The Lean

I purchased this book for my daughter who is having fantastic success with the diet book. She has H-pylori in her digestive tract and has struggled for years for good digestive health. As a child she complained endlessly with stomach aches. As an adult she has struggled finding a diet that didnt aggrevate her symptoms. She has off and on had issues with her weight, often binging out of frustration because of what felt to her like starvation pains. This made her situation worse and often she gained a lot of unwelcomed weight resulting in low self esteem. She found the cleanse book and has been extremely happy with the results in every aspect. Most of all she has been able to stay with the life style changes because of the philosophy of the author. Ease is the word my daughter uses describing the books by this author. I purchased the series of wellness books for her and she is doing remarkably well. She loves the books and...she reads them! Well worth the investment when I see how healthy and happy she has become.

This 332-page book is composed of two parts: a 30-day, one-step-a-day cumulative plan as well as an extensive appendix with nearly 100 pages of recipes and resources. Each of the 30 items in the first part of Kathy Freston's book deals with some aspect of diet or lifestyle (including mind, body, and spirit). Every one which is relatively simple, but Kathy provides a wealth of information to explain her reasoning and still manages to convey all the facts, research, and science in an easy-to-read and conversational manner with a good dose of humor. Unlike a lot of other "diet" books, Kathy doesn't suggest that you embrace all 30 steps on day one, but she urges readers to "lean" into each one, a day at a time. Several of the items deal with the need to transition to a plant-based diet. Rather than make some uneasy with suggesting a quick switch to a compassionate vegan diet, Kathy leans them into the same place by systematically eliminating animal-sourced food and replacing it with delicious plant-based options. She shows that a plant-based diet is good for the body, the environment, and animals.

I decided a long time ago that I wanted to convert to Vegan. So I purchased 'The Veganist' by Kathy Freston. But I just wasn't ready yet. Then I saw Kathy on Ellen and she spoke about 'The Lean' and how it was a 30 day slow process to lean into vegan. I'm on day 30 today (4/20/12) and I absolutely love this book. There is so much more information than you can imagine about going vegan. And each chapter is so well written, and it's not just about going vegan, it's about life on a daily basis and learning how to take care of yourself. I truly enjoyed reading this book and am officially vegan now. I would highly recommend this book to get you started on becoming vegan. It's really a wonderful learning experience and so much more!

I loved Freston's earlier book, The Veganist, as it gives a very good general overview to all the benefits of a vegan diet. This book takes the health and nutrition aspect of a vegan diet, and uses a 30 day plan to making positive changes in your life.Kathy uses a very approachable and friendly way of introducing one new change a day, such as drinking more water on day one, and then adds a new thing to do each day. She also makes a point of telling you to make changes only as you feel comfortable making them, and if one a day is too much, take each change by the week or longer.As a vegan who is trying to make even more healthful changes in my life I really enjoy this book.

I liked the gradual method used to "lean" readers into the dietary guidelines. Do understand that this book is about lifelong change, and not a quick diet fad or a on-again/off-again diet. As mentioned in other reviews, the author is advocating a vegan diet by the end which some people may not be prepared for.I only made it through Day 22 before I stopped following the instructions. It was more a lack of willpower to continue than any hesitance toward following the guidelines though. I still incorporate many of the individually daily recommendations into my diet though, and I feel healthier for doing so.

This was a very helpful book in learning how to wean oneself off animal proteins. While I'm not an advocate of a vegetarian diet, I have found that eating less animal protein has agreed with my digestion and the way I feel. I have adopted many of Kathy's lifestyle changes through the 30 day plan, and will continue to improve the way I eat.

I am a fan of Kathy Freston books and this one is my favorite. I have the kindle book and have listened to it as a book on cd. What I like is she gives you easy tips to incorporate into your lifestyle with minimal effort. How is that not something we can all use? Perfect for the holiday season or anytime you want to be more mindful of eating and health.

Oh, I THOUROUGHLY enjoyed this book. Very easy to follow and I followed her daily steps and lost 11 pounds effortlessly. It does become a lifestyle. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to get healthy and understand more about how food affects our bodies.

positives -a step by step guide to changing your diet and lifestyle and losing weight. Suggests one thing a day to add and explains why, By end of a month you're supposed to be healthier and happiernegatives- I think from reading a part (before I began to lose the will to live) that most of this book it is aimed at fat american coach potatoes and tone is quite condescending and preaches in places. Begins with really stupid thing most health are people do like drink more water, what annoys me the most is she makes sweeping statements which she doesn't always give balanced evidence for if you know nothing about veganism and want to find a way in it may help but if you do its not the book for you.

I have been a vegetarian for the last 6 years and half way becoming a vegan. A few days in reading this book as made me realise I can do this and begin the vegan journey.I thought I knew mostly everything to do with animal fats and what I eat. I was wrong! I would say most of use don't know what we're eating day in and day out. This book is amazing and opened my eyes fully. I have changed the way I eat and now a vegan after reading this wonderful book and feel so much better in myself by doing so!Thank you, Kathy, for sharing all the information and the beautiful recipes in the back of the book!

Nt really a diet meal plan. She asks you to take on different activities. It would take me all day just focussing on food and drink. As a full time worker and mother of two, I don't have the time. I am frustrasted that there are no vegan diet books like the normal ones, with plans for breakfast, lunch and dinner that are easy to cook and to find. Like a slimming world for vegans.

Kathy explains that the best way to embrace any change is to Lean into it.I love this. Makes the whole book so much more manageable and easy to follow.

Having been a vegetarian for 38 years I wanted to make the transition to Vegan. Kathy Freston is great in explaining all the ins and outs of dairy and more and what is it to be a vegan. Great read and lots of great recipes at the back.I highly recommend this book.