The Skinny Gut Diet

August 18, 2014
In this diet guide, Watson (The Fiber35 Diet) and coauthors Smith and Jones promise readers the “inner weight-loss secret waiting to be revealed”: restoring “gut bacteria.” Watson begins by writing that, more than 30 years before, she was overweight and suffering from fatigue and migraines. Since finding her own solution, she’s become determined to help others do the same. Suggesting she has quite a following already, the book features plenty of enthusiastic quotes from former participants. The basic premise is that if people can identify what’s making them fat—sugar addiction or carbohydrates, for example—they can then escape the “vicious cycle.” There are plenty of ideas put forward here, from probiotics made simple to a handy “Teaspoon Tracker” featuring an equation to help dieters decode nutritional labels. And there’s some frank talk about bowel movements, acid reflux, and moods. But mostly, there are meal plans and lists of foods to eat or avoid during the “Get Lean Phase” and the “Stay Lean Phase.” Watson also includes over 50 pages of recipes—from butternut chowder to chicken Milanese to kefir ice cream. Watson’s matter-of-fact and upbeat approach may encourage readers who have previously failed at this approach to succeed. Agent: Bonnie Solow, Solow Literary Enterprises, Inc.