The book "Skinny Bitch"

hi ya'll,

I was just wondering if any of you have read the book "Skinny Bitch".. I finished it today and i find myself so disgusted by the meat/dairy industry. So much so that vegetarian seems to be the way to go. (not only due to animal cruelty but also for overall health). I just want to know if any of you have read it and how it's impacted it you (if it has at all).

thanks,

analise

I agree 100% with justvikiv. 

I felt like the authors were unnecessarily condescending.  This book reads EXACTLY like a junior high book report.  Not impressed...

i ve read it and i stopped eating red meat, i dont think i will ever eat it again. i tried hard to go totally veg but i cant live without chicken, but i have cut down on eating it to only once a week. i also switched over to soy for my "dairy" needs, and i never liked eggs or cheese to begin with. i agree the book is very in your face but i got a laugh out of some lines.

i heard of this book and had NO  CLUE it was about eating and vegetarian and what not.  wow.  thank you! i want to read it now. 

I'm not sure about the author’s anti-dairy stuff.  I grew up in Wisconsin and visited many dairy farms.  The cows were treated very well.  After visiting an organic dairy farm, I decided to drink organic milk in hopes to avoid ingesting hormones and antibiotics.  Obviously, it's better to drink skim milk than whole milk, but does dairy really cause so many allergy problems like the authors claim?  I have had terrible, terrible seasonal allergies in the past, but since moving from Wisconsin, I've been fine (now I live in a drier climate out west).  I drink milk and eat cheese every day, but I would like to try giving it up for a couple weeks to see how I feel without it.  However, I've had a couple broken bones and have slightly low bone density.  I'm afraid that if I give up dairy products, I won't get enough natural calcium. 

Either way, if you read this book, don't take advice from the authors without careful consideration and possibly a visit to a nutritionist/doctor. 

Hi benros.  Actually, your bones may be brittle because you do eat dairy.  Dairy and animal protein actually hampers the absorption of calcium into your bones (along with a host of other factors like too little exercise, taking vitamin A in pill form, too much caffeine, etc.)  The countries with the highest consumption of dairy products have the highest incidences of osteoporosis.   Here are another couple of books to add to your reading list: The China Study and Eat to Live (search amazon for both).

This is kind of offensive to me, my family has raised animals since forever to eat.  Being in that general industry we have many friends who have huge dairy and meat farms of which sell produce & meat to the local grocery & state wide...

How can one assume that just because a few farms are bagged on by a book or the PETA website that all of them are vicous to the animals?

I'm not a vegetarian (currently, i've cut down to only chicken) so I guess I wouldn't understand not eating meat due to a cruelty issue.  But aren't there local farms that sell meat and dairy products?  And even if that's not the case I'm sure there's co-op's and health food stores close to you that sell organic meats and produce...so why cause a fuss and not eat meat because the animals are being 'mis treated' when you can buy and consume the meats and dairys that are the opposite?

This only offends me because we get the occasional PETA Obsessor at our door, or letters in the mail that we're "murders".  Our cows are raised in lush fields, always have fresh clean water, and aren't mis treated at all - In fact they just live like cows...eat sleep and poo at their own speed!

If someone who is a vegetarian for the crulety issue could please enlighten me more I'd be greatly appreciated...Just for my own knowledge as I've never actually heard that opinion before and hell, I could learn something.

But anyway, to base your diet on a book I personally think is silly - research what's around you and change your diet to locally grown products if that's what you're worried about.

gypsy_summer, for myself, I will say that I have no intention of putting myself out to find farmers who meet the requirements I would have for my meat.  It is much preferable for me to just not eat it.  I don't feel any lack for not having it, I don't care to pay the higher prices for organic, nor do I care to drive somewhere special to buy a product I don't need.  The idea that I should have to spend more money and time so that I can conform to someone else's idea of 'normal' is a bit odd to me.  Especially when I am perfectly happy (and I believe healthier) without jumping through those hoops.

That being said, I have a question for you.  Is it causing more of a fuss, as you put it, for someone to abstain from a certain kind of food, or for you to insist they should eat it in spite of their personal beliefs?

I grew up in a farming community where there were more cows than people. I guess my mind won't be changed just because someone cusses at me while telling me about the lowest common denominator in the farming industry.

Let's talk about corn. It's a vegan crop. And it can completely strip the top soil of nutrients, dry it out, and cause flooding and mass erosion. It is fed to cattle to "fatten them up" and can have the same effect on people. High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is extremely high in sugar and calories.

Does this mean we should stop eating corn or we should support crop rotation and organic farming methods, and eating corn in moderation? Or, should I add a few words in my explanation like "bitch", "Ugh", "Gross", or "Fatty" and sell it as a book to make a lot of money:

Listen up, bitches! Let's talk about corn. Corn is one of the mother grains! Wholesome, non-animal harming, and yellow like the sun. Yay! But, the truth is, bitches, it can completely strip the top soil of nutrients, dry it out, and cause flooding and mass erosion.  Get this gross-out fact: It is fed to cattle to "fatten them up" and can have the same effect on people. Gross! High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is extremely high in sugar and calories. Ugh! Only fatties eat HFCS!

 

Okay...where's the revolution of people who won't eat corn? Where's my money? Book deal?

 

My point: do your own research, don't be swayed by someone trying to make a quick buck.

I won't buy your book, Heather, but I do avoid corn as much as I can.  It is gross, all genetically modified and omnipresent in foods.  ;)  I'll buy it when it is organic and in small quantities.  Haven't had HFCS in ages...

Original Post by pandajenn19:

I won't buy your book, Heather, but I do avoid corn as much as I can.  It is gross, all genetically modified and omnipresent in foods.  ;)  I'll buy it when it is organic and in small quantities.  Haven't had HFCS in ages...

I was just proving that you can sensationalize something as innoculous as corn.

I try not to eat a lot of meat. Environmental reasons. But I came to those conclusions on my own terms, not because some trendy diet told me to.

Hehe, well, I think corn is far from innocuous, myself.  :)

In moderation, I have no problem with corn. Especially popcorn.

Original Post by gypsy_summer:

This is kind of offensive to me, my family has raised animals since forever to eat.  Being in that general industry we have many friends who have huge dairy and meat farms of which sell produce & meat to the local grocery & state wide...

How can one assume that just because a few farms are bagged on by a book or the PETA website that all of them are vicous to the animals?

I'm not a vegetarian (currently, i've cut down to only chicken) so I guess I wouldn't understand not eating meat due to a cruelty issue.  But aren't there local farms that sell meat and dairy products?  And even if that's not the case I'm sure there's co-op's and health food stores close to you that sell organic meats and produce...so why cause a fuss and not eat meat because the animals are being 'mis treated' when you can buy and consume the meats and dairys that are the opposite?

This only offends me because we get the occasional PETA Obsessor at our door, or letters in the mail that we're "murders".  Our cows are raised in lush fields, always have fresh clean water, and aren't mis treated at all - In fact they just live like cows...eat sleep and poo at their own speed!

If someone who is a vegetarian for the crulety issue could please enlighten me more I'd be greatly appreciated...Just for my own knowledge as I've never actually heard that opinion before and hell, I could learn something.

But anyway, to base your diet on a book I personally think is silly - research what's around you and change your diet to locally grown products if that's what you're worried about.

Although most of the meat and dairy industry abuse their animals. I am aware that there are small farms out there who do raise their animals humanely. But I can't help but think that the animals get killed either way. I obviously love all animals believe in equal rights but PETA scares me sometimes. I like the fact that they have a goal to treat all living creatures ethically- but I don't think that they always take a mature approach on things. And for me- veganism isn't only about saving animals, it's about the earth and my own personal health. I can honestly say that I'm a million times more healthy now as a vegan. I've learned to really appreciate life and respect everything about nature.

i went to the bookstore and saw it as a best seller and have it on hold. i had no idea it was pro vegetarian.... i kinda wanna read it anyhow.

As the sticker says:

 Got Pus?

Your Milk Does 

i started reading some of it and i really like it. of course i went to wendys and ate my last burger lol.... didnt feel good about eating it but i didnt think that the book i put on hold at 4 pm was mainly about veganism so i wasnt prepared for it. i bought the book when i went to target cuz i couldnt wait anymore heh. i was gonna go to the store tomorrow and buy cold cuts, cheese, eggs, etc.....but now i think ill go to whole foods and buy all new stuff =o

So i just got that book last week! Wow is all i have to say! I've been a vegetarian for 5 years but now i'm going completely vegan!! Its so cruel what they do to those animals!! But yes that book was completely amazing! Even if i crave something that isn't vegan i just think about what i read and i just forget that urge! My boyfriend is slowing getting into trying all the vegan recipes i make and is starting to come around! Now i'm working on the rest of the family!

i went grocery shopping today and felt a lil lost. i started to pick up an Amys meal...and it had cheese in it... so i tried to pick out something else. now, this is my first time....and im pretty sure i didnt get everything vegan to a T...but at least i tried my best!

i mainly got fruits, veggies, what appeared to be cheese free in the boxed meal part, fake chicken and burger (i dont think i picked the best ones.. but its stuff i had before and i liked it. im pretty sure its not great ingredients but at least its not meat!), etc. 

tomorrow will be hard considering i go back to work. im surrounded by cheese and meat sandwiches, eggs, milk, cakes, cookies, etc. however, we also have soy milk, hopefully fruit, and uhhh..well i hafta take a look around i guess. it says to try to get away from caffiene.. but i am surrounded by coffee. the best i can do is to try to keep drinking green tea and maybe drink one latte without the sugar free syrups like i have been drinking :/

I had always thought about becoming a vegetarian, but that book make it easy for me.  I quit eating meat because of it.  I'm so thankful!!  Although, I could never become vegan.  I think their points about dairy were very enlightening though.  I think it is important for people to think about WHAT they're eating.  The rest of the instructions in the book (about sugars, alcohol, etc.) are a little more difficult for me to follow than banning meat...I'm taking those step-by-step.  

Original Post by hgielrehtaeh:

I grew up in a farming community where there were more cows than people. I guess my mind won't be changed just because someone cusses at me while telling me about the lowest common denominator in the farming industry.

Let's talk about corn. It's a vegan crop. And it can completely strip the top soil of nutrients, dry it out, and cause flooding and mass erosion. It is fed to cattle to "fatten them up" and can have the same effect on people. High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is extremely high in sugar and calories.

Does this mean we should stop eating corn or we should support crop rotation and organic farming methods, and eating corn in moderation? Or, should I add a few words in my explanation like "bitch", "Ugh", "Gross", or "Fatty" and sell it as a book to make a lot of money:

Listen up, bitches! Let's talk about corn. Corn is one of the mother grains! Wholesome, non-animal harming, and yellow like the sun. Yay! But, the truth is, bitches, it can completely strip the top soil of nutrients, dry it out, and cause flooding and mass erosion.  Get this gross-out fact: It is fed to cattle to "fatten them up" and can have the same effect on people. Gross! High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is extremely high in sugar and calories. Ugh! Only fatties eat HFCS!

 

Okay...where's the revolution of people who won't eat corn? Where's my money? Book deal?

 

My point: do your own research, don't be swayed by someone trying to make a quick buck.

 I just wanted to comment on one aspect of your rant:  I liked the swearing and humor in the book.  It cracked me up.  It took serious subjects like weight-loss, animal cruelty, etc. and made it a little less dull, dry and depressing.  Plus, they say it how it is and I can totally respect that.  There was absolutely no sugar-coating in that book.