What do you think?
Rate this book
Ada's Rules: A Sexy Skinny Novel
Ada Howard, the wife of the preacher at Nashville's Full Love Baptist Tabernacle, has a whole lot of people to take care of. There's her husband, of course, and the flock that comes with him, plus the kids at the day care where she works, two grown daughters, and two ailing parents. It's no wonder she can't find time to take care of herself. And her husband's been so busy lately she's suspicious some other woman may be taking care of him ...
Then it comes: the announcement of her twenty-five-year college reunion in twelve months' time, signed with a wink by her old flame. Ada gets to thinking about the thrills of young love lost, and the hundred or so pounds gained since her college days, and she decides it's high time for a health and beauty revival. So she starts laying down some rules. The first rule is: Don't Keep Doing What You've Always Been Doing. And so begins a long journey on the way to less weight and more love.
Ada's Rules will hit a nerve in our overweight and weight-obsessed world. An inspiring role model, Ada is also a relatable everywoman: smart, sassy, soulful, and unforgettable. Her hard-earned rules are about changing a body and a life-and also about falling back in love with the life you have.
Then it comes: the announcement of her twenty-five-year college reunion in twelve months' time, signed with a wink by her old flame. Ada gets to thinking about the thrills of young love lost, and the hundred or so pounds gained since her college days, and she decides it's high time for a health and beauty revival. So she starts laying down some rules. The first rule is: Don't Keep Doing What You've Always Been Doing. And so begins a long journey on the way to less weight and more love.
Ada's Rules will hit a nerve in our overweight and weight-obsessed world. An inspiring role model, Ada is also a relatable everywoman: smart, sassy, soulful, and unforgettable. Her hard-earned rules are about changing a body and a life-and also about falling back in love with the life you have.
335 pages, Hardcover
First published April 24, 2012
16 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Alice Randall
21Ìýbooks165ÌýfollowersAlice Randall (born Detroit, Michigan) is an American author and songwriter. Randall grew up in Washington, D.C.. She attended Harvard University, where she earned an honors degree in English and American literature, before moving to Nashville in 1983 to become a country songwriter. She currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee and is married to attorney David Ewing.
Randall is the first African American woman to write a number one country hit. Over 20 of her songs have been recorded, including several top ten and top forty records; her songs have been performed by Trisha Yearwood and Mark O'Connor.
Randall is also a novelist, whose first novel The Wind Done Gone is a reinterpretation and parody of Gone with the Wind. The Wind Done Gone is essentially the same story as Gone with the Wind, only told from the viewpoint of Scarlett O'Hara's half-sister Cynara, a mulatto slave on Scarlett's plantation. The estate of Margaret Mitchell sued Randall and her publishing company, Houghton Mifflin, on the grounds that The Wind Done Gone was too similar to Gone with the Wind, thus infringing its copyright. The lawsuit was eventually settled, allowing The Wind Done Gone to be published. The novel became a New York Times bestseller.
Randall's second novel, Pushkin and the Queen of Spades, was named as one of The Washington Post's "Best fiction of 2004."
Randall is the first African American woman to write a number one country hit. Over 20 of her songs have been recorded, including several top ten and top forty records; her songs have been performed by Trisha Yearwood and Mark O'Connor.
Randall is also a novelist, whose first novel The Wind Done Gone is a reinterpretation and parody of Gone with the Wind. The Wind Done Gone is essentially the same story as Gone with the Wind, only told from the viewpoint of Scarlett O'Hara's half-sister Cynara, a mulatto slave on Scarlett's plantation. The estate of Margaret Mitchell sued Randall and her publishing company, Houghton Mifflin, on the grounds that The Wind Done Gone was too similar to Gone with the Wind, thus infringing its copyright. The lawsuit was eventually settled, allowing The Wind Done Gone to be published. The novel became a New York Times bestseller.
Randall's second novel, Pushkin and the Queen of Spades, was named as one of The Washington Post's "Best fiction of 2004."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
July 5, 2012
Any woman who has ever been on a diet would enjoy this book. Ada Howard is a large 220 lb black woman, wife of a preacher at a Nashville church. She carries more weight than her own pounds, running a daycare center, caring for her aging parents, keeping track of her grown daughters, and serving on numerous church committees.
When the sexual side of her marriage to the reverend has dwindled to zero, an invitation to her college reunion brings back memories of Ada's first love, who will be there. She resolves to lose 100 pounds, go to the reunion, and if possible cheat on her husband! It's a big deal because Ada takes her Christianity and its commandments seriously.
I am a rabid fan of Alice Randall's two earlier novels, The Wind Done Gone and Rebel Yell. They were written in a more literary style and in my opinion she is at her best being literary. Ada's Rules is more along the lines of How Stella Got Her Groove Back; a sort of lightweight and light-hearted shout out to women of color and their strengths.
But still, this is Alice Randall who never writes without an issue or two up her sleeve. Here it is the health problems that accompany obesity, especially diabetes, and the eating habits as well as the "food deserts" that plague black populations in America.
I am a white woman who tends to pudge, hence a serial dieter since I turned 30. Alice Randall has also struggled with her weight. The introductory chapter in Ada's Rules is entitled How To Us My, Ada Howard's, Novel As A Diet Book. As far as I know, that's not been done before, and it works: a diet manual that is also a novel.
I couldn't put it down and I felt for Ada as she drank her water, walked her 30 minutes, and watched her portions, but also as she not only transformed her body but found her true self underneath all that fat. I have never come across a more realistic and sensible book about dieting (which is just another name for eating properly.)
If you are naturally slim with a high metabolism you are forbidden to read it!
May 2, 2015
I really wanted to like this book. It had a great initial plot..A 50 year old black southern woman who has had 3 sisters die from diabetes, gets an invitation to her college reunion and uses it as a motivation to lose the 100lbs she has gained since graduating(and to not end up the same fate as her sisters). She also has a preacher husband whom she suspects is cheating on her. The path towards losing weight I enjoyed, including some of her low-calorie treats and de-stressors she creates for herself. However, the book tends to drag on. And then*warning spoiler alert*, she confronts 4 women she suspects cheated with her husband (why not confront the husband I am screaming), finds out none of them have cheated with her husband, and thus, she goes on a romantic vacation with him. Before she leaves her vacation spot, she tells us her college crush is dating her daughter now! Are you kidding me? After they reconnected and had dinner and everything. And to top all that off, she tells us there was a 5th woman she does not confront after all because she just KNOWS and she just assumes her husband won't do it again. I lost total respect for her character at this point. Not only is she still not having good communication with her husband (which started their joint problems to begin with) but after finding herself and losing the weight, she is just going to accept these issues and never bring them up. She has that much faith that her husband won't cheat again? Maybe I am cynical or have seen too many couple's fall apart, but this seemed too cookie cutter for me, especially the last 5-10 chapters(especially since her and Preach seem to have a serious lack of communication which is exactly the source of most couples' demise IMO). This book had such potential, but came up short in the end. Still worth a read(at least from a weight loss perspective), but definitely a frustrating ending.
July 20, 2012
I checked this book out of the public library while visiting there with two squirmy, impatient grandchildren. I took the book on two road trips and didn't get it read. Then, close to the time it was due back to the library, a fair three weeks of time, I decided I needed to read it. I am very glad I did. I think I would like to become best friends with this author, because she speaks a language I want to learn. Reviews call this a thinly-veiled diet, self-help book. I think it is a magical journey book told in the first person by a preacher's wife with some extra weight and a whole lot of responsibilities in life. There are a few times the reader gets a glimpse of her husband's point of view as well. VERY spooky is a very touching and sad description of a fatal bicycle accident which kills a surrealistic sort-of friend. The young man was important to the narrator's journey, a magical character riding his bike along the same journey she was taking. His death, quick and so very avoidable, came at a time when my own son had an eerily similar bike accident, but my son was wearing a helmet that saved his life. This is a very adult novel, a very insightful novel, a very touching and honest novel. I highly recommend it.
September 17, 2012
I am def not the target market for this book (skinny and white), however I thought the book was very well done. It is basically a 'how to lose weight' guide, disguised as a novel.
This was sometimes to the detriment of the story.
What REALLY bugged me (MAJOR SPOILER ALERT)....
She was so desperate to find out if her husband had cheated that she went around asking people. They all said no. It turned out he had cheated, yet he never owned up to it, and she never said anything about it. It just irritated me. He is a preacher, and if he can't be honest and admit his mistakes and ask for forgiveness, then I think he is a complete hypocrite. And Ada should have said something. Instead it was all about the unspoken, and how she knew he was sorry, blah blah blah. She went out of her way to make herself extra sexy for him, dying her bloody pubes for christs sake, and he had been shagging someone else. It seems like Ada did all the work to fix something that Preach did, and he just pretended it never happened.
This was sometimes to the detriment of the story.
What REALLY bugged me (MAJOR SPOILER ALERT)....
She was so desperate to find out if her husband had cheated that she went around asking people. They all said no. It turned out he had cheated, yet he never owned up to it, and she never said anything about it. It just irritated me. He is a preacher, and if he can't be honest and admit his mistakes and ask for forgiveness, then I think he is a complete hypocrite. And Ada should have said something. Instead it was all about the unspoken, and how she knew he was sorry, blah blah blah. She went out of her way to make herself extra sexy for him, dying her bloody pubes for christs sake, and he had been shagging someone else. It seems like Ada did all the work to fix something that Preach did, and he just pretended it never happened.
July 1, 2012
In a brilliant novel,Randall takes an existing form -- the diet self help book -and a stock character - the preacher's wife, and uses them to tell an extra-ordinary story. In a conscious effort to address the medical impact of obesity on black women, Randall explores the complex relationships women have with our bodies, fat or not. Time, sex roles, desire, nurturance, black female experience of power and powerlessness, and questions about cultural maintanence infuse Ada's Rules, which is written in a deceptively breezy style. While accessible to a casual reader, Randall provides some carefully crafted "I have to put down this book and think on that for a minute" insights in spare,dimensional prose. Highly recommended.
June 13, 2012
I'm a white woman of a certain age reading this novel that is classified as "African American fiction." I loved it - marked spots to read to my husband, laughed out loud, stopped to think about some of the cultural implications. I appreciated this quick read as the story of one woman's midlife "readjustment" -- yes, there is a lot that is culture-specific but hey, that just gives me an opportunity to put a different perspective on things -- but there is a lot that is funny, heartwarming, thought-provoking, and inspiring. It won't appeal to everyone, but it has something to say, lightly and humorously, about maturing, body image, who we are, and how we become who we want to be.
February 16, 2013
Boring, borin, bori, bor ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ Sorry but this is just.........boring!
Not funny, no story, terrible writing.
Not funny, no story, terrible writing.
June 7, 2012
When Ada receives an invitation to her college reunion, she embarks on a weight loss journey. She wants to shed the excess pounds that she has accumulated over the last 25 years. Ada is a preacher's wife who had been accustomed to looking after everyone else. Now she would have to turn the tables and begin looking out for herself.
I applaud the author for introducing middle age characters, aging parents and tackling the problem of obesity. However, I didn't know if this was supposed to be a weight loss book or a novel. Each chapter is a weight loss rule/tip. So, the author wrote each chapter in response to its title. In that sense, it seemed as though she created a series of stories about the main character in order to fit the chapter titles. Therefore, the plot seemed rather disjointed instead of cohesive.
I applaud the author for introducing middle age characters, aging parents and tackling the problem of obesity. However, I didn't know if this was supposed to be a weight loss book or a novel. Each chapter is a weight loss rule/tip. So, the author wrote each chapter in response to its title. In that sense, it seemed as though she created a series of stories about the main character in order to fit the chapter titles. Therefore, the plot seemed rather disjointed instead of cohesive.
July 20, 2014
Very good story about self-love, romantic love and lifestyle changes! Highly recommended.
May 12, 2024
First of all: don't read this book. If you do start reading it, you might want to read it till the end to find out if she lost the weight and you would like to read about the struggles we all go through when we are on a diet.
Unfortunately, the struggles are missing. It is very unrealistic. This woman decides to loose weight and she only gives up once, when something very extreme happens. And she picks up again very fast. When Ada fails to resist temptation, she still manages to make up for it that same day and stays within her point system. You want her to be a bit more human...
The author does not know how to keep your attention. She drifts off to stuff that is not interesting at all.
***Spoiler***
Seems like the author tries to tell us that cheating is okay.
How can it be okay for the daughter to start dating mommy's ex? The one that tried to get into her panties only months ago... the one that mommy dreamed of cheating with..
The last chapters where Ada finaly has sexy with her husband are very tasteless.
Unfortunately, the struggles are missing. It is very unrealistic. This woman decides to loose weight and she only gives up once, when something very extreme happens. And she picks up again very fast. When Ada fails to resist temptation, she still manages to make up for it that same day and stays within her point system. You want her to be a bit more human...
The author does not know how to keep your attention. She drifts off to stuff that is not interesting at all.
***Spoiler***
Seems like the author tries to tell us that cheating is okay.
How can it be okay for the daughter to start dating mommy's ex? The one that tried to get into her panties only months ago... the one that mommy dreamed of cheating with..
The last chapters where Ada finaly has sexy with her husband are very tasteless.
October 21, 2017
Good motivation and and easy read. Also, a lovely trip to some of my favorite haunts on Nashville!
September 16, 2012
Ada’s Rules is subtitled ‘A Sexy Skinny Novel� which is apt. This book is novel, taking the journey of one (fictional) woman’s weight loss, combining weight loss tips (some good, some I’d doubt the scientific validity of) with the problems of ailing parents, a husband who might be cheating and daughters that might be taking the wrong path.
Ada’s motivation for losing weight is a common one � the dreaded school reunion and meeting of a former flame. However, this girl is determined with a capital D. Organising herself with a diary/food journal and an ever-growing list of rules (every chapter is titled with one of Ada’s rules), she begins to kick butt. Some of these rules are common sense � such as exercising - but I’m not too sure that the diet based on your DNA has much supporting evidence.
But it’s not just excess weight plaguing Ada. She’s worried that her husband might be cheating. She’s worried that she might cheat with a former flame (especially as he likes ‘skinny girls�). Her daughters are starting to put on weight and all her sisters died from complications relating to diabetes. Her mum doesn’t recognise her, living in an alcoholic delirium. Her business is trying to stay afloat to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Despite all this, Ada manages to stay positive and on the weight loss wagon most of the time. I found this book to be inspiring in places (telling me that it is a good idea to walk up 10 flights of stairs or ignoring work morning tea goodies) but sometimes some of Ada’s positive steps rubbed off on me the wrong way, leading me to think, ‘I deserve that ice cream!� Not so good.
It’s definitely a unique idea to wrap self-help tips for weight loss around an interesting, light novel. I wonder if this book could be treated as some cognitive behavioural therapy? (I did lose 1kg while reading it!) I also thought it was good that Randall brought to light the complications of diabetes and their consequences, as I feel this isn’t something that it widely known or taken seriously in the general media. The overall positive tone makes you feel that weight loss is achievable, whether it be 1kg or more than 20kg � it’s just a series of small steps.
It’s an easy and fun read, but you’ll take away some important messages about food and exercise. I really like books that teach while entertain and if you do too, you’ll be cheering Ada on the whole way.
Ada’s motivation for losing weight is a common one � the dreaded school reunion and meeting of a former flame. However, this girl is determined with a capital D. Organising herself with a diary/food journal and an ever-growing list of rules (every chapter is titled with one of Ada’s rules), she begins to kick butt. Some of these rules are common sense � such as exercising - but I’m not too sure that the diet based on your DNA has much supporting evidence.
But it’s not just excess weight plaguing Ada. She’s worried that her husband might be cheating. She’s worried that she might cheat with a former flame (especially as he likes ‘skinny girls�). Her daughters are starting to put on weight and all her sisters died from complications relating to diabetes. Her mum doesn’t recognise her, living in an alcoholic delirium. Her business is trying to stay afloat to support children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Despite all this, Ada manages to stay positive and on the weight loss wagon most of the time. I found this book to be inspiring in places (telling me that it is a good idea to walk up 10 flights of stairs or ignoring work morning tea goodies) but sometimes some of Ada’s positive steps rubbed off on me the wrong way, leading me to think, ‘I deserve that ice cream!� Not so good.
It’s definitely a unique idea to wrap self-help tips for weight loss around an interesting, light novel. I wonder if this book could be treated as some cognitive behavioural therapy? (I did lose 1kg while reading it!) I also thought it was good that Randall brought to light the complications of diabetes and their consequences, as I feel this isn’t something that it widely known or taken seriously in the general media. The overall positive tone makes you feel that weight loss is achievable, whether it be 1kg or more than 20kg � it’s just a series of small steps.
It’s an easy and fun read, but you’ll take away some important messages about food and exercise. I really like books that teach while entertain and if you do too, you’ll be cheering Ada on the whole way.
October 25, 2012
When I saw this book, I wasn't too sure what to expect and as soon as I cracked it open , I could swear I was reading an autobiographical novel of Alice Randall's life. Ada's Rules is in fact a fictional autobiographical set novel about housewife and Preacher Wife Ada Howard. The novel starts when she recieves an invitation to her college reunion , once skinny and beautiful Ada has felt that she has let herself go over the years and feeling deprived of love at home she has her eyes set on her college crush Matt Mason. In order to make herself perfect, Ada decides to make a goal to lose one hundred pounds in a year and sets to herself goals to research different methods of dieting , excercise in order to find the perfect solution for her. We read as over the year , pulling bits and pieces of advice from friends, family and diet books Ada writes a list of Diet Rules. In dieting though, she soon finds herself re-discovering who she really is and comes to the realisation that her marriage is failing and that it may be time to move on . Will Ada's rules lead her to Divorce or will they help save her marriage from tatters ? Without giving too much away, this was one of the best African-American novels I have read in a long time and I recommend it to everyone to read as it is one book that everyone who has ever had a thought of low self-esteem or weight issues will be able to connect to and enjoy and think "OMG , That's Like Me or I Do That ".
July 3, 2014
"Ada's Rules" definitely pulled me out of my reading slump. Public health advice disguised as a funny, uplifting, life-changing novel? I'll take it.
Ada receives word of her impending college reunion around the same time she suspects her preacher husband is cheating on her. Her old college love will be at the reunion, which gives her a year to lose weight, get fabulous, snag him back, and get revenge on her husband. But as she works through her journey to get healthy, she learns (and shares with the reader) new habits to replace the food she often craves, and becomes deliberate in respecting and rewarding her body to make sure the weight leaves and stays away.
I loved this story, and loved it even more when I read that the author, Alice Randall, teaches a course at Vanderbilt, titled "Soul Food as text and in text". This makes a lot of sense.
My only qualm is the cartoon-ish cover. This book is somewhat lite chick lit, but it's good enough for something a little bit more serious.
Very interested in reading more from Alice Randall.
Ada receives word of her impending college reunion around the same time she suspects her preacher husband is cheating on her. Her old college love will be at the reunion, which gives her a year to lose weight, get fabulous, snag him back, and get revenge on her husband. But as she works through her journey to get healthy, she learns (and shares with the reader) new habits to replace the food she often craves, and becomes deliberate in respecting and rewarding her body to make sure the weight leaves and stays away.
I loved this story, and loved it even more when I read that the author, Alice Randall, teaches a course at Vanderbilt, titled "Soul Food as text and in text". This makes a lot of sense.
My only qualm is the cartoon-ish cover. This book is somewhat lite chick lit, but it's good enough for something a little bit more serious.
Very interested in reading more from Alice Randall.
July 17, 2016
I have to confess, the main idea of this book was good. The moral message within was also one to inspire, yet perhaps Alice could've conveyed it a lot better. Let me imply my reasons why:
Yes, I get that this is a tale that solely revolves around the quest of a fifty year old woman in losing weight, but I opine that this book is far too monotonous for my liking.
The substantial reason why I decided upon finishing the novel is the fact that I do not want to jump to conclusions about my judgements of this book, but well my reckoning only got worse the more I progress into it. Moreover, it has quite an absurd finish.
I may sound rather harsh, considering that lots of people admitted to relishing in the book, and thus perhaps it's just not for me. If you're seeking for something uplifting, I would advise you to find another one that may possibly suit your taste a lot better. But if you're intent on something empowering, give this book a shot!
Yes, I get that this is a tale that solely revolves around the quest of a fifty year old woman in losing weight, but I opine that this book is far too monotonous for my liking.
The substantial reason why I decided upon finishing the novel is the fact that I do not want to jump to conclusions about my judgements of this book, but well my reckoning only got worse the more I progress into it. Moreover, it has quite an absurd finish.
I may sound rather harsh, considering that lots of people admitted to relishing in the book, and thus perhaps it's just not for me. If you're seeking for something uplifting, I would advise you to find another one that may possibly suit your taste a lot better. But if you're intent on something empowering, give this book a shot!
January 1, 2015
A marvoulous novel of coming home and going full circle. Raise in rural Georiga Goning to Vietname and saving his sister to realize life and love is where it all begins. Going through racial hatred, self-hatred, and the dangerous of life. A must read. Toni Morrison writing is vibrant, vivid, and powerful. A must buy and read for all times. A Must Read For Everyone.
June 22, 2012
This book took me on a journey of self-care and love. I have been changed for the better having read this book. Truly a timely and beautiful surprise.
June 24, 2012
All the whining and regrets about her life got on my nerves. I only got through the first few chapters.
August 23, 2021
I really enjoyed this book and will read more of Alice Randall's work. I liked that Ada was able to include all her responsibilities as well as making and following her rules. The book closely reflects Alice's own life and experience. I am 70 years old, work in Early childcare, am extremely overweight, have arthritis (hip replacement January 2019),but perhaps it is not too late for me. Like Ada I have a loving husband who still desires me ... and I him.
I found the lyrical language and the spirituality inspiring although I am not religious. The experience of black women in America is mirrored in Aotearoa/ New Zealand by the lives of Pasifika people. Obesity, poverty and the associated diseases and lower life-expectancy are all part of this experience.
I found the lyrical language and the spirituality inspiring although I am not religious. The experience of black women in America is mirrored in Aotearoa/ New Zealand by the lives of Pasifika people. Obesity, poverty and the associated diseases and lower life-expectancy are all part of this experience.
June 9, 2018
Ada Howard is a preachers wife, runs a childrens day care centre, looks after her elderly parents, has 2 grown daughter's and helps on numerous committees...busy to say the least but she always puts herself last.
Ada has always struggled with her weight but never let it get to her. Until she receives an invitation for a college reunion sent by an old flame! Ada decides she doesn't want to be a plus size any longer! So she decides to lay down some rules to help her lose the hundred or so pounds. Is this because of an old flame or because she thinks preachers having an affair??
Ada goes on an Amazon spending spree getting different diets books. She also joins a gym. Ada is willing to try anything to help her on her weight loss journey. She even decides to make sure her daughter's are healthy so starts sending them healthy eating packages.
Even though the pounds start to drop off and Ada is feeling good, preacher still seems distant...
Will Ada succeed in her journey? And what about Preacher?
I really enjoyed this book, gave you food for thought in some of the chapters, especially if like me you are on a weight loss journey .
It has you laughing at some of the things she tries...I think most of us have been there!
A well reccommended read.
Ada has always struggled with her weight but never let it get to her. Until she receives an invitation for a college reunion sent by an old flame! Ada decides she doesn't want to be a plus size any longer! So she decides to lay down some rules to help her lose the hundred or so pounds. Is this because of an old flame or because she thinks preachers having an affair??
Ada goes on an Amazon spending spree getting different diets books. She also joins a gym. Ada is willing to try anything to help her on her weight loss journey. She even decides to make sure her daughter's are healthy so starts sending them healthy eating packages.
Even though the pounds start to drop off and Ada is feeling good, preacher still seems distant...
Will Ada succeed in her journey? And what about Preacher?
I really enjoyed this book, gave you food for thought in some of the chapters, especially if like me you are on a weight loss journey .
It has you laughing at some of the things she tries...I think most of us have been there!
A well reccommended read.
January 30, 2023
I came across this book entirely by chance while looking for something else, and I was intrigued, so I read it. I love this concept of a diet/weightloss book that is also a story. There's also a lot of life lessons and wisdom that can be taken from this book. I love this whole idea, and would like to see more books like this.' It's definitely going to be one that I will read over again for sure.
September 3, 2017
Cultural exploration of weight for women of color (and all women) interwoven with health strategies. A fun read
May 4, 2019
Enjoyable read where the medicine is flavorable!
February 26, 2021
Chick lit about weight loss. Cute.
Read
August 7, 2021to-read
October 25, 2023
Part diet book, part change of life Rom Com, well written but a bit too fluffy and girly for my taste.
June 14, 2024
Loved the concept of this book� It’s about self love and loving the people around you.
February 15, 2023
It wasn't an easy read-just okay........
March 6, 2017
This book was not what I expected. when it started it said it was a diet book? (my impression was it was about someone going ON a diet. As it went on it was the rules she decided to use, thus the title.) In the acknowledgements at the end, she thanks different medical people and then adds that probably none would necessarily approve of any of her rules. I enjoyed the actual storyline but it feels like it has an identity problem.
April 27, 2013
There are a few helpful suggestions, but I couldn't relate with Ada since I am a young college student. I was given this book through a health and wellness group, but the book is just someone's narrative through there own health and wellness journey as a married adult. This book is a good example of how wellness affects all aspects of your life not just physical fitness. However I didn't like the fact that this book was so focused on weight loss and physical fitness. I also could not stand the writing style of the narrator since to me it was not consistent and she jumped around to often never finishing a thought or action. Which made it hard to read. Nonetheless I got through it and finished it, so that's all that matters.
Her rules are:
1 Don't keep doing what you've always been doing
2 Make a plan: set clear, multiple, and changing goals
3 Weigh yourself daily
4 Be a role model
5 Don't attack your own team; don't let anyone on your team attack you
6 Identify and learn from iconic diet books
7 Walk thirty minutes daily
8 See you doctor
9 Do the DNA test
10 Budget: Plan to afford the feeding,exercising, and dressing of you
11 Get eight hours of sleep
12 Eat Breakfast
13 Self-medicate with art: quash boredom and anxiety
14 Consider surgery
15 Keep a food diary and a body journal
16 Add a second exercise three times a week
17 Drink eight classes of water daily
18 Eat sitting down
19 Eat slowly
20 Find a snack you like that likes you
21 Access the power of quick fixes: poems, fingernail polish, and waxing
22 Add a zen exercise; hooping, water jogging, watsu, and yoga
23 Don't be afraid to look cheap - in restaurants
24 Manage portion sizes
25 Eat every three hours
26 Savor Hot and Cold, the power of herbal teas and flavored ice cubes
27 Don't initiate change you can't stick with for five years
28 Find and create DNA based go to meals: a homemade and healthy house specialty and a healthy and palatable frozen dinner
29 Use consultants: trainers, masseuses, nutritionists, and priests
30 Massage your own feet
31 Drink cautiously; no juice, soda, food coloring, corn syrup, fake sugar; examine alcohol and caffeine intake
32 Bathe to calm or bathe to excite: recipes for baths
33 Invent DNA based care packages that work for you and yours
34 Don't stay off the wagon when you fall off the wagon-and you will fall off the wagon
35 Get therapy
36 Create your own spa day
37 Get better hair
38 Fake it till you make it: fine foundations and wide smiles
39 Update beauty rituals and tools
40 Shop for your future self
41 Take one bite of anything and never more than two bites of anything decadent
42 Uni up: get yourself a uniform, for day and for night
43 Front load: Eat before you go to parties; drink water before meals
44 Draw a map of your body
45 Update your goals
46 Crease your own spa week
47 Get better hair down there
48 Seize the proper props; scarves, shoes, purses, sunglasses, and respect
49 Don't stop short of your goal
50 Celebrate dappled beauty daily
51 Cultivate new interests
52 Make a health and beauty calendar
53 Do it for you
Her rules are:
1 Don't keep doing what you've always been doing
2 Make a plan: set clear, multiple, and changing goals
3 Weigh yourself daily
4 Be a role model
5 Don't attack your own team; don't let anyone on your team attack you
6 Identify and learn from iconic diet books
7 Walk thirty minutes daily
8 See you doctor
9 Do the DNA test
10 Budget: Plan to afford the feeding,exercising, and dressing of you
11 Get eight hours of sleep
12 Eat Breakfast
13 Self-medicate with art: quash boredom and anxiety
14 Consider surgery
15 Keep a food diary and a body journal
16 Add a second exercise three times a week
17 Drink eight classes of water daily
18 Eat sitting down
19 Eat slowly
20 Find a snack you like that likes you
21 Access the power of quick fixes: poems, fingernail polish, and waxing
22 Add a zen exercise; hooping, water jogging, watsu, and yoga
23 Don't be afraid to look cheap - in restaurants
24 Manage portion sizes
25 Eat every three hours
26 Savor Hot and Cold, the power of herbal teas and flavored ice cubes
27 Don't initiate change you can't stick with for five years
28 Find and create DNA based go to meals: a homemade and healthy house specialty and a healthy and palatable frozen dinner
29 Use consultants: trainers, masseuses, nutritionists, and priests
30 Massage your own feet
31 Drink cautiously; no juice, soda, food coloring, corn syrup, fake sugar; examine alcohol and caffeine intake
32 Bathe to calm or bathe to excite: recipes for baths
33 Invent DNA based care packages that work for you and yours
34 Don't stay off the wagon when you fall off the wagon-and you will fall off the wagon
35 Get therapy
36 Create your own spa day
37 Get better hair
38 Fake it till you make it: fine foundations and wide smiles
39 Update beauty rituals and tools
40 Shop for your future self
41 Take one bite of anything and never more than two bites of anything decadent
42 Uni up: get yourself a uniform, for day and for night
43 Front load: Eat before you go to parties; drink water before meals
44 Draw a map of your body
45 Update your goals
46 Crease your own spa week
47 Get better hair down there
48 Seize the proper props; scarves, shoes, purses, sunglasses, and respect
49 Don't stop short of your goal
50 Celebrate dappled beauty daily
51 Cultivate new interests
52 Make a health and beauty calendar
53 Do it for you
Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.