I’ve compiled a list of my favorite products I used when losing weight. I get a small commission on every sale, but I’ve only posted products that I myself have used and enjoyed. So, it’s shilling, but it’s ethical shilling.
Scales & Gadgets
BF679W Scale plus Body Fat Monitor
with Body Water %
This is the fancy scale I sometimes refer to that measures body fat.The Tanita scale not only weighs you but sends a teensy, tiny jolt of electricty through your body to estimate your body fat and hyrdation levels. It has a 300 pound weight capacity, so if you’re morbidly obese you should wait until you get into the 200’s before purchasing this model.
Exercise DVDs
Pilates – Beginning Mat Workout & Pilates Intermediate Mat Workout
These DVDs guide you through a Pilates mat workout that builds lean muscle, increases flexibility, and improves your posture. Ana Caban is a friendly, encouraging teacher, though you will probably hate her anyway because she can bend her body in ways only circus people can. Start with the beginner’s work-out and then move on to the intermediate. The key is to keep doing the routines every other day or so. It took me six months before I could do “the Teaser.”
Cook Books
15-Minute Low-Carb Recipes: Instant Recipes for Dinners, Desserts, and More
I hated cooking when I first changed my eating lifestyle. Dana Carpender’s book was a lifeline, filled with low-carb recipes that didn’t take half an afternoon to create and didn’t require a list of exotic ingredients like rhino penis. The “Parmesan Chicken Breasts” recipe was a big hit with my mom’s church group. Also be sure to try the “Chicken Breast Italiano” which is quick, easy and tasty. This was also the book that taught me how to make an omelette, a yummy and filling way to start the day.
The South Beach Diet Quick and Easy Cookbook: 200 Delicious Recipes Ready in 30 Minutes or Less
You don’t have to be on the South Beach Diet to enjoy the recipes in this book. If you want to cook something fast that’s also tasty, you’re sure to find something in here. The “Baked Sweet Potato Fries” recipe was worth the price of the book alone. The “Mini Cocoa Swirl Cheesecakes” are one of my favorite desserts. I particularly like the “Buttermilk Waffles with Jam.”
500 Low-Carb Recipes: 500 Recipes from Snacks to Dessert, That the Whole Family Will Love
What I like most about Dana Carpender’s cookbooks are that she gets right to the point. Recipes are easy to read and there are tons of them included in this book. I like to make the “Tuna Melt Casserole” and pack some slices for lunch at work. The “Crispy Parmesan Fish” is quick and tasty way to cook up some Orange Roughy or Flounder or whatever fish you choose. I also like the “Noodleless Lasagne”
My mother adores the “South Beach Meat Loaf with Vegetables” recipe included in here. It’s replaced her old meatloaf recipe. Each recipe comes with the nutritional information printed on each page. There are some goodies in here if you’re willing to put in a little more time in the kitchen. The “Chicken Capri” is one of my favorites.
Diet, Fitness & Nutrition Books
Here’s the book that changed my life. One diet won’t necessarily work for everyone, but even if you don’t do South Beach this book teaches you how your body processes different kinds of foods and how that affects your mood and health. If you don’t know much about nutrition like I did, this is a great primer that will help you start to figure out what “eating healthy” really means.
The Beck Diet Solution: Train Your Brain to Think Like a Thin Person
Dr. Judith Beck takes a cognitive therapy approach to teaching you how to change the way you think about and relate to food. Each day you undertake a different step to slowly change your life. She even anticipates all your bullshit excuses for not doing the steps and gives reasons why you shouldn’t beleive your own excuses. A good supplement to any diet plan.
Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think
Maybe you don’t need to go on a diet, you just need to get smaller plates. Brian Wansink, director of the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab, reveals the environmental and social cues that lead us to overeat. He also plays tricks on people involving endless soup bowls and stale popcorn, all in the name of science. A fun, easy, and eye-opening read that might have you dying your Jell-O to get new flavors. The money I’ve saved buying store brand soda has more than paid for the book itself.
The Complete Book Of Running For Women
A very thorough book covering everything you need to know about running – from what sports bra to wear, what shoes to buy, running during pregnancy or menopause, injuries, racing, and why running’s so great. Well-organized with lots of section headings so you can easily find the information you are looking for. It’s also peppered with sidebars featuring more information on topics and essays by other runners on why they love the sport.
Other Books
Half-Assed: A Weight-Loss Memoir
Think the last 20 pounds are the hardest? Try the last 200.
At age 24 and 372 pounds, Jennette Fulda thought maybe the best way to lose weight was to have her gallbladder removed. Then she decided to work her ass off—literally. In her journey from full-figured to half-assed, she stops only to knock her cat off the treadmill.
Follow Jennette as she loses over half her weight without losing her sense of humor in this light-hearted and inspirational tale. You’ll only put it down because you’ll want to get up and exercise.
(Oh yeah, did I mention that I wrote this? Not that I’m biased in any way.)
The Amazing Adventures of Dietgirl (US Edition) | (UK edition)
From across the pond, fellow blogger and super-loser Shauna Reid shares her experiences of losing half her weight, traveling around the world, and meeting the man of her dreams. I related to a lot of what Shauna shares in her funny and heartfelt memoir.
Jen Lancaster will make you cry with laughter in this hilarious body-positive memoir about her failed and successful attempts to lose weight.
Fellow blogger Erin Shea edited this collection of tales from the scale. If you’ve ever struggled with your weight, you’ll find truth in these funny and touching essays.
Wendy McClure’s body memoir takes a humorous look at the difficulties of weight loss and all the pain and ambivalence that comes with it. The story is told through vignettes about Wendy’s life that avoid the typical fat girl clichés and easy endings. Many of them had me laughing out loud, particularly the one about cancer, because we all know cancer is hilarious, right? Wendy is an old-school blogger who started Poundy before I even knew what a blog was.
Fat: The Anthropology of an Obsession
A collection of essays about fat from an anthropological perspective. An interesting look at what drives our society’s obsession with fat and the different ways it materializes. Some of the topics include how SPAM’s popularity in Hawaii has led to obesity in that state, how women bond by talking about their body fat, and a country where fat is considered attractive.
