007 at 9:48 am
[…] Skinny Bitch: the review […]
mario
Aug 6, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Even if i am not a veggie, still i love veggie food, mainly because it is easier to eat healthy with not processed raw veggie food. But I am encountering more and more “fundamentalism” in my veggie friends, expecially in vegans, and I fear it is turning in a “religion” more than a lifestyle. Look like this book is following the trend.
I mean: is ok to avoid any non veggie food, but what about getting mad because a plate CAN be touched by an evil piece of meat ? Let’s say a 1% of your food is meat or derived, is it important? If you say YES, probably it is no more a lifestyle problem, but a religious-like concern…
zilma
Aug 6, 2007 at 12:42 pm
I thought the overall tone of the book was a little mean. If you are overweight, you do not need an author to tell you about your fat ass. You already know that you have a fat ass. Skinny Bitch contains useful information but if I were a fat person reading this book, I would not continue pass the first insult.
laurie
Aug 6, 2007 at 7:37 pm
well, I am fat. I’m also 60 years old and I’ve been struggling w/my weight since I was 18, and it’s getting harder and harder. I’m not insulted by the language in the book, actually, it’s the funniest “way of life” book I’ve every read, so between being funny and a fast read, I think the impact was right on. Last summer I read a book by Kevin Trudeau and he hit upon all the same topics that Skinny Bitch talks about. Skinny Bitch just sealed the deal for me. I’ve been easing myself away from meat and fish for quite sometime and now I’ll TRY to eliminate things like eggs and dairy, but this is where I may allow myself to deviate upon occasion. I agree that small amounts of dairy couldn’t be worse than “junk” vegan food.
céline
Aug 6, 2007 at 10:31 pm
Still haven’t read it… so little time these days. Gonna order it online now.
I totally understand what you and also Mario mean when you say the authors brush people the wrong way and being a vegetarian or vegan gets close to fundamentalism. It may be ok with some people but I believe it is counter-productive. I’ve met a few people who belong to that category and decided not to keep in touch because things were constantly pushed down my throat and the choices I made were being pointed at. Education, not coercion…
Cat
Aug 6, 2007 at 11:53 pm
I thought the book rocked. Sure woke me up and have made the ‘big decision’ to smarten up and get right health wise.
Yes…im a convert.
SO…with that said…any support/result orientated ‘Skinny Bitch’ book followers out there?
skinny ass
Aug 8, 2007 at 5:39 pm
i lost 15kg…..skinny bitch rocks
Cat
Aug 8, 2007 at 7:16 pm
Fabulous Skinny Ass!!!!!!!!! 15 kg? Wowzerz!!! How long did it take for you to loose that amount of weight and what was your journey like? Have you found it difficult to make this change?
Myself, I’ve just started but am finding the transition not such a sacrifice at all. My actual ‘booger flow’ (Skinny Bitch lingo … lol) has slowed down to a trickle. This in itself is such a great plus to this change.
Raychel
Aug 10, 2007 at 2:58 pm
THIS IS THE MOST LIFE CHANGING BOOK I HAVE EVER READ ! I firstly bought the book for pure vanity purposes , hoping to loose about 16lbs . After reading the sections on animal cruelty and chemicals I immediately became a vegan , I am loving it .
I am very lucky to live in a City that caters very well for vegans ( although going to diner and friends houses I now have to take my own food ! - but it’s no big deal ) . I have also now given up smoking , drinking , diet coke ( had a very bad habit !), and processed foods . And I have not only found it easy , but enjoyable ! I wish I’d done it years ago . I feel healthier , look younger , my concience is clearer ( we haven’t even touched on how buying locally sourced organic food reduces your carbon footprint !
I take this book in my bag everywhere with me - and I tell everyone about it .
I even wrote to thank Kim and Rory for their fabulous book and they wrote me a very personal and warm email back , These gils are by no mean bitches . They wrote the book in this style to make an impact . It gave it the media attention it deserves , but the book is not about weight-loss , it’s a better way of living for everyone .
Read it yourself and see . I can’t recomend it highly enough .
Raychel
Aug 10, 2007 at 2:59 pm
PS - I have lost about 6lbs in 6 weeks !
Let's Get Real
Aug 12, 2007 at 3:50 pm
No book is perfect but I loved the wake up call aspect of the book. We have been conditioned to believe anything we see in print or watch on TV. They promote questioning and deciding for yourself. Same with Skinny Bitch. It has inspired me to create a lifestyle that I can feel good about - not just copying what current trends are. I feel great because of the changes I have made from reading this book. Yes I want to look good but I also would like to insure my future that I will be healthy & able. That is why we need more wake up calls like this. PS I wish it were “cleaner” so I could share it with more people!
Cat
Aug 12, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Couldnt have said it better than myself ‘Lets Get Real’. I don’t think myself, i would have been interested in the book but the title did catch my eye. Also…the hard hitting ‘blue talk’ was another ‘feature’ that sure, could have done without but also, that is what makes the book different from the rest. The whole point behind the book was to ‘get our attention’ without throwing bombs or burning bras. Mission accomplished in my world.
Cheers!!!!
Cat
Aug 12, 2007 at 7:18 pm
Oh,….my first week…lost 4 lbs. :)
jaimie77
Aug 13, 2007 at 7:36 pm
I love my new life!! I am so proud of myself! I looked in the mirror after only a couple of days and
MY GOODNESS!!! I looked really good. I would go to bed at 9pm and wake up at 10am still tired NOT ANY MORE. Not to be a “bitch”, but everyone is so envious.
Cara
Aug 16, 2007 at 3:22 pm
I just finished reading book and loved it! I stopped eating red meat months ago but after crying over the descriptions of what chickens endure (which I knew about but closed my eyes to - kind of like sticking your fingers in your ears and going “lalalalala”) I’m done with that, too. It’s bad enough that our meat sources are pumped through and through with hormones, chemicals and pesticides, the torture is unimaginable and I can’t think of anything more gross than contributing to the carnage that is our meat-packing industry.
emma
Aug 16, 2007 at 11:26 pm
I have read the book and I loved it too. Its a real wake up call. I was a veggie years ago and never really knew why I gave up but this was the kick start to really think about what me, my family and friends actually eat. I can honestly say since cutting out dairy and all animal produce I feel so much better.I wonder how many animals lives we will all save as a result of this book?
Diana
Aug 17, 2007 at 1:04 am
Oh My My!!!!
What a wake up call!! We’ve all known for years about what the poor animals endure for our feasting meat frenzies!! I will never touch meat,chicken,fish or eggs again! I am already a soy milk drinker so I dont have to worry about the milk conversion. I’ve just finished the book and I will hitting the natural foods department as soon as I leave work today. Thank you for a great book my sister is anxious to read it next.
Dianne
Aug 17, 2007 at 1:57 am
I finished reading the book 2 weeks ago and it changed my life. I’ve totally switched to vegan and loving it. Plus, I only buy organic now. Plus, I have the support of my husband. Since I “switched” I’ve lost 4 pounds in less than two weeks. Plus, I FEEL GREAT!!! Way to go Rory and Kim.
Megan
Aug 20, 2007 at 8:02 pm
This is like the best book that ever happened to me. Its harsh and its real. I didnt think i would be able to handle the change to vegan but its been the easy diet ever!!! I feel better there are so many healthy options… and i look amazing!! haha. So worth the money!!!
Heather
Aug 21, 2007 at 3:23 am
I just got the book from the library less than 5 hours ago. I read the WHOLE book already. I am totally a convert. I know that it says not to trust anyone. And I know it is going to take a while to completely convert, but I would like to give it a shot! Everything in the book makes sense. Hopefully this is the kick in the butt I need, to get in shape!
Dianne
Aug 21, 2007 at 7:39 pm
I’m surprised that anyone can eat ANY meat or dairy products after reading Skinny Bitch. The sections on animal cruelty was such an eye opener. I’ll never look at meat the same way again. Since I’ve switched to vegan (about 2 weeks ago), I’ve found some wonderful new foods that are very tasty and healthy. I signed up for the free starter kit, “GoVeg.com”. If you haven’t done so, I would highly recommend you do. There’s more information on animal cruelty that will surely convert you. I just wish I would have done this years and years ago. Now I’m working on converting my adult children to vegan because I know it’s the BEST thing you can do for yourself.
Kristin
Aug 21, 2007 at 8:56 pm
No doubt it’s a good thing to go veg/vegan…but beware the GMO Soy! Buy organic!
Dianne
Aug 22, 2007 at 8:40 pm
When I shop, I only look for organic. If I need something that isn’t labelled “organic”, I read the label and select the one with the least or no additives. I just wish everything was organic. Wouldn’t that make life easier.
Dianne
Aug 23, 2007 at 8:19 pm
What is GMO Soy???
Jul
Aug 23, 2007 at 10:55 pm
Dianne - GMO = genetically modified organism. In other words, a plant that has been genetically modified in some way through the use of modern technology. It’s unclear whether such plants are healthy to consume (mainly because they are relatively new, so the long-term effects are not yet known), but many people are very wary of them (me included). I’ll do a post on the topic in the near future.
Diana
Aug 24, 2007 at 12:17 am
I was just upset that I hadn’t read the book earlier! I really loved the “in your face” tone of it because I think meateaters need to understand exactly what they are contributing to - the cruel and unethical treatment of animals as well as their own demise. It also gave me the ammo to finally convince my ex husband to stop feeding my kids meat and dairy! Awesome!!!
Dianne
Aug 24, 2007 at 1:43 am
Thanks Jul for the info on GMO. How do I know if the food product has genetically modified organisms in them? I’ve seen a few labels that say “No GMO”, so can I expect that if it doesn’t have genetically modified organisms in it then it will be so noted on the package? This is a new term that I am not familiar with.
rach
Aug 24, 2007 at 7:51 pm
It basically encourages a vegetarian/ vegan diet to be “the way” the get skinny and become a healthy eater and talks about how bad and harmful it is to eat any meat, even chicken and seafood, the low fat lean meats. My mother a registerd Nutritionest/ Dietition with a Masters degree in Food and Science from Drexal and would not reccomend this book at all and would not recomend a vegan diet to lose weight. Thanks :)
Megan
Aug 25, 2007 at 3:55 am
Well one of my best friends has been vegan for about a year now and is healthier than ever. She lost about 96 lbs over the year without neglecting herself anything. She eats vegan ice cream, cookies, cake, and good meals and just the change to vegan has lost her than much weight. I have been on the vegan diet for a few weeks now and i have lost a little over 10 lbs and i feel better than ever. I think the fact speak for themselves.
Guadalupe
Aug 25, 2007 at 10:25 am
I found the Vegan/Vegetarian lifestyles to be very damaging. There are countless “dropouts” like me who would tell you so– if they weren’t afraid of being ostracized from the homeopathy & magnets crowd they like to have sex with. Nutrition is poorly understood– we only recently added Vitamin K for instance. I think nutrients like the only-meat-originated antioxidant carnitine are VERY important in the human diet. We were not created by a loving god who wanted us to eat vegetables. We’re dynamic omnivores who evolved from non-rodent insectivores. We are genetically closer to shrews and bats than mice, rabbits, and rts. OUR ancestors ate eggs, bugs, and meat. NOT seeds and grains. WE happen to be able to digest those things because we evolved to digest what’s in the gut of an insect.
Dianne
Aug 25, 2007 at 7:51 pm
Wow, now I’m really confused. Rach, why does your mother think a vegan diet is not good for you? I know so many vegans/vegetarians and they all are healthy, happy, active people. So what’s the problem? I’m still in total agreement with the Skinny Bitch message about the healthy aspects of being a vegan (not to mention the cruelty to animals). So will someone out there tell me what the REAL problems are with a vegan diet. I just want to do what’s right for my body!!!!! Help
Raychel
Aug 26, 2007 at 6:35 pm
Yes - Rach - it would be rally helpful if you could give us a bit more info . I’ve been a vegan for about 2 months now and I look and feel the healthiest I’ve ever looked - every single one of my friends has been really impressed with the change in me and my energy levels are so high these days . I haven’t had a single headache and because I know eat all organic foods my carbon foot-print is reduced .
The only vitamin I need to supplement is B12 so I don’t understand how this diet can not be healthy .
Doc
Aug 26, 2007 at 10:08 pm
From a religious point of view, though we humans are omnivores it was not that way in the beginning. The first diet of created beings on this planet was vegetation. Everything, including animals ate vegetation. I wasn’t until after Adam’s failure to follow God’s instructions (called sin) that flesh food of any kind was added to the diet. It wasn’t until after the flood that meat was permitted to be eaten.
However, since vegetarian was the first food for everyone, I am under the conviction and belief that it is the best diet.
As a nutritionist vegan is the best diet, particularly for those with health concerns.
Raychel
Aug 27, 2007 at 2:41 pm
Hey - thanks doc - that’s made me feel loads better . That makes lots of sense to me xxxx
Dianne
Aug 29, 2007 at 6:39 am
Does anyone else out there have comments on the good/bad elements of a vegan diet?
You might think I’m going over the top on this question, but in the book, on page 180/181 they talk about using natural beauty products on your skin. Does anyone know anything about “natural beauty products”? I don’t really know what’s natural and what’s not. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to start?
Dianne
Aug 29, 2007 at 6:50 am
Oh, by the way, did anyone see the movie “Year of the Dog”? If so, tell me what you think. I thought it was a too extreme on all accounts, but maybe that was the point.
Doc
Aug 29, 2007 at 6:50 pm
I have been a vegetarian since 1963. I started out as a lacto-ovo vegetarian. I have come to the point of not using eggs or milk products. I could tell you something about cow’s milk that would turn your stomach. it is not a very safe food. Nuff of that!
There are meat analogs maded from wheat or soy to take the place of the flesh variety. Some of them even use similar names such as, wham, prosage, links, meatless burger, etc.
As a nutritionists I have come to learn that you don’t need much “protein” to survive. Protein is found in corn, beans, brown rice, just to name a few. Besides, your body does not use “protein” anyway. What it does is to break it down to amino acids to use them. The vegetables are already in their elemental forms. The body therefore does not have to work as hard to break it down further to use the amino acids. Therefore your life is extended
Let me point out quickly thast it is not the length that is important as it is the quality of life. Vegetarianism helps with the QUALITY
belle
Sep 4, 2007 at 5:55 am
So, not to sound like a total follower but “this book ALSO changed my life.” I picked it up before a flight to NYC and never looked back. In those moments of reading skinny bitch I knew that I could NEVER put animal products into my body again. Who knew it would be this easy? I wasn’t looking for this to alter my views but it did and I am GLAD. I am feeling happier, less stressed, lighter mood and I was not trying to lose weight but in TWO weeks I am weighing what I weighed back in high school. I tried a gardenburger today…LOVED it! I cannot tell enough people about this book, the lies the government tells, or how vegan food tastes fabulous. I am so thankful to the authors and to all the stories above. Keep it going guys, WE can change the world!
tricia
Sep 4, 2007 at 10:16 pm
this book really is the shit. i haven’t eaten meat for 3 weeks for the first time in my life and i’m drinking lots of water and i can’t even begin to tell you the positive changes i feel all around. the book is easy to read, no hidden bullshit jargon… “don’t eat shit”… and pretty informative about the meat industry (basic stuff) but things we are absent from knowing bcuz it’s been given this taboo label or almost an anti-american notion to be anti-meat. i’d quit red meat about 4 years ago and that made a big difference. i never thought i could do w/out chicken and fish, but i swear to God it wasn’t that hard… and i feel REALLY healthy. sleeping better, feeling better, living better. just wanted to share my success. OH! and I’ve also lost 11 pounds in 3 weeks. (i also play tennis)
Pooja
Sep 8, 2007 at 10:14 pm
Hello all
I finished reading the book today, and have been vegan since yesterday, it all makes so much sense. I do have a question, from all of y’alls past experience, I went vegan shopping today and stocked up on chocolate, choc cake bars and choc cereal - all suitable for vegans (alongside all the vegetables and fruit of course) do u think this will slow down or prevent the weight loss? I’m such a chocohilic!!!
Thanks
xxx
tricia
Sep 8, 2007 at 11:06 pm
yes it will slow down ur weight loss. but depending on how much meat n refined sugars uv been eating u will see positive changes in ur overall health. try not to replace what you’ve been eating w/ TOO many sweets cuz im a sweet eater too and u dont want to just pick up another vice. i made small changes little by little and it’s worked out great and i don’t plan on turning back. good luck!
Charlee
Sep 11, 2007 at 9:19 pm
My daughter read the book, and gave it to me. We literally cried when we read about the horrible things done to animals. It’s amazing how many people are unaware of the conditions. I’m passing the book to my coworkers, hoping it will educate others.
Charlee
Sep 11, 2007 at 9:23 pm
To comment further, my daughter and I are shopping a farmer’s market where there is a greater variety of vegan products available. I had already switched to Chocolate Soy Milk…which is almost like dessert!
Michelle L Woods
Sep 11, 2007 at 10:10 pm
I am about half way through Skinny Bitch. I am absolutely loving it. Of course it did make me sick when it was going through the slaughtering process. At the end of one of the chapters it said to go to http://www.goveg.com to get a free vegetarian starter kit, which I did. While I was there I watched a couple of the videos on their site, and if you think reading it is bad, you should try watching it. Now that I have seen it I am going to try and stay away from meat. My only problem is that I am in the military and am getting deployed soon and I don’t know what kind of food I will be getting while I am there. Hopefully I will have options.
Charlee
Sep 11, 2007 at 11:26 pm
I adopted a 2 day-old wild orphan pig and fed her rice cereal and fruit to keep her alive. She is now about 1-1/2 years old and about 500 pounds. She is VERY smart and gentle. She changed my life just be association–I could never eat pork again because of her. It caused me to visit the goveg website, and started reading books about the production farms. So I had already stopped eating meat when I read this book. The Skinny Bitch really hits the target quickly on the poor animals.
Daphne
Sep 14, 2007 at 12:54 am
Well, I’ve been a vegan for years, and up until recently I was a chunky one.
I read Skinny Bitch, it made sense to me, and it was exactly the bump I needed. True a lot of their ideas are common sense, but I’ve often found that common sense is a misnomer.
I went from wearing an extra large to a small, but I still have curves! I feel great, I’ve lost weight and I enjoyed their frank approach.
This book isn’t for everyone, though. But I think that people should give it a chance before judging.
Cherie
Sep 16, 2007 at 5:19 pm
I read. I tried it. I have lost 10lbs in 3 weeks without being strick. I’ve tried every diet out there and have not been able to stick with them long enough to loose more than 2-3lbs. It is working effortless for me.
Wendy
Sep 19, 2007 at 1:02 am
Loved the book. The in your face, straight talk is inspiring and fun to read. No poor me, no society is doing this to me, no give me a pill to take the fat away… just simple stop eating crap facts. Changed my attitude about meat quickly! Not all the way to being a veggie but a huge leap. My sister is reading it and calls me daily with her updates as well.
lexis
Sep 23, 2007 at 8:46 pm
The only objection I have to veganism vs. vegetarianism is that gradually you will become B12 deficient. To me, this means that somewhere we are required to get some amount of meat or eggs. I have also known many a vegan and even vegetarians to become anaemic. I suggest grains such as amaranth and quinoa as these grains are whole proteins. Also, eat eggs that are free range organic so you can still get your vitamin B12 in a natural way. If you are worried about stressed out chickens then go to a farm and check out the chickens habitat. Buying the eggs at a farmers market usually is a good place to go to buy eggs from a farmer who has not too many chickens and respects his chickens.
I agree wholeheartedly with the reviewer that a whole food organic source is better than processed vegan food. I had a friend that was very unhealthy and fat from eating lots of junk like that.
Stacy
Sep 27, 2007 at 7:22 pm
I did read the book and loved it. Theyre not trying to pressure you. They did their research, which is more than I can say for Ursula Hirschkorn, who didnt even seem to have really read the book. I know I probably wont be able to go completely veagan but I will be more aware of what Im eating.
Jamie
Oct 3, 2007 at 2:22 am
I changed my whole diet in a few days with the help of this book. I just diecided to do ti and I am finding I don’t crave foods like like I did. I think cutting out the processed sugars and flour was the biggest change for me besides giving up Tillamook cheese… an old favorite. Anyway, I have followed the recommendations for 10 days and lost four lbs. so far. A great bonus to a good life change. Beans have plenty of protein by the way.
Skinny Bitch gets you talking, but does it get you skinny?
Oct 3, 2007 at 4:10 pm
[…] I first posted about this vegan diet book sensation (in this post and this post), the comments haven’t ceased to come in from readers all over the place who want to share their experiences […]
Jen
Oct 3, 2007 at 8:30 pm
I read it and I thought it was great! I love the fact that the two gorgeous girls can just tell it like it is. It’s humor, reality and common sense all rolled into one. I have been passing the book around to all my friends including the guys. Everybody who cares about what they put in their body think the book is awesome! Can’t wait for Skinny Bitch in the Kitch!
Mupp
Oct 4, 2007 at 7:15 pm
My mother gave me this book yesterday, thinking it was full of valuable diet knowledge. I was almost 300 pounds when I had my youngest child - I went back to work squeezing (and I mean squeezing) into a size 24 w/ an elastic waist! It didn’t take too long for me to get down to a size 18/20, but I stayed there. When I allowed myself to get comfortable there, the weight started creeping back on. Over the past 5 months, I’ve lost an additional 31 pounds, but am a sponge when it comes to nutritional information - growing up on microwave meals - I can’t get enough info. I thought I was feeding my family a pretty healthy diet! I picked this book up last night…sat out on my porch w/ my cigarette and diet coke (no lie) and laughed at myself when I read the first couple of pages about quitting smoking won’t make you fat (I’ve been putting off quitting because I wanted to focus on getting the weight off first - DUH) I knew diet coke wasn’t the best thing for you, but didn’t know how extreme. I could not put this book down. I read the whole thing in 1 sitting. I was sickened over the slaughter house stories - I wish there weren’t so many of them, but I know that’s just because it was something difficult to read and I’d rather have ignorance, I guess. I stopped eating KFC a long time ago because I read reports of how they were mean to their chickens (before cutting off their heads and frying them) But what I read last night disgusted me. The story of the man cutting off the hog’s nose for fun makes me physically shudder and want to cry for what people are capable of. I do feel this is more of a rally for a vegan lifestyle vs. a diet book, but it’s a wake up call. I’m glad I read it and it will change a lot of things about the way my family eats. Truth be told though, I wish I would have read it 2 weeks from now. I’m going on a cruise next week and that steak and lobster I was really looking forward to, suddenly isn’t so appealing. I would have really liked to have that last Hoo-raah! Oh well…I got this when I did for a reason…who am I to fight it. Sorry to be so long winded - this book had a huge impact on me and I think everyone should read it. I am giving it to a friend today.
Faith
Oct 4, 2007 at 7:46 pm
I just bought this book. I have been vegetarian (about 7 years) and vegan (about one year) in the past, and currently am an omnivore. None of the information in the book was news to me, but i LOVE having it all in one place like this! The authors’ in-your-face, cut-the-crap style is just what i need to keep me on track. I also love that it makes me laugh while i’m reading. And I definitely like how they just give fact after fact, no filler, and they actually cite studies and sources to support all their points! Awesome.
I have no intention of going veggie or vegan at this point in my life, but this book is still going to whip me into shape. For one thing, i could eat much less meat and dairy than i do. like, one per cent. And, the meat and dairy and eggs that i will occassionally use will be all organic, often local, never ever from commercial slaughterhouses. That is something that i have been getting lax on for the past few years. And finally, no more stupid cheesecake and cookie dough! I will take their advice to heart and eat better to FEEL better. Because i really am smarter than that.
I bought this book just so that i can carry it in my purse and whip it out when i am feeling “weak” for some reason.
Incidentally, a co-worker saw me reading it and immediately started saying that it was totally unrealistic, that it’s too expensive to eat healthy, and that its fine for people “like me” who are already healthy. I wanted to shake her. Doesn’t she realize that people who make healthy choices are just people who could make unhealthy choices but don’t?? Aaargh!
Anyways. Skinny Bitch rocks. I picked it up because i would like to go from a size 10/12 (depending on the pants) to an 8 by January 1, 2008. I will let you know if i make my goal, but i am sure i will.
Best of luck and be well!
Faith
emma
Oct 14, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Wow, like many i thought this was going to be an ‘easy’ read, which it was until i came to chapter 6.
Being a total animal lover anyway and kinda knowing what the slaughter process entailed, reading what those sick b*****ds do to those animals before ‘humanely’ slaughtering them makes you ashamed to be a human being if that is what some of us are capable of doing. Have these ‘low lifes’ been brought to justice? You can only hope for the sake of all those innocent animals that have been tortured and killed by these sickos that what goes around comes around and they will get their day.
Brilliant book.
Christine
Oct 15, 2007 at 3:14 am
just started being a vegan a few days ago. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be. I can’t even look at meat with out picturing the animal.
Alexandra
Oct 19, 2007 at 12:26 am
I just read the book. I loved the no-nonsense take about the book, but i felt the book was a bit extreme for me; cutting out dairy, eggs, meat and fish would be difficult for me intotal. I recomend reading it; and deciding for yourself
Sherry
Oct 20, 2007 at 5:37 pm
This was the most incredible book I have EVER read!!!! I laughed until I cried - I have a fat ass & I thought it was hilarious! Those girls “talk my language” - they don’t sugar coat it!!! They said everthing I’ve already known but just hadn’t been ready to do it until I read this book. I also cried my eyes out reading about the animal abuse - I also knew a little about it but had tried to ignore it - after reading this book I can no longer ignore it!!! I am a bonifide “Skinny Bitch” groupie! Those girls rock!!!!
Christine
Oct 21, 2007 at 6:02 am
Yay! 27 inch waist.
Tonya
Oct 29, 2007 at 9:48 pm
Why didn’t I think of compiling a bunch of information from various sources and publishing a book called Skinny Bitch?! Darnit!!!!
Well - - I read the book in 2 days and it almost felt like the only true contributions they made to the book were the curse words and tough love approach to help you understand that you’ve got to ditch the junk and man made poisons or well, DIE!
Overall, the book was good…a must read for everyone. I think that was the premise behind the title too because I picked it up NOT expecting the book to recommended becoming vegan. It wasn’t in a veggie location at the bookstore, I just thought it was another “diet” book. I’m sure many other people would agree. That was smart though…very smart!!
Reading the book only solidified my decision to go veggie. Thankfully I had already made a conscious decision to ditch meat but the in depth information they provided was extremely helpful overall but it sparked too many emotions for me to handle!!!! I was angered by the conspiracies that exist today and saddened because millions, billions of people just don’t know what’s really going on! Generations upon generations will continue to live the same meat, toxin, sugar, dairy based and dis-ease causing diets simply because that’s what they were “conditioned” to do!!!! What a tragedy! It’s sickening when you stop and take a look at the big picture. How these manufacturers, farmers, government officials, attorneys go to bed and (one day their graves) with blood on their hands is beyond me… oh I forgot, it’s all for the dollar bill at the end of the day anyway.
This has gotten too long…I could go on but the book is a great “intro” to the lifestyle and I hope it sells in spite of their not so cool approach. =)
I was sold and now I’m going to do what I have to do to take action and educate as many people as I can and I hope, just hope the book inspires others to do the same.
Charlee
Oct 29, 2007 at 10:12 pm
The first copy I loaned to a friend who decided she needed to keep it! So I bought two more copies and they are “out there” being passed around. I haven’t lost a bunch of weight, but I feel alot better. Even though some people give me a hard time about giving up meat, I have to consider they don’t know the facts, and maybe they will eventually be open minded enough to read up on the subject! I’m glad I am trying to do my part not to send another poor animal to the slaughterhouse.
Liz
Nov 2, 2007 at 1:31 pm
Well, in response to Rach and her mom, nutritionists are not all-knowing, nor are they necessarily well-educated about every diet out there. I graduated from college with a degree in nutrition 12 years ago and have worked as a clinical nutritionist/dietitian since.
My opinion is that a vegan diet can be very healthy. I’m a vegetarian moving towards veganism myself and have never been healthier.
Normally the arguments against vegan diets is the same “But where do you get your protein?” argument that has been put out there forever. Dietitians who work in hospitals are also supplied with nutritional info and teaching materials mainly from the good old Beef and Dairy councils, etc, so of course their schpiel is going to be “Meat and dairy are good for you.”
Anyway, I’ve taken up too much text already. I just wanted to offer a different perspective from another dietitian.
Sarah
Nov 7, 2007 at 5:52 am
I bought and read Skinny Bitch because it looked like it might be an interesting and informative read. However I was mistaken. I believe if it weren’t for the clever title this book would not sell a copy! The authors are simply trying to push their strong viewpoint on being a vegan to the readers.
I can’t believe that they think it would be healthier to eat something that has been chemically enhanced and made to taste like meat or egg or cheese than eat the real thing.
I was extremely dissapointed and think the book was a waste of my time and money!
Amanda
Nov 7, 2007 at 6:44 am
This book changed my life. I try to keep it on the downlow,, so I dont sound preachy to people who are not into the vegan lifestyle but I slip it in here and there. I feel empowered and am already fitting into my jeans better. Like they say in the book, always be prepared so when christmas roles around, you can bring your own food…still looking for the sulfate free wine though…xoxo
Charlee
Nov 7, 2007 at 5:13 pm
I order the organic wine from Freywine.com
It ships quickly; someone over 21 has to sign for it when it gets delivered.
Kristy
Nov 30, 2007 at 10:14 pm
I bought this book in June 2006. It took me a few weeks to transition to a mostly vegan diet (I still have a “don’t ask don’t tell” policy about ingredients at restaurants.) I’ve since gone from wearing size 10 to size 6. Before getting the book I’d lost 50 pounds over about 3 years on my own (just through exercise and moderation) but the weight was creeping back on, and it was a constant struggle to not balloon back to 220 pounds. I lost 4 pounds in the first week and over a few months, I lost the rest of the 15 or so pounds that had crept back from the original 50 I’d lost in the first place. After that the weight lost slowed down but I’ve gradually lost another 15 pounds. It’s slow going but I don’t count calories, I get to eat lots of delicious food and I’m never hungry. I even treat myself to a little dark chocolate now and then. The best part is that I’ve got my whole family eating healthy (though I’m the only vegetarian). My husband has lost 100 pounds (he lost it with a doctor prescribed liquid diet but has kept it off eating Skinny Bitch style like me.) My kids used to be chunky but not anymore! They’re healthy and active and love the delicious vegan meals I cook (who knew the phrase “We’re having tofu scrambles for dinner” would make my kids so happy.)
Do you participate in “don’t ask don’t tell” dining?
Dec 5, 2007 at 8:41 am
[…] a recent comment, Kristy notes that even though she is now a vegan, she has “a ‘don’t ask don’t […]
jane doe
Dec 5, 2007 at 11:21 pm
you’re right on point lady. perfect review.
Faith
Dec 6, 2007 at 6:11 pm
Follow-up to my eariler comment:
The dietary changes i meant to make have not stuck! However i haven’t given up yet. I also haven’t lost any fat (but without making changes to my life i wouldn’t expect to, after all).
A big part of my problem here is indecision. Vegan? Vegan Six days a week? which six? Pesco-ovo-vegetarian? Omnivore who limits meat and dairy greatly? how to limit? what about restaurants? Are egg replacers really preferable to eggs? what about margarine? AArgh! If only i could just agree with going strictly vegan–but as i said, i did that once before and it really didn’t work for me. after a year, much of which was lived at a yoga center where great vegan food was prepared and nutritionally balanced FOR me, i still felt rag-doll tired all the time. I don’t want to go back to that.
Sigh…..
O.k., here’s my NEW commitment: that i will give this serious thought, and make a decision by this weekend, and abide by that decision for at least a three-month test period. That way i’ll stop changing my mind every couple of days, and actually give something a chance.
bright blessings, Faith
Lisa
Dec 8, 2007 at 2:50 pm
I read Skinny Bitch expecting it to be just another diet book, and was surprised at its strong ‘amimal-free’ message - notice how they didn’t use the word vegan?! It’s great that such a mainstream book advocates veganism, no matter how they want to frame it.
However, I felt they didn’t really follow up on the information they presented in a practical way. i.e. they had a lot of information about what processed foods to eat, but not much about what foods you can prepare yourself, or where to find that kind of information.
I also think that promoting a message that feeling hunger is ok, and fasting is purifying and ok, is harmful.
All up, the book would have been better balanced by being longer, with much more weight given to actually adopting a vegan diet. But I see they have a new recipe book coming out - maybe that will pick up where SB left off? Wonder how many people have dropped off the diet in the meantime though?
L.
Sabrina
Dec 10, 2007 at 10:47 pm
I read the book on the weekend through a recommendation from a friend of mine. As a vegitarian, I was happy to see yet another book (created for the mainstream) out to expose the cruel treatment of animals.
I loved the overall tone of the book. However, i have to bring up this point:
1. Does anyone know if the authors of this book being funded by any of the producers of the products they promote in their book? Because if that is the case, that would be terribly hypocritical of them to point fingers at USDA etc for stacking the deck with members of associations and corporate America who want to hide the truth behind meat & dairy processing practices.
2. Why eat imitation beef, chicken, etc at all? If the goal is to promote stop eating animal flesh, then perhaps we should learn to stop enjoying the taste of that flesh?
3. Is the use of fake beef, veggie chicken, etc in our diet with such regularity healthy? There are dozens of chemicals used to create those imitation flavors. Is the book suggesting swapping one toxic habit for another?
If anyone has any insight please share…
Faith
Dec 12, 2007 at 9:39 pm
Regarding the “but processed foods suck!” criticism:
I’ve heard this reaction (about the fake meats and cheeses) from a lot of people. I agree with you, and so do the authors. They emphasize over and over that you can get all you need from normal, healthy plant foods. Throughout the book they mention that IF you feel you just can’t live without breakfast sausage, cheese pizza, or ice cream, THEN the (mostly soy-based) vegan substitutes are a great option.
I also didn’t get the impression, from reading the book, that the lists of products in the back of the book were supposed to be “your new diet.” In fact, if you look at the menus in the “Let’s Eat” chapter, there are not very many processed foods there. They are made to be quick, easy, and in similar to mainstream food products, so that people can ease into vegan living without doing a 180-degree turn in their lifestyle and food habits.
I think that the “skinny bitches” were right on with this approach, as it makes it a lot more accessible to more people. I do think they made a big mistake, though, in not drawing even more attention to the fact that these processed vegan foods are supposed to be occasional treats and/or transition foods, not the basis of a vegan diet. They were actually clear about this several times, but could have said it again at the top of the dinner and lunch lists.
Happy eating!
julz
Dec 27, 2007 at 9:18 pm
I just wanted to say I am currently reading the book “skinny b”. I was shocked at some of the chapters about animals. I am a huge animal lover and barely ate any meat as it was, but now I am going to become a vegetarian for sure. I don’t think I ever knew because maybe I didn’t want to know the truth. I don’t want to preach to anyone else either and I have always been thin all my life. But I am 40 now and noticed the weight does not want to come off as easily. I haven’t eaten dairy or meat in 3 days and already I feel better and less bloated and feeling like I ate a “brick”. There IS something to this and people can make choices and do what they want (of course) but this seems to be working for me and I can’t help but to think of the animals and the cruelty stops me from ever wanting or craving meat again. Best wishes to you all on just being healthy and on whatever works best for you.
Ruby
Jan 1, 2008 at 5:54 am
I read Skinny Bitch too!! I started 2 months ago to go Vegie 1 day a week, then 2, etc. I read this last week and now am completely committed to Vegan. No (constant) headache for 6 days so far - And stomach feeling better already too!
I will be passing this book around !!
Carolyn
Jan 2, 2008 at 8:29 pm
I’ve noticed that one of the most famous ‘Skinny Bitch’ acolytes, Victoria Beckham, rarely smiles. She’s commented on her own sour expression in interviews. Maybe it’s because she’s hungry.
I find the Bitch authors viewpoints and attitudes a little too mean girl. More power to you if you want to expend the energy to be a healthy vegan, just don’t make it seem like a religious crusade, and the non-believers on their way to hell.
Sher
Jan 4, 2008 at 2:22 am
I loved the book, it has changed the way I look at and think about food. I was on my way to fat and unhappy and I lost two dress sizes and am back to the way I like it. Now I think about what I am putting in my body instead of just filling a hunger
Ali
Jan 5, 2008 at 11:36 am
I started reading Skinny Bitch just after Christmas, and made it my New Year’s Resolution to eat healthy and become a vegetarian. I didn’t want to go straight to vegan, because being previously a big meat eater, I didn’t want too many withdrawl symptoms. Also, because I still live at home with my parents, its very hard when everyone around you is still eating meat, diary and eggs. But I do eventually want to switch to vegan, and I am trying very hard not to replace meat with diary and eggs, which I heard is very easy to do. Im not sure if still consuming eggs and diary will slow down my weightloss or not, but I just felt it was the right thing to do for my body. Its been 5 days so far, and I haven’t felt hungry or cranky yet! I’m excited to get on the scales on Tuesday to see if I’ve been losing weight too!
frances
Jan 12, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Vegetarian, Vegan, High Raw, Raw Vegan
Extreme forms of eating!!!! Really????
Y’mean if I eat Whole, Fresh, Ripe, Raw, Organic, Plant food I risk becoming
Fitter, Leaner, Stronger, Fulfilled and Happier
Duh! silly me, better not risk it?!
Chris
Jan 17, 2008 at 4:26 am
I don’t suppose anyone on here has actually done any research into this? I do realise that Posh Spice is of course a world authority on health issues but have you looked for advice from anyone with, say, a degree, or the ability to string a coherent sentence together?
If you went for surgery and discovered your surgeon was an ex-model but had “done some research” on heart bypasses, would you let them do the operation?
The day I take the word of two models (one of whom has a made-up science degree from the university of nowhere) is the day I ask my milkman to fix my car engine, my dentist to do my tax return, and my optician to install my new double-glazed windows.
You can eat what you want, as long as it’s in moderation and you exercise.
I’m off to get myself a nice juicy steak.
Newborn Vegan
Jan 18, 2008 at 9:18 am
I read the book two weeks ago, immediately took action, gave my fridge, cupboards, and life a complete makeover. I’ve already lost 8 pounds by quitting meat and dairy….And I wasn’t really fat to begin with. I thought I would be frustrated and crave meat and ice cream or whatever but…I don’t, Vegan food is good! I feel great!
Newborn Vegan
Jan 18, 2008 at 9:24 am
And PS ladies, lots of us suffer with IBS, and that includes me. Since becoming a Vegan, I have had 0 problems. My stomach is very happy, and flat too I might add :)
Animal Friendly Vegan
Jan 18, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Congrats Newborn Vegan!! I bet you feel fabulous!I have been a vegetarian for about 17 years and a vegan for 1 month. I have my own beliefs as to why I don’t eat animal products….it’s flesh and milk from another animal’s tit. Come on people!! Not only do I feel better after becoming a vegan by basically removing milk, cheese, beer and pop from my diet, I wake up with tons of energy ( I need it with a two year old running around) and I’ve lost weight. I love how Rory and Kim throw in some humor and get right down to the point of a HEALTHY EATING LIFESTYLE, not diet. Diets are for those people that need a quick fix, and then to only gain it back. My theory, if you can’t pronounce the ingredient..then don’t put it in out body. Yeah, you might have to be a little creative, but you just might burn some calories running around finding all these spectacular fresh and healthy foods. I have also been a migrane sufferer for years and I haven’t had one single episode since I became a full-fledged vegan. PS I highly recomment the Skinny Bitch cookbook!!! Those chocolate chip cookies (yes, cookies) are awesome!
becky
Jan 28, 2008 at 6:19 pm
i’ve been vegan just over 3 months now, and i feel healthier and happier than ever.
being vegan has made my perspective change on a lot of things, not least my worries about my appearance. i’ve gone from thinking and worrying about my appearance constantly to realising that actually, yes, i am a pretty girl, and yes, i do have a great figure, which is nice and curvy but still slim (thank goodness i didn’t lose the curves - would have lost a stone and a boyfriend!), and actually, it isn’t important to be the thinnest person in the room, but it means a lot to be as healthy as you can be.
i now enjoy food guilt-free, even the odd bar of green and black’s. i eat carbs (brown ones!) to my heart’s content - something i used to feel insanely guilty about.
sure, people find it a bit odd, and i get quizzed on my diet constantly, but actually, i am pretty comfortable with the fact that i’m doing my bit for the environment, for animals, and for my own health. the majority of people don’t understand that veganism is the only way to achieve that. yes, the only way. there are a wealth of books out there to read about the subject. read them, and disagree with me when you’re done.
it’s so important to continue to read about veganism once you finish the book - it’s a great book, but if you want to be taken seriously as a vegan you will need to know more than it provides.
oh, and watch earthlings.
x
Sarah
Feb 3, 2008 at 10:04 pm
I just bought the book and read it all last night. It is very informative and I really enjoyed it… however I find it to be very impractical because for one- i live on a college campus- try finding vegan food here- not gonna happen…
Also organic food is a lot more expensive than normal food. Its hard to find and its just a really hard lifestyle to live when you’re a poor college student without the funds or the means of getting any of it.
Definitely giving up meat now though…
Tatiana
Feb 6, 2008 at 1:31 am
I read both the SB book and it’s companion, SB in the Kitch. I am a vegetarian (I did/do eat dairy, but no fish or meat of any kind) for nearly my whole life, so, some of the things in the book were things I naturally agreed with. I don’t know if I will go 100% vegan, but I will say that both books have really shown me how important treating the body is vs. just stuffing full of drugs to alleviate symptoms.
What I love most about the SB in the Kitch cook book is I no longer have to go “ok, substitute this for that” because, it’s been done for me! I cannot tell you how many times I have looked thru regular cookbooks and I had to either modify it for me or skip over it completely because of the ingredients.
And my first reflex is to anyone who “blasts the book based on language” you are a freakin’ ninny!!! Come ON! The title ALONE should be a clue!! Oh, people and their ‘delicate’ senses. Kiss my ass! lol. You eat beef and chicken but someone says “The food (suggested in the SB) is so good it’ll make your pubes fall out” you are morally offended! LOl…yep, it takes all kinds to make the world go ’round, I suppose.
And the next time you really stop and think about it….You can get a huge bag of Doritos for like, what, $3 bucks? But balk at spending that on some ingredient that is vegan….or for incorporating into something that actually involves cooking from scratch…think about it, huh? Would you rather pay for a trip to the emergency room, followed by expensive prescriptions? Or, spend the freakin’ three bucks, make a meal from scratch, refridge the leftovers….not hard. It does take time…you are learning new things but this is just my opinion and nope, last I checked, I am NOT perfect!
Good luck to those who are trying. It is worth a bit of ‘relearning’ in the long run.
Oh, and yes, as you can probably tell, I recommend both books and I’d suggest finding them on Ebay…for the value.
Tatiana
Nicole Merritt
Feb 11, 2008 at 5:00 pm
I am a convert!!
I dont give a crap about the size of my hips or thighs, I care more about the animals.
This book awoke me from many years of ignorance. I hope it spreads, i too am giving this book to every one I know, even if I have to buy 20 more copies!!!
Nicole, Australia
meliann
Feb 25, 2008 at 1:31 pm
I love this book. My diet always consisted primarily of veggies & fruit & occiasionally I would eat some chicken. I am a huge fan of junk food!! However after reading this book it def. helped me look at what I eat in a different way. I just want to be healthy & knowing what is truly in the food i am eating…it helps me make more healthy decisions.
Animal Friendly Vegan
Feb 26, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I’ve cooked a few things out of the Skinny Bitch cookbook and the stuffed mushrooms and the eggplant parm are too delicious. My “carnivorous” husband loved it and said the eggplant parm was the best meal he’s ever had!! It wasn’t as time consuming as I thought. I highly recommend this cookbook!!!! ps - try the chocolate chip cookies as well!
dietfiend
Mar 4, 2008 at 3:24 am
This is a great book that I think has saved many animals lives already.
I know many people including myself that have lost weight just from following the techniques in this book.
They truly have done a wonderful thing here.
AnnaB
Mar 13, 2008 at 9:26 pm
hello everyone!!
well here is the deal, i am 120lbs, 5′7.. i am not trying to loose weight, although i did loose 3 lbs in 2 weeks (117lbs now)… i read the book few weeks ago and stopped eating meat, eggs, and milk!! i am following their 4 week “menu” in the book!! i feel great, no headaches, no “i need a nap” at 2pm it’s great.. the only few things i am concerened about is, how do i stop myslef from loosing more weight amd maintain 120lbs?? and also i live in chicago, and would like to know what are the good stores to shop for vegan food?? is there any specific ones??
thank you, and again i am doing this to protect the animals and contribute to the environment!
Animal Friendly Vegan
Mar 13, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Congrats Anna B!!
I do most of my shopping at Trader Joes. They have a huge selection of vegan and whole foods. They’re pretty cheap as well. I highly receommend the vegan eggplant parm…my favorite meal of all times!!
AnnaB
Mar 13, 2008 at 9:58 pm
to Animal Friendly Vegan
thank you so much, yeah i am new to this and thats why i need some direction!! but i will deff try tader joes, the only thing is that there is not that many locations :( the only two i know is on wells, and clyborn i believe.. would you also recommend whole foods?? or its on a pricey side??
Animal Friendly Vegan
Mar 14, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Hi AnnaB, unfortunately a vegan lifestyle can be a little pricey, but I guess it all depends on what your’re buying. I find most of my stuff at Kroger’s, like my vegan cheeses, soy products, and my veggies. I only make a couple trips to Trader Joes each month and load up on their bread (I freeze the rest),their sauces and chips. We had an awesome store called “Sunflower” and it just closed :( So, what recipes have you tried and liked?
Cecile
Mar 31, 2008 at 1:40 am
I’ve just started reading the book and will take it to heart. I’ve been to workshops over the years that discuss what eating flesh and dairy can do to one’s digestive system. I’ve known people with heavy meat and dairy diets die from colon cancer. I know people whose diets brought on diabetes and kidney failure.
I know that our armpits stink with the food we eat–I had gone to a place to live on a raw diet for a week, and my armpits smelled like wheatgrass when I left! And my brain just buzzed with energy and lightness. An acquaintance thought I had been brainwashed by the raw food enthusiasts. She’s dead now from colon cancer.
Anyway, I, too wished I had written a paper like the SB’s did, slap on an in-your-face title, and sold it in book form!
I’m glad to know that nutritionists have differing views on the health value of a vegan diet.
I have a friend who only ate fish flesh whose doctor told her to start eating red meat because she was anemic, so I wondered about veganism.
I plan to give it a try–eat vegan at home and not worry about dining at friends’ homes or going out to a restaurant with friends that serves up stuff that is not vegan. As they say, read the ingredients and take it a day at a time.
Will definitely explore what’s at Trader Joes and will start going to the many farmer’s markets in my area on a more regular basis.
Cheers!
Kos
Mar 31, 2008 at 5:50 pm
This book makes you hate dairy, meats, chicken and fish.
It is complete bullshit and should be burned
Animal Friendly Vegan
Apr 1, 2008 at 12:56 pm
See folks, being a non-vegan makes you hateful and rude (see Kos’s remark above).
Cecile
Apr 2, 2008 at 4:14 am
Well, too much fear can interfere with managing one’s emotions and using critical thinking skills.
Emmy
Apr 3, 2008 at 4:26 pm
I haven’t read the book but am very intrigued. I eat extremily healthy, mostly organic, and never drink soda, coffee, etc. But I do eat meat and dairy. I’ve read the amount of weight many have lost with this, but how heavy were you before??? 10lbs in 3 weeks or 4lbs in one week is a lot to lose, but if you have 50 or more to lose, you are more likely to lose it quickly. I am 140 and need to lose 15lbs (125 is my goal) but I can’t lose it for anything. For those of you who have lost weight, what is your total weight loss goal?? And how much did you lose with skinny bitch?? Of course I know there are many more reasons other than weight loss to incorporate this into your life, but I’m just being honest about my motives.
zhana
Apr 5, 2008 at 5:57 am
i just finished this book and i am concerned with the credibility of the two authors. most of their advice is common sense plus the anatomy and physiology knowledge of these two are completely..well..non existent!! im a nursing student and i passed my A & P paper, i KNOW all the body chemicals and hormones they seem so proud to include in their “lists” as bad or non-beneficial! (like beta carotene?!?!?) they’re just models who picked up a human science book and thought they know it all!! their reference list (sources) isnt that impressive. veganism is NOT bad, im vegetarian and i love sefood! especially the Japanese Diet. kinda funny, they didnt mention anything about growing your own greens and making your own stuff like chutneys etc. they’re also promoting bad marketing with all the “SUPER” processed organic foods that im sure in order to make a purely non-meat MEAT, FISH, and even EGGS you need to do some major processing!! aint that right?!
well i grow tomatoes, lettuces, silverbeets and even pumpkin! i exchange some of them for some lemons, apples, and oranges from my friends and neighbours. i go to the local farmer’s market, those who grow them with no chemical pesticides. not as big and spot free as supermarket produce, but these taste better especially when i know i grown them myself! organic foods in the supermarket shelves have ridiculous prices!
but im from New Zealand, and this book doesnt really apply to us here in this part of the world! we grow and buy our own, the companies that provide us with milk, cheese, and yogurt are NZ and AUSTRALIAN, which i know isnt much of a big deal, but these guys, some of em, are ANTI GM!! its a strong voice here in the pacific cause we try to maintain our NZ 100% GREEN reputation. im also asian so all my veggies and tofu are cooked asian style! works better for me than western recipes, no offense, im sure some of u tried a vegetarian thai green curry.
that’s my opinion. im a UK size 10/US size 6 vegetarian (not entirely vegan!!), i dont have a gym membership, i take the train to work, and takes hourly walks in the nearby botanical gardens.
Melinda
Apr 9, 2008 at 8:36 pm
On the surface this books seems alright, promoting a vegan lifestyle. I can handel that.
But the authors argue:
1. Don’t drink alcohol (and the first reason they cite is) because it causes infertility!
2. Dont drink coffee, even if it means leaving Starbucks where you’d normally find a man, and because it makes your breath stink!
3. Don’t eat junk food because it makes you grow hair on your chest!
4. Drink organic green tea because of its anti-aging properties!
Don’t you see how they are promotion cumpulsory heterosexuality, traditional fashion and beauty practices, and ageism.
Don’t let their rhetoric fool you.
Melinda
Apr 9, 2008 at 8:37 pm
promoting **
Emmy
Apr 9, 2008 at 10:02 pm
I’ve read the book and have been eating vegan for 3 days now. So far, it isn’t that bad. My only problem is that I’m in sales and in my car all day so I can’t bring anything but raw fruit and veggies to eat throughout the day. Any suggestions???
Animal Friendly Vegan
Apr 10, 2008 at 6:53 pm
Hi Emmy,
My Dad is on the road all day, as well, and I bought him a portable warmer/cooler that plugs into any car. He keeps his in his trunk and it’s no bigger than a regular cooler. It’s made by Coleman and runs between $20-$30. I bought his at Target for $20. You should try wraps! I’ve been able to make so many different ones. I use whole-wheat wraps with avacado, sliced carrots, “fake chicken”, lettuce, peppers, hummus and many other veggies. You can experient with sauces as well. They have some pretty good ones in “Skinny Bitch in the Kitchen”. And don’t forget about those almonds…they are just the right thing when my tummy is gowling and I’m running out the door or chasing after my 2-year old ; )
Emmy
Apr 10, 2008 at 8:29 pm
Thank you Animal Friendly Vegan!
Those are great suggestions. I’d never heard of those coolers/warmers. I will definately have to get one.
Thanks again for your help!
ellen
Apr 23, 2008 at 8:19 pm
This book is absolutely ridiculous. It made me enraged by many things, but mainly because of its ploy as a way to get skinny, when really their entire agenda is to stop animal cruelty. I’m all for ending animal cruelty, but when you try to trick readers into thinking your book is something that its not…thats just wrong. Humans were supposed to eat meat and drink milk….in moderation!!! There are plenty of healthier ways to get ’skinny’, by EXERCISING and eating smaller portions! ‘duh’
becky
Apr 24, 2008 at 12:09 pm
yes, imagine caring about animals. yuck.
Faith
Apr 24, 2008 at 1:33 pm
I read the book first in October. Here’s where I have gotten with it all, 6 months later:
Sugar is the Devil: I have now given up cane and beet sugar. It is awesome! I now see that the “oh my god it’s soo good” effect was merely because I was addicted. I know this, because I had a tiny ice cream sundae the other day (because it was about 80 degrees in New England) and it was good, but not amazing, not better than a peach would have been.
Even if it weren’t for the many health benefits of being sweetener-free, it is indescribably wonderful to have the monkey off my back! Now when I want to eat, it is always because i need food, never because i have a craving!
My other dietary changes have been thus: lots more salads, veggies, and fruits. More whole grains (not whole grain flour) and beans. A lot less meat, dairy, and eggs. And those animal products i do eat are almost always organic–I am heading towards “always organic” but I admit a lapse here and there so far. These changes feel great, I am healthier and more satisfied with food in general than i was before.
be well,
Faith
Faith
Apr 24, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Vegan Nutrition & Tiredness Question:
**Now first of all, I do not feel like being flamed. I am a person with a question, and I believe that I have a right to politely ask a question without being sneered at, scolded, attacked, or shamed. So if you are amoung the 1% of vegans who feels it is their right and duty to be mean to non-vegans, please, refrain. It is divisive, alienating, and unhelpful.**
My Question:
I have been vegan and vegetarian in the past, for years at a time. Every time, I eventually felt extremely tired, even lethargic. Each time, as soon as I ate meat, it went away instantly. The first time I tried eating meat, it was in about 1999 and I had tried every chronic fatigue remedy that i could find. Eventually the only thing I hadn’t tried was meat, and it worked like a charm.
At the time, I had read a couple articles in vegetarian-friendly sources (not mainstream publications) which talked about this fatigue being a result of protein deficiency. Since then, have seen, again and again, the opinion that people get more than enough protein from vegetarian sources, so that could not have been the problem. Yet, meat worked, so there must have been *something* in there that i desperately needed and wasn’t getting.
It is worth mentioning that when I was vegetarian, I was eating pretty well with good veggie cookbooks. When I was vegan for one year, I was living at a yoga center which provided a well-planned veggie buffet three times a day, and where many other vegans and vegetarians were doing fine on the food, as far as I know.
Does anyone know of a specific nutrient or anything that could explain this?
Thank you and good eating,
Faith
Alicia
Apr 24, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Faith,
Yes, there is, its called vitamin B12 and isn’t found in any vegan sources other than fungi I believe. So either, take a supplement, or seriously up your intake of mushrooms and the like.
Im a vegetarian btw :)
Type vitamin b12 into wikipedia and you’ll find out a lot more.
Hope that helps!
Faith
Apr 25, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Hi Alicia,
Back when i was veggie i was not taking B12 supplements, I was just hoping to get enough from eating nutritional yeast regularly. It may indeed have been the culprit! Thanks!
Faith
Animal Friendly Vegan
May 6, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Faith, Alicia is right! As a vegetarian, I take B12, calcium, iron, magnesium and a “One A Day” supplement each day. I try and get the nutrients through my diet, but these supplements keep me energized and balanced. My doctor had recommended the combination of Calcium and Magnesium because I was getting serious headaches while I was nursing my son, and I haven’t stopped taking them since. Also, drink lots of water! Did you know that a glass of water along with an apple is more effective than a cup of coffee? Try it, I’m telling ya, it really works. It’s my snack before I go run 5 miles.
Janice
Jun 10, 2008 at 6:34 am
Well, after hearing so much talk every where I turn about how veagan is so much better for you, I decided to read this book. A friend went veagan after reading it and said I would never touch a peice of meat, dairy, etc. after reading this book.
It was a quick and funny read. I am fat and I still found it pretty hillarious. But I’m one of those people who doesn’t like to mince words. I also found the facts in this book so disturbing that I actually had a bad dream eating all this garbage. I was so grossed out that I haven’t had any meat, poultry, fish or dairy since the day I read it.
So, in a nutshell, the book worked for me.
j
Jun 22, 2008 at 10:26 pm
Nice skinny hot girls telling people they are fat when they were never fat- come to work office and the vegans top the scales there.
Sarah
Jun 23, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Kinda a silly book, fact are a little skewed..For example- Fruit is the best thing in the world because it take no time to go through your intestines….(the truth)the longer it takes to process food the more your motabolism gets a boost. One reason you eat fiber is because it slows down the process….eat some fiber with your fruit they should suggest. But a fun read.
Janna
Jun 25, 2008 at 7:33 am
This book has helped me realize that I need to pay attention to everything that I put in my body. Before reading “Skinny Bitch” I always had a “Cruise-Control” attitude of eating. I ate whatever was available, easy, and instantly gratifying. After reading this book last week I have given up Diet Pop, Sugary Junk Food, Dairy Products, and Meat. Hallelujah~! And I have taken up water, vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts, and soy products that are an alternative to meat.
Giving up the Diet Pop was huge for me. I thought I was going to go through a long withdrawal period from lack of caffiene, but actually I only had one day of headaches after giving it up.
I think the best thing about this book is that it gave me information to actively make a decision about what foods I use to fuel my body. I have a new perspective about food, health, nutrition, diet, and wellness. I feel like I am in control of what I eat now. I pray that I stick with it!
Trinity
Jul 7, 2008 at 3:42 am
Halfway through Skinny Bitch, I rushed over to Whole Foods and stocked up.
For the first time in my life, I am giving up all meat, dairy, coffee, cigarettes and everything non organic.
I am 204 pounds, 5′6, 18 years old. I will post again in a week from today and tell everyone my results.
I am planning on doing pilates 3 times this week.
I loved the book, recommend it EVEN if you don’t want to lose any weight
Brenda
Jul 11, 2008 at 9:44 pm
I liked this book for several reasons. I did not buy this specifically to lose weight. I didn’t realize it was a weight loss book until I was well into it. I picked it up because the title was interesting. I liked learning the nasty truth about the FDA, artificial sweetners and animal growth hormones. The things I didn’t like included the fact that the authors kept insisting that people eat veggie burgers and other processed frozen veggie products. Have they actually picked up a package and read the ingredient list? There are about a hundred ingredients in them, not to mention they are loaded with sodium. Also, they talk about how people were never supposed to eat meat. They compare the shape of a true carnivore’s teeth to a human’s teeth and they note the difference. Of course, humans are not going to have the same shape teeth of a true carnivore that only eats meat. People were not meant to only eat meat. People have the same general shape teeth as raccoons who are omnivores. Not giving up meat anytime soon, but definitely reading labels.
Trinity
Jul 17, 2008 at 11:36 pm
It’s been 10 days, and so far I’ve lost 6 pounds.
Keep you guys updated in another week.
Green_Goddess
Jul 26, 2008 at 1:42 am
Hey everyone, it’s amazing this comment section has gone on for so long! I first read Skinny Bitch about a year ago, and initially had a “oh, they’re just promoting the vegan lifestyle….I already know the benefits…blah blah” attitude. However, I have found my initial reading was more an attitude problem with me, not the book. I firmly believe in halting animal cruelty, and every person that is positively effected by this book to stop eating meat, dairy, and eggs drastically impacts the industry.
I was vegetarian a few years ago, and had dropped quite a bit of weight, getting down to a size 10–the smallest I’ve ever been. Life happened and I gained it all (and then some!) back and just have not been willing to take the personal responsibility to take control of my life since then. Now, a year later, I discover that I am lactose intolerant; I really don’t know how long this has been the case, I just recently made the connection between the sick feeling I had and my addiction to pizza.
It’s been 5 1/2 weeks since I’ve given up all dairy, most meat and eggs (working one small step at a time), and been exercising on a more consistant basis. So far I’ve lost 17 pounds and will keep moving towards a whole, meat and dairy free existance. I just love that such a book invites such divisivness–it means the message is getting out there.
I also am a HUGE (no pun intended) environmentally conscious individual and recognize that this way of life not only aids the health of man and animal, but the planet that is our home. I just hope that people