Book Review: This is Why You're Fat

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Author Jackie Warner is a fitness trainer, very successful entrepreneur, and host of the Bravo reality series, Work Out. Her newly-released book: This is Why You're Fat (and How to Get Thin Forever) promises you can "Eat more, cheat more and lose more - AND keep the weight off".

Let's have a closer look.

Warner is an inspiring example of someone who struggled early in life, only to turn things around through healthy living. The premise of this book is essentially that hormonal imbalances are making you fat, and correcting them is the key to weight loss.
Hormones and Diet

* According to Warner, it's a matter of enhancing HGH, testosterone and progesterone, whilst squelching insulin, estrogen and leptin - these are the keys to keeping thin. And, she gives dietary and lifestyle tips on how to optimize these hormones.
* Warner is very adamant that sugar is the prime driver of obesity and poor health in general.
* The dietary plan involves a two week jump start program, which includes a daily dose of 2 eggs, 1 cup of oatmeal, 2-3 cups of veggies, 2 servings of fruit, a protein shake and herbal teas. Low calorie to be sure, but not terribly stringent.
* The rest of the plan follows what Jackie calls a "5+2 plan", which entails eating clean, healthy foods for 5 days, and enjoying 2 treat meals on the weekends. Essentially, the recommendations call for 4-4 oz. servings of protein, high fiber carbs, vegetables, fruits, fats high in omega-3's and monounsaturated fats.
* For fluid needs, 3L of water per day.

Exercise

* The exercise section has explanations on the different components of exercise, and why each is important.
* Warmer recommends 20 minute high-intensity intervals.
* There is also a section on strength training, as well as an illustrated workout program.
* She also recommends a circuit-style workout to enhance fat-burning.

The Good

* The eating plan is sensible, not overly restrictive, and low enough in calories and high enough in protein to be sustainable.
* The plan is simple to follow and well laid out in terms of how to execute.
* Warner advocates food journaling, and has a very good section on mindset and attitude.
* There is a helpful section on how to read labels, grocery shopping and eating out.
* Easy-to-follow meal plans and recipes.

The Not-So-Good

* My biggest beef with the book was the amount of sweeping generalizations and spurious claims. While I understand that it's common diet book strategy to use power words and make bold proclamations, Warner makes some misleading, partially true, but often false, claims throughout the book.
* While keeping things simple is a good thing, oversimplification isn't. As an example, hormones do have a role in weight regulation, however it isn't as simple as eating X food and a switch goes on (or off) in the endocrine system.
* Warner also tends to push the toxin theory beyond the realms of evidence-based research, and bandies about the term far too frequently for my liking.
* She also falls victim to the common misconception that a pound of muscle burns 50-100 extra calories. This is WAY off.
* I personally wouldn't include jump lunges in a program designed for the overweight.

Overall Impression

Within this book you will find some sound dietary advice and guidelines with clear-cut outlines on how to implement it. The picture of Jackie Warner on the cover may even be sufficient motivation for many as she is someone who clearly practices what she preaches.

To summarize: her dietary advice is for the most part sound and simple enough to follow, but her rationalization for such advice lacks scientific support.