This is Why You’re Fat

For all those people who just did not know why they are fat (and there’s plenty of them out there), celebrity fitness trainer, entrepreneur and TV hostess, Jackie Warner, has the information on how you can ‘eat more, cheat more and lose more’ in her book This Is Why You’re Fat (And How to Get Thin Forever): Eat More, Cheat More, Lose More–and Keep the Weight Off

Ever wondered why you’re fat in the first place? To Warner, imbalances in hormones are what cause weight gain. According to her, when you control your hormones, you also control your fat. There seems to be many programs lately that talk about hormonal manipulation, so this is not groundbreaking, but important nonetheless.

According to the book, some of the predominant factors that lead to weight gain include diets laden with sugar, poor function in organs and hormonal imbalances. So, the author recommends several steps to correct body chemistry, satisfy hunger and overcome cravings. One such step is to eliminate caffeinated drinks and stay away from highly processed foods.

Eating Plan

In the first two weeks of the diet plan, followers are advised to eat as usual and add some new foods such as 2 eggs, oatmeal, and fruit. Some new foods are introduced. Protein shakes and herbal teas are also allowed. Later on, food control is gently introduced.

Once the first two weeks are done, the diet begins in earnest. Warner’s diet plan is a high-protein, low-carb diet. This excludes foods like bread, desserts, refined carbohydrates, junk foods, coffee and alcohol. Over the weekend, 2 cheat meals are allowed with each meal up to 1,500 calories in total. Dieters are expected to follow the healthy eating plan she advocates five days a week.

In addition to the above, the author recommends doing away with harmful medications like acetaminophen, antihistamines and prescription medicine.

Diet recommendations include lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and limited amounts of healthy fats. Food control is not terribly stringent. For instance, the author says that you’re allowed to eat a slice of meat if it fits into your palm. Suggestions such as these take the hard work out of the diet.

Typical meal plan for a day includes three main meals and two snacks. You can eat a good dose of calories while on this diet, as long as it’s the right type of calories and as long as you also keep up the fitness routine.

Exercise is a very important part of staying fit, losing weight and burning fat. But, the author has a different take on what exercises are most suited. She suggests doing away with traditional exercises like crunches. Instead, cardio exercises in the form of high intensity interval training helps lose weight and tone the body. The book includes lots of helpful pictures of Warner doing the exercises.

This Is Why You’re Fat: A Review

If you like a sensible eating plan that has planned menus and lots of helpful recipes, this book could help you. Like many other celebrity diet books, the book tells you what you already know: eat in limited quantities, take in healthy foods and exercise.

But, Warner does inject a thread of enthusiasm and competitiveness to the book and helps the dieter lose weight by empowering them.

Pros:

• The eating plan is not overly restrictive
• Promotes healthy eating
• Helpful section on label reading, shopping and eating out
• Meal plans and recipes are easy
• The exercise section is explained in detail

Cons:

• Cheat meals could well be the undoing of the dieter as you may go overboard with them.
• The authors claims that out of whack hormones could be making us fat and that sufficient amounts of the right hormones could lead to weight loss is true but the way in which she tries to manipulate those hormones to do her bidding may be inadequate
• The book’s emphasis on foods that help detoxify your body may be misplaced.

In conclusion

The This is Why You’re Fat plan is doable. Overall, the book offers a sensible eating plan with a lot of good advice. However, some of the elements of the program may not be exactly as the author describes them, giving them too much weight and influence on real fat loss. However, for someone looking for a simple to do and follow diet program, this might very well be a good option.