The Karl Lagerfeld Diet (Paperback)

by Karl Lagerfeld (Author), Jean-Claude Houdret (Author), Ingrid Sischy (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Famed couturier Lagerfeld was determined to lose weight, not because he was obese or suffered from health problems, but because he wanted to wear clothes designed for younger, slimmer men. His vanity paid off: he lost 80 pounds in a year on the "Spoonlight program." The three phases of the Paris general practitioner Houdret's regime are not exactly groundbreaking—they involve limited calorie intake; no refined, fatty or fried foods; and an emphasis on lean proteins and fresh vegetables. The bulk of the book provides no-nonsense yet elegant (read: French) recipes for approved dishes, rated according to the diet's different phases. So far so good, yet some later sections seem incongruous, especially the ones where Lagerfeld and Houdret discuss face-lifts, and the chapter on exercise is rather strange ("If you really want to change the look of your breasts, you will need cosmetic surgery. To tone them, sprinkle them with cold water every morning and perform the following exercises"). The book is really a hybrid art book/diet manual, and its best chance for success stateside (it has sold nearly 200,000 copies worldwide) may lie in the former. For it appears certain aspects of this diet have been lost in translation. Photos. (May)
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Product Description
"One fine morning I woke up and decided that I was no longer happy with my physique. Although I was overweight, I had gotten along fine and had no health problems. But I suddenly wanted to dress differently, to wear clothes designed by Hedi Slimane….But these fashions, modeled by very, very slim boys—and not men of my age—required me to lose at least eighty pounds....I did not think that it was possible to lose so much weight in one year....[But] in fact, it took me exactly thirteen months." (Karl Lagerfeld) The Karl Lagerfeld Diet, developed exclusively for Karl Lagerfeld by Dr. Jean-Claude Houdret, reveals the secret techniques of Lagerfeld’s amazing weight loss regimen. By first addressing the mental and behavioral causes of varying degrees of obesity, this book provides valuable insights and useful tips for preparing the mind and developing the willpower necessary to commit to this diet. It then provides one hundred twenty gourmet recipes devised by Dr. Houdret, which cover breakfast, soups, starters and salads, eggs, seafood and fish, meat, pasta and pizza, vegetables, sauces, and desserts. Topping it off, Lagerfeld provides his personal tips for staying slim, attractive, and fit with additional chapters on skin care procedures, cosmetic treatments and surgery, general medical care, stress management, giving up tobacco, sleep, and exercise. Both an instructional guide and a motivational coach, The Karl Lagerfeld Diet is the ultimate accessory for healthy living. "Karl Lagerfeld’s case is spectacular as it shows how it is possible, through determination and willpower, to return to a harmonious balance even when excess weight is of a long-standing, deeply ingrained nature. I hope that many will be inspired by the example of the slimmed-down, elegant, and indefatigable Karl Lagerfeld to lose either the few pounds they feel should be sacrificed for their happiness or the several dozen pounds that are detrimental to their survival." (Dr. Jean-Claude Houdret)

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Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: powerHouse Books; Pap/Pstr edition (May 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576872513
• ISBN-13: 978-1576872512
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #266,336 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

114 of 114 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Strict Caloric Intake Based Plan, May 10, 2005

By	Diana F. Von Behren "reneofc" (Kenner, LA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Dr Jean-Claude Houdret, architect of the Spoonlight (his supplement brand name) program -- renamed here "the Karl Lagerfeld Diet" after the famous haute couture designer lost over 88 pounds and maintained a weight that enabled him to wear clothing that he had last worn when he was 18 years old -- advocates a simple-to-understand but perhaps difficult-to-implement regime of three phases where the emphasis is eating mainly protein and certain vegetables and maximizing muscle retention by adding his pre packaged protein supplements. Mr. Lagerfeld freely comments throughout this pleasantly formatted book in blue-fonted asides, relaying dieting tips and offering support in the form of his own personal experience complete with line drawings, photographs and even a poster summarizing the plan to hang in your kitchen pantry door.

Speaking strictly from a practical level, as certain phases of this diet rely on substituting Dr. Houdret's protein supplements for actual meals, -- Dr Houdret's dieting concept hinges on the fact that the unhealthy loss of muscle mass during weight loss can be avoided by adding extra protein to each meal -- this diet plan may not be feasible simply because the Spoonlight product is not easily obtained. That is not to say that Houdret does not advocate the consumption of real food - the recipes that make up the bulk of this book require great seasonal ingredients. These actual meals debut in the second phase of the plan and their frequency increases as reliance on the protein sachets decreases in phase 3--- But don't get confused and think that this is just a recant of other recent European idea imports like "the French Fallacy", the "Montignac Method" or "French Women Don't Get Fat,"that advocate enjoying real food in limited quantities. Houdret's Spoonlight program, while heavy on the protein, limits fat intake to almost nothing and recommends only eating carbs in the form of most green vegetables. Dried fruit, peas, dry beans and lentils are not allowed. Neither are cheese or dairy products unless their fat content remains within the 0% to 20% range. The usual top offenders of white flour, pasta, rice, chocolate and sugar remain taboo on this plan.

Houdret warns that there will be some physical and mental discomfort on the most limited phase of the plan and requires further supplementation that runs the gamut of a general cocktail of vitamins and minerals to natural hunger suppressants, cactus extracts, doses of ginseng and yarrow and a metabolism balancer consisting of spirulina, chromium yeast and lithotamus. All are packaged by the good doctor and sold on his website.

On a nuts and bolts level, Phase I of the diet consists of consuming only 800 to 900 calories a day and is only suggested while under the care of a monitoring physician. This level which is recommended for only 2 weeks consists of Spoonlight protein sachets ingested with 8 ounces of vegetables, three times a day. As a less aggressive starting point, Level II is not as depriving (1000- 1200 calories per day) , with slightly more variety on the protein intake as you are allowed a fish, poultry or meat choice in the evening rather than the mandatory protein sachets consumed at breakfast and lunch. I found Houdret's suggestion of following up a meal with some low-fat cheese or yogurt interesting as well as timely in light of study results that find low fat dairy beneficial for weight loss and disease prevention. Level III allows the participant to consume 1200 to 1600 calories a day with the addition of whole wheat toast at breakfast and fruit following dinner in the evening.

Bottom line: As this plan seems to incorporate low-fat, low carb and protein balance into one minimalist plan, I can't see how you could not lose weight, especially if the strict guideline of meal replacement fits into a busy schedule that does not allow for time to think let alone plan or eat a good healthy meal. On the other hand, even though I found some of Houdret's less conventional dietary no-nos food for thought and plan on experimenting with them in my own eating plan, I don't want to spend most of my food budget on consuming proteins packets and supplements instead of real food. I would rather learn how to eat right for the long term without having to rely on a quick pre-packaged fix.

17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The Best Thing About This Book, June 13, 2005

By	Another Tired English Major "somewhere in Sea... (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

The best thing about this book is that we get to see pictures of what Karl Lagerfeld looked like when he was young and handsome, before he got that strange little gray ponytail and the tinted sunglasses. You KNOW what I'm talking about. The diet isn't so much rigorous as it is regimented and you have to buy the doctor's supplements as well. Get the book for the pictures of Monsieur Lagerfeld, eat healthily, and ignore the rest.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Art of Living and Dieting, January 8, 2008

By	Ballerina (Australia) - See all my reviews

Take it seriously and not too seriously but it's a nice book to keep for those interested in Karl Lagerfeld, the much celebrated flamboyant fashion guru of the House of Chanel. With the typical Lagerfeld flair, he shares his wisdom of the art of living and dieting. Working together with Dr. Jean-Claude Houdret, this is a tried and true diet book with the most adorable artistic touch. Not only are we given the know-how to preparing the mind and developing the willpower necessary to commit to the diet, it offers a hundred and twenty gourmet recipes developed by Dr Houdret exclusively for Karl Lagerfeld. In addition, Lagerfeld offers personal advice and tips for staying slim, fit and attractive, which includes skin and health care, stress management and cosmetic treatments and surgery if required. The book caters for those who want to "...lose either the few pounds they feel should be sacrificed for their happiness or the several dozen pounds that are detrimental to their survival." The slimmed down and elegant Karl Lagefeld is testament to his successful diet and his book, the ultimate accessory for healthy living. Even if you are not into dieting, you will be fascinated by the way that food can be turned into artwork beautifully presented. A sure way to avoid gluttony!! Enjoy.