I came across this book while looking for low calorie snack recipes, while it doesn't provide that it still captured my attention enough to purchase it.
POSITIVES: The book is based on the correct assumption that keeping one's blood sugar stabalized not only allows a person to remain satisfied, but also helps in weight loss. This is why many diets suggest you eat 3 meals plus 2-3 snacks per day. That method (eating 5-6 small meals per day) actually will keep your blood sugar as stabalized as this method.
CONS: For "real life" use and, later, for weight maintenance, this one is a tough one, in my opinion. While I agree that a few mini meals a day can be beneficial to most, the author suggests you find recipes for 100 calorie snacks and eat every HOUR from when you wake up to when you go to bed...you can also use ready made foods...the idea is to have a diet of, lets say, a few grapes one hour, then a few bites of mashed potato the next hour, then an hour later a slice of low fat luncheon meat, then later a few bites of fat-free cheese, etc.
First, if you have a family sitting down to meals, you lose out there and it's tough to push away all else that is being served. Secondly, it's rough to have any social occasions pop up on a plan like this that you can handle. Try going out to dinner and ordering a few grapes...he he...or going to a party and eating a banana. Third, who has the time to figure out hourly meals and eat em while saying no to all other food that you may come across? (the author suggests you dont be around other food; keep it out of sight. How is that learning how to live at your goal weight long term though?) And, finally, if you lose the weight but haven't changed your habits in learning to eat in the real world with real foods, and in real social situations, you may only regain the weight and yo-yo dieting isn't so great.
But mostly: aren't you gonna miss MEALS? I, too, love to snack, but I supplement my healthy low calorie snacks with meals that help me feel truly satisfied.
studies show that if you feel deprived, you will not only not stick to a diet, but can even "binge" when exposed to temptations.
I agree with the author on the mini meals, but few have time to prepare a meal each hour or even need to do that when you can eat every 3-4 hours with the same result and bigger portions.
I recently bought Hungry Girl's 200 under 200 which is a cookbook of 200 recipes under 200 calories. That purchase was what made me search for something similar because I like being able to do mini meals like 200 calorie ones to supplement my main meals. Snack yourself Slim doesn't provide the recipes though for 16 meals per day that you have to plan out, which is fine, but I think it's a tough act to stick to as well, unfortunately, on having a few bites each hour of nothing that makes you really go "mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!" like a true meal does. (just my opinion...)
The most extensive weight loss study every completed just happened by the New England Journal of Medicine which found that it did NOT matter when you ate, (other than not being hungry prevents binging and we know eating breakfast needs to be a part of that...but eating 6 small meals per day help that) but as long as you ate less calories than you burned the nearly 1,000 participants who were studied for YEARS lost weight. At the same rate. (many had higher carb intake and lost the same amount as those on the low carb diet, finally--in 2009--disputing the carb myth in the medical society because they were studied in depth for years.) This was so extensively researched that it is now accepted by the medical society...and discussed on the news and large programs such as Weight Watchers. I mention this because, for many, simply cutting down to 1,600 calories WILL help you lose weight as most people burn more than that throughout the day. however, once you get closer to your goal, many will need to eat approximately 1,200-1,500 calories. (I personally have had my caloric intake studied and because of my height and weight my daily diet target is 1,200 calories in order to lose 2 lbs per week.)so...this alone means that instead of 16 meals that you have to take the time to plan and eat without enjoyment, you can have 3-8 of the same calories that you ENJOY and can share with family and friends...with the same results.Everyone's daily caloric needs are different...but, for some, 1,600 calories would be TOO low if they are quite large...the deficit of calories in vs. calories out should be gradually reduced to not feel deprived and to not take in too little.It's just not that cookie cutter. That can, most assuredly, leave larger people sluggish and very hungry. Not fair.
HOWEVER, any diet that motivates anyone is a GOOD diet so, while that may be my opinion, (I am a weight loss counselor but I'm not closed minded and always wanting to find something new that may work for someone having problems elsewhere) if this seems like a good plan for others then TRY it! Anything that leads you to lose weight is a GOOD diet plan! For me though...I'd rather cut down calories and have fewer true meals that are healthier, rather than bites that leave me feeling deprived more often. It's hard, for me to have 3 bites of something or plain food rather than a MEAL like a sandwich or a casserole or whatever...all those are out the door.
But again...if you can...and this works, then forget all of the above! Whatever brings one health is worth it's weight in gold!
Product Description"This is a sure-fire way to lose weight and still enjoy eating."Dr Kenneth Buechler.The method also slashes cholesterol levels, fights diabetes and turns off hunger pains.
Click Here to see more reviews about:
Snack Yourself Slim (Paperback)
This book had a lot of the same information as Suzanne Somer's other book on Somersizing "Eat Great, Lose Weight", however, this book has some updates to the original book as well as many more wonderful recipes.I originally started the Somersizing program after hearing that it could level out hormones.Having had two diseases that related to an imbalance in hormones, the idea that this program could balance out my hormones was the big draw.I did have some weight to lose, but that was not the major incentive for starting this program.After 10 weeks on the program, I never felt better in my life.I'm menopausal, but my hot flashes and night sweats have diminished to almost non-existent.I'm eating well and plenty and have so much energy. Oh, and I've lost 19 pounds to date.Some of my friends also started the program when I told them how well I was doing.All have had good results so far.One friend, who is diabetic, is amazed that her blood levels are the same all day.There are no more drastic spikes.Food combining can be a little tough to understand in the beginning, but once you master it, it is not that difficult to maintain.The main problem is the way that we have been conditioned here in the United States to eat over the years (pizza, white pasta with meat sauce, hamburgers, meat and potatoes and chemically altered foods that sit on the shelf for years). I highly recommend this way of eating to anyone who wants to feel healthy and slim down.
