Get Real and Stop Dieting!Forget the Fads, Learn the Facts and Feel Fabulous
by Brett Blumenthal
Publisher: Amazon Encore
Publish Date: December 28, 2010
Paperback, 156 pages
Non-fiction, self-help, weight-loss, health
Non-fiction, self-help, weight-loss, health
First Happy New Year everyone. It's that time of year where we all think about starting our lives out fresh in the New Year. I know I do. I think I quit making actual resolutions, but I still set intentions for my year. Exercise more, lose the weight I've gained, think about journaling regularly, read my Bible daily.
Now let me tell you a something a little more personal about me. In 2005 I weighed in at 193 pounds. It was May and I decided to finally bite the bullet and lose weight. I joined Weight Watchers the first week in May. I started walking. My Grandfather died the next week and I was greatly saddened by this but still determined to lose weight. We travelled 5 hours to visit with family and attend the funeral. I had a 1 year-old and a 5 year-old. However in my grief and all the food provided I was able to stick to a way of eating that allowed me to eat, but eat sensibly and I lost 3 pounds during that second week of Weight Watchers and trust me I ate. I'm not sure if it's customary everywhere, but around NC when someone dies, half the world brings you food so all you do as the family is snack all day long. So the thought that kept me going during the next year that followed was the fact that if I could do it while dealing with grief and delicious food in front of me I could always do it.
In 2006 I made my goal weight of 150 and by the end of 2006 I was down to 140. In fall 2006 I started running and kept it up for over a year. I was in fact training for a half-marathon during fall of 2007-winter 2008 when something starting going wrong with my health. I was achy and tired all the time. 5 months later, running put aside I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Over the next year I exercised sporadically, quit Weight Watchers and gained 5 pounds. Fast forward another year, spring 2009, I started losing feeling in my hand. More visits to doctors and I found I had a Chiari Malformation and cysts in my spinal column (that was causing the numbness and pain in my body). I had two brain surgeries to correct the Chiari malformation in 2009 and I gained 10 more pounds. I started 2010 recovering from surgery, my old eating habits had returned and everytime I tried running again I ended up in pain for days. At that time I exercised from time to time and I felt better when I did, but life would get in the way. With two kids, a husband, 40-hour week job and the blog I couldn't devote much time to the care of myself. So at the end of 2010 I found myself 20 pounds from my starting weight in 2006. A weight gain of 30 pounds over 3 years. Some is probably due to medication to help with pain levels, most due to over-eating, a stressful life and not exercising. But I finally feel like I am getting the pain managed. I have lost the fibromyalgia diagnosis, but the syrinx is something that may plague me for life. So now starting 2011 I am going to take back my life and that is where the book, Get Real and Stop Dieting by Brett Blumenthal comes into this post (sorry for the wordiness!)
My Review:
I need something to get me back on track and this is just the book. When I was offered it I jumped at the chance. First I love the title - Get Real and Stop Dieting. One thing I have learned from Weight Watchers is it's not about a diet, it's about a lifestyle change and that is exactly what the author stresses. She starts the book with the basics about food, what is healthy and what is not. Then concisely she takes you through what she calls her "Get Real Toolkit", things that will aid you in your everyday life and help you on the road to being more healthy and happy and if you lose weight along the way that is the added bonus.
Well written and a quick read, I think this is a great book for anyone wanting to change their lifestyle anytime in the near future. And after all of that she includes some healthy and yummy sounding recipes (for each meal and snacks) as well. I plan to take her advice to heart, work on my eating and portion-size and try out some of the recipes in the New Year.
So check it out and check out this breakfast recipe from the book. The recipe is reprinted with permission and is credited to the book, Get Real and STOP Dieting by Brett Blumenthal.
Apple Banana Protein Shake
Protein shakes are an easy and tasty breakfast. You can mix whey protein powder with fruit, vegetables, milk or water to concoct a mixture you enjoy. This is one of my personal favorites.
Ingredients
1 apple -- peeled and cored
1/2 banana
1/4 cup vanilla whey protein (unsweetened -- Naturade)
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup water
Directions: Blend until smooth. Enjoy!
Makes 1 serving
Nutrition per serving:
Calories=306, Fat 2.8g, Sat. Fat 0.9g, Poly Fat 0.6g, Mono Fat 0.4g, Carbs, 55g, Fiber 8.6g, Sugars 25g, Protein 20g
About the Book:
If you are ready to make a life change for the sake of better health, look no further than this simple, no-frills guide to healthy eating. In the pages of Get Real and Stop Dieting!, fitness instructor and wellness expert Brett Blumenthal cuts through the chaos of fad diets and scientific mumbo jumbo to demystify healthy eating once and for all. After decades of experience in the health and wellness industries, Blumenthal has zeroed in on five simple “Get Real” principles, nutritional tools founded in cold, hard facts. The principles are accompanied by the “Get Real” toolkit to make implementing them easy and effective. Plus, Blumenthal provides forty pages of healthy, satisfying recipes—from whole-grain pancakes to rich chocolate clusters—to help readers launch their nutritional makeover. Healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated. Now, thanks to this easy-to-implement diet and nutrition program, you too can be inspired, empowered, and motivated to live a healthier, happier life.
About the Author:
Brett Blumenthal earned her bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Cornell University. She is a WELCOA-certified wellness expert and AFAA-certified fitness instructor who previously taught at Cornell, Gold’s Gym, and Bally Total Fitness. Two decades of experience in the wellness industry and over ten years of experience in management consulting inspired her to found Sheer Balance in 2007, and most recently, the Healthy Road Warrior in 2010, both with the goal of helping people find balance and health easily, naturally, and sustainably. She is a regular guest speaker at conferences, expos, and wellness centers around the world and consults with individuals, corporations, and wellness organizations on business strategy, health, and wellness. Her writing is regularly featured on such popular websites as Yahoo!, Shine from Yahoo!, Divine Caroline, Intent, Wellsphere, Tonic, and Gather. She has received numerous awards for Sheer Balance and her influential blogging.
FTC Information: I received this book from the publicist, Sarah Gelman. I have Amazon links on my review pages but I do not make any money from these because of NC laws. I put them solely for people to check out the books on a retail site.
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