Outsmarting the Female Fat Cell: The First Weight-Control Program Designed Specifically for Women [Paperback]

Debra Waterhouse (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1994

A revolutionary breakthrough in the weight-loss battle, developed by super nutritionist Debra Waterhouse. Shocking new evidence reveals that women's fat cells are different from men's and dieting actually makes women's fat cells multiply. Debra's special 3-month OFF program (Outsmart Female Fat) helps women shrink those troublesome fat cells.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

At first glance, this appears to be just another diet book, but it is different. Nutritionist Waterhouse discusses the physiological reasons that make it difficult for women to lose weight and explains why changing the body composition to lose fat is more important. She then shows why diets don't work and presents a program that combines aerobic exercise, eating moderately throughout the day, choosing low-fat foods, and not eating after 6 p.m. By gradually integrating this program into their lives, women can control their weight without dieting and also improve their health. Waterhouse's advice about coping with travel, restaurant meals, and holiday meals is useful, too. Recommended for health and fitness collections.
- Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., Cal.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 238 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446601292
• ISBN-13: 978-0446601290
• Product Dimensions: 4.1 x 0.8 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #747,209 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome! It is so easy!, March 1, 2005

By 

Rebecca L. Casceoli (Boynton Beach, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Outsmarting the Female Fat Cell: The First Weight-Control Program Designed Specifically for Women (Paperback)

She states in the book that, "the typical American woman today eats 200 calories less then she did in 1960 and weighs about 6 pounds more." Wonder why? Read the book!

This book is for the person who wants to make very simple changes to their life which will allow them to eat the foods they love - in moderation. You never feel deprived or guilty! And you will lose weight - if you are honest with yourself. I was working out 4 to 5 days a week and was still gaining weight. After joining weight watchers the amount of food I ate was diminishing, but I only lost 4 pounds in the first two weeks then 4 weeks went by and I lost nothing. It seems that I wasn't eating enough for my body to release the fat! After reading this book, 4 meals a day is helping the weight loss. I decided to track my points with the Weight Watchers to see what I was eating. I am eating beyond my 35 flex points per week - which equates to over 1600 calories a day!!!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Every woman should understand what's in this book., January 18, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Outsmarting the Female Fat Cell: The First Weight-Control Program Designed Specifically for Women (Audio Cassette)

I picked this book from my personal shelf a year after buying it. A year into a successful change of life which resulted in a new way of eating. What I discovered is that this book thorougly explains how to control fat by keeping fuel in the furnace. Biggest lesson to be learned: NEVER SKIP MEALS. You don't save calories, you pump up your body's natural fat storing activity. Great book with lots of practical advice. You need to read through it, though. It's worth the effort.

23 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sensible and inspiring but scientifically unsubstantiated, May 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Outsmarting the Female Fat Cell: The First Weight-Control Program Designed Specifically for Women (Paperback)

Debra Waterhouse provides a way to lose weight permanently through life-long eating and activity changes rather than dieting, per se; her recommendations are fairly standard in terms of aerobically exercising 4-5 times a week at a moderate level and minimizing fat intake. What is particularly nice about her approach, however, is that she does not outlaw any foods per se; simply suggests lowering fat and eating only when hungry, until satisfied (rather than full), thus encorporating several small meals rather than a few large meals into the eating plan.

What doesn't work in this book are the scientific rationales behind her approach. She claims you cannot starve a fat cell; you must exercise it off. Unfortunately, this is not really true because one of the reasons we evolved to store fat was to use it in times of starvation. Also, she suggests finding the appropriate level of exercise through a singing test to see if you are breathing hard enough; this however will vary from individual to individual based on lung capacity and breath control.

Therefore, while I think her suggestions overall are sound and practical and almost do-able, if she is going to try and give scientific rationales, she should provide footnotes to support them. (She does provide a reference list in the back, but does not specify where she got each piece of information.)

Read it, but take it with a grain of salt.