Diana Page Jordan | Book Reviews and Inspiration

The Denim Diet: Sixteen Simple Habits to Get You into Your Dream Jeans

by Kami Gray

published March 1, 2009 (paperback)

more info: TheDenimDiet.com

There are about a dozen pairs of jeans in my closet — most are a size four, there’s a two, and one zero. They all fit, but for some wacky reason, I don’t want to wear them. It may be because when I do, I feel restricted from wiggling around on my office-ball-chair, or I feel like I look too short in them.

This is on my mind because of The Denim Diet. I read the first half while eating dinner, and the second half working my abs while rocking on my ball. Partly that is because I discovered that what I ate during dinner — which sounded like a good idea before I read The Denim Diet — was not such a good idea after. I ate the second-half of a steak leftover from yesterday, a salad with 1000 Island dressing and wonton strips, about five Doritos, a glass of Diet Coke, and a square of 60% Cacao dark chocolate.

I thought the chocolate was the no-no. Oh no. It was the only right thing I ate, other than the lettuce. Kami Gray has a List. And you will not find fatty red meat, fatty dressings, wonton strips, chips, or diet soda on her List. Dark chocolate is okay — 85% is better. And where were my vegetables?

Kami Gray is not a doctor, but she dresses them for TV commercials — she loves to say this. And, she really has no credentials other than she’s cute and figured out what to really eat to be healthy, drop extra pounds, and please the planet. She lives in Portland, Oregon, as I do, but I haven’t run into her yet. Maybe I will — now that I know to go shop at Farmer’s Markets and which restaurants are healthiest.

I’m at the high end of my “bouncing” weight range, so I’ll lower the fat content of my diet. I already have cut out the white foods — dangerous for diabetics, whose ranks I joined three years ago — no white bread, white potatoes, rice, pasta. I just got my test results back today, and my doctor says I have perfectly managed blood sugar for the past three months. But he’s letting me switch my twelve daily units of insulin to a different brand, because the last one made me gain a few pounds. So I’m starting to think about those jeans.

Kami also tells you what to eat when you travel overseas, and when you go to restaurants. I totally concur with her thoughts that we Americans are being sold horribly unhealthy foods – and we’re eating them. I was in Barcelona in November, eating their bread and their cakes, along with the fruits, vegetables, and meats, and my blood sugar was perfect. I got on the plane to come home, was served the “diabetic” meal, and my blood sugar popped to 200, double what it is supposed to be. That’s insane! It supports Kami’s point to eat unprocessed, fibery and low-glycemic foods. And drink water because the diet sodas will trick your body into thinking it is hungry.

I’m thinking of getting into my closet and choosing only the jeans I love, and then — in a month or so — when I have repatterned my thinking closer to Kami’s and I drop a few more pounds thanks to the med change — I’ll go buy some perfect jeans. It’s a cute book — and it’ll fit, if not in your back pocket, in your purse.