Author: Krista Vernoff and Az Ferguson
Publisher/Year: Harper Collins/ 2009
Date Finished: 8 January 2011
Source/Format: Bought/eBook
Buy | Borrow | Accept | Avoid
Challenges: This may be the first book I've read in over a year that didn't count for some challenge or another.
The Short and Sweet of It
This is not your typical diet book. 1) It sets up healthy living as a competition. 2) The authors are real people instead of doctors. 3) The word fuck is peppered throughout. Even if you don't want to lose weight or get healthy, you should read this because it's so freaking funny.
A Bit of a Ramble
First, a bothersome note. I hate Grey's Anatomy. McDreamy isn't dreamy, McSteamy isn't steamy, and the lead female character bothers me something fierce. Why do I mention this in a review of a diet book you might ask? Because the primary author, Krista, is the lead writer on that annoying program. While I may not like Grey's Anatomy, I really love the writing in this book. Krista writes from a very personal, very honest, and very funny point of view.
The diet works on a points system with certain actions gaining points for participants (like eating well, exercising often, and sleeping regularly) and other actions detracting points (like snacking and drinking alcohol). The idea is to set up two teams and see who gets the most points. At first the system seems a bit complicated, but once you've read the book and printed the worksheets, it's clear that this is a plan people can follow. I am not saying it's going to be easy, but it's definitely doable.
I do have two tiny issues though. First and foremost, what's up with me not being able to drink Diet Coke?!?!?!?!?! I have been addicted to Coca-Cola for like six years, and finally, finally I manage to switch it up to Diet Coke, like one month ago, and now I'm going to start a diet which requires me to give even that up! You have got to be kidding! Second, and not quite so earth shattering, eating five times a day is going to be a problem, but just on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Those are the days I teach three back-to-back classes with like no time in between. I have yet to figure out how exactly I am going to finagle some food time in there. I typically don't eat until 3:30 in the afternoon. I know, I know, that's seriously unhealthy, especially since I then proceed to eat until I go to bed. :)
Overall, I think this is a manageable, healthy choice for me at this point. Again though, informative awesome weight loss healthy living stuff aside, the book itself is worth a read just for the excellently hilarious writing.
This Book Around the Web
If I've missed your review, let me know!
Beth Fish Reads; She is Too Fond of Books; Book Journey;
Note: I really am going to be starting this soon with some other bloggers. More on that later.
I've been wanting to try the Game On Diet for a while, I'm glad that the writing alone is worth it! :)
ReplyDeleteI had a similar reaction re: the diet coke. LOL. I can't wait until competition starts. I'm psyching myself up.
ReplyDeleteTechnically I read this as my 218th and last book of 2010, but I didn't even think to review it or include it as part of my stats...I didn't even put it up on goodreads! Hm...
ReplyDeleteJason's got one person on his team now. He needs to find some more people, lol! :D
A bunch of us did this diet last January. You are right, the author is hilarious, in a smart-ass kind of way which I liked. The diet was really really hard, if you are going to stick to it word for word. Serious burnout after a few weeks. But it brought results.
ReplyDeleteI am not sure this would work for me because I tend to fizzle out when the diets become competitive, but it does sound like a fun book. I might give it a look the next time I am at the bookstore just to see if there are any tips I could use. Thanks for the great review and the very entertaining mini-rant about diet coke!
ReplyDeleteI probably won't pick up this book (diet books: hisssssss!) but I am curious about the funny bits!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed the book. I hope you don't feel bad when my teams stomps your team into the ground... ;P
ReplyDeleteSandy - I have a feeling making the meals is going to be a giant pain...
ReplyDeleteJason - Bring it on punk!
I think I'm one of the few from the original book bloggers Game On who actually liked the diet. It did take some getting used, and after the game I relaxed a few of the rules, but I still mostly follow the eating plan (okay, so I had some serious lapses over vacation and the holidays). And I still haven't gone back to drinking Diet Pepsi! Holler if you need moral support.
ReplyDeleteI think I'm one of the few from the original book bloggers Game On who actually liked the diet. It did take some getting used, and after the game I relaxed a few of the rules, but I still mostly follow the eating plan. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI did this last year with some bloggers and the hardest part for me was all the water. Seriously, you will have to pee and pee and pee all the time. That was my biggest problem!!! Good luck with it .. I found the team and game aspect is what kept me doing it. I would have quit without that element.
ReplyDelete