Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2187 in Books
• Published on: 2007-12-18
• Format: Bargain Price
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Customer Reviews

Secrets or Just Common Sense either way It's Gold!
I headed over to Barnes and Noble to browse the diet books section again. I figured of the more than 300 titles in this area there had to be at least a few left that I hadn't already purchased! I had seen this book before, but I had the mindset that "celebrities have so much money..their secret must be lypo and botox, personal chefs, diet pills and personal trainers...how can an average Jane compete." I picked up the book in spite of myself and copped a squat on one of the lounging chairs at the bookstore. From the introduction I was hooked, it was such a lighthearted, honest and humorous read. I found myself smiling and thinking something in response to the celebrities statement...only to see the author put in print my thoughts in her response.

One reviewer stated that the book is contradictory, well that's a given when it's the "opinions" of many celebrities. I've always been of the mindset and my good friend say's all the time, "any diet will work the secret is to find the one that works for you." I think this philosophy is summed up nicely in this book because what works for Jennifer Garner, might not work for Jessica Alba and so on.

There is a lot of common sense stuff in the book that we all know, but for me hearing someone actually say "add benefiber and emergen-c to a little water" was more instructional and straight forward than saying "add some fiber to your diet." Most of the book is specific as to what is actually eaten (fruits, veggies, lean proteins) and very specific (low mercury tuna) and helpful websites are provided to put you in touch with where to shop for specific items. Throughout the book are different tips and suggestions from the celebrities and their trainers. I think you definitely must pick and choose those that fit into a plan you can live with, but overall it's a lot of great advice. I read it in one evening and now I plan to go back through it with a fine tooth comb, pick out the things I think I can incorporate into my lifestyle, and note these in a little notebook that I can carry with me in my purse...maybe add in a few quotes for when I need one of my girlfriends to kick me in the rear.

I have not read the beauty secrets book so this was my first encounter with the authors. For me, this is such a motivational book because it's like having girlfriends right there with you each step of the way. We often look at celebrities and we see perfection. To read what they think of themselves, that they laugh at certain aspects of the illusion of who they are, that they have the same hangups and insecurities about their body AND that they have to work just as hard to keep their body as we will need to is very motivational. I also liked the little "hollywood words/vocabulary" splashed throughout the book, it helps to break things up a bit and serves as another form of laughter.

I would highly recommend this book to my friends, in fact it's currently making the rounds in my office. It's probably not for die hard fitness guru types, but it's dead on for most any woman that ever just felt like giving up, like nothing made a difference, like she was in it alone. I've already started to use several of the tips and it kickstarted my old eating habits. I know I feel better, lighter and cleaner when I eat more veggies, fruit, lean proteins and consume water, but it's all too easy to forget something so simple in a working, going to school, housewife, soccer/football/track/dance mom world...thanks for the inspiration, it's just what I needed to get back on track!

A Fun Read with Good Advice
"We interviewed A-list stars and their trainers and nutritionists because celebs have no choice but to stay in shape; it's their job." ~ Introduction

"The Black Book of Hollywood Diet Secrets" is a book filled with not-so-secret tips for weight loss. While it is true that you may have heard it all before (eat your veggies and protein), this book puts the tips in an easy-to-read format that is really fun to read. The tips include the basics of a healthy diet along with ideas for exercising more and more. The book begins with stars either saying they exercise all the time or that they don't at all. Are you willing to work out six times a week? There are very few stars in this book that say they don't exercise.

Have you heard that artificial sweetners make you fat? If you need more motivation not to use them this book also explains that they dehydrate the skin. One surprise is that chocolate can help you burn fat. I'm sure they mean dark chocolate. It would have been helpful if the authors had promoted "stevia" as a natural sweetener. You may also be surprised to learn about the healthy benefits of parsley and asparagus.

In the first French Toast recipe, the instructions tell you to mix egg whites in a bowl but they don't list how many eggs to use in the ingredient list. I assume they want you to use two eggs. They do remember to put in the egg whites in the second Banana French Toast recipe. Some of the stars interviewed say you should eat only egg whites while later in the book it is OK to eat whole eggs. Which is it? At times there is no consistency because everyone has a different idea on how to lose weight. It seems you have to make a decision based on the facts presented in each case.

Here are some of the items mentioned in the book (in case you want to order them along with this book - they don't give specific brands):

Original Wu-Long Weight Loss Tea Bags, 60 Servings
Itoen Tegaruni Matcha (Japanese Green Tea Powder 30 gram)
Bernard Jensen Black Cherry Concentrate Extra-Quality 16oz from Bernard Jensen
Amber Agave Nectar Syrup 16oz (100 % Pure Raw Cetified Organic)
Nature's Bounty CINNAMON 1000 mg - 100 Capsules
Bigelow Chinese Oolong Tea, Tea Bags, 20-Count Boxes (Pack of 12)
Parsley Herb 100C
Benefiber-Natural Fiber Supplement, 25.6oz 190 Servings
The F-Factor Diet: Discover the Secret to Permanent Weight Loss

So will this book help you lose weight? I think the advice on walking is encouraging as I've lost 25 pounds walking one hour a day on my treadmill. I plan to lose even more now that I have some extra tips from this book. The advice about exercise is correct as far as I can tell and the diet tips could make a difference in how you view food on a daily basis. Little changes in your lifestyle could mean a loss in weight and that is what this book is all about.

~The Rebecca Review

Good book, very useful
I love this book and find myself looking through it very often throughout the day....I wish there were more references to health products/foods/drinks, etc. I was very excited to go online and buy the MIRACLE REDS...a great substitution for high sugar, high calorie energy drinks. I think that the advice/tips that are provided throughout the book are great.