Customer Reviews

Tone Your Tummy Type: Flatten Your Belly and Shrink Your Waist in 4 Weeks

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'm so glad that finally Denise wrote a book concerning this problem. I finally understood why I couldn't loose weight in that area. Now I can see a clear picture why, after all of those workouts in the past -my stomach still looked horrible. In this book you can go through the test-that will show you your tummy type, so you will know how to work on it. This program is so easy to follow, I actually had fun reading and finding about all of those new things for me (fun tummy truth and how to pick the right product at the store). I kind of had a feeling that I was starting a new life-organizing my kitchen and planning my day. I became more organized with everything. My husband and kids started eating so much better. Denise is just such a good motivator. I finally made myself get up every morning and exercise.

Beyond concerns about appearance: excess abdominal fat is a serious risk factor for a whole host of health problems leading to premature death and disability. The author covers this as a motivating concern nicely, "It's one thing to lose weight to fit into your favorite pair of jeans. It's quite another to do so to save your life!" (p. 21) Particularly as a health educator, that is a life-saving message I want to get out there too.

Toning my tummy to improve my appearance and my overall health is a work in progress; I am very encouraged with the results thus far. Our bodies truly are resilient and marvelous. I am combining aerobic workouts with selected abdominal exercises and other toning, especially my back (nape of neck to small of my back) for grace of movement and other target areas, as well as light weight training for overall strength.

In order to determine your tummy type by this book you will need to have access to some basic medical data about yourself, such as HDL cholesterol level, triglyceride level, and so forth. Do take the time to follow the "hollowing" technique (pp. 108-111) if you are new to abdominal exercises.

The only investment in equipment I had to make was in an exercise ball (less than $10 at a local discount store) which has proven to be not only a great exercise aid (I am persuaded that abdominal crunches ARE more effective on the ball, as research has indicated) but has also proven to be a great social magnet in my room, as my children and grandchildren love to use it while hanging out with me. All this has contributed to a sort of fitness revival in our home. My oldest and next-to-youngest (so far!) sons have offered to be my personal trainers, each being qualified to do so. So, we are having fun doing all this our own way.

I am not following the meal plans in this book because -- particularly being a health educator and having a board-certified nutritionist for a sister -- I just have not seen the need to do so. Do remember that the author is so fastidious about her diet that, by her own admission, when she eats a hard-boiled egg, she (sometimes) gives half of the yolk to her dog. That degree of conscientiousness may or may not fit with your own goals and lifestyle.

Whether you choose to follow this book as a total lockstep program or simply dip into it as one of a number of resources you are combining in your own program, I believe you will find value in it. Whether you do so through this program or another, do tone your tummy, not just for your appearance, but for your life. Choose life.

I have never tried a self help book before but really wanted to work on my mid-section. I have a very busy schedule and can't get to the gym every day. This book gave me an exercise program that works. I feel so much better knowing my tummy is flatter and my core is stronger. My husband can tell the difference, too. The book also gives you some very tasty and easy recipes and general advice for keeping up your program. I have changed my diet and my exercise habits thanks to this book.

As a complete 2 months program broken into two one month plans with accompanying explanations, exercises and diet it is motivating, educational and easy to follow. I value having the book but I recommend purchasing the DVD as well to make it easier to get started on the exercises. I would buy a book with a DVD inside with all the exercise routines if it was available. This program works.

Let me begin with the positives:
--the recipes are (mostly) tasty and quick
--the exercises will really kick your butt

On the food front, Austin seems stuck in a rut of outdated 80s dieting (i.e. lowfat, high carb, etc). I am glad she mentions staying away from faux sugar (Splenda, NutraSweet, etc) and has favored real butter previously (though she now recommends some weird butter/canola oil hybrid I have no use for). Personally, I use real butter in small amounts and my fiance must use Smart Balance (the only non-hydrogenated butter replacement on the market that I know of because he is allergic to dairy). At any rate, her recipes were quick to prepare and most of them actually pretty tasty, but BE WARNED! If you are using these recipes to cook for anyone else but yourself, the amounts of items she gives in the grocery lists will feed only one person, so get double the amounts called for (or triple or quadruple, etc) based on your needs. All the recipes were for only one person (except a few, which she says makes 2 servings, but then you are supposed to save half of the recipe to use later, but she never specified when), so whenever I cooked for my fiance and me, I had to double the recipes on my own. It would be most helpful if she would include different amounts (in both the shopping lists and in the recipes) based on the standard increments of 1, 2, or 4 people.
Also, if you follow her book religiously as far as buying the food goes, you will end up with an entire loaf of bread bought in the first week that, at the end of the second week, never got used. I'm glad I put the extra bread in the freezer right when I got it; otherwise, it'd have gone to waste.

The layout of the book is a little annoying; you have to flip from one section (the menu plan) to the section containing the recipes for that day. If you do end up buying all the food she recommends in the first chapter, be warned that some of it will go to waste. After all, it's difficult to buy just the amount of mushrooms needed for one person for one meal at the grocery store. I don't know where you shop, but where I shop, mushrooms come packaged in a pint-sized shrink-wrapped container. You can't just buy a handful. Fully half of the mushrooms have not yet been used and I'm pretty sure they've already gone bad. I also bought a cucumber, half of which also went to waste because there were no other recipes that used cucumbers the rest of the week. Cucumbers, as you probably know, don't exactly have a long shelf life.

Also, if like my fiance, you are unable to eat dairy, you will find it difficult to be on the diet. She uses nonfat yogurt and skim milk and reduced fat cheese all the time (not to mention the dreaded soy cheese). If you are unable to consume dairy, you will have to be creative about substitutions (which by the way, she does not help out with...never mentions any substitutes). So we ended up using rice milk, soy yogurt, and smaller amounts of real cheese in the recipes for my fiance (he can tolerate very small amounts of real cheese, provided it's mixed with other things and he consumes less than, say, 1/2 cup worth).

That aside, her diet looks down on the application of salt. She claims that too much salt can cause water retention and bloating. Unfortunately, food without small amounts of salt (preferrably sea salt) often lacks flavor. Toward the end of my two week run on this book, I was adding a sprinkle of salt here and there without any ill effects. What DID affect me in a bad way as far as bloating goes are all the bean and fiber-heavy dishes. Beans, lowfat-everything and lots of veggies are held by the mainstream media and vegetarians everywhere to be the best thing for health, but unfortunately in my case, I find this to be untrue. However, I was desperate to lose the slight paunch I have always had under my belly button (I'm a pear-shaped gal). So I ate her recipes...followed them religiously. The upshot? I started bloating, having gas pains, was constipated. And before you blame the salt, let me tell you that I was having problems with gas and bloating well before I put any added salt in the recipes. Also, I've managed to eat salt all my life and not get bloated. It's not the salt.

My fiance, who can handle much larger amounts of carbs than me, was also having bloody stools caused by the influx of far too much fiber. Too much fiber can cause bulky stools which stretch the intestinal walls.[...]

Ever wonder why whole wheat bread (or in my case, pitas) cause gas but white flour bread does not? Whole wheat has plenty of fiber. One whole wheat pita probably is OK, but after a whole day of eating raw veggies and beans, a whole wheat pita might push you over the edge into bloating and irritated bowels.

So the diet itself is not good if, like me, you can't handle large amounts of unrefined carbs. I'm also not impressed with her ill-considered position on soy products. She liberally uses soy cheese (I used fat free singles instead and can't wait to get back to real cheese) and tofu. There are several studies indicating that soy is not the miracle product it was touted to be. Aside from that, since her diet is so dairy heavy in the first place, why the soy cheese? It's not any lower in fat that regular American singles so why use it? I notice she doesn't advocate the use of soy yogurt (which my fiance used instead of the regular and he hated it...said it tasted like chalky pudding...and it did. I tried it. Yuck.)

Anyway, I can't really recommend the whole program, only the exercises. I think I would get a DVD of these tummy toning exercises and just stick to my Weight Watchers program (by the way, eating her entire daily menus puts you over your daily Points if you are doing both. I ended up not being able to eat a snack or have the extra glasses of milk she lists because they went over my Points for that day).

I really did give this program the old college try for two weeks. I found her recipes tasty and quick, but bloat-inducing.

I do believe that different people need different types of food. Apparently, my body benefits from a lower carb, higher protein diet as that what makes me feel best. You may do well on her program, especially if you already eat a lowfat and high carb, high fiber diet and thrive on it.

This book is a good way to get a head start on a diet.

If you stick *strictly* to the diet, it is actually a little on the expensive side, since the grocery lists can be lengthy and specific. On the other hand it is nice to have your weekly meals planned out so it is harder to "stray" from the diet. The exercises are simple and effective, and they will help you tone up your muscles.

This book is very helpful in raising awareness of how to lose weight. It will get you into the habit of exercising and eating the right way (calories and portions). I would recommend this book for anyone who has a busy schedule but needs to work on sticking to a diet.

I am always looking for different ways to "tone and flatten" my belly. I liked the different and new exercises that are listed. I think the menu looked good, but required more ingredients/time then what I have-working mother of two. It'd be hard to swing the lunch menu. The different size shapes were helpful and she always motivates me. I'd buy it again - and also her "Boot Camp" video is awesome!! It's the best video I've ever purchased, just be ready for a great workout in only 20 minutes!

I've tried diets before and failed. Tone Your Tummy Type is not just a diet - it's a way of life. I followed Denise Austin's meals and even added a few of my own and lost 28 pounds in a matter of months. It's been more than a year and the weight is still off. I still use the recipes in this book because they're easy, tasty and filling. I had almost given up hope about losing weight but decided to give it one more try and I'll always be thankful that I did. Even if you're not trying to lose weight, the recipes are delicious and nutritious! She makes it so easy to follow by giving you a shopping list and telling you exactly what to eat every day for four weeks. Plus, the tummy-firming exercises work! I only do them twice/week and my abs look fabulous and I've had a kid! I would recommend this book to everyone.

This book works. I'm significantly overweight and tend to quit fitness routines, which I did with this book too. One of the good things about this program is that you don't have to start at the beginning again. You can pick it up for a couple of weeks, and you do see and feel a difference. Its encouraging. And therapeutic.

Didn't follow the shopping lists...too expensive for me. But otherwise, very good book.

This is the first book that actually has helped me lose weight and helped me lose the tummy fat! My husband has even noticed and he didn't even know I bought it! I would definitely recommend this, it's great!