Review: Skinnytaste Fast and Slow
356309
I love the Skinny Taste blog and checked out her first cookbook from our public library and loved it as well. I enjoyed this one, but not as much as the first. Maybe a personal preference, but there were more recipes that called my name in her first cookbook.

I was eager to get my hands on a copy of this one since it contains slow cooker recipes as well as quick fix ones. Many of the  breakfast recipes were more like ideas than recipes to me.  For instance  stuff on toast.

I did try the Perfect Medium-Rare Roast Beef in the Slow Cooker, but after the suggested time my beef was still very raw in the middle. Then I think I might have gone a bit too long, as once it rested it was done and a bit on the tough side. It had a great flavor though. The gravy was way to thin. I had to double the flour to get it to a thickness a little more than water.  I did shred the left overs and added them and the gravy back in the slow cooked the next day. I cooked it for a few hours till falling apart tender. Then served them on rolls with some Provolone, and it was delicious.

Hoping to try a few more of the recipes soon especially some more of the slow cooker ones. There are gorgeous photos though out the book. I love that there is nutritional information for all the recipes.

I received this book from Blogging for Books for my honest review
343806
The food plan (I hate to call it a diet because it really is healthy eating)includes fresh fruit and vegetables, lean meats and a variety of pleasing extras.  I wasn't able to fit into my summer clothing and lost 5 1/2 poinds the first week (only had 10 total to loose).  NOTHING has worked for me in the past as far as "diets." Tip: you do not have to give up coffee or yogurt.  Don't make yourself missearable otherwise you won't keep with it.  The important part is eating fresh fruites and vegetables for snacks and sensible on the weekends.  The recipees are yummy! As a health fitness finatic I stay away from extremes this is all about healthy balance and getting your metabolism going.  Once it is going you can go out to dinner and not feel guilty...have that ice cream sundae occassionally and still fit into your clothes. If you just can't seem to loose those extra pounds, this is for you! Best part I have not gained ack a single ounce!!
2196039
Still working on my diet, but this book gave me a kick start.
1830044
I found the shake options during the Fast Release phase to be very filling.  also enjoyed the Shrimp soup and primarily ate the same one for the four days.  Recipe was awesome.  I have yet to start the next phase but look forward to it.  I'm a diabetic and maintained my  sugar at a decent level during the four  Fast release days and did drop a pound or two.
958729
The Sugar Detox was pretty easy to follow. For me, however, there was no noticeable difference in the way I felt. I didn't do the skincare regimen strictly. By the end of two weeks I was craving all of foods I had denied myself. Seems the answer to everything is MODERATION!
4378397
I very pleased with the skinny stur pack. I do feel it really does help control my hunger. I look forward to trying the other flavors and thank you for the coupons and discounts those things are greatly appreciated by families who really are trying to watch where their money goes. Will buy again and have already referred a friend.
3764646
I love the philosophy behind the smoothies and I've enjoyed playing around with the recipes. I've been substituting a smoothie for either breakfast or lunch and I lost 5 lbs. in two weeks. I actually feel better and eat less.
2862283
Smoothie Recipes for Rapid Weight Loss: 50 Delicious, Quick and Easy Recipes to Help Melt Your Damn Stubborn Fat Away! by Fat Loss Nation is a great collection of smoothie recipes that are designed with the aim of fighting the bulge.

Incidentally, I am not a fan of Kale, but have been trying to substitute Kale where possible for spinach.  I mention this because I have found w/in the pages of this book two tasty recipes that allow me to get some Kale into my system and enjoy it too!  Namely, these are Kale Strawberry Kiwi and Kale Banana Avocado.  Needless to say, they each are devine.

Grab a copy and experience some of the great smoothie recipes for yourself!
4739017
The recipes are so easy, quick to prepare and very inventive in their use of low to no calorie ingredients.  And they are tasty!  Rocco provides a grocery list for each week which is handy, but lengthy.  Some of the ingredients are difficult to find and many of them are on the pricey side.  Having said that, it is worth it if the results are there. I have learned quite a bit about the use of some very interesting ingredients, such as sugar free pudding.  Who knew how helpful those could be to add flavor!

I have only been at it for about 8 days, so I can't comment on the weight loss except to say that I am not going to lose anything like a pound a day!  I have about 15 pounds to lose, but am 55 years old which makes weight loss very difficult.  Also, I am normally moderately active--I run, walk, garden, bicycle and do yoga.  I do my cardio outdoors though, and with the sub zero cold in the Midwest lately, I have not been doing much exercising since starting the diet.  I will re-post if I am super excited about the weight loss.

I recommend this book.
3666528
Well I loved The Fast Metabolism Diet, so I knew The Burn would be just as good!  I am currently 9 days into the 10 day burn, and loving it!  The recipes are delicious!  I feel lighter, full of energy and my skin is glowing- even with these freezing temperatures. The tea and smoothies took a couple of days to get adjusted to, but now I look forward to them.  My husband and I are on this weight loss journey together, he is down 11 pounds in 9 days!  The biggest thing we have noticed is we are not hungry, the food, teas and soups are hearty and filling! I  We are jumping right into the 5 day burn after this, and then going back to the 28 FMD!  If you have not read or tried Haylie's plans before and you are looking to lose weight, get healthy and feel great- her advice is what you need.
4227708
I enjoyed reading her story but kind of wish she had focused more on that than on her program. Her program wouldn't really work for me. Just eating recommended portion sizes and counting fat grams works if you have a variety of foods but if you need to get most your calories from a couple foods you are going to have to eat more than one serving, like I might make a soup and have to eat more than one cup a day or at a meal. On the whole though it is good to eat portion sizes of things like nuts, oils, treats, things like that. Her rice and noodle serving size was a bit small. I think a cup is normally considered a serving and non-starchy vegetables are so low in calories that they don't really need to be a concern. She seemed like a very active person even obese and that is where I struggle. I am not as active as I should be and feel super tired just standing for a short period. Another thing is I am sensitive to decreased calories and start feeling hungry all the time, lightheaded, unmotivated, and will just put on the weight again. It is better for me just to focus on a half lb. to a lb. a week instead even if it takes longer. I am good at eating a balanced diet and generally do not buy unhealthy foods like chips, donuts, cake, and Oreos on a regular basis. My struggle is more with sustainable weight loss. Oh, and walking outside would never work for me. Group classes are the most encouraging and inspiring way for me to lose weight. I also like variety. Calorie counting is best for me too. Keeping track of my food on myfitnesspal.com helps so much and helps turn off my hunger signals or at least tells me when I need to stop eating. To lose weight and keep it off you need to find what works for you not someone else.
612024
This is an eating strategy that works. But, your expectation should be to stay fit for life. Eat this way for the rest of your life.

I am a male with a small frame. My normal weight in my early 20's was about 128 to 135. I was considered too skinny. My optimal weight is 140 to 145 depending on muscle mass.

This year I lost 25 pounds, from 170 to 145. In 6 months my belly fat went from 40 inches to 32 inches--that's 8 inches! I also added muscle mass in my legs.

The principles I took most to heart from this book are:
--Do not get your calories from liquids. (I kept to this but could have done much better if I would have also quit coffee and daily wine consumption.
--Switch to foods that are higher on the satiety index.

The things that I did besides these two things as are follows:
--I stepped up my exercise, little by little. Recently I started jogging. (jogging helped take off the last 5 pounds faster)

--I did not count calories fully, but I became calorie conscious. I read all labels. I went to web sites. For instance, I switched to the Ruby Tuesday Veggie burger think I reduced the calorie. In reality, the veggie burger was over 800 calories without anything else. The bison burger was almost the same calories. All I was really doing is reducing fat, not calories. Educate yourself on what calories you consume.

--I elimninated fast food and sodas altogether. I might eat fast food once in 4-6 weeks.

--I reduced my portion size, trying to estimate calorie limits

--I switched to Veggie burgers and very lean meats. Turkey sub at Subway, without the cheese, with light mayo, on wheat, and all the veggies, is incredible on the satiety index for me, and only about 400-500 calories.

--I added breakfast. I never ate breakfast in my life. I mainly use yogurt. I buy all kinds of different yogurt so I do not get burned out.

--I never go more than 3-4 hours without eating. This one is hard so I eat a bit of yogurt, freuit, or slim-fast protein drinks for the in-between meals. The idea is to keep the metabolism high.

--I increased fruits and veggies, and other healthy foods. But I make sure that I do not overdo any one food. I try to not get redundant else I will get burned out--even on a good thing. This has to be maintainable the rest of my life.

--I reduces drastically processed foods such as chips, cookies, wheat thins, and other snacks. I went to popcorn instead.

--I have exceptions, but use the exceptions to make sure that my diet is not too restrictive. Too restrictive could cause me to just quit altogether. It is better to eat the chips, cookies, burgers, and fries on occasion if that is what keeps you fit for life. None of those things will cause you to sabotage the whole diet, but certainly they must become occasional, not the norm.

--I never lost more than a pound or 2 a week. Big calorie deficits will slow down your metabolism. Create a small deficit, switch to foods high on satiety index, elimiate calories in drinks, and you can easily lose some initial weight. After that, it may become a struggle where you have to do many different things such as exercise or change up your food.

--I could have had faster results had I adhered more attentively to the diet principles, but I just wanted progress, not overnight miracles.

In all, this book can help set a eating strategy that will create the calorie deficit you need and never be hungry. Additionally, it is balanced, not too restrictive, and maintainable for life. That is the key to success. Low carb, low fat, and too low of calorie diets are not the answer for fit for life for most Americans.

This book, however, must be combined with other diet principles. I do not view it as an end all, one resource book.
4629836
I bought this online strictly because of the title. I didn't preview a sample, I just jumped in. I was pleasantly surprised to say the least. I bought the ebook on Saturday June 4 and by sheer chance I was looking at the Parade magazine the next morning and it had a whole page on, "The Skinny on Fat". There was a quote from Dr Steven Masley, co-author or "Smart Fat", "It's a huge shift. We have been condemning all fat for 30 years without good evidence.:In light of that, I think the author of, "Eat Meat and Stop Jogging", Mike Sheridan is really on to something. It is a good read of about 160 pages and over 50 pages of the references he used. Now that is a boat load of references and I don't mean the Cliff Notes kind either. Anyway, read it and I think it will wet your appetite for more.
3918743
I am always on the lookout for new healthy recipes that don't taste healthy and are quick. Who wants to spend hours in the kitchen preparing dinner when you have a fulltime job, family, and more responsibilities than you can keep track of? Who wants to run to four stores looking for exotic ingredients?

skinnytast cookbook inside

Gina Homolka runs the Skinnytaste blog where she shares easy, flavorful recipes that are low calorie and made from all natural ingredients. The Skinnytaste Cookbook includes some of those recipes with 125 new ones. Yep, you get 150 total recipes in this collection including some vegetarian and gluten free options. With slow cooker, freezer friendly, or quick meals, you can either prepare ahead for the day or the week or whip something together in 30 minutes or less. The recipes range from Make-Ahead Western Omelet Muffins or Pumpkin-Obsessed Vanilla-Glazed Scones for breakfast to Too-Good-to-be-True Potato Soup and Grilled Steak Sandwiches for lunch. Homolkas appetizers are sure to be a hit at any party (and guests will never know they're eating healthy). Salads, Poultry (So-Addicted Chicken Enchiladas, anyone?), lean meat dishes (from beef to pork and lamb chops), fish, and meatless mains (Quinoa-stuffed peppers) will give cooks wide menu options. And, of course, no supper would be complete without the sides and dessert (Baked Bananas Foster a la Mode).

skinnytaste recipes

With lots of great pictures to tempt your tastebuds, The Skinnytaste Cookbook is a great source for recipes. While some of the recipes have more ingredients and instructions than I would buy or follow, most of them are truly simply and easy for the person or persons who want healthy, delicious, and fast meals. This is one for your collection.

***Blogging for Books provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.
1128966
I workout regularly and couldn't lose the weight. I don't eat fast food, but I did eat some of the wrong foods. Well, this is my 5th week and I lost 14 lbs. I figure why not try it exactly as he says, its a balanced diet and I enjoy the foods. I didn't realize that it really has to do with timing, cravings, and the kinds of food I used to give into, even if it was just a little. I'm so content with the results. Here's to round 2!!!
4231958
The Fast Metabolism Diet is the TRUTH! I feel like I've been missing out. In 2 months I lost 19lbs and went from a size 12-14 to a 10.  Depending on how the size runs, I can wear a 6 or 8.  Just knowing that I have a couple of size 6 & 8 dresses in my closet is motivating in itself.  Adhearing to this eating regimen takes a great deal or preparation and determination.  Eating so many times per day can be daunting at times because you may not be hungry but you still have to eat.  Plus, eating within 30 minutes after waking was a challenge for me; mainly because I hit the ground running and breakfast isn't usually a part of the race.  What helped me stick to this was eating my morning snack first, then eating breakfast 3 hours later.  I went on vacation in late June and lasted only 3 days before I was off of my schedule. Sadly, I haven't been back on schedule since.  The good news is I have not gained any weight and haven't completely reverted back to my old eating habits.  I plan on kickstarting the FDM again next week. I'm 14lbs away from my goal weight. BEWARE!!!! You're body gets use to eating clean and doing otherwise will have consequences.  I made a cake using coconut flour and other FMD approved ingredients BUT I sweetened it with honey.  Literally within an hour after eating the cake, my stomach and I got into knock-down drag-out brawl to which I was defeated....bad bad bathroom scene!  So beware should you decide to treat yourself to something your body is no longer use to having.
255452
I have been looking for different methods to better control what I eat, and when I saw this title I figured it was worth a look. It is really a simple concept; to eat during a more limited window of time, and to make sure within that time you are eating a well balanced diet. I think I have a tendency to eat less in the morning, eat a big lunch, and then go hours without food until dinner. This doesn't work well as I find myself binge eating horrible food by the time I am home from work because I'm ravenously hungry!  I tried to follow the guide, and will admit I had some issues (because I am used to eating at certain times), but it is for me mostly about adjusting my habits, rather than this book doesn't work.  I started and did alright the first couple days (aside from being a little hungry toward the end of the day), but then unfortunately was rear ended and kind of fell off the horse. I assure you I will be trying this again though.
As far as the recipes go - there are lots in here. The best thing I have tried is the Maple Flavored sweet potato fries - I never thought about putting maple syrup on them! It really hits the spot.  The next thing I plan on trying are the baked potatoes twice. Who doesn't like cream cheese and butter?!?  There are quite a few other things that sound really good and I look forward to trying them (zucchini frittata,  savory hashbrowns, etc).  There are several sample day meal plans. This is helpful if you are clueless on what to eat.

**I received this product at a discounted price in exchange for an honest review**