Cynthia Sass, the creator and co-author of the New York Times Bestselling Flat Belly Diet presents her new break-through, 30-day weight loss program Cinch! targeted to end overeating, leaving dieters feeling full and satisfied while enjoying the best food combination to burn fat and boost metabolism.
When I read Cinch!, I was especially impressed by the amount of information there was about what specific foods had anti-oxidants, fat burning qualities. The next time I go to the grocery store, I am adding some of the recommendations from Cinch!
I found the book easy to read and well-organized – one section leading to the next and easy to understand. Benefits of the diet are well explained and attractive. There is enough detail in the beginning to give you a good feel for the diet, more detail in the middle when you are ready to implement the plan, and follow-up information like Q and A at the end. Cynthia gives substantial documentation for her theories without being boring or overly complicated.
Of course, the first thing I look for is how much weight you will lose. Cynthia’s plan starts with a Five Day Fast Forward during which you will lose up to seven pounds. If you follow the thirty day program, you will lose up to fifteen pounds. Sounds good!
During the Five Day Fast Forward, you only eat five foods: spinach; raspberries; almonds; eggs; and yogurt. (Tofu can replace eggs, if desired). I like that Cynthia’s book not only includes instructions and recipes but also grocery lists! The reader is encouraged to use spices/seasonings, among the most beneficial being vinegar, citrus, peppers, and cinnamon. Approved beverages are water, seltzer, tea, coffee or zesty cinnamon basil berry tea (recipe in the book).
I love that the book is filled with information such as the results of studies showing the many benefits of green tea. I learned quite a few new things about how small changes in your diet can make big differences.
Cynthia also discusses the importance of the timing of your meals. She says timing is critical to success, eating breakfast within one hour of waking up and having lunch and dinner three to five hours apart. This is another change that I’m going to try to implement from the book.
I’m not sure the diet in Cinch! is something that I could do at this point in my life, but I’m very glad I read the book and as I said earlier, I plan on making some of the changes that I read about. If you are looking for a diet plan that is do-it-yourself, in the sense that you follow a plan and recipes, this is an interesting book and worth a try! Even if your not ready now, like me, you can learn new techniques and information about nutrition, exercise, emotional eating and attitude toward food. I recommend it as a good read with helpful information whether you choose to try the Cinch! program or not.
About the Author: Cynthia Sass, M.P.H., R.D., is a registered dietitian, the nutrition consultant to the Philadelphia Phillies and the Tampa Bay Rays, and the nutritionist behind and coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Flat Belly Diet! Her Weight Loss Coach column appears each month in Shape magazine, and she appears regularly on television programs including the Today show, Good Morning America, and The Early Show.
Disclosure:Â I was sent a Uncorrected Proof copy of the book, Cinch!, for review.