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I'm not big on diet books and I generally believe that if you exercise consistently and mix up your routine, you're entitled to eat whatever you want. But I realize that's tough when you live in a city like New York and you're surrounded by all kinds of amazing food. You could probably exercise your heart out and still split your pants from eating out every night. The most tasty food in the world is at your fingertips and that can make grocery shopping and cooking tedious. It doesn't help that city folk spend most of their time in work and social settings leaving limited time for at home food preparation. There's always an appetizer, a cocktail or late night falafel that isn't planned but just ends up happening. In my case, it's a few chai lattes too many througout the day. Starbucks is on every freakin' corner!
So when I heard about a chic nutritional roadmap for city dwellers called Urban Skinny: Live The Fabulous Life - And Still Zip Up Your Favorite Jeans, I emailed the authors for a purse-sized copy and loved every page. Now I'm giving it away for someone else to enjoy and learn from. All you have to do is comment on this post with a food or beverage that you refuse to give up. On May 4th I'll put everyone's guilty pleasure in a hat, close my eyes and pick an Urban Skinny winner.
Here's my explanation for the comment request... What struck me the most about Urban Skinny is that it's a modern and situational guide to eating, not a quick-fix diet program. I've never lasted on a diet that didn't include french fries and pinkberry. I'd rather put in more time at the gym than give up the foods I love--it's called strategizing and that's what Urban Skinny is all about. Authors Danielle Schupp, R.D. and Stephanie Krikorian don't want you to change your lifestyle, cancel your reservations or pass on your favorite drink. They're New Yorkers afterall, they'd rather teach you how to navigate the food scene. In Urban Skinny they explain "how to budget your calories like budgeting money, with a savings account for the occasional splurge on truffle fries or Bordeaux." Seriously, they had me at truffle fries but the wine sealed the deal. I splurge more frequently than "occasionally" but that's OK because this book recognizes that everyone is not the same. Urban Skinny describes a range of city dwellers, lifestyles and dining scenarios, which you'll either 100% relate to or just skip over. You'll find urban diet myths debunked with Urban Skinny facts and keep-it-simple strategies. Here's a tip from my favorite part of Urban Skinny called Staying Fueled for Fitness:
All you need is a quick 50-100 calories before you start to sweat (unless you're doing more than 90 minutes, in which case you will need 200 calories). Fruit is a great pre-workout snack: it's portable and it helps you reach your food and veggie intake! Grab a piece of fruit or a handful of grapes 15 minutes before you hit the gym.
I actually read this section today and instead of reaching for a high-protein bar I grabbed a banana and headed to yoga class. Saving up for truffle fries has never been easier!
Danielle Schupp, RD, author of the fab new book, Urban Skinny, is my personal nutrition goddess. And while she may not encourage her clients to eat KFC's Double Down (really, who would?), her new tome has great tips to help busy girls (like me!) dine out and have fun without packing on the pounds.
So you can have your cake and look great too? In a word: yes! I had the privilege of sitting down with the in-demand dietician for a quick Q&A to find out exactly how. Here's the (portion controlled) scoop:
HB: Skinny can have a negative connotation when it comes to weight what's your take on it?
DS: As a dietician I don't like to use the word "skinny" when referring to how women should strive to look. Many fad diets out there refer to women needing to get "skinny" as opposed to healthy, lean, and strong. Skinny was used in the title with the intent of "getting in the know of how to manage your weight in an urban environment", as in here's the skinny. The book offers practical strategies for managing your weight in a city where life can be intense, busy, fun, hard, social, etc.
HB: So the overall theme of the book is that you can live the life you want and still fit into your fave pair of jeans. Where does exercise fit into all this? Does the Urban Skinny gal need to hit the gym hard to keep her butt in those jeans?
DS: Absolutely exercise is important and I don't recommend losing weight by dieting alone, but 80% of what you weigh is due to your diet. Research shows that exercise plays a larger roll in weight maintenance than in actual weight loss. So don't stress if you can't commit spending hours a day on the eliptical. In general, I recommend about 150 minutes of aerobic exercise per week. Walking is one of the best way to burn calories and it fits right into your urban lifestyle.
HB: Let's say I'm having girlfriends in from out of town. A weekend of big brunches, late night dinners (eating before 9 PM is decidedly uncool) and a bit of drinking is in store. What's the best plan of attack?
DS: First, be sure to stay on track during the week leading up to their visit (eating fruits, veggies, lean
protein and whole grains). Once the fun begins, tweak your choices at each meal. Be sure to include protein and fiber to feel full: try poached eggs with whole wheat toast and fruit at brunch and fish and veggies at dinner. Want a cocktail? Simply limit the starches you eat, such as bread and dessert, to leave room for a drink. As for booze, sip a flute of champagne rather than a cosmo to cut your liquid calorie intake in half. Finally, drag your friends around the city to go shopping so you get in tons of exercise by walking.
HB: If reader's take away one main message from your book, what do you want that to be?
DS: Really there are two main messages. First, be consistent, not perfect. Nobdody can be the perfect dieter, because you will only fail. Adopt the urban skinny rules and use them most of the time and you will always fit into your skinny jeans. Secondly, remember there are no "good" or "bad" foods just "good" or "bad" portions. Fit your faves into your plan in smaller portions in order to look great and still feel satisfied. Remember: smaller portions make smaller people!
Thanks, Danielle! Go snap up your own copy of Urban Skinny for more weight loss wisdom. And check back Monday for a question I left out . . .
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You can also read the interview above on the website.
New York Newsday
book nook: Small meals from the Big Apple
Byline: PEGGY BROWN
Publication Date: 12/08/2009
"URBAN SKINNY: Live the Fabulous Life - and Still Zip Up Your Favorite Jeans," by Danielle Schupp, RD, with Stephanie Krikorian (GPP Life, $14.95).
Schupp, a registered dietitian at Manhattan's Reebok Sports Club/NY, works with high-octane clients from Wall Street and the arts - jet-setters who eat out often (and expensively) for business and pleasure. But her down-to-earth, lively advice can work just as well for less- glamorous suburban dieters.
There's nothing radical here: Count calories. Keep a food log. Eat breakfast. Strategize restaurants - first, check out the online menu; avoid the bread basket if you want the wasabi mashed potatoes.
THE SCOOP: Schupp lists 100-calorie foods, good choices at ethnic restaurants and meal plans at various calorie levels. "Skill power" (not will power) covers situations from girls' (or guys') night out to a business dinner (there's no free meal - "you'll pay in pounds at the end").
"Urban Skinny deals with the weight-loss woes of city folks...But the rules -- such as shrink your portions and never skip breakfast -- applies to all."
All you need is a quick 50-100 calories before you start to sweat (unless you're doing more than 90 minutes, in which case you will need 200 calories). Fruit is a great pre-workout snack: it's portable and it helps you reach your food and veggie intake! Grab a piece of fruit or a handful of grapes 15 minutes before you hit the gym.
