"Skinny Bitch"

would you recommend this book?  I'm a new vegan :)

i do not like the tone of the book much, i prefer a different style of writing, and also sometimes the book sounds unnecessary harsh, and found some factual errors. just my two cents - i know people like different things

Original Post by floggingsully:

Original Post by whatever07:

would you recommend this book?  I'm a new vegan :)

If your just starting out get a book by someone who has some sort of education in nutrition.

Starting a vegan diet based on this book is like decideing to start going to the gym and getting a workout designed by a professional poker player.

 

well said!

Original Post by ka2007:

Original Post by floggingsully:

Original Post by whatever07:

would you recommend this book?  I'm a new vegan :)

If your just starting out get a book by someone who has some sort of education in nutrition.

Starting a vegan diet based on this book is like decideing to start going to the gym and getting a workout designed by a professional poker player.

 

well said!

Kim Barnouin has a Masters of Science Degree in Nutrition. I don't understand how you could make this statement. :/

I've never read it so I cannot comment.  The name turned me off I guess.  These are probably a little drier, but I recommend reading the China Study and Eat to Live. 

Original Post by viyahn:

Kim Barnouin has a Masters of Science Degree in Nutrition. I don't understand how you could make this statement. :/

 No, she has a degree in holistic nutrition, which makes her about as qualified as someone with a degree in fairytales.

OMG just read this and was considering going vegetarian anyway! definitley have started more changes to go not only vegitarian but organic! I loved it and it has totally changed my way of thinking about what goes in my mouth! I recently have been in a nutrition class and am studying in the health field, NOT HOLISTIC< and have found that while some of the info is slightly off center most of it is dead on! and the way they present the info is Hilarious! All they are doing is putting there findings out there and want you to make up your own mind! Either way yes read it, research the info, then make up your own mind! I am still doing the coffee thing tho cause do not want tooo many huge changes at once!

Original Post by mabear32059:

All they are doing is putting there findings out there and want you to make up your own mind!

 If they wanted you to make up your own mind, they'd have presented both sides of the debate.

Well, sully, since you're so opposed to the book just don't read it. :) Personally I loved it, yes I would recommend it, and no I don't think it's a bad as you're saying it is. My cousin (who is a nutritionist) says it's a good book, and that's good enough for me. I -like- the sassy, bitchy tone of the writing because it gives you that 'kick in the ass' I tend to really need and I find the cynical, sarcastic humor very amusing. The recipes are extremely helpful, as well.

As with any book, I wouldn't recommend you blindly take the contents as biblical fact. Do your research, and as the authors constantly insist, "use your head!"

As a new vegan I don't feel this book will hurt you in any way, and every once and a while it might even prove a valuable resource. Vegan brownies, for example! ;)

Original Post by trsidn:

no coffee? 

Nope. They say something about it causing ulcers (i can't quite remember).

All i remember them saying is that it makes your mouth 'smell like ass', or something along those lines.

Still drink gallons of the stuff anyway! I figure coffee breath in the morning isnt as bad for people to deal with as me without coffee in the morning.

I just got it from the library. I'm not vegetarian or vegan, but I thought it'd be interesting to see what they had to say.

I couldn't take anything they said seriously after reading the chapter on protein.

its an ok book, bit wishy washy but its encouraging veganism so its not bad.

the only thing i will say is that it seems to be a trigger for eating disorders. everyon i know personally, except myself, who has read skinny bitch has ended up being anorexic/obsessively food controling and restricting/compulsive exerciser.

Original Post by adolphs:

I've never read it so I cannot comment.  The name turned me off I guess.  These are probably a little drier, but I recommend reading the China Study and Eat to Live. 

Really wanna read The China Study!!!!!

I *love* coffee.

No cream sugar or any stuffs.

http://www.heartattackproof.com/

Cites the China Study. May need to do this myself.

I'm a vegetarian who is taking baby steps towards veganism because I want to get it right. I read Skinny Bitch and I loved it. I thought it was interesting and funny. It's a good read. That being said for those that have been questioning the authors' credentials I understand your point. As with anything you should obviously not just read one book and make it your guide to life. I imagine the original poster has obviously done her research as most vegetarians/vegans have so she understands the importance of getting information from different sources. Anyhow, it's a fun read. I would say it's worth your time.

Im sure, like everything else its something to take in moderation. The way the book is written is very in-your-face which gives that whole "my way or the highway" attitude. But i was thinking about something i 'invented' when i first started loosing weight called the tropical island diet where i focussed more on fresh fruit and veg. Fish and chicken and eggs for protein, cut out alot of cheeses and pork and drank a ton of water. I think someone looking to make the transition but may be a bit apprehensive could benefit from taking a lot of the ideas in the book but not going to the extreme of pulling a 180 degree lifestyle change overnight (that would be impossible anyway). At the end of the day, if your happy with your decisions thats really all that matters.

As both a vegan and someone who is trying to just generally eat healthy, I skimmed Skinny Bitch and was not impressed. The take-home message of the book to me seemed to be "eat whatever crap you want, as long as it doesn't have animal products or byproducts." I can tell you firsthand that just because you are vegan doesn't mean it is effortless to eat a healthy diet and stay slim--there is plenty of vegan junk food out there, and you will find it if you want it.

Skinny Bitch has a whole section on where to find vegan junk food. To me, the whole emphasis of the book seemed to be Bitching out your non-vegan friends, rather than getting Skinny. Again, I didn't read the whole book in detail, so maybe their recipes are healthier than they seemed at first glance, but it concerns me that the authors push veganism as the end-all solution to weight loss. Veganism is not a magic bullet for weight loss and I think people who become vegan for that reason are going to be dissatisfied both with the lifestyle and the results.

Another note: the term "veganism" incorporates more than just not eating animal products and byproducts--it includes eliminating them from your wardrobe, beauty products, etc and making an effort to eliminate animal suffering from your lifestyle as much as possible. People who adopt the Skinny Bitch diet but continue to buy leather products and animal-tested cosmetics may eat plant-based diet, but they are not vegan.

I absolutely loved Skinny Bitch. I am a vegetarian on my way to being vegan. It didn't just talk about animals though. Probably the most helpful for me was the chapter on sodas. I'm a total soda addict and I'm really working to cut them from my diet. This book definitely does not advocate eating whatever crap you want. I wanted to add though, that my favorite veg book of all time is John Robbins "The Food Revolution." Seriously, the guy is a god.

I would not recommend it no offense to anyone but the writers and the message kind of advocates cafeteria vegetarians. Its really kind of  were going to gross you out and verbally abuse you / make you feel guilty about eating meat. I am more of a science person and the preachy whiney tone of the book turned me off quickly. If you are someone who can easily jump on a bandwagon with little evidence and anything to back up the claim of, ( as formerly mentioned, a holistic nutritionist) go for it. If you are a skeptic who likes evidence and all sorts of crazy science stuff, like I, try another approach.  

The whole if you want to be a skinny bitch you need to xyz.. if by skinny bitch the author means anything like the disgusting attitude and tone of her writing.. no I would like to be the exact opposite. Judge the book by its title this time, and anyone penning vulgarities into the title of their literary work is opening them-self up for all sorts of criticism of their education and credibility.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this book... it changed my life... I was already avoiding meat for a year prior to reading it, but not consiously.... my body rejected the idea of eating it all on its own.  After I read the book I became a more conscious and strict veggie.  They do advocate taking the change in at your own pace, which I have eliminated all animal product except for fish once in a while, and I hope to become a full vegan when my will power allows. 

I know their language and tone is a bit unconventional, but you either ignore it and focus on the facts, or you're one of the people it's aimed at who feel that they need a good kick in the butt, such as many of my friends and some people who posted earlier.

The reason they aren't presenting "the other side" is that it simply doesnt exist in the debate to kill or not to kill.... But for those who it does exist for.... well your side is very well presented everywhere .... McDonalds, KFC, Got Milk commercials, Cheese propaganda... it's everywhere you look.... so people like us need to reach the masses with sassy names on the book, and kick-ass language and doing what we can to reach.... anyone we can.  Cause Cheese will not bring us together like they sing in that diddly song on TV

Original Post by hayleymajayley:

I just got it from the library. I'm not vegetarian or vegan, but I thought it'd be interesting to see what they had to say.

 

I couldn't take anything they said seriously after reading the chapter on protein.

What's the chapter on protein say?