The Start Here Diet

November 4, 2013
Motivational speaker and weight-loss specialist Reno, author of the Eat-Clean Diet series, returns with a laid-back weight-loss plan that can be utilized by anyone—whether the goal is to drop 10, 20, 30, or even 100 pounds. The secret, says Reno, is a three-prong plan that explores the emotional component of weight gain and loss and identifies what’s behind it (“diving inward”); recognizes and removes “hidden foods,” or the one, two, or three foodstuffs that have particularly promoted your weight gain and sabotaged diet efforts; and increases physical activity just by “moving a little,” even if that means spending a quick 15 minutes washing your car windows or doing leg lifts while sitting on the couch. In addition to providing practical tools for implementing this plan, Reno offers suggestions for how to maintain a clear head and emotional balance through journaling; utilize both real-life and online support systems; rethink grocery lists; and choose the exercises you’ll stick with and enjoy. The book includes day-by-day and week-by-week plans for meals and “workouts,” and easy-to-prepare recipes, but, in keeping with Reno’s “baby step” approach, all can be tailored to one’s personal needs. Reno, who lost 75 pounds after age 40 on this plan, promises a pragmatic program and she delivers. Agent: Yfat Reiss Gendell, Foundry Literary + Media.

February 1, 2014

Reno (Eat-Clean Diet) lost 75 pounds after the age of 40. This title takes readers to the beginning of her weight-loss journey, beginning with the emotional aspects of weight gain and the fear and loneliness that accompanied it. Reno's plan consists of three simple steps: "dive inward"--focus on what is behind the weight gain and the desire to lose weight; "uncover your hidden foods"--remove foods that sabotage healthy eating; and "move a little"--fit a handful of activities into an everyday schedule. Integral to the plan is the act of journaling, and questions to answer are sprinkled throughout. The second half of the book covers the practical aspects of incorporating the diet into a daily routine, including suggestions for grocery planning, cooking, and shopping. Customizable daily sample menus, movement activities ranging from cleaning the tub to circuit training, and recipes (Hawaiian chicken burgers, lemon and herb-crusted cod) are also included. VERDICT Reno's combination of journaling, healthy eating, and moving is both a gentle and a practical approach to weight loss.--Pauline Baughman, Multnomah Cty. Lib., Portland, OR

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