Customer Reviews

Crazy Sexy Diet: Eat Your Veggies, Ignite Your Spark, and Live Like You Mean It!

5 star:		(135)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Ok, I didn't realize how famous this book was when I first got it. Apparently it's a brand with a documentary and Oprah and everyone else behind it. Sorry, I didn't realize that.

I picked it up recently because it was on sale and I was looking for some diet/nutrition books that were women-friendly and wife-friendly, and upbeat. I was looking for something inspiring to stick with the program since I have four kids and a busy life, and have tried whole food diets many times without being able to stick to them long term.

In that area, Kris Corr delivers. She is upbeat and encourages you to stick to the program. What I didn't realize from the front cover was that it was going to be a book on how to become a vegan. It also includes all the more radical steps like enemas, colonics, kale smoothies, dry brushing, neti (sinus irrigation), etc. I am not sure I would have picked it up if I knew that, since I was looking for more of the moderate whole food approach. She's also anti-gluten, anti-chemical (i.e. anti coffee, anti-alcohol, anti-prescriptions, anti-Maybelline) and pro-raw. This may not be doable for everybody. Still, she does make it sound compelling and offers ideas of how to start. And she does give ideas if you're going to compromise a little. She says she still has a bottle of Advil in her cabinet for emergencies and makes a point to talk about enjoying your life, even when that means a glass of wine here or there. So I appreciated that.

I also appreciated her section on alkalinity. It made a lot of sense and had some great tips on how to begin alkanalizing your body. She did say radical things like oats and brown rice weren't as healthy for you, which always raises a yellow flag for me. I always worry that that kind of distinction can lead into the mentality that your diet is never strict enough. But then she has the health to back up her statements, so I can't pontificate too much about that! I appreciated her points anyway.

I did not appreciate, however, what a potty mouth she was. For someone who got into finding her spiritual side and weeding out stinking thinking, her language sure seems contradictory. She is trying to be good-natured and encouraging, I know, but there were enough swear words in it that I was hoping my kids wouldn't oversee. I was also a little unsure about lending it to some of my more reserved mom friends. I give her full, full credit and respect for kicking inoperable cancer and having a great attitude about it. But I think the cursing and party-girl slang everywhere made it seem TOO much like a marketing ploy. Like she's trying to force dieting to be fun and flirty by talking like a college co-ed. It is refreshing from all the science jargon that many doctorates in nutrition write, but she has all the scientific jargon in there anyway. Between s*** this and f*** that. So I found it unnecessary. She could have been upbeat and countercultural without it.

(If you like that stuff, Skinny Bitch actually does a better job anyway. This book is like Skinny Bitch in novel form!)

And I really didn't appreciate how she brought her political affiliation into the book. I am not sure why Democrats assume that only Democrats care about diet. Actually many, many conservatives are just as "back to nature" as anyone else, and saying you're a Democratic, beer-swilling party girl doesn't help the book appeal more widely to people who would otherwise read it. I am a conservative, I like sexy, and I have the same reservations she does about FDA endorsement, government policies, the corn/soy lobby, and being wasteful. I am not criticizing her for being what she is, but why bring it into a diet book? Her points could have been made with the science and good attitude alone.

So in the end, I really wrestled with whether to give this book four stars or three stars. As a diet book with good ideas and helpful descriptions of detox, it is a four. For the party-girl language and tone, I give it a three. It is strong enough to get in the way of the reading. I liked the book enough, but it wasn't what I was expecting.

I use this book as a guide, not The Bible. There are parts I skipped that I didn't want to read--animal cruelty in the meat industry (had enough of that when I read Fast Food Nation), meditation/yoga (my idea of meditation is taking a walk alone and I am not a yoga fan). But the book is full of great info and it's nice to have it all in one place.

I'm on Day 5 of the cleanse, which I started b/c I've been eating horribly for the past year. I cheated and had a big piece of cake at my friend's birthday party last night, and let me tell you, I woke up this morning and felt like vomiting. So maybe the cleanse is working.

Again, I use the book as a guide. So I still use the microwave, even though I'm not supposed to. I'm not going to kill myself about it. Also, if you don't make much money and have a family to support this is going to seem like an expensive plan. If you don't live near a Trader Joe's (for cheap cleanse staples like almond butter, nut milk, etc.) and a place that sells inexpensive produce, this is not going to work. Making juices every day will take at least an extra hour out of your day to prep and clean, and I'm not sure how I'm going to make it for another 2 weeks while working.

One interesting thing about this cleanse is that I feel beyond full, prob. from all the roughage. You will definitely not be, and should not be hungry. But I find myself thinking about bread a lot, not so much for the taste, but for the texture in my mouth. Rice/corn/nut crackers seem to take the edge off a bit but it's definitely not the same!

I love this book. i love kris carr! but i am really disappointed in the kindle version of this book...there are more than a handful of pages that include testimonials, the "diet" plan, lists of GI foods, the dirty doze/clean fifteen etc that I can barely read even with a magnifying glass (and believe i have tried). You can enlarge the font on every other page but these pages therefore there is no way to read the itty bitty writing...which means although i paid for the book I can't read a lot of it, including all the info on the 21 day cleanse (the heart of the book). I don't have the money to go out and buy the book again so...not sure what i can do. But regardless...i am really inspired with what I have read!!

Imagine living what you thought was a `healthy' lifestyle and then getting the wind quite literally knocked out of your sails with the diagnosis of a rare and potentially fatal disease? Don't think it can happen to you? Think again. It happened to Kris Carr. And it happened to me. If it wasn't for Kris Carr coming to my rescue, I think I would have drowned in my own sorrow. She quite literally made me see the "light" and I was able to swim to the top again. Don't wait until you receive some bad news - there are things you can do NOW to empower yourself and feel better than you've ever felt before but it's going to take some re-education away from the SAD (Standard American Diet) way of life. Just know this - there ARE foods you can eat to improve the chemistry of your body. There ARE practices you can develop to rev up your spiritual mojo. There ARE ways to learn and embrace a "new normal" and in the process make every day you have left breathing and loving on this planet more extraordinary than you could ever imagine. Kris has done the legwork for you. This is not just a book about a food diet, it's a life diet. It's recipes for all your needs, not just food on the table. Although it's a lot of information, you don't have to jump all the way in. But just try...stick a toe in and then go a little deeper every day. Take what you need and what will work for you and then try a little more of her sage advice. I promise you'll come away with some nugget of wisdom that you haven't been offered anywhere before. Kris has helped me develop a lifestyle and practice that works for me and I will always be grateful because despite being given my `expiration' date, too, I feel better than I've felt in years and I'm smiling and laughing again. A lot. I'm truly living now and know the time I have left will be filled with more spirit and joy than I could have imagined a year ago!

First off let me just say that this book has helped me to not only love myself but to fall in love with myself. I like many others have many health problems; i have researched many options on ways to help myself (anything that does not include meds) I have read many books on raw food/vegan etc. Before reading this book i had begun adopting a semi raw food/vegan plan but I always felt deprived, trying to look for a quick fix and just plain blah, then one day i was at Barnes and nobles and saw this book and thought why not(got on amazon it was cheaper). Kris has helped me to realize that eating right is only a small part of the battle, its all about the mind, make yourself feel sexy, know that you are a hot mama, take risks but most of all don't judge yourself if you fail. just get right back up again. Her book and website is amazing tons of information not only about food but about cleansing your life as well. Anybody who is looking for a good book on nutrition and a great book on becoming a sexy, fun, loving being this is for you. Health is just not what you put into your body buy also how you receive (events, thoughts, emotions) and give them out to yourself/world. GET THE BOOK, money well spent.

first of all, my opology for not so perfect english, it's my second lunguage.
but i will do my best to say my opinion about this book.
WE NEED THIS BOOK, i agree, there is not much new info,nothing , that you can't find on a google, it's very similar to "the kind diet" by Alicia Silverstone (that book is the reason we start eating healthy)about year ago.
but, unless you aware of this lifestyle, and it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle,you don't know.
all my life here in america, i was thinking walmart , is perfect place to shop for everything, it's cheap, you don't have to go to many stores, just go to superwalmart, get everything you need, done.
after reading Alicia's book, everything change, i avoid walmart like plague, most all food there, loaded with white sugar, hormones, all kind a chimicals etc,.
Kris is delivering message to all of us, who is not aware of what we eating, what we feed our kids.
everybody need to read this book, WE NEED MORE BOOKS LIKE THIS, TIME TO WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!
by the way, i got juicer, breville, it's rocks!!! orange juice now taste like orange, not some sugary orange stuff from plastic bottle that loaded with BPA.
THANK YOU KRIS!!!! LOVE YOUR BLOG, LOVE YOUR HAPPINESS!!! LOVE YOUR BOOK!!!
MAKE JUICE, NOT WAR!!!
DO SVIDANYA!

We all know we need to eat more veggies and less junky foods, but do we really understand why? As a dietitian, this is the first book I've seen that gets down to the nitty gritty on why green foods are so important in boosting your immune system, how and why certain foods affect the acidity/alkalinity of your blood, and why any of that matters in an entertaining, can't-put-the-book-down kind of way. It is fascinating, empowering, and highly motivating. Since reading this book, my husband, myself, and our 3 kids (all under age 5) have added a scrumptious daily green smoothie to our already healthy diets, and are now feeling more energized, more focused, and running circles around all our cold and flu-bugged friends. This book not only includes essential health information, but tons of practical nutrition and lifestyle recommendations as well. There are delicious recipes, and 21 sample days to guide you on the right foot. Following the principles discussed in this book is the best gift you can give yourself and your loved ones. Kris Carr is living proof that this plan is the best way to live. You will thank her!

What a fantastic, well written and researched book! I loved this book and it has greatly inspired me and permeated my brain in a way that I have already become a more conscious eater. I love the way Kris writes, with humor and a lightness that helps digest some of the more scientific aspects of the book. She lays it all out there and lets us make the decision, arming us with information, inspiration, tips and tools for us to take on a new adventure if we so desire- and I sooo desire!!! She is never judgemental and allows us the permission to take gradual steps in our comfort zone and also comes from a place of knowing how hard it can be to make a drastic change for the better. The empathy is there, right along with the kick-butt attitude and after reading I definitely feel able to make this change. The 21-Day Adventure Cleanse is on my list for the new year. Unlike other diets, fasts or cleanses, Kris adds a focus and an affirmation to each day to keep you on track; it's not just the food changes that are important but the the change needed in your mind as well. The shopping tips and recipes are an added bonus! She tells you exactly what she buys at the store and stocks in her fridge and pantry and why. If you or someone you know wants to make a healthy change for the body, mind AND spirit - get this book!!!!

I will start by saying that I am a huge fan of Kris Carr. I have seen her documentary, read one of her previous books and regularly read her blog. She is truly an inspiration for people who are dealing with serious diseases or for those who are interested in prevention. Prevention is the main reason why I became vegan more than 2 years ago. My diet evolved over time and books like Crazy Sexy Diet encourage me to keep it clean and stick to whole foods.

If you or your loved one suffers from a chronic disease, you may find this book especially useful or even lifesaving. The lifestyle described in this book can help in many situations when a patient finds the course of action suggested by his or her doctor unacceptable. Or in situations where medicine cannot offer any relief.

Although this appears to be a well researched book, I have to point out some factual errors that a Registered Dietitian proofreading this book should have noticed. In her acknowledgments, Kris mentioned that Jennifer Reilly, RD did so; however, that does not appear to be sufficient.

-on page 168, she states that B12 in the form of methylcobalamin is absorbed best. In fact, cyanocobalamin is absorbed better that methylcobalamin. This is significant because 1000 mcg of cyanocobalamin can be taken twice a week, while methylcobalamin in the same dose will have to be taken daily. It is important for vegans to know this distinction to avoid deficiency.

-on pages 73-75, Lilli B. Link, MD suggests that it is not necessary to take 1000 mg of calcium. She invokes a study that looked at raw foodists and another epidemiological study. She also continues to promote the theory that consumption of too much protein is a significant factor in the development of osteoporosis. This theory is slowly being discredited with newer studies that have been coming out and that have analyzed this relationship. She also fails to mention some cross-sectional studies that showed that vegans may be at a higher risk for osteoporosis-related fractures because of lower calcium intake. One of the examples is the EPIC study where vegans had 30% higher fracture rate than vegetarians, fish eaters and meat eaters. Vegan RDs: Jack Norris and Virginia Messina discuss this topic in detail on their blogs and the website veganhealth.org. They conclude that there is no reason to believe that vegan diet prevents osteoporosis or that vegans need less calcium that everybody else. Brenda Davis, RD and Vesanto Melina, RD, both of whom are vegans, agree on this point as demonstrated in their book "Becoming Vegan". So if you are a vegan, it makes sense to pay careful attention to the amount of calcium you consume from food and if you don't get enough, make up the difference in supplements.

-on page 68, Kris discusses the amount of protein that a person needs every day. She states that the USDA daily recommendation is 0.36 g of protein per pound of body weight, which is true. Using an example of a 130 pound woman, she calculates that she would need 47 grams of protein. Then she states that according to experts like Dr. Furhman, this recommendation is too high and that we only need 20 to 35 grams of protein. However, there is very little evidence that this is the case. All four vegan dietitians, whose names I mentioned above, suggest that vegans should not consume an amount of protein lower that what is recommended. They suggest that vegans should eat more than what is recommended. Specifically, in "Becoming Vegan" Davis and Melina say that "for vegans on predominantly whole foods diets [which is what Kris Carr recommends], a figure of 0.9 g protein per kg body weight is suggested" 0.9 g per kg is approximately 0.45 g per pound. This will mean that a person with weight of 130 pounds will need roughly 59 grams of plant protein. It is not that hard to get a proper amount of protein on a vegan diet. However, it is important that vegans understand how much they truly need. Dr. Furhman may be a well meaning person, however, both my husband and I experienced a protein deficiency that resulted in hair loss following my reading his book "Eat to Live," which was one of the first books that I read after becoming vegan.

I don't mean to discourage anyone from becoming vegan. That has been one of the best decisions that I have made in my life. I just want to make sure that readers who have been influenced by this book to change their lifestyle for the better understand how to properly balance their diet and that Kris Carr herself gives solid nutrition advice to her readers and followers.

I'm a big believer in the raw vegan way of eating, just not a big practicer, because it's really challenging and I'm kinda lazy :)

Kris Carr is a very enthusiastic writer. A littler over-the-top for me. I find her style unprofessional. I'm not her girlfriend, and get quickly annoyed by the overuse of cutesy catch-phrases (For example: your body is no longer simply a body in CrazySexyLand - it's a God-pod. Blech.).

I also question how much science she has to back up her recommendations. Common sense absolutely tells us that we are not eating well in America, but she has chosen a big battle and seems to have brought a big rainbow-colored, butterfly-shaped balloon rather than big guns to fight with.