Product Description

Drawing on the latest evidence about nutrition, metabolism, and hunger, an easy-to-follow weight loss plan places emphasis on a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet while explaining how weight is lost and gained. Reprint.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #50274 in Books
• Published on: 1995-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 336 pages

Features

• ISBN13: 9780452273801
• Condition: NEW
• Notes: Brand New from Publisher. No Remainder Mark.
• Click here to view our Condition Guide and Shipping Prices

Customer Reviews

I lost 40 pounds in 4 months
I think this is the best diet information available. I had read fit for life a few years ago and followed that for a while and put on some weight, I tried high protein diets and put on weight. I became a vegetarian and followed fit for life again and put on a lot of weight. I had read about how vegetarians were all skinny but the book never mentioned that eating oil, nuts, tofu, and peanut butter would cause weight gain. I picked up this Mcdougall book in September 1998 at a weight of 183 pounds (at 5"6). I followed it to the letter (except that I drink lots of black coffee) and I went down to 140 pounds in 4 months. I find it very easy to follow although I have not gone to any restaurants since I started which would be difficult. It is also important to mention that during this time I was eating huge quantities of the required foods and I had no time to excercise; so there was absolutely no deprivation whatsoever. I'm still on the diet and have had no cravings for high fat foods or animal products. I've never felt better.

Good reference, but very strict.
In this book, McDougall delineates and refines his basic program to help increase weight loss. His books generally deal with heart disease reversal through diet. For both heart disease treatment and weight loss, this book is a good reference ONLY if you are able to stick to your committment to it. It has very clear guidelines that DO work if followed correctly.

Vegans will appreciate the all-vegan approach. Lacto-Ovo vegetarians who are not ready to go vegan may appreciate Dean Ornish's work more -- similar concepts to treating heart disease and obesity through controlled diet, but his program allows dairy and egg products where McDougall does not. People who are accustomed to eating meat will find neither Ornish nor McDougall's programs encouraging it as a food choice. It will NOT fit in with these programs, and if you are not willing to forgo meat you may find difficulty sticking to the diet. It has to be a lifestyle change, something you are willing to do forever to treat and control your heart disease/obesity.

The book contains menu plans and recipes along with the basic guidelines for the program. I find the recipes ok, but not fabulous because they lean heavily toward the "southwest" or "tex-mex" type food. They are easy to make, I just happen to not be a fan of tex-mex type food! Instead I bought the book as a reference and found other vegan cookbooks that suited my tastebuds better.

People who like to cook will find this no problem. People who are used to eating frozen entrees or eating out all the time may find difficulty learning how to cook and manage their time to be able to prepare their own meals. The book does give tips on how to best eat out in restaurants and still stick to the program, but overall, expect to have to at least cook a little. A lifestyle change does imply changing some habits.

Whether or not you like the book or find it useful will largely depend on how clearly you have your goals in mind and how far you are willing to change to achieve them.

I gave it 4 stars because while I liked it and it works for me, I can see where it will not work for my non-vegetarian spouse and may cause him frustration. He is simply not ready to go that extra mile at this time and give up meat.

CatR

This is a great, ground-breaking book!
Being an overweight woman in her 40s, I have lots of experience with trying and failing to lose fat, and with the misery entailed in the process. Dr. McDougall's book has the first system I have found that I really feel I can happily follow, not just to lose weight, but for the rest of my life in order to stay healthy and maintain my weight loss. At first I was startled by what Dr. McDougall had to say about nutrition, but I have found in practice that his claims are correct. My energy level took a big leap forward within two days, and I just keep feeling better all the time. In my experience, losing weight with this system is unbelievably easy and painless, and your food can be as simple or as gourmet as you want to make it. In the past I tried the Atkinson high protein diet (the most opposite one to this!), and even if I did temporarily lose some weight, I couldn't wait to get off that diet and start eating real food again, and I felt very unhealthy on it after a few weeks. On the other hand, I find the McDougall diet to be extremely satisfying, and as a bonus my skin and hair (dried out by the Nevada climate for years now) have become healthy again, and I have more energy and vitality than in years. Also important is that following the McDougall diet ensures that you minimize the toxicities you get from your food (see Howard Lyman's book "Mad Cowboy" for further information on that aspect!). It really feels good to improve your health, do what is right ecologically, and even lose weight as a bonus and keep it off! Everyone should do themselves the favor of reading and trying for themselves this or another of Dr. McDougall's books.