Finished the book within the past hour and just published my review of it on Amazon, which I am pasting here for convenience:

Bethenny Frankel, a natural foods chef (and star of The Real Housewives of NYC), has written a "diet" book that isn't really a "diet"--it's a lifestyle change; a way to eat like a naturally thin person. Bethenny says we're all skinny girls inside; we just have to learn to eat like one.

The Naturally Thin Program is pretty revolutionary--at least when compared to the diet books *I've* read (and there have been many). There is no doubt in my mind that Bethenny's Naturally Thin plan is going to raise some eyebrows in the diet community (and by that, I primarily mean doctors, nutritionists and other authors of diet books). Bethenny is not about counting calories or fat grams, weighing and measuring food or any of the other usual kinds of obsessing. This is my kind of gal!

Seriously, though, Bethenny's weight loss philosophy comes closer to my own personal philosophy than any other diet book I've ever read. With many diet books, you are ENCOURAGED to obsess (though they won't call it that) over every calorie, fat gram or teaspoon of oil, etc. It can leave people feeling guilty and shameful, and it can suck every moment of fun out of mealtime. Bethenny's plan is all about NOT obsessing.

I will not profess to understand 100% yet how to implement every part of Bethenny's program, but I have already started using it while I was reading the book. I will not credit Bethenny's plan alone with the weight I have lost in the past 4 weeks (there have been other variables such as increased exercise as the weather has gotten warmer and my starting to wean off of hormone replacement therapy (HRT))...but I am certain that her program contributed to the loss.

I am over 50, hypothyroid and on HRT--and those things together with my penchant for sweets has made it difficult to keep off the weight I lost 6 years ago. So to suddenly start losing weight again--at a rate faster than I would usually lose except on a very strict diet--has been an absolute wonder. And I've had something sweet every day! The question is--can I keep eating like this for a lifetime? It's too soon to tell. If I was a huge veggie lover and not a picky eater, I'd say the chances would be pretty good...but since I don't like a lot of veggies and I AM a picky eater, only time will tell.

My major complaint about the book is that it could be better directed to, and more realistic for, "real people." For example, it is too focused on eating out. Especially in this economy, it seemed a little...well, inappropriate...to be talking about eating out every other page (granted, she is giving examples from her own life and she is rich and admits that she eats out a LOT).

There was, I felt, FAR too little time spent on talking about cooking at home, which is where most "regular people" are eating most meals (though she does give recipes at the end of every chapter). Her rule of sharing food and tasting little bites of other peoples' food works in a restaurant (as long as you are out with other people), but it does not work with a home-cooked meal...unless you plan to make a bunch of different dishes, all so you can taste a little of each, which again does not seem very realistic to the average working person dealing with hard economic times.

I struggled with the rating for this book. I started at 4 stars, but once I wrote those last few paragraphs, I realized that it bugged me more now, having finished the book, than it did while I was reading it. As a result, I went down to 3 stars. I do feel very positively about this plan, but I also think she didn't do a good enough job of making it realistic for regular everyday people.

EDITED ON MAY 12: I felt the need to clarify that I am not saying that the Naturally Thin Program--AS WRITTEN--is a healthy way to lose or maintain weight. If a nutritionist looked at the food log of Bethenny's own eating (which is included in the book), he/she would likely agree. However, what I have done is to take Bethenny's rules and adapt them to what makes sense for me. I have been struggling with my weight for over 4 decades, so I have amassed enough information over the years that I can adapt some of Bethenny's great ideas to my own way of eating and end up with something that is nutritionally sound but also allows me to lose weight.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Sheri in Reho,

Bethenny was also a contender on the Martha Stewart Apprentice show several years ago. She was one of the finalists but didn't win.

I've added a postscript to my review above (see EDITED ON MAY 12 footnote) to clarify my position on Frankel's diet plan.

quote:

Originally posted by Sandy:
Bethenny is THIN- a size 0.

I had never seen her on Housewives, so I didn't know what she looked like until I got the book. I started following her on Twitter when I joined there a few weeks ago. She posted a bunch of pix from the Kentucky Derby when she was there last week...she IS thin...but she is really striking looking and has great style. I love the pic where she is sitting in the stands at the Derby...she has on a gorgeous pale pastel dress and a big hat with a matching ribbon band and fabric flower. With her dark hair and eyes, it was a stunning look.

P.S. She says she wasn't always thin. She doesn't give numbers, but I get the impression that, even when she wasn't size 0, she was maybe only 20 pounds "overweight" (and I use quotes because I would LOVE to be 20 pounds "overweight" from a size 0!! LOL). Or would I? Hmm.

quote:

Originally posted by Sandy:
I must (guiltily) admit that I sometimes watch Real Housewives. Bethenny is THIN- a size 0.

Ironically, I do NOT like the Real Housewives shows (though, granted, I have not been able to watch more than 5 minutes of it before turning the channel, so my view may not be well informed). When Amazon offered me this book to review, the fact that Frankel was on Real Housewives was a DE-motivating factor--meaning that I almost didn't choose the book because of it. I thought she was just some size 0 rich bitch who thought she could tell all of us poor folk how to get rid of our fat. But then I read that she was a natural foods chef...and I thought...well, okay, maybe she has something of value to say.

I'm glad I made the decision to review the book. I have really enjoyed it. And it's not dry like so many diet books--she definitely injects her humor AND her strong opinions (especially about about processed food and chemicals) into it.

quote:

Originally posted by Sandy:
I must (guiltily) admit that I sometimes watch Real Housewives. Bethenny is THIN- a size 0.

I am glad that you are having some success with her plan, Sheri!

I will admit (with no guilt ) that I LOVE the Real Housewives shows, NY and Orange County are my favs. I love that they are all so catty and rich and spoiled and it's a life I've never known or ever will know so it's an indulgence for me to see how the rich and famous live. I know I would not enjoy that life, despite the $$, but it's so fascinating to watch these women and not only their rich b**** antics, but also their struggles too as wives and mothers, just like all of us "regular folks" do. It makes them a little more relate-able.

Sheri, I have to read more thoroughly your review and will post more later.

Jill

I must (guiltily) admit that I sometimes watch Real Housewives. Bethenny is THIN- a size 0.

I am glad that you are having some success with her plan, Sheri!

I am glad you wrote this Sheri. I have on my favorites for websites one of her recipes.

I love her idea of eating real food and not all the other stuff that is out there. I am trying to really think more about food in this way.

I might see if the library got her book and take a look at it. Thanks for the review!