drsatterfield13's review

3.0

Good read with some great tips but the editor could have done a better job of editing...quite a few typos, mis-references that caught my attention.

misslorieo's review

4.0

While this is not a program I'd necessarily follow as "bible" (I've decided I'm not really a specific program type of person) there are a lot of very good pointers in this book. Common sense and very well-thought out advice.

mesbooks's review

1.0

seriously!?


kristindh's review

3.0

I would say if you like Bethenny then you'll like this book. If you don't like Bethenny, then you won't like it. She writes just like she speaks. She's very matter of fact and I like that but not everyone will. She's also very repetitive. Again, I didn't mind it because she was kind of hammering home her 10 rules and reminding me of them along the way. Some people might not like that.

She's not really saying anything new or groundbreaking. She's just taking what has worked for her and trying to outline it in a way for people to apply to their own lives and eating habits. I personally have never had a real problem with weight but feel like since having my daughter that I've completely lost control over my own willpower. I went from indulging every whim for 9 months to having to go back to eating the way that I used to and that has been a real struggle. Though the weight has (mostly) come off, I don't really truly feel that I'm going about my food choices in the right way and I was looking for something that could help change my lifestyle. I'm over diets.

The book helped me a lot in the sense that I definitely feel that I've regained some perspective and control to what I put into my mouth. Some of the rules definitely reverberated with me more than some others. The one that I remember the most is "pay attention." I can't tell you how many times I've put together a plate of food, sat down in front of the TV and the next time I look down, the plate is empty and I'm stuffed to the gills. Since starting this book, I really noticed myself slowing down or stopping and evaluating what I'm doing. Half the time it makes me stop eating because I realize "you know what, I'm full already."

Another rule that stuck with me - You can have it all, just not all at one. It comforted me to think that no food was off limits no matter how fatty and ridiculous as long as I can create some sort of balance in my meal.

From reading the first rule, my eating habits changed instantly and I felt instantly better. And though I can't promise that I'll follow every rule to the letter, I definitely identify with the spirit of what Bethenny was trying to convey.

A couple of minor criticisms:
- Her editor should be fired. There were several errors in the book. I'm not sure if that's exclusive to the Kindle or if that was in print too but it was kind of silly that someone didn't read it more closely before publishing. That's just me being nitpicky though.

- Some people may only need to read the first half of the book. She splits the book into 2 parts: First part she goes over the rules in detail. Second part she reviews the rules and then breaks it down further in giving examples of how she puts the plan into effect in her own life over the course of a week. When I got to the second half, it really started to get repetitive and I found myself just skimming for recipe ideas.

- When she starts putting the "plan" together in the second half, I thought it got a little confusing. I liked the simplicity of the rules and just trying to keep those in mind is enough for me. I didn't really need the one carb meal and then one protein meal and then another carb/protein meal with this kind of snack and that kind of snack. For me, it's too much to think about. I think that commentary is more for people who need more structure but for me, it took away from the more simplistic part of the book that I identified with.

Overall, I liked it and I think some of it can work for me. Hell, it already has. I don't know if it can work for everyone but it can definitely give you a few things to think about if you are struggling with your eating habits. Especially those of us who are truly sick and tired of the word "diet."

meli0706's review

3.0

This book really has two parts. The first part is a series of ten rules to follow to be "naturally thin." Honestly, these rules are not bad and most are basically common sense. However, the way that Frankel describes how to execute these rules honestly borders (or maybe crosses into) disordered eating. Only taking a few bites and throwing the rest away IS wasteful and reminds me of that Sex and the City episode were Miranda goes out with the guy from California. Eating off other people's plates is just obnoxious. And scooping your bagels is basically eating disorder 101. The rules are not terrible, just take them in isolation of Frankel's use.
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lawyerlee's review

3.0

I'm not a diet book reader, but I adore Bethenny and wanted to learn about her experiences and attitude toward eating, so I grabbed this off my mom's bookshelf.

anitavocado's review

3.0

I love her outlook on food and nutrition, but most of all I love using her recipes since she gives loads of options if you don't have an ingredient. This book has more lessons and less recipes than her first book, but I love it nonetheless.
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catoftheseas's review

4.0

Pretty good read, loads of info I'm a Bethenny Fan for life.

michalcocerdev's review

2.75
informative inspiring fast-paced

adriannagrezak's review

2.0

I'm a huge Bethenny Frankel fan, but the way this woman writes drives me crazy. I couldn't get past 30 pages of A Place of Yes and I've been skimming this book to get through it.

In terms of the content, it's either common sense or speaks against the way you previously approached food. I like that she's asking her readers to reconsider the way they view food, to appreciate quality over quantity. I just wish it was written better instead of a series of rhetorical questions and lectures addressing the pronoun "you."
Furthermore, like another review said, not many people will pay for a slice of cake or steak and only take three bites. We're in a culture of excess, but we still pay for that excess.