Book Review: "Skinny B**ch"

Yes, I'm about 3 years late on this one, but I've finally read Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. This was/is a pretty popular book, landing itself on the New York Times Bestseller list. I have mixed feelings about this book, so here we go:

The Good:
1. Very quick and easy read. I read most of it while on the stationary bike at the gym.
2. (This is a big one) Offers enlightening facts about certain sugar substitutes and other food additives, highlighting some corrupt ways of Federal agencies that most Americans naively think are meant to protect them.
3. Provides a lot of background on the meatpacking industry and other sectors of the food industry that has been written about by leading experts such as Michael Pollan and Marion Nestle. I see this as a good thing because chances are a great majority of the people reading this book would not read the other books.
4. They point out our absurd ways as a society - that we'll spend thousands of dollars on clothes, cars, etc, but we don't want to spend a few more dollars on nutritious, whole foods that will nourish our bodies and keep us healthy.
5. Provide good detail on specific vitamins that are essential for good health and how we can get them from food sources.
6. There is a list of ingredients and details about what they actually are and how they are or can be harmful.

The Bad:
1. The book is extremely crass and definitely not be appropriate for everyone.
2. They profess that we must eat all organic when this has been proven to be untrue.
3. The authors rail against additives in the food supply (which is undoubtedly dangerous and should be avoided) but then promote fake meat products that are full of additives and chemicals like Gardenburger Chik'n. Turns out Gardenburger treats their soy with hexane. Not cool. I used to eat their burgers, not anymore!
4. They often talk about dropping fat and lazy ways and becoming skinny and beautiful by becoming a vegan. I don't believe that all vegans are skinny and I also think there are more important things than just being skinny. They do discuss general health, but the underlying message is that the goal is to be skinny.
5. They actively promote that fasting, which I believe can be extremely dangerous and harmful.

While the good technically outnumber the bad, I can't get over the harsh tone of this book, fact that the authors are determined the only way to live is to be a vegan, and such a huge emphasis on the need to be skinny. I have absolutely nothing against veganism, I've even toyed with the idea of trying it for a week or two, to see what it's like, but I think it's a bit extreme for most people. At the very end of the book, Freedman and Barnouin wrap it up by trying to refocus on health rather than appearance, but it's too late and almost feels like an afterthought or an edit their editor demanded so it might sit better with a wider audience. However, I am grateful that they talked about the problems with our food system in this book because, as I said earlier, hopefully it will enlighten many people who typically get their food and nutrition tips from US Weekly and People Magazine!

I did learn a few things, but I'm definitely not in agreement with them on everything in this book. It's a fast read, so if you are interested (like I was) go ahead and check it out from your library or borrow from a friend who bought it in the mad rush a few years ago, but I suggest that you don't take every word to heart. Listen to your own instincts and use their information in combination with everything else you know about healthy eating and living.

http://www.skinnybitch.net/

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workout stats -

13miles bike

25minutes StairMaster

3x10 cable pull push downs

3x10 cable pull twists

3x10 tricep extension

3x10 tricep kickback

3x12 weighted side bends

3x10 tricep dips

stretching & foam roller