Books The Secrets of Skinny Chicks
Books and Publications Average Rating:

Rating: - Same old info
Yawn....any woman who's read any number of basic diets will be bored with this book. It's basically an accumulation of any other diet you've surely read about.

Some samples of the many "tips" offered by the interviewed skinny chicks, the tips the book soley revolves around: Do cardio!, count calories! avoid sugar! protein is filling! avoid processed foods! Practice positive self-talk! Wow, nothing new covered here. And these tips are presented as if the author was the first to discover this ground-breaking advice.

I would think anyone could easily be a "skinny chick" like those highlighted in this book, if they were doing between 2-3 hour daily work-outs like they are! And note that all info given from the skinny chicks are about maintaining their skinny-ness, not obtaining it in the first place.

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Rating: - Annoying
I didn't find this book to be helpful at all. In fact, it was extremely discouraging. I had recently gained almost 15 pounds due to some stress in my life, and I was looking to make some lifestyle changes to take it back off. This book made me feel like it would never be possible unless I ate nothing but protein bars and celery sticks and worked out 2 hours a day, like the thin-obsessed women profiled. Nothing could be further from the truth--I've always been able to stay reasonably thin by simply eating moderate amounts of truly good food, and I just do not exercise. Ever. Most of my friends are the same way. Most women can enjoy whatever foods they want, IN MODERATION, not spend every minute of every day obsessing about weight, and still remain thin, despite what this book would have you believe.

By the way, I put the book down, went back to my former moderate and healthy eating habits, and have lost 9 of the 15 lbs in the last 2 months. Without ever consuming a single celery stick or exercising. If anything, I feel sorry for the twigs who were profiled if they think maintaining a healthy weight requires that much effort. If you're looking for a book with a better, more sustainable method, try "The Skinny," by Melissa Clark and Robin Aronson.

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Rating: - it's really unfortunate...
...how true this book is. in a nutshell: unless you are a genetic freak (and i mean that in the best way) you will have to dedicate way too much time to being a 'skinny chick'. so i guess i already knew that i'd have to slave away on my elliptical and eat portions the size of marbles, but it was reassuring (albeit sad) to see it reiterated in this book. chapters were clear and informative; writing was smooth and pleasant, and even a bit encouraging. no gimmicks, no ridiculous 'get a size 00 hiney while eating whatever you want and never getting out of your recliner'. i liked it.

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Rating: - interesting book, read parts in the bookstore d/t title
Interesting. I am a "skinny chick". I have been thin my entire life and even in early childhood (so, no eating disorder). Yes, this could be partly genetic, on the other hand, in the 70's most little kids were skinny including all of my little friends. Then what happened to them? They drank soda pop and watched too much TV, beginning in childhood. My mom never allowed pop (and as an adult I do not like the taste) and did not allow TV either. I do not consciously set out to exercise daily, but because TV/sitting around was never a habit in my family, I am naturally active. I do not set out to consume only 1600 calories per day, however given that many people consume 500-1000 calories a day in beverages alone (pop)--I probably consume significantly less but I have no idea how many because I don't bother to count them. Which is why many diets fail--counting calories is too much work. You need a method that is sustainable over the long-term, which boils down basically to changing your habits, not counting calories. Therefore I disagree with the book's premise that "skinny chicks" work really hard to be thin. I think it is more about habits and never drinking pop(including diet pop, which studies have shown does not aid weight loss--I am also a dr. and read these studies).