The Martini Diet Review
The Martini Diet: The Self Indulgent Way to a Thinner, More Fabulous You. As its title suggests, this book by veteran lifestyle author Jennifer "Gin" Sander is as far away from detox and deprivation diets as you can get. In fact, Sander doesn't even like to think of it as a "diet" book, so much as a compilation of advice on making small changes in your life which, over time, add up to a big shift in perspective and behavior - and big rewards, including weight loss without suffering and starving.
The foundation of Sander's Martini Diet philosophy is that deprivation doesn't work. So indulge your cravings - the trick is in moderation - because if you keep your head about you, you really can have it all. Her rules for having it all:
Rule 1 - Eat only the very best.
Rule 2 - Eat somewhat less of the very best.
Rule 3 - Eat the very best only at mealtimes (no snacking).
What does she mean by "eat only the very best?" She wants you to be a "food snob". She wants you to "pay attention" to what you eat. No throwaways, no junk and processed foods - if you're going to eat, make it count. As to her other rules - her aim here is to get you into the habit of enjoying your life and the things you love to eat, without the overindulgence (which is often prompted by deprivation diets) that lead to weight gain and feeling poorly.
As to the diet itself - it's more an outline, an instructional manual for eating, than a "diet" itself. There is no calorie, or carb, or any other counting - and no foods are off limits provided they are the best quality they can be. And what about the "martini"? Well, you are allowed a martini if you desire - or a glass of wine, if you prefer - but only one. (And of course if you care for martinis you've long heard that "two is too many" anyway...) But the martini comes into play in the form of an actual 3 ounce martini glass, which Sander has designated as the portion control tool of her plan. Each element of a meal must be able to fit into the martini glass, just reaching the top - or it is too big a portion.
Snacking is banned outright on the Martini Diet- and dessert limited to one bite only. But don't get discouraged - sample menus include things like fresh baked bread, fresh strawberries, garlic mashed potatoes, rib-eye steak and a Lindt Lindor chocolate truffle for dessert. If you're dining out, (which Sander places no restrictions on, noting that fast food places now have healthy, better quality food offerings and if you're dying for a Whopper, get a Whopper Jr.) you're advised to eat only about 1/3rd of what's on the plate and take the rest in a doggy bag.
Now Sander is explicitly clear that one cannot indulge in high calorie foods - even in moderation - without also committing to a regular, substantive exercise plan. Sander herself - a self-identified glamour girl - prefers "elegant" and "graceful" exercise that allow you to look sharp while you do it, like ballet, horseback riding, swimming, ice-skating and sex - but her bottom line advice is to be active in any way you want that you personally enjoy. Again - it's about not suffering, but instead enjoying life.
The Martini Diet book has been compared (in content and approach) to the bestselling "French Women Don't Get Fat", and it's an apt comparison. Will you lose weight on this plan? If you follow Sander's advice, yes. How much is hard to say, but then that's not really the point anyway. The point is to drop weight and sustain the weight loss - even Sander says don't get on a scale and get bogged down in numbers - and the best way to monitor that is by how your clothes fit. If they get too tight - cut back a little or exercise more - if they're fitting or feeling loose, you're doing well where you are. This is a totally sensible, totally sustainable approach to weight loss and weight maintenance. If Sander's approach - the martini glasses and horseback riding and such - is a little fancy-schmancy for your taste, don't let it get you down. The woman's theory is rock-solid.