My CINCH! Project

It's a new year and that means one thing... lots and lots of people are making new resolutions.  And from the looks of my local gym's parking lot, resolutions revolving around weight loss are as popular as ever.  After making my own lofty commitments in the past, I've learned over the years to simply commit to small changes instead of big, unreachable goals.  This year is no different, with my main resolutions involving minor steps for feeding my family more healthily... such as incorporating more fresh fruits and vegetables, using fewer and fewer processed items, etc.

To get those resolutions rolling, I recently accepted an opportunity from One2One Network to review a proof copy of a new book by Cynthia Sass entitled, Cinch!.  To be absolutely honest, I didn't expect to glean a whole lot of anything after reading multiple diet books in the past.  I mostly thought it would be your normal "count fat grams, calories, points, whatever... then be sure to burn them off via exercise" program.  But after reading my copy of Cinch!, I found myself both interested and intrigued from all of the quality information Sass gives in this book.

Take a glance for yourself at the publisher's synopsis:

There are no calories to count; no points or grams to memorize.

Just begin choosing four daily meals from over one hundred delicious options (along with a mandatory daily chocolate escape), and you're well on your way to achieving your weight-loss goals. In thirty days on the Cinch! plan, you'll shed pounds and inches—and overcome emotional eating in the process.

Acclaimed weight-loss expert Cynthia Sass has arrived at the exciting secret to sustainable weight loss: her innovative combinations of clean, nutrient-rich foods not only maximize fat-burning but also deliver a faster, healthier metabolism forever. Following the plan is as simple as putting together an easy-to-understand fivepiece puzzle at every meal and enjoying four delicious, easy-to-prepare meals in addition to a chocolate treat. The Cinch! plan includes a full thirty days' worth of quick-fix, satisfying meals and teaches you a simple strategy for creating your own, so you know exactly what, how much, and when to eat, whether you're at home, at a restaurant, or on vacation. Cinch! makes weight loss simple, with meals you'll look forward to eating (no "diet" foods). And best of all, Sass starts her plan with an innovative five-day "Fast Forward," which jump-starts the plan's impressive results and will leave you feeling lighter and healthier.

If you've been trying to eat more clean, natural, and organic foods, but have lacked the structure needed to lose weight, this is the exact plan you've been waiting for. Cinch! includes every tool you'll need for weightloss success: Sass's proven plan, expert tips and advice, daily journals, grocery-shopping lists, chapters on exercise and emotional eating, and a month's worth of recipes—customizable for meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans. You'll enjoy Chocolate Pear Ginger Smoothies, Jalapeño Guacamole, and Chicken Pesto Pitas—to name just a few luscious Cinch! options!

Best of all, Cinch! weight loss is lasting weight loss. In one month, you'll recalibrate your body, freeing yourself from cravings and erratic eating, and begin a satisfying new relationship with food. With Sass's expertise behind you, you'll be empowered to continue creating Cinch!-friendly meals and feel inspired by a wealth of new eating habits—making this so much more than a diet.

My Opinion:

Before writing an honest review of the book, I wanted to give the "Five Day Fast Forward" plan a shot.  I felt as if trying that short burst would provide a clearer insight into whether I felt the book was doable/manageable by other mothers like myself.  Well, I have to confess that I tried it for a day and then stopped. I just. Couldn't. Do it.  (I'm 100 percent okay with you laughing at me at this point...)  My main reasons were:

1. The taste of the food combinations assigned to the 5 day plan were Gah-ROSS to me.  It took almost 45 minutes for me to down one of her smoothie concoctions, because it just tasted so bad.  BLEH!  (Picture me holding my nose while downing this thing... then keep laughing.)
2. The separate planning/cooking of meals for myself and my family was too time consuming.  If I had nothing else to do everyday but plan, grocery shop, and cook, then maybe...
3. The ingredients for just the 5 days on top of our already modest small grocery budget were quite pricey.

Even though her Five Day Fast Forward plan wasn't up my alley (Sass even agrees it's not for everyone), the rest of the book has very valuable information for anyone wanting to not only lose weight, but permanently change their eating lifestyle. There are tons of lessons and ideas that I will be (and have already been) implementing into my family's daily diet.

Cinch! is available for purchase from Amazon and most other major book retailers.


A proof copy of the book was provided to me at no cost by One2One Network in order to facilitate my review.  I was not required to provide a positive review, only an honest one.  The viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.