Tosca Reno

Well, we're already into the second month of 2014. Did you make resolutions for this year? Were they health related? And how's that going?

Personally I don't like the word resolution - I like the word change instead. And yes, I did start making some changes. I've had Tosca Reno's newest book - The Start Here Diet - for a month now. It's taken me that long to get to the final pages. Not because I haven't enjoyed it, but because I've been reading some chapters over and over again before I show more move on the next section.

Reno gives us much more than a diet plan or a list of foods to eat. Her own journey is detailed in the introduction. Reno (mom to four) lost seventy pounds after age forty and shares her knowledge in this book.

"I hope that sharing my experience and my journey to a healthy weight will inspire you to travel the same road - the road to happiness with the way you look and feel..."

From the first pages, she asks the reader to take a real look at why they overeat. In depth, personal and perhaps uncomfortable. But "...to be truly successful in reshaping yourself is to find the why first. " These are the chapters that I read more than once.

And then down to concrete information.

How about this question? What is the one food that you can't live without?" Or think you can't live without or in moderation. Chances are it is fatty, salty, starchy or sweet. Oh, yes I have one. Tosca offers us ways to change that 'go-to' food into something healthier.

Move a little. Those New Year's resolutions are often quite extreme. Join a gym. You might have done that - but are you still going? How about working up to it slowly? I loved these suggestions. They "incorporate movement into activities you already do - just do them smarter." There are three lists - 25 everyday activities, 25 five easy movements and 25 sport like activities. The idea is to go from not moving to moving a little and so on. It was pretty easy to work these into everyday life.

Reading labels, shopping tips and list, Reno's meal plans, recipes and suggestions on how to stay on course comprise the second half of the book. I've not read any of Reno's books before and I'm now curious about the Eat Clean Diet as well.

For me the biggest takeaway of The Start Here Diet was the first half - taking a good hard look at yourself, your life and your eating habits. show less

If you're not familiar with Clean Eating, this is NOT the book with which you should start. You'll want to start with Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Diet Recharged and/or explore the numerous websites and blogs that will give you the necessary details to start a clean eating program.

But if you know something about Clean Eating, this book is an excellent resource. The short chapters provide solid reminders of Clean Eating principles. It is a lot easier to use than the more detailed books and sites. show more The smaller size makes it easier to carry around with you when you want a quick, general reminder. show less

I'm giving it two stars purely out of prejudice. I think that some of the exercises Reno recommends are dangerous, especially for people just starting out (step away from the Smith Machine, people, seriously) and some of the advice is just plain goofy (if you think you have big thighs already, don't do squats) and some of the advice is dangerous (wear a weightlifting belt).

That being said, there's some valuable stuff here. The photographs are clear and beautiful, the explanations are clear show more and easy to understand, and the philosophy behind the book is excellent (strong women are healthy). show less

This is a really good book, especially for anyone who feels frustrated or overwhelmed in their attempts to be healthy. I say "be healthy" rather than "lose weight" because, while Reno does focus on weight-loss, the eating practices she describes would really benefit anyone.

This book has several things going for it. There's plenty of information about health and nutrition. There's also some recipes to get you going. After all, don't let the word "diet" in the title fool you. Reno does not show more believe in starving yourself into thinness. She actually encourages you to eat, and to eat frequently, so long as you're eating the right things.

What's great about this book is that it's fairly common sense sort of advice. There's no wacky diets or complex tracking systems involved. Instead, you'll read about the importance of fresh, unprocessed food and healthy eating patterns. There's nothing here that will have you saying, "I can't do that."

Due to this simplicity, Reno's advice really is inspirational and encouraging. These are practices -- at least some if not all -- you can absolutely work into your lifestyle and truly believe that you'll have results. And, again, this shouldn't just be for people trying to lose weight. Eating "clean" will have you feeling better as well as looking better. So whether you want to drop some pounds and/or improve your health, give this book a try. show less