Suzanne Somers - Suzanne Somers Eat Great, Lose Weight

ALSO BY THE AUTHOR

Keeping Secrets

Wednesdays Children

Touch Me

Author Note: This book proposes a program of diet and physical exercise for the reader to follow. However, before starting this or any other diet and/or exercise program, you should consult your physician.

Copyright 1996 by Suzanne Somers

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Published by Three Rivers Press,
New York, New York.
Member of the Crown Publishing Group.

Originally published in hardcover by Crown Publishers in 1996.
First paperback edition printed in 1999.

Random House, Inc. New York, Toronto, London, Sydney, Auckland www.randomhouse.com

THREE RIVERS PRESS is a registered trademark and the Three Rivers Press colophon is a trademark of Random House, Inc.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Somers, Suzanne
[Eat great, lose weight]
Suzanne Somers eat great, lose weight / by Suzanne Somers.
1. Reducing diets I. Title.
RM222.2.S655 1997
613.25dc20 96-33178

eISBN: 978-0-307-83347-1

v3.1_r1

Another great idea, Al!
I love you!
And thank you, Caroline.
I love you, too!

Acknowledgments

The biggest thank-you goes to Caroline Somers, my darling daughter-in-law. She spent countless hours researching for me, which made the writing of this book possible. I can tell you that this program works for me, but you also need to know why; thus, the research. Over the years, Caroline and I have connected in an incredible way through our love of food and cooking. So many of the family pictures in this book are of food preparation in the kitchen. Youll notice that, in many of them, Caroline is by my side or I am on her team, putting together some sumptuous meal for all of us. So, thank you sweet Caroline for your talent and for caring so much.

The next big thank-you goes to Alan, my wonderful husband. I was madly in love with him when I met him, and although I never thought it could be possible, Im even crazier about him today. I love to cook for him. He is such an appreciative audience and I must give him credit for the idea that this would be a great book because its the way we really eat! So, without his urging, I dont know if this book would have been written Id be too busy cooking.

Thank you, sweet Bruce, for all the favors with your computer. You have an enviable knowledge of the technical world and I know at times we take advantage of you. You are the best son! I love you and its great being your ma.

Then theres Leslie, my cool and fabulous stepdaughter. I gave her the assignment to do her thing and Somersize through art. Her wit and style come through when you look at those angry little potatoes. She is always clever and sly in her work. We have had wonderful and loving experiences together for two decades. For many years, she has designed my costumes for Las Vegas. When I presented my act at the Sporting Club in Monte Carlo, the audience gasped in astonishment and approval at the beautiful gowns. Thanks, Les! You did it again.

And what fun it was to work with my adorable agent, Al Lowman. Thanks, Al. You are a great combination of chutzpah and vulnerability. We will be friends long after this book and thanks for setting me up with the perfect publisher.

Every book needs a great editor, so Crown sent me their finestthe cookbook queen, Wendy Hubbert. She had the nasty assignment of coming to Saint-Tropez (where I was vacationing) and editing with me. As with all editors, there were times I wanted to strangle her, but in the end, she was right! Thank you, Wendy, for your talent and for keeping me focused when I would rather have been dancing. You did a great job!

As always, thanks to Marsha, Wendy, and Michelle, my office pals, for all the typing, running, and caring.

Last but probably most important, thank you to the nutritionists who put the validating stamp on this program. Without your voices I would not have the proper understanding to explain why and how this eating system works. Thank you for your time and caring: Teresa Olsen and Jay Wild, registered nutritionists; Vicky Newell, certified nutrition counselor; and Fred Garcia, M.D., Ph.D. And a very special thank-you to Barbara Dixon, L.D.N., R.D., for reviewing this book and writing the foreword. Your validation is very important to this project.

Im very proud of the photographs in this book. They were taken at my beloved desert home of twenty years, a place the public has rarely seen. The recipes are very personal, creatively, so I felt it important to photograph them in the setting where they are most often served.

Everyone involved worked so hard, starting with Jeff Katz, my first choice as a photographer. Jeff is an unbelievably great talent who makes a chocolate cake look so delectable, you can taste it when you see the pictures, and then a moment later takes my picture and makes me feel like Im the only person in the world hed like to photograph. Im sure everyone he shoots feels this way, which is why he is one of the most sought-after photographers in the entertainment business. Big thank-yous to Jeffs team: Victor, Jack, and Andy.

To Donna Glennon, my creative friend who has been with me since my talk show and who has a way of dressing the set to look simple yet bountiful. And thank-you to her team: Rio and Jan.

And once again, Caroline, who cooked her brains out with me for two solid days. She is an incredible talent and perfectionist, and we had a great time in the kitchen together in spite of the heat.

All the china, silver, and crystal in the photographs belong to me, the result of twenty years of collecting. I cannot pass up a beautiful antique plate; and in my travels I am always drawn to some wondrous object (which has to be hand-carried on the airplane); but after I get it home, it becomes not only useful art but also a memory.

Linens are my other great love. My guests always talk about my sheets and linens, which gives me great pleasure. At night when all the rooms are occupied, I slip into my smooth antique sheets, smiling and content, knowing everyone in the house is experiencing the same luxury. The linens and lace panels in the color photos of me in the insert are a result of years of combing through antiques markets looking for the gorgeous (and hard-to-find) lace embroidery on tuille that is traditionally found on windows in the great houses and chateaus of Europe. Every lace panel is a work of art and represents memories of all the different and wonderful trips Alan and I have taken together.