Customer Reviews

Size 2 for Life: The Rational, Frame-adjusted Approach to Weight Loss for Women.

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When oh when will diet and fitness books stop saying anywhere on the cover that they are simple, new, and different from anything else on the market? I long for a day when everyone will admit that losing weight actually requires some hard work and discipline, that in the end you must watch what you eat and exercise.

So when I turned Size 2 for Life over and saw the proclamation -- "The amazingly simple new diet and fitness program that can make and keep almost any woman a frame-adjusted size 2" -- I wanted to scream. Just seeing the words "amazing," "simple," "new," and "diet and fitness" in the same sentence was enough to put me off my feed for the afternoon (wait, is that how I can be a size 2?).

Even at my slimmest semi-anorexic moments of 600 calorie a day and crazy exercise madness I was never a size 2. A 6 or 8 was it for me. And while it is true that clothing manufacturers have been increasing the actual measurements of each size, I still find it hard to believe that a current size 12 is an old size 6. If so, I would be the same size I was when I was 13!

The information in the book is good. The authors go through diet and exercise myths, discuss unhealthy ways to lose weight, and offer up their plan. Just be aware that the plan is not easy: At least an hour of exercise every day including cardio and strength training along with a pretty stringent diet of 1200-1500 calories a day.

Now, I can promise you that if you eat only 1200-1500 calories a day and you exercise at least an hour every day you will lose weight! But this is not any news, nor is it amazing or simple. In fact, this is exactly what we all know about weight loss.

The fitness component is decent, with options given for weight workouts in a gym, non-equipment workouts at home, and workouts involving easy to buy small pieces such as a ball or elastic tubing. And the diet is fine, with even a section on fast food alternatives for when you are stuck in a Burger King.

So if you are looking for a well laid out diet and exercise plan that you can follow and lose weight, Size 2 for Life delivers. Just know that what it is offering is no great and amazing simple program. Your weight loss will still involve hard work and self control.

I'm familiar with Ashley Marriott from her DVD series and appearances on Fit TV so it doesn't surprise me at all that she'd come out with a book that is both entertaining and informative.

The book starts out by going straight for the jugular of the "plus size acceptance mentality" that the authors feel is dangerous and then on to challenge, quite endearingly, some of the popular myths ascribed to size 2 (i.e. athletically thin and healthy) women. From there Ashley proceeds to trashing many of the whacky "Celebrity Diets" that we all hear so much about in the popular media. But, after that, it's all business as she lays down the plan for transforming your shape the right way.

Included in the book are simple ways to measure your current status, programs designed for one's individual level of fitness, a realistic and doable aerobic program that can be tailored to your own circumstances, a complete toning and strengthening program and even an express core and tone routine for those days when you're a bit pressed for time. Throw in a 21-day quick start diet and exercise plan and you're well on your way. I also found the addition of quotes from ordinary people about how they're able to maintain their own healthy size 2/4 figures to be a very nice touch and inspiring. All-in-all, a great program from a person with a whole lot of experience helping women really get the job done.

I live in a beach community and day after day I see those "2's" go by my window and every day I say to myself "Yeah right, I used to look like that, when I was their age." The problem is, my god, many of them are my age - with kids too! But let's face it. Time after time I've tried getting back in shape and each time I've failed. I've worked with a trainer. I've tried exercise buddies. I've been doing lunges and crunches, like forever. But still I keep hitting that "plateau." Well, finally along comes a book that tells me the truth about my workouts and what I've consistently been doing wrong. Those expensive training sessions, those tedious lunges, and my efforts to lose it all in one day/week/month are completely the wrong ways to go. Those "plateaus?" Well, killing myself in my workout during the daytime and then pigging out on (whatever) at night is the real reason I never saw any results. In Size 2 for Life the authors address these issues straight on. No more "no-pain/no-gain" approach to fitness. No more abbreviated interval training routines that burned few calories but left me sore. Just a steady, realistic and progressive journey to the body I've been dreaming of getting back to. So common sense. So simple. So right on!

Ashley Marriott and Marc L. Paulsen begin their book by looking at size and diet myths. The authors do not promise to say what you want to hear. They are honest with you. To lose weight you must do two things. Lower your caloric intake and exercise! Size 2 For Life offers charts that compare your age and the amount of exercises you should be able to do. There are snacking suggestions. The authors explain how to determine your adjusted size 2 by measuring your wrist. A twenty-one day eating plan is included. There are also recipes. I found the best part of this book to be the size 2 adjustment. I always thought I should be a size 2, because I am very short. However, I am not small boned. Now know that I should really be a size 6. That does not seem near as daunting. The authors also explain how sizes differ from brand to brand. Therefore, what you can wear in one brand may not fit in another. All in all, this is an excellent book. The diet is sensible, and the advice is sound.

As much as I loved this book I have to warn you from the outset that although it claims to be an "amazingly simple new diet and fitness plan" if you think simple means effortless then this program may not be right for you. This is not a fad or gimmick diet and you will need to exercise, almost daily. That said it really is an impressively simple plan. The easily tolerated Step-It-Up/Step-It-Down routine is totally unique and designed to maximize calories burned from fat while the Express Core & Tone routine is genius in its simplicity (takes me less than 8 minutes!). If I were to find one criticism, it would be that the first 7 days were a bit restrictive and bland in terms of the diet, but hey, I'm really not expecting to go from a size 12 to a 2 (well, realistically, a 4) without some sacrifice. After the first 21 days the diet is far less restrictive and eventually, according to the authors, you can eat practically anything that's healthy (as in: low fat, nutritious, non-artificial, etc). I don't know about the rest of you, but come this summer, I'm getting back into my skinny jeans.

It seems these days that all you have to do to have a best seller is to invent a quick fix gimmick and bash exercise as a means to weight loss and health. How absurd. I work in the fashion industry and can assure you that the women (all ages) with the most exquisite bodies (no, I'm not talking about the emaciated nicotine addicts) are the ones who, almost religiously, get their daily exercise and follow a healthy diet. Sure not every woman can have a perfect face or figure but, as explained in Size 2 for Life, it doesn't have to be difficult or complicated to be the best "you" that you can. What it takes are making some simple changes and adopting a lifestyle that will take you there and keep you there for life. Love this book!

When I read the title of this book I groaned privately to myself, but picked it up anyway. Honestly this is the first diet book that I have picked up in a long time that didn't incorporate magical food combinations, or offered miracle solutions to problems that didn't take a miracle to create.

Advice is sensible, a diet with normal food, yes, not fried, and not covered in butter, but normal foods you can find at your grocery store. I like that the book offers a good deal of advice, and advice that makes sense, find a workout buddy, write down what you eat. Weight loss isn't rocket science, it is eating less calories than you consume each and every day, and doing that over and over again.

I would recommend this book to anyone really looking to buckle down and lose weight sensibly. Advice is sound and will not endanger your health with crazy fads. Seriously a great book, and I am looking forward to my results going forward.

How could the dieting and exercise plan proposed in "Size 2 for Life" by Ashley Marriott and Marc L. Paulsen, MD not work? The problem with this and other menu-driven plans is that it succeeds in producing results during the time period allotted by the participant but once the menus `run out' it is difficult to return to the mainstream of life.

Personally, I don't think its difficult to reduce one's caloric intake while following a specific plan to the letter (or even while cheating a little bit) when one is primarily alone or the people in one's life are cooperating with your desire to get back in shape. However, let a big dinner, luncheon or party rear its ugly head and unfortunately, the very sensible idea of eating chicken or fish with steamed vegetables becomes psychologically undesirable.

"Size 2 for Life" will definitely slim you down. It's a real time option when you are concentrating primarily on dieting. However, what if your concentration was on living? What if you enjoyed food--an appropriate portion of food--that would allow you to expend just that certain amount of energy that you required and nothing more? If that were the case, why would you only need to eat chicken breast without the skin and steamed salmon?

Unfortunately, in our society we revolve life events around eating. As Americans we are taught to clean our plates. These plates are larger than necessary, but anything bigger seems to be thought of as better or the greater quantity is associative with getting more for your money. As humans, we don't need half of the food that is displayed on our plates. We have also forgotten to eat when we are hungry not just because it is lunch or dinnertime.

So what if you ate when you needed food--when your body actually triggered hunger rather than when the clock says its time? What if you retrained your body to understand this? If you experimented in this way and cut up a bowl of fruit and mixed it with some good wholesome fat free yogurt--no sugar--no additives--real food and ate only until you felt you didn't need or want anymore--how much of it do you think you would actually eat? Would you finish it? Or have some leftover? What if you did that with all your food? Any REAL food? I am not talking about processed snacks or refined flour hamburger buns--I am talking about food that is to be used as high quality fuel. You don't put junk gas in your Porsche do you? No way--why put it in your body? Why not find out what your body really needs and eat that? Wouldn't you just naturally eat less if you already had supplied your body with the nutrients it needed? You don't keep pouring gas (any type) in your car once its has what it needs to run, do you?

Now if you ate this way--you would eventually learn to eat what you needed--not what was on your plate. And you could eat anything that you wanted. Not just salmon and white meat chicken. Ugh! I can not even think of a life time of such boring choices.

Combine that idea with the exercises in "Size 2 for Life," and you might actually be able to live a real life where you could smile and not be afraid of that party, wedding or big dinner.

Bottom line? "Size 2 for Life" is a well-researched, sensible plan that will work. A 21-day menu plan is provided along with exercise routines that cover all the bases. Portion size and label reading is discussed as well as sensible eating in restaurants. Yes it works, and it will slim you down to your appropriate frame size--not necessarily a size 2, but the most fatless size for your bone structure. Even so, the menu choices are extremely diet-like and are sure to become boring real fast as they are pretty much the same from day to day--protein shakes, a mountain of egg whites, steamed vegetables and fish or chicken breast are for the most part all the selections. UGH! Why not just learn how to eat less so that you can learn to eat for life and not worry about what happens when the 21 days are over? Recommended only for those who need menus and love chicken breasts.

Diana Faillace Von Behren

"reneofc"

I wasn't sure initially if I was going to like this book but the title and the premise were interesting enough to me that I took a chance on buying it. I am glad I did. I was uncertain of what "frame adjusted" was going to mean but I appreciate that the authors created a measureable guideline for women to be able to quickly determine if they have a small (size 2), medium (size 4), or large (size 6) frame. I also really enjoyed the early chapters about wacky celebrity diets (and why logical, sane people should not attempt them) and the concept of vanity sizing. I know there is some debate about whether vanity sizing truly exists but the arguments made in the book are pretty darn convincing. The book mostly consists of a 21-day diet plan and exercise guidelines. The exercise portion has information that is absolutely invaluable. There are clear instructions for how to use gym equipment and, conversely, how to do strength training at home if you can't afford a gym membership-- a common sentiment in this economy-- or on the road during a vacation.

I ultimately bought this book to help me in my own fitness journey and in determining the question a lot of women have: "what size should I actually be?" I will warn you in advance that if you are looking for a feel-good, politically correct read, this is not the book for you. "Plus size acceptance" is challenged and refuted from the beginning. If, however, you are ready to make changes in your fitness and/or nutrition, I would highly recommend it.

Size 2 for life is really a misnomer. When you start reading the book, the first thing they tell you: depending on your frame size, will depend on whether you can reach a size 2 or not. If you are a medium frame, you will get to a size 4, a large frame - a size 6 (but you will LOOK like a size 2). I did enjoy reading this book. It was filled with helpful information and made me think about how I was eating and exercising. I will definitely keep this book. It has a great couple chapters on resistance training - at the gym, at home, and on a stability ball. All with pictures (I like pictures!). This would be a great resource for the first time person looking to start using weights and doing resistance training. As far as the daily meal plan and guide - eh. I will definitely read the daily action steps and answer the questions and/or reflect like it asked. I think that part is awesome as it helps you to deal with your emotions and why/how you are in this mess to begin with and how to help yourself get out. As far as the meal plan, no. I think it's very dull and not very conducive to a plan that you would stick with. I don't think anyone using their meal plan would last more than 3 - 5 days. But I plan on using their exercise and daily action steps to help spur me to a size 2! (I have a small body frame!)