Skinny Bitch

skinny-bitch-dietSkinny Bitch is written by former model Kim Barnouin, who holds a masters degree in holistic nutrition, and former agent for Ford models Rory Freedman.

It is targeted towards young women who want to achieve a thin physique but have been unsuccessful with other diet plans.

The authors describe their book as “A No-Nonsense, Tough-Love Guide for Savvy Girls Who Want to Stop Eating Crap and Start Looking Fabulous” and readers should be aware that the writing style is at times very graphic and likely to be offensive to some readers.

The basic concept of the diet is that giving up animal products, fast food and processed foods while following a whole food vegan diet will allow you to be happier, healthier, more energetic and skinny. “You are a total moron if you think the Atkins diet will make you thin” they proclaim.

Skinny Bitch Diet Basics

In essence this is an extreme vegan diet that describes meat as ‘dead, rotting, decomposing flesh’. The list of forbidden foods includes all animal products (meat, poultry, fish, eggs, dairy), refined flour, sugar, honey, beer, caffeine (coffee, tea, chocolate) and any food that contains chemical additives like artificial sweeteners. “Sugar is the devil and artificial sweeteners just as bad” they state.

Dieters are advised to eat three meals a day and only have snacks if necessary. A list of acceptable snacks is provided which includes some processed health food items such as vegetable crackers, organic pretzels and soy products.

Dieters are instructed to wait until they are famished before eating and to get used to the feeling of being hungry. If symptoms such as headaches and nausea are experienced these are a result of detoxification.

The Skinny Bitch also recommend cleansing diets and juice fasting as a kick-start to weight loss.

Recommended Foods

Fruits, vegetables, soy products, beans, nuts, whole grain cereals and bread, brown rice, potatoes, sweet potatoes, organic corn chips, olive oil, sesame oil, tofu ice cream, desserts sweetened with natural sweeteners, decaf green tea, red wine in moderation.

Sample Diet Plan

Breakfast
Fruit salad with soy yogurt
Lunch
Vegan Caesar salad with fake chicken
Afternoon Snack
Guacamole and organic corn chips
Dinner
Vegetarian Pad Thai

Exercise Recommendations

Regular exercise is encouraged especially yoga.

Costs and Expenses

Skinny Bitch retails at $13.95.

Available from Amazon →

Pros

  • No calorie counting or measuring.
  • Promotes the intake of fruit and vegetables.
  • Encourages the intake of low glycemic index carbohydrates.
  • High in dietary fiber.
  • Discourages the use of soda and artificial sweeteners.
  • Includes a month of daily menus.

Cons

  • Extremely restrictive and may place dieters at risk of nutrient deficiencies.
  • Menu plans are not nutritionally balanced and are lacking in calcium, iron, zinc and vitamin B12.
  • Most people do not do well on a vegan diet in the long term.
  • Many of the recommended foods contradict the advice of eating whole unprocessed foods.
  • Excessive emphasis on the use of processed soy foods such as imitation meats and tofu ice cream.
  • Ignoring the body’s instinctive urge to eat may set up dieters for binging or increased consumption of unhealthy foods.
  • Claims are often unsupported by proven scientific research.
  • Lack of guidance regarding portion sizes.
  • Places too much emphasis on the unhealthy goal of being skinny.
  • Cleansing diets and fasting are not necessary for weight loss or detoxification and may actually be harmful.
  • Will not really apply to readers that are not in the target audience.
  • Many readers will not relate to the very frank writing style of the authors.
  • The chapters on animal rights and farming practices could alienate many readers.

Essentially a Vegan Diet

While most dieters would benefit from an increase of fruit and vegetables in the diet, strictly eliminating all animal products places dieters at a high risk of developing nutritional deficiencies.

Although there is some evidence that a vegan diet may be associated with a small advantage in regard to weight loss, adopting a strict vegan diet is no guarantee that dieters will achieve the weight loss benefits that are promised by the Skinny Bitch Diet.

 By Mizpah Matus B.Hlth.Sc(Hons)
    References:
  • Freedman, R., Barnouin, K., & Acar, A. O. (2007). Skinny bitch. Tantor Audio.
  • Barnard, N. D., Cohen, J., Jenkins, D. J., Turner-McGrievy, G., Gloede, L., Jaster, B., … & Talpers, S. (2006). A low-fat vegan diet improves glycemic control and cardiovascular risk factors in a randomized clinical trial in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes care, 29(8), 1777-1783. link
  • Resnicow, K., Barone, J., Engle, A., Miller, S., Haley, N. J., Fleming, D., & Wynder, E. (1991). Diet and serum lipids in vegan vegetarians: a model for risk reduction. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 91(4), 447-453. link
  • Magkos, F., Arvaniti, F., & Zampelas, A. (2003). Organic food: nutritious food or food for thought? A review of the evidence. International journal of food sciences and nutrition, 54(5), 357-371. link

31 Comments or Reviews

Comments now closed
  1. Ruth U

    As someone who has been vegan for 27 years I really object to the statement ‘most people do not do well on a vegan diet in the long term’. I am perfectly healthy and don’t get ill nearly as often as my meat eating friends so i would love to know on what evidence that was said? I recently had a check up and all my Vitamin levels are great. There are absolutely no reasons to eat meat other than you like the taste. And that’s an utterly crap reason.?

  2. Iris

    “Most people do not do well on a vegan diet in the long term.”

    Get your facts right, it’s the healthiest diet there is.

  3. T0d--euq

    All yall wild lol meat is good XD

  4. K3$#@

    I wish I was a girl

  5. Mikel Ruffinelli

    WHEN I EAT THIS DIET I FEEL GAY AND I DON’T KNOW WHY.

  6. Ashlyn

    I can’t wait to try this!! I have to do a project for it in school as well!! Woo-Hoo!! 2 birds one stone

  7. mike

    lol ok some of you people are really obssesed with ”skinny”..being skinny doesn’t mean your healthy..and the word diet should be outlawed..diets are the problem moreso than you might think..we all have the right to believe in what we choose..but eating meat isn’t wrong..your body is designed for eating meat and veggies and fruits and nuts and so on..its eating the healthier options of all those things that will ultimately grant you ”good health”..excercise is must also…that can be almost anything..just be active and you’ll be fine…the biggest problem for most people..stay away from packaged foods and and drink that has calories added to them..those are the main culprits of being unhealthy

  8. Alex

    I’m actually stunned by how wrong you are. What is your basis for saying “people do not do well on a vegan diet in the long run?” Also, the B12 vitamin deficiency has been proven as a myth. I ate meat all my life, was on the track to becoming a collegiate athlete, and was still 20 pounds too heavy. Since becoming vegan I easily lost 30 pounds and have never looked better. Not only is meat ethically wrong, it’s horrible for your body.

  9. ashley

    Ever since I started eating meat only once a month and eating vegan cookies and cutting dairy out I feel energetic and a lot healthier. Dairy is not meant for us, hence all the lactose intolerant people. Fake meat is delicious and low in fat…try it before you diss it.

  10. Lesley

    i loved this book. its genius… it basically just takes us back to our roots… what we SHOULD be eating… no, it is not natural to drink another mammals milk, no, it is not natural to go to store and be able to buy as many of pounds of meat as we want… ive been on this “diet” for a few months and i feel good, energized, and more connected to my body and what i am putting into it. I am not following it religiously, i still eat SOME processed foods (when i “have” to) but havent eaten meat or dairy since… its REALLLY not as hard as everyone thinks and you will want after you read the book anyway… good luck!

  11. Sonia

    I had a problem with this book only because it claims that dairy farms and animal farms are disgusting and that there is animal cruelty. I believe sometimes one thing/person/business ruins it for everyone else. How can this be going on all over the US and the USDA not put a stop to it. Or forget USDA, isn’t that what our reporters are for? To go undercover. This is a pathetic way to get people to get skinny… now my sister has taken her and her kids off most foods and decided to go organic. Thing is, she can’t afford it. SO what? Poor people will just die sooner? I’m sorry, this book has a lot of holes in it for me.

  12. O'Jap

    This really worked for me!!!! (:

  13. MicheleK

    Craziness…the human body is meant to consume meat. This diet is stupid.

  14. Katie

    I tried this plan to make a healthy switch from vegetarian to vegan. The foods are really good for you but I hadn’t lost much weight because I have been vegetarian so long that my body must be used to this way of eating. My big issue is their suggestion for the meat substitution products this is really unnecessary and expensive. I would suggest to buy these products if you have to get yourself off of meat or in some meals but other wise read other vegetarian/vegan cookbooks and you can do most of your proteins through beans,tofu,soy protein ect.Honestly these products are a waste of money you dont need them everyday, Me and my roomate cooked vegan for two years and we rarely had to buy all of these overpriced meat substitution products.

  15. Larissa

    This is not the way to eat, if you want to get skinny you need to excercise.. diets are always an option, but they just have to be a good diet. And i do nt believe that this is one.
    Sorry

  16. Sarah

    This book always blows me away — a health book disguised as a “diet” book! It’s a brilliant vehicle to get the abundant scientific evidence out there on optimal health & nutrition into the hands of every kind of person (whether they were interested in amino-acids before or not!). Their facts are straight, their instincts are on, and their words crack me up like no other diet book out there. Other recommended reads: The China Study, Green For Life, Conscious Eating, Eating For Beauty and Healthy At 100 (all awesome & life changing). P.S. Hey STEPH, I was wondering if you’ve looked into your HCL levels? Low stomach acid is one of the main reasons people get deterred from their vegetarian experience; it’s also a major culprit in acne/skin disorders, malabsorption, athlete’s foot and GI issues (including the appendix). Best to you and to all, Sarah

  17. steph

    ok i just have to add that i am still 99% vegan and no meat did not ‘cure’ me or w/e it was adding meat made me eat actualy nutritious food rather than junk food just because it’s vegetarian ex..grilled cheese/ice cream/cookies or meat/veggies/bread you know? I think you should eat what you want but see both sides, like now i don’t think it’s wrong to eat meat and i don’t judge people who do, but i still choose not to just for my own preferance. alright i’m done

  18. steph

    ya right reid, i don’t believe you!!! 33 years? give me a break i know you’ve snuck in some ‘BAD’ stuff like a roasted nut or a steamed veggie or a corn tortilla or something…anyway i personally was a vegetarian/vegan/fruitarian/raw veg for 6 years in that time i got horrible acne, an appendicitis, and depression…ooo that’s not supposed to happen right??!! I added meat back into my diet and guess what my acne went away, i felt happier, and i lost weight…I still have a problem though cooking meat myself, I just can’t bring myself to touch it which keeps me vegan most of the time, but before you go veg, think about that problem…b12 b12 b12…only from animal!!! b12 is sooooo imprtant, you get complete protein and all b vitamins from meat, supplements are unatural. eskimos, native people, all eat mainly meat and little else, try telling them they should be vegan!! meat is always available there is always an animal to kill, crops can fail for alot of different reasons, vegan is just not natural. this is a violent world things die everyday in order for something else to live so just get over the vegan thing!! i see this book has already brainwashed some of you as your striving to ‘move in that direction’ and honey is fabulous!!

  19. Laquishaq

    OMG this sounds lIKE SUPER AMAZING I CANT WAIT TO TRY IT!!! WHOEVER CAME UP WITH THIS IS A GODESS

  20. RM

    This diet would be good if the authors of the book didn’t put dangerous soy and processed foods. If you want to be vegan, just eat a lot of natural foods – beans, veggies, rice, whole wheat, fruits. It is absolutely ridiculous to eat fake meats – like fake chicken, fake beef, etc – if you are vegan! I mean, that is just beyond weird. This book promotes way too many processed foods that just aren’t good for you.

  21. Melissa

    There is nothing wrong with this diet if this is what you chose, HOWEVER, they even state in this book you have to take B vitamin supplements in order to get what you are missing by eating meat. Another issue with this book is all of it “research” is done by like minded people. Also yeah our government is in no way perfect… but they degrade the USDA and FDA extensively in this book…. HELLO… they may not be perfect, but we still have one of the cleanest food supplies in the WORLD! Also, they rant about mad cow disease in our food supply… I thought these were educated women… Yeah you eat mad cow = DEATH… to hear them tell it we are all dying of aspartame poisoning.

  22. Angela

    Han, I completely agree with you…none of my friends will listen to me though…

  23. anti meat

    I think this Diet is something everyone should at least try!

    Meat has nothing your body needs in order to survive. Ive been a vegetarian for 25 years and have found eating nothing that once had a face has served me well, must admit i never did if for dietary reasons i just dont believe we need to slaughter animals in order to eat, still im the healthiest person i know, when my family and friends all have the annual flu , coughs,head colds etc etc I never do!
    Im not a skinny pasty looking shadow either im a very healthy size 12 ( Aus size) 5″9 tall and weigh 70 kilos , if anything i could lose a few kgs haha…
    Eat fresh natural foods and you will always see a massive benefit!

  24. Han

    Anyone who promotes the protein content of meat as a reason to eat it obviously has absolutely no understanding of foods… or biology in that matter… read a little .. google protein and vegatables then we1ll all be happy to have a comment from the peanut gallary…

    1

  25. Tiffany

    This is not a diet. It is a way of life. A good one. The authors actually say in the book that the point of the book is not to be Scawny or Skinny, but HEALTHY. Many of the cons listed above are not accurate. Other than B12 a vegan diet that is balanced does provide ample nutrients. I fast one day a week to give my body a rest. I am a vegetarian, but not vegan, although I am moving in that direction and this book is a good help in that respect. I lost over 100lbs in the last few years due to a medical condition and I am very fit now, but I used both Michael Thurman (which is Mega Meat Intenstive to lose 40) and then lost the rest on Isagenix – which I still enjoy adding to my nutrition plan years later. So, what it boils down to is eat healthy, exercise sensible and listen to your body not your urges. Lastly, Yoga, which the book recommends is fantastic for supporting a healthy lifestyle. I practice Kundalini and Anusara. And am a certified teacher of Kundalini. Eat smart, be smart. and don’t be afraid to try a little here and there. You don’t need to go 100%. The book helps you move in the direction. Enjoy.

  26. Aleasha

    This is a very good diet. I lost 50 pounds within 4 months and have not put the weight back on. My blood pressure and cholesterol have dropped to normal levels, and I feel better than I ever have. I completely agree that meat isn’t good for you. I hardly ever get sick anymore, look great, and feel half my age! Anybody who cares about their body at all needs to try this diet! I recomend it 100%!

  27. Anonymous

    I agree. Meat IS good for you. You have to eat it controlably, however it is a source of protein. Their decision. Not yours

  28. BLAH

    This diet is silly.
    And people should stop putting there views on things!
    If people want to eat meat then eat it, dont put your veganess on them!!!

  29. Reid

    Everyone will someday realize eating meat is a bad experience. Eat as much raw unprocessed food and body will be able to heal itself including natural skinny weight. Breatharianism is nice too. Raw vegan for 33 years. Peace. Reid

  30. sara

    fake chicken? LOL