The Gist: Welcome to the second month of the VegNews Book Club! This month, we are changing the tone a bit and reading Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. This book became quite popular when it was published in 2005—it was on The New York Times bestseller list for more than a year—among vegans and non-vegans alike. It caused a bit of controversy, which I hope to discuss throughout the month. You may also know Rory Freedman as a past VN contributor with her column Skinny Bitching.I asked you to read the first four chapters this week, which I think read quite quickly. In the first chapter, "Give It Up," Freedman and Barnouin list several vices that we should give up, including cigarettes, coffee, alcohol (except for sulfite-free, organic wine), soda, junk food, and OTC pills. In "Carbs: The Truth," they say that carbs are a good thing, as long as they are complex carbohydrates, and not simple carbohydrates. In the third chapter, "Sugar is the Devil," they say that refined sugar should definitely be nixed from your diet, and replaced by natural sweeteners such as agave, Stevia, and maple syrup, to name a few. Finally, in "The Dead, Rotting, Decomposing Flesh Diet," they encompass Mad Cowboy's themes in one chapter, talking about the unhealthiness of meat as well as delving into the many problems with factory farming.
The Discussion: Now for the discussion! Here are two discussion questions that I found pertinent to these chapters and the book as a whole.
1. What are your feelings on the tone of this book? Do you think it's effective in getting the point across?
2. Freedman and Barnouin mention a lot of things to forgo. Have you gone beyond being vegan and given up coffee, cigarettes (if you smoke or have smoked), sugar, or alcohol? If so, which was the most challenging? How did you feel afterward?
The Assignment: Please read chapters 5 to 8 for our first discussion on Monday, August 9.
~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig
I love the tone of the book. They come straight and say exactly what they're are thinking and what the facts are. I like the fact that they do not try to sugar coat things, it makes it easier to listen.
ReplyDeleteI have given up smoking and soda (mainly red bull). I have yet to give up alcohol or sugar. I've definitely cut down on the sugar but I still like a little treat every now and again even though I know it's not good for me.
Susan Bran says: Like Joy, I love the tone of the book, but I also think that more conservative people might find it offensive. It definitely gets the point across in a very, um, DIRECT way! I think it's very cool that the authors are so straight foward about things.
ReplyDeleteI am one of those "naughty" vegans that pretty much lives on junk food and sugar. I've actually been trying to cut back on my sugar intake...and have found that I'm very addicted to it. The same with coffee and tea. Life without my coffee would be very very sad. I do not smoke or drink, though. I think I eat so much crap mainly b/c I don't like to cook.
I LOVED the tone of the book and in fact attribute it to my becoming vegan! I tell people that reading SB is like having two cool women you want to be friends with tell you why all the things you are doing are lame. You'll either say "screw you mean ladies!" or do what i did and say "I'm sorry Rory and Kim!! I don't know what I was thinking! I'll stop now!!" I was a happy go lucky omnivore before reading SB and was vegan the minute i finished the last page!
ReplyDeleteAs for the rest? I finally quit smoking 12 days ago!! Have pretty much given up sugar, unless it is in something i have when i'm out. Cannot and will not give up booze just yet. Kicked coffee for a month and then decided to go back to a few cups a day. I haven't re-read the first 4 chapters but will this week, maybe they'll make me rethink booze and coffee :)
LOVED IT!!!
ReplyDeleteThanx to the authors I've diminished my sugar and alcohol intake to basically 90% less than I used to and on Monday I will be smoke-free!!!
I've shared the book (by this I mean I've given it away) with at least 4 friends. Because it's straight, funny and real.
Hey Marketingeek, don't know if you have heard of it or would be into it but i highly recommend laser acupuncture for quitting smoking. Has been working for me, i am almost on week 2 (they say the first 3 weeks are the worst). It really helps you go drug-free cold turkey.
ReplyDeleteGood Luck!!!!!
Love this book. Love that the authors don't mess around. I think the tone would offend my parents, but I found it refreshing.
ReplyDeleteI have given up all animal products. In addition, I stopped drinking diet soda. I was a six-pack a day Diet Pepsi drinker. This was one of the most difficult things I've ever done. The withdrawal from that was complete H#11. I had nightmares and headaches for a month. I also gave up my one cup a week coffee habit. I've never smoked and I drink maybe twice a year so no trouble there. White flour is history. White sugar is a very rare event. I read labels like crazy. My body has never felt better.
I also made the switch to being a vegan due to this book!! My son has allergies and asthma..but since our dumping dairy and meat, he is a different kid. we also arent %100, when we are at other peoples homes we eat what they give us. caffeine and alcohol are tough!!! i still indulge but have cut WWAAYYY back.
ReplyDeleteI loved this book. I've read it several times, esp when I feel that I may be slipping back into old bad habits. This book is like a swift kick in the behind.
ReplyDeleteI've cut down on coffee to just one cup every other day - and drinking tea every other day.
I haven't had soda in goddess knows how long. I don't smoke but I'm still drinking wine, though I do drink less now.
I no longer use sugar , but use stevia and agave depending on what it is that I am eating or drinking.
But my body and mind has never felt better!
I will say straight up that this book actually caused me to go Vegetarian when I first read it. I now own the book & the Skinny Bitch in the Kitch as well as all three of their work out DVDs. It's an awesome book & it spoke in my language: a little vulgar & to the point.
ReplyDeleteA piece of ART in my opinion. Rock on & keep up the Skinny Bitchin'.
I just love the title! I bought this book today, can't wait to get started!
ReplyDeleteI personally love the tone of the book, and my sister (a meat-eater) thought it was funny, but when I suggested loaning the book to our mother because of how funny it is, my sister thought she wouldn't receive it well. My mom doesn't understand why she's not losing weight, although she drinks a few cokes a day and can't stop eating M&M's. I thought this would be a funny way to say, "Cut the crap, lady. Look at what you're drinking."
ReplyDeleteFor me, I quite smoking a few years ago, but the rest are interesting to contemplate. I'm not going to go cut out everything automatically, but I think, at the beginning, this book can at least help you make better choices in the moment. For example, I might look to buy some sulfite free wines (or ask my local shop to get some) now that it's in my brain. I might reach for sugar alternatives now, where I may not have before. And I believe what they say about coffee -- maybe after I'm done nannying for my sister's family I'll have the strength to do it. Right now I can't imagine not having coffee to deal with those munchkins!
http://www.ieatveg.net
Yeah, it isn't for the masses, that's for sure (wonder how my mom would take it, i'm gonna send it to her to see!!). I think we need different kinds of messeges to reach different kinds of people. For me knowing what I was doing was wrong (animals, planet, self) wasn't enough, i needed to be smacked upside the head and SB certainly did that! So fair enough it's written in a way that will offend some, i don't think i would have gone vegan without it, and i don't think i'm alone on that. Speaking of, Lauren, can i ask why vegetarian and not vegan?
ReplyDeletehttp://vanchick.wordpress.com/
Great book and NO ONE SHOULD BE FOOLED BY THE TITLE because if you read the last couple chapters you'll learn the REAL reason for the name.
ReplyDeleteSkinny Bitch was the second vegan book I read when I first became vegan. I had previously read Alicia Silverstone's 'The Kind Diet' so the difference in the tones was quite significant. I have to admit I was a bit turned off at first by all the swearing and in your face language, but I understand their reasoning for the shock value.
ReplyDeleteI've been vegan for 9 months now and have never been a coffee drinker or cigarette smoker. I was a total sugar addict and did drink alcohol occassionally. I have now kicked sugar (mostly due to a health issue) and alcohol. Avoiding sugar is by far the most difficult b/c it's in EVERYTHING! The first few weeks were difficult, but now I feel great and will never go back to it! There are so many great natural sweetner options out there that there is just no reason to eat the white stuff.
This book IS the reason I became vegan. I like that it is easily accessible, no-nonsense, and to the point. I think a lot of people ARE sick of being unhealthy and overweight, and are looking for a book to be straight up at this point. It's unique in that it is funny, sarcastic, and abrasive while having great information in it as well.
ReplyDeleteI never drank much pop or coffee to begin with, but this book did inspire me to work on the sugar intake, and I do use a lot more stevia and agave. I have also recently cut way down on alcohol. Does anyone know where to get organic, sulfite-free wine? I recently discovered Orleans Hill Wine from the VegNews Poll, but I can't find where to get it other than online.
Hi there! Thanks for all of the comments so far, and the great conversation. I see that some of the readers have already posted questions to other fellow readers, which is awesome! Be sure to come back and review comments, so we can get the discussion flowing even better.
ReplyDeleteBoston, to answer your question about where to fine sulfite-free wine, I would say your best bet is Whole Foods, or local, independently owned health food stores. I believe you could also order online if these stores are not too accessible. Frey Vineyards is another good sulfite-free wine, which is mentioned in the book.
I'll be back tomorrow—I'm looking forward to reading more comments and discussion. Happy reading!
~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig
I love the book's tone of tough love. It is just the right amount of harsh, and helps to deliver the much-needed sad realities that come with consuming animal-based products. It doesn't sugar-coat anything which when dealing with this subject is really great.
ReplyDeleteI think the hardest thing to give up is probably refined sugar and artificial sweeteners. They are practically in every single mass-produced, packaged product. Which I realize, you should just try to avoid anyway. Aspartame is particularly sneaky. So I'm really just trying to avoid putting those weird chemicals into my system. I mostly rely in stevia and agave now. :)
I think the tone of the book is playful but effective in getting a point across. I mean, sometimes we need someone to tell us to stop shoving food in our fat mouths!!!
ReplyDeleteI have read the book twice already, but I look at it when I need inspiration to stay on track.
I quit caffeine cold turkey after the first read. I had headaches for three days, but I am so glad I rid myself of that addiction.
For anyone trying to get off coffee i recommend going half caf for awhile and then decaf to wean down. Although i am back on the bean this is what i did and it worked. Also to get my energy fix i used Sun Rider enzyme teas, Cali and Fortune Delight mixed together.
ReplyDeleteI think to tone is direct and straight forward. I like that it's not sugar coated information but rather the information and facts are just blatantly given to you. You can't ignore the facts and I like how it's just put right in front of you right away.
ReplyDeleteI am trying to give up at least soda. I love my coffee so I'm working through my soda fix right now and switching to tea's instead, it's hard, but I know I can do it! I've also cut my alcohol consumption way down!
So speaking of sugar, i am on a challenge this month to eat better and am struggling with the concept of sugar. i've blogged about it and would love your guys feedback...
ReplyDeletehttp://vanchick.wordpress.com/2010/08/04/eating-clean-august-day-2-august-4th/
I love the book! I'm vegan and reading along nodding in agreement, and trying to read quickly past the part about coffee. I just love that morning cup...sometimes two. =(
ReplyDeleteRobyn, I'll try the half caf half decaf....at some point...soon. Man, typing it makes it feel like a commitment.
Hi fellow readers,
ReplyDeleteYou guys are good! I have a very hard time giving up things that I enjoy, especially coffee and sugar. I have been trying to cut back though—on the sugar, at least.
It sounds like most of you agree with the authors regarding coffee. My only issue is that I have read from other sources that a cup of coffee each day is actually good for you—or at least not bad for you. I've always been an advocate for everything in moderation (minus the meat and animal products, of course). I would definitely not consider myself the healthiest person though, at least when it comes to my diet. Maybe re-reading this book will give me better incentive to eat better.
~VN Book Club Hostess Lyndsay Orwig
I am currently a vegetarian and working on becoming vegan. This book will definitely help me with that endeavor. I liked the tone of the book....it was like talking to your girlfriends. I know that there are members of my family that would not like the sassy tone;-)
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting in Chapter 4 when the authors discussed that humans do not have the appropriate amount of hydrochloric acid to digest animal flesh. I had never heard that before. Was that a surprise to anyone else? I think that bit of knowledge will be helpful when talking to people who think that I am messing up the order of the food chain because I do not eat meat.
Ah! I want to re-read but i just lent my copy out to a friend who wants to join our little club! She advised me to not get my hopes up that she would become vegan..lol
ReplyDeleteBefore i read SB i was a microwave loving omnivore who was "thinking about" eating healthier. All it took was 2 awesome chicks to smack me with the facts.....and vegan i became.
Anonymous, i am not trying to pressure you into veganism but can i ask 2 questions? What is your main reasoning for vegetarianism (health, earth, animals)? And what is holding you back from veganism? Just curious...
Lyndsay, i once had a Dr who jumped around the room preaching the benefits of java...he was obviously hopped up but i remember some points surrounding cancer. I will do some research and post it to my blog. Because they just installed a new coffee machine in my office and it is not swill...it is goooood! And free! lol
We'll see....
http://vanchick.wordpress.com/
I loved the tone of the book (informative yet a little catty) and felt that the authors did a great job in providing well founded reasons fro being vegan. I think the book was very effective in spreading the word about veganism and their straight forward approach is just what some people need to read in order to wake up and realize about exactly where their food comes from.
ReplyDeleteWhile I did drink coffee in my teen years, I've since given it up.I've never drunk alcohol and my one time trying to smoke was a complete disaster. My only vice is sugar and I'm doing my best to give it up but it's really hard because I'm a big sweets eater.I tend to go through periods of not having sweets then once I get a little taste, I go sugar crazy. At this point, I'm trying to take things one day at a time.
Robyn, my reason for being a vegetarian is out of compassion for animals. I have been reading a lot lately about veganism and just trying to make the switch. I have a few vegan baking cookbooks, so that has definitely helped. I drink almond milk. The last thing I have to give up and it will be the hardest is cheese. I haven't eaten any since I read Skinny Bitch this past week. So really, I have been vegan since the beginning of this week!! :o)
ReplyDeleteTamara: Have you ever tried raw fudge? It's made with dates, almonds, cacao, and vanilla bean. It tastes just like 2 bite brownies!!! Maybe that could help you with sugar. Let me know if you want the recipe.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous: Cheese IS the hardest! Have you gotten to the part in the book about cheese? Explains a lot! Thank goodness for daiya :)
REGARDING THE TONE: I find the tone refreshing and, quite frankly, necessary. Rory and Kim have important information they want to convey, but in this day and age of sensory overload, you have to stand out in some way. I think they did a wonderful job of creating a book that hadn't been done before, packaging the message in an entirely new way. Not only were they hugely successful in doing so, they've turned thousands and thousands of people onto veganism. Bravo.
ReplyDeleteREGARDING MY SUGAR ADDICTION: I've been vegan for 15 years, and although I eat pretty healthy overall, I love sugar and desserts! We had a bake sale here in San Francisco last weekend, and I couldn't resist the vegan cinnamon rolls, the chocolate macaroons, and the oreo cupcakes. Part of me says "screw it, you only live once!", while I also think how much healthier I'd be without my regular sugar fix. Sigh...
Hi! I just started reading the book (I'm a tiny bit late) and am currently catching up. I think it is funny that a number of people on the blog are saying they can't imagine themselves without a specific indulgence (read: coffee, alcohol, sugar, what have you) when that same argument is listed in SB as the reason a lot of omnis avoid becoming vegan.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first read of the book and I am quite enjoying the tone thus far. I do think it is straightforward and comical and even somewhat abrasive, but in the way you'd want your personal trainer to be; a kind of tough love.
I do also find it interesting that the book is marketed and written solely for a female audience. I think it has only bothered me when it seemed like they wrote strength training into the background of the exercising part (which has been quite small thus far) and I would just have personally encouraged it.
I have let go of a number of my indulgences including (but not limited to) alcohol, smoking, coffee and lately sugar. The smoking was minimal to begin with, so it wasn't much of an issue with me. With my sweet tooth, the sugar has been the hardest to combat. But, after like two weeks it isn't so tough any more. Plus, they only suggest the avoidance of the white refined stuff; agave and other sweeteners are still a go! (I've been on a challenge with myself to avoid all sweeteners and only ingest fruit sugars for the past few weeks, but after this week I will be knee deep in agave).
The hardest part of any of it is eating out with other people (and, of course reading every label of all your foods) but doesn't this come with being vegan to begin with?