AwesomeOctober 4, 2008 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I love the way the information is presented, it really drives home the importance of feeding your body the right stuff. It also inspires you to work hard at taking care of yourself both by what you eat and the importance of exercise and being still and relieving stress.
common sense reminderSeptember 30, 2008 0 out of 2 found this review helpful
good book to help you change and stick with a change in eating habits and lifestyle.
In a crowded field, this book is a standoutSeptember 21, 2008 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Diet books are everywhere and I've read many of them as I struggled for years to get my weight permanently under control. Interestingly, I read this, not to lose weight myself since I've been at a healthy weight for over a year, but to learn more about health and to help my dad find a way to lose weight. As a fan of Drs. Roizen and Oz and the RealAge movement in general, I decided to give this book a try. And, I wasn't disappointed.
First of all, the book is extremely informative. The authors go out of their way to not only explain the "hows" of weight loss, but also the "whys." Even though I'm interested in the technical aspects of health, I still found myself thinking that they sometimes provided too much information! Still, it's better to have accurate, sound reasoning rather than simply having to take the author on faith, especially when it comes to something as important as health. And, the good doctors do a nice job of explaining the concepts in "layman's" terms and even include humorous, but helpful drawings to illustrate their points.
So, what makes this diet plan unique? Very little, which is exactly why I recommended it to my dad. Basically, the book avoids fads and trends and instead relies on hard facts and basic life science. Essentially, Drs. Oz and Roizen focus on eating the right foods with occasional treats until satisfied and regular cardio exercise, stretching, and weight training. All of this leads to getting the body's biochemistry back on track which in turn encourages optimal weight and health. Ok, most people don't need a book to know to eat right, eat less, and exercise more. However, where this book stands out is in the tips to achieve these results. The approach is truly balanced, recommending alternative health, stress reduction, psychological techniques, drugs, and even surgery (the last two in rare cases). This book has unique techniques that even the most hardened dieters will find useful and refreshing. And, they are presented in an easy to read, easy to understand, and easy to find format. Getting healthy is hard, but learning how to doesn't have to be! The book also includes exercises and recipes, a day by day plan, and tips for eating out and traveling.
The only downside of this book is that the humor, while often helpful, can also be just as annoying. I understand the need to make technical information more accessible, but at times the approach felt condescending and even pointless. Much of the humor is related to current popular culture and is already irrelevant (e.g. jokes about Paris Hilton). Unless they plan on frequently updating the jokes, the book won't age well.
In conclusion, this is a great book that truly stands out in a very crowded field of fads and trends. Although the humor can at times be annoying, it doesn't seriously detract and many times lightens the mood. I truly believe this diet plan works because it is scientifically sound, written by qualified doctors, and backed up with solid research. Go ahead, buy this book, and get losing!
Don't Buy This BookSeptember 15, 2008 0 out of 3 found this review helpful
Even at Kindle prices, this was a waste of money. Just more of the same stuff. And, please note that I gave this one star only because it wouldn't upload without something in that space.
You on a DietSeptember 7, 2008
This book is genuine and real. Also easy to follow. I will be following the program for quite some time, as I have a lot of weight to lose.
