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Slimmer: The New Mediterranean Way to Lose Weight

Disclosure: I was not financially compensated for this post. I received a sample for review purposes. The opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.

mediterranean way to lose weight
I don’t eat fish. It’s the first thing I thought when seeing Mediterranean in the title of the book Slimmer: The New Mediterranean Way to Lose Weight. However, the concept of the book intrigued me, because the healthiest people live in the Mediterranean. Figured there had to be some kind of answer to the mystery of life “how can I eat amazing food, and not gain tons of weight.”

Mediterranean way to lose weight

Surprisingly, this book isn’t just recipes. The book offers readers much more than a meal plan, as well as recipes, to follow. Harry Papas, the author, once thin, gained a lot of weight. His struggle to lose the weight forced him to figure a few things out. Now he shares what he learned about fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, dairy, lean proteins, and much more. Papas not only tells you which foods to eat, but also WHY you should eat them. Plus, he touches upon the importance of their freshness. It’s not just giving you his Slimmer Program, it’s giving you the back story of:

  • why he created it
  • how he created
  • why it actually works

3 cycles of 21 days to a slimmer you

Papas lays out three cycles to follow. Each of the three cycles lasts 21 days. The days are laid out for you in the book, along with the recipes. Within the cycles, there’s “free days,” and “happy moments.”

Free days and happy moments throughout the mediterranean diet

Free Days are once a week. Since each cycle lasts 21 days, which is 3 weeks per cycle, you get one free day per week. So, 3 days per “cycle” is dedicated to free days. During free days, you enjoy that burger you have been eying, but instead of fries, get a veggie for a side dish. Big on Pizza, enjoy a slice, but instead of pepperoni on it, get veggies loaded on top!

Now for the “happy moments.” Happy moments are small indulgences taken each day, in order to look forward to something. There’s even a list of items that can be both a “happy moment,” yet not sabotage all of your hard work. Totally looking forward to trying out his Strawberries with Brandy Banana Cream. Yes, you read that right. BRANDY BANANA CREAM. Every day you get to choose something to bring you a little happiness, if you need it. It’s not mandatory. But oh, how nice to have the option, right?

Daily meals with Papas

Daily meals during the cycles packs a lot of food.

  • breakfast
  • mid-morning snack
  • lunch
  • mid-afternoon snack
  • dinner
  • a little Happy Moment if you like
  • bedtime snack

I’m having a hard time wrapping my mind around having to cram so much food into my day. I’m sure everyone’s having a hard time imaging me COOKING every day, and not just once! Apparently certain days, I cook more than once. What the…? Who the…? November Sunflower cooking? It’s unheard of!

Ingredients for meals such as, Spaghetti Bolognese, Greek-style Sliders, Tomato and Lentil Soup, are now part of the shopping list. Our kitchen won’t know what the hell is going on. It’s going to be quite an undertaking, but sacrifice is what I’m about for all of you out there, reading and loving my blog!

Why I love Papas’s book

Papas doesn’t leave you hanging. He not only gives you the cycles, the recipes, but also explains how to maintain your new healthy body. Plus, he goes through the psychology of the system. He’s all about not beating yourself up if you have a bad day! Everyone has an off day.

Since he went through a rough patch with his weight, he understands why so many others gain weight.  Papas knows people have all kinds of reasons for the weight gain. There’s great care in the book to touch upon how to get past the issues, focus on the new lifestyle: visualization, and positive thinking.

Listen, all of us striving to slim down, has doubts. However, this book gives amazing ways to get through the doubts. It truly helps answer a lot of questions on “the why” of weight gain, along with providing real answers on how to bring your body, as well as your MIND, into the slimmer lifestyle.

Thoroughly enjoyed the book, love the recipes, and hoping I can make them! In my honest opinion, totally worth the money for this book. It’s a winner. I’m big on positive thinking, and visualization. It’s helped me make huge changes in my life, so when those are worked into a book about healthy lifestyle, and eating, I’m all for it.

Disclosure: NovemberSunflower.com is a small business. In order to survive, there's a need to make money. I love a lot of things, I share those things, and if I can make a little commission here, and there, I'm 100 percent going for it. Why should the brands I love be the only ones making money, right? Please, use my affiliate links within this post when placing your orders with the brand, or joining up with the brand. Your support is beyond appreciated!

By | 2022-12-30T11:30:38-05:00 April 29, 2013|Health & Nutrition, Reviews|Comments Off on Slimmer: The New Mediterranean Way to Lose Weight

About the Author:

Staci loves to write, and loves to share her "take" on everything thrown her way. Movies, entertainment, food, fashion, shopping, money, travel and family. There's nothing off limits at NovemberSunflower.com, and Staci's always telling it like it is: good, bad, and all that lies in between!