Dieting Books

In 1998, I lost over 50 pounds on the original Atkins Lifestyle diet, the book I am reviewing now. In 2004, after the birth of my child, I needed to lose the 20 pounds that I gained whilst expecting. I went back on the original diet and lost in in about 4 months or less.

The original tried and true Dr. Atkins Diet Revolution allowed me to lose about four pounds to kick the diet off in the first week, gave me a ton of energy, and gradually allowed me to lose the rest of the weight after the introduction without problems or cravings.

I have lived on this diet for nearly 10 years and have never gained back the weight that I had lost (except for expecting a child). It's been easier to maintain weight loss with this lifestyle/diet than any other diet I have been on.

Some people have a very difficult time following the diet. If one is a vegan, this diet will really never work, if one is addicted to processed wheat flour and sugar...there's hope. In about a week one loses that addiction.

This diet/lifestyle has been given a bad name by various groups, physicians and people. I believe that those whom disagree with this diet only focus on the "Induction" period.

Here's a glimpse inside this diet: It's basically knowing how many complex carbohydrates your body can handle on a daily bases (instead of calories) and it's about cutting out all processed foods. It works on the premise that sugar carbohydrates make a person fat, not fat.

I tried the current, Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution. It is my understanding that this diet was modified by a corporation that purchased Dr. Atkins products and rights when he went into retirement. This diet focuses on promoting their bars, shakes, and other convenient items. I really didn't care for that. Those things slow down one's progress and keep you dependant on convenient foods that really aren't that good for you. I also went on the official Atkins site and joined their message board. There's a lot of very crabby people on that message board. I'm guessing that this new diet isn't working very well for them either.

I bought this Dr Atkin's Diet Revolution book for a gift for someone. The person seemed to be happy to get the book.

In the late 90's my weight ballooned to 205 pounds while I drank 1/2 a gallon of Coke a day.

The revelation that I was fat came when my students began calling me "Drew Carey" and my uncle called me butterball.

I started Atkins Thanksgiving 2000. By April 2001 my weight had gone from 205 to 165.

This diet, in conjunction with proper exercise, will probably enhance weightloss for many people, unlike any other apporach they have tried.

After the publication of "Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution," this older version seems to have been neglected. Mostly this is good because while it's a great book and I enjoyed reading it, Dr. Atkins' understanding of things has come a long way since he wrote it.

For example, the old version recommends almost zero carbohydrates and doesn't take fiber into account. The new book recommends no less than 20g of net carbohydrates, and fiber can be subtracted from the total count for any food since it doesn't raise blood sugar.

In the old version, the first phase was simply called "Phase 1" and lasted only one week; now it is called "Induction" and lasts 2 weeks. Since it includes more carbs, it can be adhered to for up to six months.

Dr. Atkins puts a big emphasis on ketone strips. The new program includes using them, but downplays them. Many people - like me - have trouble getting even light pink on our best days. I think downplaying, while still leaving the option there, is the best thing to do.

Other differences just have to do with the passage of time. 30 years ago Splenda wasn't on the market, so there is no mention of it. Same with cyclomates. Who today has heard of this sweetener? And the cure for constipation then was a mild laxative. Nowadays fiber supplements are on the market and are the recommended thing.

The only part of the book I skipped was the recipes, though if you are into cooking it would be a really awesome part to look through. It takes up significant space, so if you are looking for low carb recipes, the book might be worth the price just for that.

I loved the end of the book and wish that section had been included in the new one. It's Dr. Atkins' statement to the Senate Select Committee on Nutrition of Human Needs on April 12, 1973 (very early versions of the book do not include this). He does a wonderful job of defending his diet to the naysayers. I highly recommend reading this section of the book.

One last thing, the weight chart at the back of the book is not realistic in today's world. It's based on the old version of the Met Life charts. The new version allows people to weigh more, and I know my body just stalls out my weight loss at 145. On the old Met Life chart that was too much. On the new one it is a perfectly normal weight.

I recommend this book as a good history lesson in how the diet began, but to lose weight I recommend "Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution," which has the advantage of 30 years' worth of learning that the doctor didn't have when he wrote the first book.

I'm assuming you're reading this because you want to know if this book is worth your money and time, and whether or not you should read it.

If this is not the case, you can skip the rest of this review, and read most of the others - which I have found to be largely testimonial, and will tell you what those reviewers think about the diet.

If you want to know something about the book: read on.

Firstly, I had a very difficult time reading this book - in fact, I skipped most of it, because a very large portion of the book is made up of extended testimonial-like cases. This made the book feel like marketing - and even if you're not as suspicious of marketing as I am, it wears on your nerves quite quickly if you approach the book wanting to learn something about the diet. Additionally, Mr. Atkins' tone made it sound like the diet was a religion or a cult. This made me want to try it even less.

Secondly, Mr. Atkins also seems to be encouraging a sedentary lifestyle. In the portion of the book that I read, he never once mentioned physical activity of any sort other than eating. This turned me off, as I believe that one of the major sources of obesity, especially in highly "industrialized" countries, is lack of physical activity. In short, he does not promote a balanced lifestyle any more than a balanced diet.

Thirdly, Mr. Atkins makes several factual and logical errors. He mentions our ancient hunter ancestors, but fails to mention that they were also gatherers: fruits, roots, nuts, seeds, honey ... all with lots of carbs. And people 200 years ago may have consumed much less sugar than we do now, but he doesn't think that perhaps they weren't obese because of their diet, but because of the amount of physical activity demanded of the large majority of the population just to stay alive.

Fourthly and finally, the book gave me no information I could not have found on the internet.

To sum up, is the book worth your time and money? You be the judge, but for me, it wasn't; I can recommend neither the book nor the diet.

Book was in excellent condition, product was packaged very professionally, and the service was great!

I had this book before and lost it. This has a lot of good information and some unusual but good recipes. I use the LSA recipes all the time and have recommended it to friends.

This book is not about some gimmicky diet to just lose weight - it's really about getting healthy and making decisions with your liver in mind. There is lots of nutritional information that explains why some foods are healing for the liver and how this ultimately helps the body to reach ones ideal weight. The book is a fast read and yet it is packed with good information.

The author provides a number of very good approaches toward improving liver function. The work will be helpful for hepatitis B,C patients, as well as, a tonic for general health.

The book advises us to listen to our bodies and drink up to 12 glasses of water daily. The mainstay of the diet includes low fat protein, seeds, nuts and soy.

Our main objective in the daily diet is to reduce white sugar consumption, gluten,
allergy foods (i.e. lobster)and promote intestinal hygiene.

Certain supplements aid in liver function. i.e.
o taurine
o dandelion
o milk thistle
o livatone +

Good sources of daily nutrition are:
o avocado
o tuna
o melon
o leek soup
o lentil soup
o zucchini

This book is excellent for anyone attempting to craft a model diet and feel better naturally without the use of too many drugs and/or inorganic substances.

Thanks to this incredible book, I turned my liver toxins reading from quite dangerous to perfect within 2 months. And I have lost over 10 kilos as an added bonus. The food is excellent and the information is easy to read and understand, this lady knows exactly what she is talking about. I am happy to stay on this diet because the recipes are so tasty and fulfilling. I just love the banana walnut muffins for lunch every day. If you want a healthier liver and to lose weight this book is for you. I am so impressed with it, I bought a few more for my family members.

I absolutely loved this book. I got so much unexpected help from it. The title sounds like it's just an average diet book but it is so much more than that. In fact the book isn't about dieting at all. What it's really about is getting down to the core of why you might eat the way you shouldn't based on emotional baggage. It tries to get you to sift through your emotional history and things that may be bothering you. I found out so much about myself and why I eat and I was so happy and relieved to be able to change my habits. I recommend this to anyone that might eat out of emotions.

This is the best book I've ever read. It has changed my life. It even helps with issues other than just weight loss.

Good information, short and to the point. That said I have to admit I had to think which book this was, as it apparently didn't have any outstanding qualities.

This is a very insightful book. Not only did it help me lose weight, but it is a book that can help anyone gain personal power. It teaches you easily how to manage your emotions well and how to manage/handle life as it is. Thank you Laurel for writing this book.

This book was hyped as a "simple" solution to weight loss. The concepts may be simple but don't confuse simple with easy. The concept of climbing mount Everest is simple too. Somehow this "simple" set of solutions leads to a seemingly endless trail of products and seminars that will eventually get you where you want to be. I have no patince for a book that is merely a tease and a marketing tool to get you deeper in debt to it's author. Whatever good ideas were in this book got lost in my anger of being shilled.

No. There isn't a miracle pill that makes you lose all the weight. But this book will help to put you on the right path emotionally. It helps you find reality and gives great tips on how to deal with it. If you are large, admit it and then deal with it. I highly recommend this one.

Don't bother with this book. She promises to let you in on some great motivation she experienced and nothing happens.

Also this book just seems a vehicle to get you to buy her evergrowing junk related to her "plan". Well she didn't need or have all this jazz when she lost all this weight, why should you? She is just trying to make more money. You don't need all that extra stuff she is trying to con you in to. If the book was motivating I would say buy that and use it, but it's not. So it is best to just overlook this whole thing entirely.

I read this book in '03 and it was one of the early PB editions. So perhaps some of the glaring mistakes have been corrected.

First off ALL through the book the word "lose" is misspelled "loose". A glaring oversight and highly annoying. There are a lot other typos as well. Sentences that do not make any coherent sense such as on page 83...the bracketed blurb says "Making unhealthy acts the enemy"...what?! And the CONSTANT and repetive use of excalmation points is almost hysterical. Didn't ANYONE edit this book? Tell her that repetive use of !!!'s is horrible writing and immature? God I would say that every other sentence ended in an ! and sometimes a !!. Silly. Perhaps with the newer editon these glaring errors have been edited out by someone competent.

But really even with corrections the book is of not much use. She rambles way to much on her "tragic" life. Really, it's called a divorce...it's not tragedy...lose the drama. I believe she thinks since she lost so much weight that in some way this qualifies her to give motivation and diet advice. Not in any way. She obviously thinks she's a great motivator but her ideas, thoughts and such on that matter are lackluster and nothing anyone who hasn't read at least 3 diet books hasn't heard ad nauseum.

This book reads like someone down the street wrote it and then printed it out..and handed it out. She can't write nor express herself in any commanding, articulate or interesting way. She really doesn't "say" a whole lot. The cover seems to promise some great motivation and or story and it just doesn't deliver.

And one part I found just a tad hard to believe is where she talks about when she was a newborn. She doubled her weight in the FIRST week? Get real. So she was 14 or so pounds at a week old. Yea I buy that one. Also she said her dad didn't know you have to dilute the formula? What? Since when? Perhaps things were different in the 60's but now no way do you dilute it. That's what they do in 3rd world countries and it causes major malutrition and growth stunting.

The whole book just was horrible and if you have any reading sensibilty or intelligence you will look elsewhere. It's another case of someone losing weight and then thinking they have some mindblowing advice to impart.

Great book, guides you step by step to a healthy weight loss, more than that to a healthy lifestyle, also has many recipes that are delicious and really easy to prepare, if you are ,like me, looking for a healthy and realistic way to loose your extra pounds and keep them off, buy this book, it's worth it!!

Buenisimo!! compralo, vale la pena!

This book is an easy read, one with an intimate conversational style. Her approach to weight loss is very sensible and sincere. I believe anyone who's struggled with the highs and lows of obesity will appreciate her story, as it spans many of the differences that typically deliniate society, and gets right to the heart of the fat-struggle - valuing oneself enough to make a difference. My personal thanks to the author for the courage to make this public for the benefit of those who need encouragement and a positive approach.

This is a good cookbook to have around if you are trying to eat healthy/loss weight since Tosco is able to make the recipes easy to do. So far i have not had a miss when tyring the recipes and they taste very good. I am okay at following cookbooks, but not great, so me being able to do these is a testament to how well they are done.

Good breakdown of what you are eating in each meal, carbs, fat etc., and the sectioning makes it easy to find things you want. A couple of recipes did not appeal to me due to some ingredients but there is more than enough that I have tried, and want to try, that I have gotten my money's worth from this.

I ordered both the eat clean diet book and workout i received the workout because i ordered it from someone other than JPG they never sent me anything i emailed them several times and to no avail they never reply and now they say its been over 90 days and they are covered under the A-Z policy I think thats so unproffesional so beware and dont order anything from JPG books

I bought this cookbook on amazon about 6 months ago and I use it more than any of my other cookbooks (Southern Living, South Beach Diet, etc). The recipes are very easy and yummy. I use it probably 1-2 times a week.

I'm certainly no cook. Just going into the kitchen gives me a panic attack. But, I have to eat. I've been on the clean-eating plan for months and it's been very successful. I was, however, running out of meal ideas. So I bought this book. I'm glad I did.

I've made several of the recipes. I've had to cut them down as they're far to many servings for me in most cases. But they're easy to prepare and fun to make. Moreover, the ones I've made are just great tasting. I may have to add a dash of this and that to suit my taste. But, other than that, I love the cookbook.

I also appreciate the fact it gives the calories and lets you know what you're getting in each recipe.

I wish it was in a spiral binder and had a cover that you could easily clean. Seems cookbooks today don't have those little extra things that cookbooks need. But that's the only problem with this book.

Highly recommended.

-Susanna K. Hutcheson

Having lost a ton of weight, and apparently good at keeping it off, Tosca Reno decided to write this book after her bestselling The Eat-Clean Diet: Fast Fat-Loss that lasts Forever!. I guess it was so popular that there was a demand for Eat Clean Recipes. After looking at the book, I can see why.

First off, if you're looking for any detailed explanations of the Eat Clean diet, you won't find it here- check out her other book instead, The Eat-Clean Diet: Fast Fat-Loss that lasts Forever!. But just to give you a very brief overview, it's a nutritional plan that maximizes your intake of protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants by incorporating "whole foods" from every group. Some of the Clean Eating Principles include things such as: eat 5-6 small meals a day, eat every 2-3 hrs., avoid saturated fats, and stick to proper portion sizes. As you can see, it's healthy and sensible.

Anyway, the book is just loaded with recipes. A little bit about the layout. Major recipe sections include breakfast, soup, grains, sauces, one-dish and easy meals, proteins, vegetables, pasta, sweets and breads, and festive occasions. Most notable, perhaps, is that each recipe tells you the nutritional breakdown (total calories, fat calories, protein, carbs, fiber, sugars, fat, and sodium). Also included is the approximate preparation AND cook time. Nice!

So needless to say, I was well-pleased with the book. It's practical and healthy. A must-have if you're an Eat Clean fan or if you're just looking for a few healthy recipes. Readers trying to make healthy lifestyle changes might also be interested in The Sixty-Second Motivator.

This book is more about the 'intellectual' side of weight loss. It helps you to set realistic goals and stick with them. I am a pro at studying nutrition... this book was more about the 'head game' and it was very helpful.


It took a long time for this book to get here from the outside-Amazon vender, though! I almost forgot that I ordered it.... when it arrived!

I fell in love with Martha Beck when I read ADAM. What a depth experience that is and "I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' babies." If she can take me to that light-filled place where ADAM lay, then I can trust her to take me to that light-filled place where JUDY can finally come forth. Happy Birthday, Judy (November lst)

Truly a tool of invoking personal change and transformation.

NOT 'Another Diet Book'.

It is a well written book that combines tongue in cheek humor with common sense to help anyone lose weight. The steps are easy and although sometimes silly, the author acknowledges the silliness. The amazing thing is that it works!!

I think this book has some wonderful ideas about re-wiring your brain to eat better and not be consumed by poor eating habits. I highly recommend!

Be aware, this is not a diet, this is a book on behavior modification so that the diet you choose has a fighting chance of working :) In this respect, I think it is great for anyone to read who has bad habits since the skills outlined in the book could be used for anything you do that you'd like to change.

I have only read through about half of this book but like the descriptions and notes it gives you for modifying everyday recipes. Have tried a couple of recipes and so far so good. Just wish there were more pictures.

Always liked the America's Test Kitchen TV shows and have used Chris Kimball's recipes in local newspaper. So because my wife and I are trying to lighten our meals this seemed worth trying. It includes many classic comfort-food items. I especially like the descriptions of the experimentation they do to achieve the final recipes. Also key is that they won't sacrifice taste & quality in the name of reduced fat/calories.

I have both the Light and regular books. If you follow the recipes exactly as written they truly are the best. Everything is tested and retested to insure excellent results. Great gift for newlyweds.

I haven't prepared any recipes from this book, yet, but they do look enticing. I appreciate the nutrition break-down and the comparison with the "normal" versions of certain dishes.

I purchased this book at Costco primarily because the price was attractive and I am a fan of Cook's Illustrated; but, I did not necessarily have huge expectations. How wrong I was! I turn to this book again and again for recipes that are healthy and delicious. The turkey burgers are absolutely wonderful, the chicken with pan sauces make me appear to be a much better chef than I am and the the chicken with vegetables in papillote is my new weekly favorite. While the recipes may be intimidating at first due to the lengthy directions and descriptions, they are easily mastered. I am always struggling to find week night food that is healthy, good, easily prepared and most of all, popular with the finicky husband and children and this book definitely fits the bill.

I had been struggling with understanding what sugar does to someone who is intolerant to sugar, and this book instantly got rid of all the mystery. I know what foods make me feel good, and which ones just dont sit right afterwards, and the common factor was always sugar or foods with a high glycemic index. As a healthy athlete, I wanted to learn the best fuel to put in my body, and I stick to this diet, with predictable results. What I really enjoyed about this book was the proactive approach to help me increase my energy, and to understand the supplements to take. I am now very mindful of high glycemic foods, and plainly just avoid them, to keep my mind, body and spirit operating at the optimum rate. Thanks for educating me! Andrea Samadi, author of The Secret for Teens Revealed: How Parents, Teachers, and Teenagers Can Inspire Leadership and Transform Lives

Syndrome X is High Cholesterol, Obesity, High Triglycerides, High Blood Pressure and the centerpiece: Insulin Resistance. The book provides the reasons for many people's poor heath and practical solutions to improve it greatly. It is also applicable to those who are already healthy and want to stay that way.

The authors clearly explain that Glucose is our biological gasoline and insulin is escorts the glucose from the blood into cells where it is burned as energy. As with the carburetor of a car, when this isn't working right, we are not going to be at our best!

Knowing what to eat is crucial in good health today. With our fast paced, fast food society this is no easy task. Syndrome X addresses the wide array of good foods, vitamins and nutrients to return to good health. It explains in layman's terms but never talks down to the reader about the benefits of eating right and the terrible effects of eating poorly.

Powerful topics include: The importance of diet, Glucose, the body's fuel and the secrets of living to age 100. Other subjects include, individualizing your Anti-X program, what to buy at supermarkets and more.

Vitamins C, D, E and more are explained in excellent detail. Minerals such as chromium, Zinc, Magnesium, are also addressed as well as nutrients such as antioxidants, good and bad fats and more.

The easy to understand explanations of how the body processes food and supplements is some of the best I have read. Overall Jack Challem, Dr Burton Berkson, and Melissa Diane Smith have done an exceptional job at providing a common sense guide to healthy living through good diet, vitamins and supplements!

The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide to: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking

Stop Prediabetes Now: The Ultimate Plan to Lose Weight and Prevent Diabetes

Syndrome X was a breakthrough book when it first came out in 2000. Of course Syndrome X is a form of prediabetes, which increases the risk of full-blown diabetes and heart disease. Jack Challem (the lead author of Syndrome X) has outdone himself with his latest book along these lines: Stop Prediabetes Now, which came out in October. The description of the problem, his dietary recommendations, and his supplement recommendations are all much clearer and easier to follow. The recipes are superb -- I love the curry chicken salad, in particular. Jack addresses the bigger picture of prediabetes, of which Syndrome X is only one part.

This should be required reading for all senior citizens on medicare/medicaid...all high school students...all college students and everyone else not on this list. As a nation, with the world close behind us, we are in deep trouble ALREADY and running faster down a slippery slope towards diabetes , type 1, 2 and will probably require a number 3 lable soon!!!

When a huge entity like the Federal Food & Drug Administration bows to the wishes of food product manufacturers, we are like sheep heading to the slaughter. You get a creepy feeling that some unknown, unseen persons are slowly killing you. Honestly? The Bible says that THE LOVE OF money is the root of all evil. And our grocery stores are a brightly colored, attractivly marketed example.

This book doesn't preach on the political aspect of our eating....that's me. But it teaches what your body is doing and will continue to do (and worse) if YOU don't take another path. Garbage in...garbage out.
Healthy eating...healthy body.

the menu plan was too low carb and the supplement suggestions were worse!
it claims that folks 20 pounds overweight and over should take a supplement called L-Carnitine, Alpha Lipoic acid etc.
Well when I took the Carnitine, I swear the first time I took it, my heart was beating too fast and the second time, I felt a heaviness in my chest and I had dry mouth! When I did further research on these supplements, it had said that we really don't need the Lipoic acid and the Carnitine because it is already present in our systems!
So the authors owe me $$$ back for those supplements that got me sick! Heck they should give me $$$ back for buying this dumb book lol

It worked for me once. If you can keep away from the carbs and sugar, you'll be fine. Good recipes. I still use them occasionally. The recipes are a bit hoity toity for feeding families, but there are some good ones my kids like.

The recipes are good, simply written and presented although probably best for someone who knows their way around the kitchen. Ms. Somers' first cookbook/diet book came about right before the height of low carb fanatacism. Her first book seemed to offer an intelligent (although perhaps not scientifically based) alternative to loading up on meat,eggs and cream. In her first book, she was much less focused on low-carb and more on eating balanced whole foods, meat, eggs, and cheese only being PART of a balanced diet. As each book came along, she seemed to get closer to Atkins and further away from her first book which was sort of a precursor to the South Beach Diet. That being said, for whatever reasons, Ms. Somers' diet works for me. I don't eat meat every day and rarely have a jug of heavy cream in the fridge, but I do, when following her diet, lose weight. As with all, one must follow it within reason. Your body does need the right kind of carbs as her first book clearly states. Beans, whole grains, fruits and fat-free dairy products can and should be a part of most everyone's diet. Unfortunately, as the low carb craze went along, Ms. Somers' seemed to give in to the temptation to join the bandwagon instead of on focusing on what really makes her diet a much healthier alternative to Aktins. Recipes for rich meat dishes began to outweigh the number of recipes she gave for healthy whole grains and vegetables. And what started out as a wonderful simple cookbook turned into the opportunity to market her processed packaged foods and synthetic sweeteners (And no, there is NOTHING natural or original about her sweetener...it's sweetened with a chemical and has been around for over twenty years in one form or another) rather than to encourage Americans to get back into the kitchen where true health begins. And maybe she realized that many people were getting off of her diet because they couldn't cook with her skill and her products were simply a natural extension of her diet...That being said, this still remains a proper diet only if the dieter is willing to get into the kitchen, embrace whole foods, and eat, like Ms. Somers' states in her first book, HEALTHY fats, fruits, vegetables and whole grain carbohydrates! Whether or not you do that in the combinations she suggests, your body is likely to benefit. So although I long for the honest straightforward nature of her original book (with zero product plugs), I do appreciate that Ms. Somers' got me on the track to thinking about food in a healthy manner and gave me the opportunity to "diet" without even looking like I'm dieting. As a lover of food and cooking, this diet works for me, just buy her first book before the others.

I bought this book after a friend of mine revealed that her significant weight loss was as a result of following Suzanne's eating plan. The notion of food combining intrigued me, so I bought this book and studied up. I have lost 6 lbs in two weeks. I imagine the main reason for the weight loss is cutting out the starchy carby foods. But that not withstanding, the recipes are good and provide some fun substitutes for old standbys. I mean....who doesn't love and miss mac n cheese when they are watching their eating. But her recipe is really good. The notion of all that heavy cream and cheese is a bit frightening, so I would think you might want to stick to the more veggie based meals and try to cool it on the eggs, cheese and meat dishes. I have not been in for a cholesterol check yet, but I am trying to find a good balance of some of the yummy rich recipes and the more sensible veggie based dishes. She claims it won't elevate your cholesterol, despite the cheese, egg and meat intake she professes is the way to eat. Her method is based on maintaining a more consistent blood sugar level by eliminating the sugars, and replacing the starches and sugars with more proteins and veggies. Time will tell if the program is successful long term, but so far so good.

As always, Suzanne Somers has a fantastic cookbook with delicious recipes. Her diet is so easy to follow and the foods are so satisfying. It is a method easy to apply to daily living with minimal rules. Have lost the weight I wanted and am already on Level 2. HIGHLY RECOMMEND.

All of Suzanne Somers' books are excellent. This has the easiest recipes. I love to eat without counting calories or portion sizes. I eat till I am full. I have lost 15 lbs in two weeks while eating delicious real food.
I recommend you purchase ALL of Suzanne's books. Each one has different recipes and the forwards are different also. The Forward to GET SKINNY is the best. GET SKINNY IS A MUST. All of Suzanne's books are a MUST. For the first time in my life I have hope that I will be SKINNY and HEALTHY one day.

While I do admit that the idea is nothing new (calorie and portion control equals weight loss), the thing that makes this book work is how this idea is laid out for the real world--where temptations and comfort foods abound and meals sometimes have to be as simple as a frozen dinner nuked in the microwave. Knowing that giving in to a slice of pizza or a bag of M&Ms isn't going to blow your entire diet can be motivation enough to actually make the changes many people need to do something about their weight.

For those who do have trouble limiting portions of "fun foods," the same calorie allowance can be distributed throughout your day in healthy choices, like an extra bit of spaghetti at dinner.

One gripe I do have is that I don't necessarily think her regular food choices are the healthiest, but once you have the hang of how many calories are in a meal you can definitely substitute your own choices for hers (I for one typically add at least one more serving of fruit and make sure I eat at least one HUGE salad a day while staying within her guidelines). Overall though, I think this is a great starting point for those who aren't ready to make radical changes to lose weight and a great guide for eating sensibly in the real world.

It could be just me but I found this book very confusing to follow and not very interesting...I didn't feel motivated at all...It may have not worked for me, but that does not mean it will not work for any one else...good luck

I have tried everything: WW, Nutrisystem, Jenny Craig, Atkins, Biggest Loser, etc. I own every diet book out there. I even tried the oil or sugar in the water diet. I usually couldn't even make it through one meal on a diet nevermind a day.

Finally I realized I just didn't want to lose weight.
Well of course I wanted to lose weight I just didn't know how to convince my head.
My mind set wasn't there. So I set out to find out how to get there.

I was watching The Joy Fit Club one morning which profiles people who lost 100 or more pounds & saw Joy Bauer. It was so inspirational to see so many women who lost 100+ lbs. I thought if they can do it so can I. I found Joy's book 90/10 & have been using it with The Beck Weight Loss Workbook which helps you change your behaviors for long-term results.

I love this diet. It is so satisfying! In the past anytime I ate "bad" or cheated, etc I would just throw in the towel. That day was gone so I could eat whatever I wanted & started another day..another Monday & it was a viscious cycle that made me start to hate who I now was.

You are never hungry. You can pick from a 1600, a 1400 or a 1200 calorie plan.

It really helps that you are allowed a fun food each day around 250 calories which can be ice cream, 4 milano cookies, etc. in the past when I had something like that the diet was over for me. Knowing that I can have that each day makes it so I never need to "cheat"

In the first week I lost 4 1/2 lbs & the results have been steady since. I am well on my way.

And for those who said it was confusing it makes me wonder if we read the same book. I can't even hook my dvd player to my tv & had no problems with this diet.

I was 1 week away from my surgical lap band surgery consult & this was the answer to my prayers.

If I can do it trust me YOU can do it!

I really like Joy Bauer. She is personable and tolls out sensible and realistic advice on the Today Show, however her book is very dissapointing. The menus provided are dull and without imagination. The "fun" foods as she calls them (the 10% part of her diet) are simply the saved calories from a spartan menu. Spend your money on Dr. Weil's first book(s). You'll actually enjoy the menus and learn about how to change your lifestyle to be healthier.

Don't waste your time or money on this one. "Scientifically designed" should imply the following: documented case studies, control groups, statistical analysis of the data (to support the 90/10 theory) followed by peer review in scientific journals. There is no evidence of "scientific design" present in this book. Unfortunately, this becomes one of the fad diets the author warns us about. In fact, she even cautions the reader about trans fats, only to condone eating foods that are notoriously loaded with trans fats (not all of us live in New York where trans fat are prohibited in restaurants). I will probably regret giving this book even one star because, although obviously an intelligent lady, the author is nevertheless naive and irresponsible with her unsubstantiated diet advice. "Fun Foods"? Give me a break! This means that it's okay to intermittently eat nutritionally deficient "junk foods" for well over a month throughout your year (10% of the time).