Book Review: Belly Fat Diet for Dummies

It is the third week of January and I am doing fairly well with my New Year’s resolutions. One of my goals is to improve my overall health by reducing stress, working out, and maintaining a healthy diet. I have read many articles and have numerous diet books. I have numerous exercise books and even more healthy cookbooks. Belly Fat Diet for Dummies, written by Erin Palinski-Wade, is a comprehensive book that focuses specifically on helping readers understand their belly fat, create customized plans to lose the fat, and then maintain their overall goal weight.

I have been a fan of the “Dummies” books for years. They are comprehensive and answer all of my basic questions. They are written for everyday people, like you and me, in a manner that is easy to understand. Lastly, they are an easy read. In this particular book, there are twenty chapters. They include the following:
1 – Taking Control of Your Waistline and Your Health
2 – The Truth about Belly Fat
3 – Step Away from the Scale: Examining Your Health and Body Type
4 – How the Belly Fat Diet Can Work for You
5 – Preparing Yourself for the Belly Fat Diet
6 – The Key Nutritional Components for a Flat Belly
7 – Jumping into Your Meal Plan
8 – Meal Plans
9 – Easing Yourself into Exercise
10 – Belly-Blasting Workout Routines
11- Planning and Stocking a Flat Belly-Friendly Kitchen
12 – Waking up to Healthy Breakfast Options
13 – Whipping Up Lunches That Fight Belly Fat
14 – Deliciously Slimming Dinners
15 – Desserts and Snacks
16 – Common Pitfalls and Challenges
17 – Dining Out and Special Occasions
18 – Belly Fat Maintenance Plan
19 – Ten Belly-Bloating Foods
20 – Ten Nutrients That Shrink Your Belly

Overall, I am impressed with this book. It is completely comprehensive and isn’t a fad diet book. It aims to educate you about weight, loss, and living a healthy life. I really like the way it is written and I will be returning to it often as a resource.

I am a very visual person. I like the fact that Chapter 10, the Belly-Blasting Workout Routines chapter, has photos of each exercise. I also like the fact that the recipes aren’t bizarre foods that my family won’t eat. As a mom with an extremely hectic schedule, I don’t have the opportunity to cook multiple meals for my kids and myself in order to make everyone happy. I need to cook one meal that addresses the health and nutritional well-being for everyone AND be a meal that everyone will eat. I have read several books in the past that have some downright funky ingredients that my kids will never push past their lips! The Belly Fat Diet has recipes for Whole-Grain Bruschetta Pizza, Low-Calorie Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Cordon Bleu, and more. In addition, the book incorporates daily meal plans. Awesome – all the planning is done for you!

About the Author: Erin Palinski-Wade is a Registered Dietician, Certified Personal Trainer, and a Certified Diabetes Educator. She is nationally recognized as a nutrition and fitness expert and has contributed to media outlets such as the CBS Early Show, The Doctors, ABC News, Fitness Magazine, and more. She has a private practice in New Jersey, known as the Vernon Nutrition Center.

*Disclaimer: I did not receive monetary compensation for this post. I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of this review. The opinions expressed here are my own.