Chubster: A Hipster's Guide to Losing Weight While Staying Cool [Paperback]

Martin Cizmar (Author)

Book Description

Release date: January 3, 2012

ARE YOUR SKINNY JEANS STARTING TO FEEL A LITTLE SNUG?

You don’t have the right clothes for the gym. You don’t do protein powders, wonder berries, or green tea. The idea of going without beer makes you weak in the knees.

But there’s no denying you are one. fat. hipster.

Lucky for you, Martin Cizmar has come up with the least awful diet plan of all time. The Chubster way. It revolves around calorie counting (deal with it) and enjoyable undercover exercise (urban hiking and gum chewing). Martin gives you the tools to become a self-sufficient weight-loss machine capable of functioning in any environment. From frozen dinners and drive-through menus, ethnic eating to microbrews, he’ll point you to the responsible choice, steer you clear of the real diet killers, and dispel some of the myths giving you that tire around your waist. Like: That Stella you’re holding? It has more calories than Guinness.

Dieting is never fun, but with Chubster, weight loss doesn’t have to cramp your style.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[Cizmar] encourages you to take a hard look at yourself -- and why you've gained or can't lose weight -- at the same time as he scrutinizes himself. Reading the book feels like entering into a fitness pact with a friend, not at all like the miserable time I signed myself up for a personal trainer at Bally's who made me cry three times a week . . . The book is endlessly useful in a variety of ways." -- Houston Press

 

"Science-based and infused with 'snarky jokes,' Cizmar’s plan will particularly appeal to 'hipsters' seeking a nongimmicky, foolproof way to slim down while enjoying some laughs." -- Publishers Weekly

 

"A well-researched, serious book about how to lose weight that will appeal to folks not interested in joining in the 'Organized Dieting' movement." -- Santa Barbara Independent

 

"Full of lively writing and sound advice." -- Oregonian

About the Author

Martin Cizmar lost 100 pounds in eight months on the Chubster diet. He's worked at the Akron Beacon Journal and Phoenix New Times, where he was the music critic. He currently lives in Portland, Oregon, where he works as an editor at Willamette Week. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, longboarding, and riding around town on the vintage beach cruiser he bought at a thrift store. He considers barbecue and craft beer his cruelest temptations. This is his first book.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books; Original edition (January 3, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0547559348
• ISBN-13: 978-0547559346
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.7 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #883,587 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Nothing new but fun to read November 30, 2011

By Sarah J. Carlin VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Chubster is a hipster's take on dieting. Why is the author an expert on such matters? He lost 100 lbs by creating his own 'diet' of changes that fit within his hipster lifestyle. He begins by telling his story of dropping from 290 to 190 lbs. He then details the changes that he made, which was mainly counting calories and eating smarter foods, and adding in bouts of activity. The author includes a lot of research to back up his claims, but it is nothing new, and I'm still not convinced he has the credentials to write a diet book. Nonetheless, I did enjoy the book and found it informative.
The author relied on calorie counting to lose his weight. He claims this is the only equation that matters, citing the professor who lost weight on a diet of mainly Twinkies. While this works for some people, there is a lot of research that suggests otherwise, that sugars and proteins play a larger role in regulating hormones and hunger, especially in women.
He also did not have time or desire to go to a gym or start a regular workout regime, so he found other ways to add activity into his life. Again, this works for some people, but others will not be satisfied with the results and will want or need something more structured. But maybe they aren't hipsters.
I did like the author's frank attitude, telling readers that you have to count calories and you have to do your research about how many calories are in foods and drinks. Basically, he tells readers that you can't be lazy and you're going to need to rely on some tools to help you with this. He mentions a few different ways, such as books, Google searches/websites, and phone apps. He also points out foods that are filling, but not fat or highly caloric.
Obviously this isn't a diet book for everyone, it is geared toward one specific type of person. The audience for this book is 20 and 30 yr old hipsters who haven't cared much about diet, and do not exercise. These are people who just want to lose weight for health and/or vanity, not to become the next P90x spokesman.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars A SOMEWHAT DIFFERENT DIET BOOK January 19, 2012

By ireadabookaday VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

What's commendable about this book is that the author has achieved what readers hope for- significant weight loss. There is no rigid plan, just the suggestion to use the presented info in a way that will work for you. What's less commendable is that the book is full of fairly basic information, and in trying to do so many things - from a history of dieting to exercise shoe recommendations-does not go into depth on anything. And the author is not nearly as hip or funny as he thinks he is.

Know that this book is all about convenience, processed and fast/restaurant food. The author is anti-cooking and borerline hostile to natural/whole foods. ( See " An Open Letter to the Folks at the Farmers Market") This may be encouraging to some, a turn-off to others.

SOme parts of this book are more helpful than others- the section asking you to identify what kind of hipster you are is just silly.

A section on ethnic foods is titled " Stuff that Scares Your Aunt". Really? And Italian food is scary and ethnic?

The section on frozen meals is very subjective. Given that one of the author's "recipes" is bagged salad mixed with salsa and topped with a crumbled cheese-flavored rice cake, I surely don't trust his palate.

The section on alcohol will probably be welcomed by the target audience. Hey, did you know combining alcohol with diet mixers may get you drunk faster?

Most of the information is pretty solid, and is presented in a chatty, informal tone. It could inspire those turned off by more traditional wight loss books.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Common sense prevails! January 12, 2012

By Melaina Lara VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

There is nothing new in this book you can't find on the internet. He pretty much says so in the beginning, however, his book is easier because it's all in one convenient place.
While very well written, and very entertaining, it's also VERY common sense. Calories in and calories out. Count them, while logging them, in a book or log. Easy peasy, that is how to lose weight, and how he lost it himself.
He also includes some very good advice about staying on track, some good comparisons of frozen foods and restaurants, and strives to make finding and counting what you eat as simple as possible.
Once I finished reading it though, I didn't feel like there was much in the book that I would go back and reread or would want to reference back to, which is why for me it's a three star diet book. I'm happy I read it, but once I pass it on I'm not going to miss it.