Book Review - "Don’t lose your mind, lose your weight"

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It's a health and fitness post today but slightly different this time... Well, I am happy to start writing book reviews here on my blog! :D 

Today's post is a short review of the famous book in India and in health and fitness domain titled 'Don't lose your mind, lose your weight' by celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar.

Title: Don’t lose your mind, lose your weight
Author: Rujuta Diwekar
Publication year: 2009

Publication House: Random House India

Pages: 279

Genre: Health and fitness

I got the book as gift from my Dad just when it was released and hyped. Hate to admit but it took me at least a couple of months to actually get to read it thinking of it as a boring book with tons of difficult to comprehend information thrown at the reader. But, was I wrong? Yes, surprisingly, when I started to read it, it was nothing that I had imagined! :o Totally different!!! It has been quite a few years now and still, I get back to reading this book once in a while when I feel off-track with my so-called diet plans! ;)

What this book is about ?

To start with, it’s not super preachy and the tone of the book is quite mellow and informal so that it’s more of a conversation between the author and the reader but nevertheless, sort of an eye opener!! :o

Further, this book is all about eating right to stay healthy. It, by no means, advocates starving or staying hungry to achieve weight loss. It teaches smart nutrition to novices in this fitness world who feel and think that eating rice will make them fat or eating banana will spill water over their progress in the weight loss journey they have suffered so far.

What I did like about the book ?

Almost everything. It’s surely a refreshing read for anyone who wants to learn about healthy eating. It busts the biggest myth of losing weight by not eating i.e., reducing the calories. According to her, diet should not be just something which is to be done once in a while but rather it’s a way of life. She is pro for the foods that we have grown up on and says that our genes are better suited to those instead of trying fad diets and spoiling one’s health in the process. Like all other food and nutrition books, she too, discourages eating processed foods and encourages eating local produce and seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Overall, content wise, the book definitely has enough interesting information on what mistakes we continuously make while eating throughout the day, provides sample diets for different needs which can be tailored to suit our requirements and most, importantly the non-negotiable requirement of water, vitamins and minerals in our daily diets. Rujuta explains the ways to plan your diet using simple modifications to the existing one and lays down four principles of healthy living which are quite simple and easy to follow.

What I didn’t like about the book ?

The language used here is quite informal and distracting in patches but can surely be overlooked seeing that the rest of the information contained in it actually satisfies the purpose of creating an awareness in the mind of the reader.

Did anything from the book worked out for me?

Surprisingly, yes! I wasn't eating anything after waking up and used to have tea at times. With the first principle in the book, I stopped having tea first thing in the morning and felt a noticeable change in my energy level throughout the day. So, far for the weight loss, I had noticed a loss of about two kilos in a month when I first tried it without any change in the rest of my diet and light or no exercise. It has been quite a few years, I am still following it ignoring the weight variations! ;) :D

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But please do note that the weight loss is definitely a result of 'balanced approach between calorie in and calorie out'! Thus, it depends more on nutrition supported by proper exercise and rest.

The Final Verdict!!! So, should you buy or at least read the book ?

Yes! Absolutely!! You should definitely read the book at least once (I know… :) I have read it more than once! ;) for –

1.It’s a quick read plus no information overload.

2.The chapters have been segregated nicely to avoid any confusion

3.Nothing drastic advocated, promotes healthy eating as a way to sustained fat loss as well as weight loss.

I would have loved to see a proper questionnaire at the end through which I could generate a sample 7 day diet to try it for myself. It is a little confusing when it comes to plan the diet based on the sample diets in the book nevertheless small changes to the existing could go a long way in the journey of healthy eating! As the book says, let’s make eating fashionable!!! :)

Rating: 4/5

Hope, you liked the review and would be interested to read the book now!

Till the next post,

Eat healthy and feel great!

Cheers,