Fit for Life
by Harvey Diamond, Marilyn Diamond
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.09 You Save: $3.90 (49%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Fit for Life
Book Review: Great book on eating better!
Summary: 4 Stars
We all should try to eat more fruits and vegetables, I know I try to eat more than I used to which is a great way to eat, but I researched some reviews from the HCRC organization, here's what others are saying to the strict adherance to the diet if prescribed strictly and "long term". <end><P\>HCRC: "Based on this theory, the authors prescribe a diet as follows; only fruit or fruit juice before noon, fruit and a salad for lunch, vegetables and either a starch or protein food for dinner, and fruit for a snack at least three hours after the dinner. "It is true that anyone who is used to eating three standard meals a day will lose weight on this diet. Restricting the intake of meats and starches to a total of one or two servings per day and replacing the rest of the day's intake with fruits and vegetables will lower most people's caloric intake by one-third to one-half." Enviromental Nutrition Sumarized its review by stating that the accuracy of the advice is inconsistent and the book espouses too many false notions. ``Although probably not dangerous", Fit for life has the potential to be unhealthy and therefore is not recommended.'' In its review, the National Council on Health Fraud remarked that ``...although we can find nothing overtly dangerous in it, the book seems unprecedented in the amount of misinformation (it contains).University of Maine nutrition professor Katherine Musgrave found it to be deficient in calcium, zinc, vitamin D, and vitamin B-12. The diet therefore cannot be recommended for children, adolescents, and pregnant or breastfeeding women.The proof the book works as a better diet is in the testimonials, and the fact that your eating better foods, this review is making aware the other side of the coin regarding the lack of proper overall vitimin intake if strictly followed and the lack of calcium the diet apparently provides which is needed for good bone health longterm. visit the HCRC organization, for more opion on the book, hope this was helpfull.
Book Review: Works mainly for Californians
Summary: 3 Stars
...and people living in other sunny, subtropical or temperate areas. For one, the abundance of fruits, tropical and otherwise, recommended as part of this way of life is simply not available year-round in the Northern European country in which I live. To always start the day with large quantities of melon, canteloupe, strawberries, etc. is not a realistic option for people in many parts of the world. It also seems to me that fruit alone would not be enough to sustain or satisfy you on chilly November mornings - it seems natural for the body to crave carbohydrates and warm foods in the AM during the winter months. This seems to have been kind of overlooked by the authors. The same goes for sleeping with your window open year-round, recommended by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond so as to let the body breathe in the pure nighttime air. This is likewise not to be recommended on cold Dutch February nights! (or if you live in an inner-city area, for that matter). I also have the impression the Diamonds jumped on the whole "food combining" bandwagon introduced at that time, I think, by an Indian physician/nutritionist whose name I've forgotten. The authors of this book seem to have made the savvy move to adapt these ideas and market them partially as part of a weight-loss plan - guaranteed success?
Despite my nitpicking, though, it is a lively and convincingly written book, and I looked up the reviews mainly to find out if it still has some impact nearly two decades after it was first published. Personally, I have used the advice given in the book in an "opportunistic", pick-and-choose kind of way, taking some of the suggestions to heart (and still bearing them in mind years after I read the book), while conveniently ignoring others that don't suit me. Fair play to all of you who have managed to stick with this nutritional plan - it would be interesting to know if anyone will still pay attention to (and indeed follow) the guidelines laid down in "Fit for Life" ten, fifteen years from now.
Book Review: 2nd Time round reading this book and following it!
Summary: 5 Stars
I first read this book two years ago, and my wife and I tried the principals laid out within. What a difference!
My wife had been suffering from post-natal depression for a couple of years, but after following the fruit only between breakfast and lunch part of the book, we BOTH started to feel much more 'alive'! Within a couple of months her depression has completely gone, and I've got my old-wife back! (Although I'm not sure that's completely good - teehee!).
I'm an ex-bodybuilder, and as anyone who is also the same can tell you, without a good diet and regular exercise after stopping something like body-building, the pounds will pile on rather easily!
Are there any points about this book that I don't agree with? Sure there are, like not eating bread! I can't resist a fresh warm loaf or French stick straight from the local bakers, but it's not like I eat it all the time!
The best part about this book was that I couldn't put it down! It was just speaking out to me so much that I just had to divulge and devour it (not literally).
Two years on, I'm reading it again, as I've become a bit lazy recently and not followed the fruit only in the AM diet. This really does work and it all makes perfect sense!
Oh, and I gave up drinking milk two years ago and don't miss it a bit. The necessary nutrients for hair and nails can also be found in nuts and other foods. Reading about what milk does to the body absolutely horrified me but made perfect sense!
I reccommend anyone looking to lose weight, shape-up, have more energy in the daytime, sleep better at night-time and an overall better and more positive attitude, to read this book!
And save yourself a fortune in expensive supplements that often don't work!
Book Review: other alternatives
Summary: 3 Stars
I read the book, and totally agree with the whole 'fruit and fruit juice only' before noon, but I find some of the basics of the whole diet undesireable. Two years ago when I lived in London I joined a 'healthier eating' club whose principles were based on not mixing proteins and carbohydrates at any meals for a whole day. In other words, one day just carbs, the next just proteins. That still left room for a lot of variety, and you don't have to give up meat! Also, avoid sugar and fats where you can - don't cook with oil (use cooking spray), don't put butter or margarine on your sandwhich, and curb your dairy intake to a small glass of milk and an ounce of cheese for the whole day. On my carb only days I would typically have 2 slices of wheat toast with marmite (yeast extract spread) with orange juice for bkfst; a baked potato with baked beans and cheese for lunch; and a large bowl of pasta with sauce made from fresh tomatoes, onion, garlic and peppers. I would eat at least 3 servings of fruit throughout the day. On protein days - fruit for breakfast, chicken salad for lunch, and steak (grilled) with steamed veggies for dinner. I allowed myself one treat every day - one small chocolate bar, or a glass of wine with dinner. I lost 15lbs in a month, and I felt good. I still ate french fries, I just made them in the oven with fat free cooking spray. I never went without any nutrients, I was allowed to drink as much water as I wanted, and I was never hungry!! That worked for me, and I plan to do it again - starting tomorrow!Book Review: An EXCELLENT way to get healthy if you stick with it!
Summary: 5 Stars
Well, I've heard that a lot of "experts" hate this book. This would be those same overweight unhealthy experts who have been guiding the diets of this overweight unhealthy country. I followed this plan and when I started I was 283 pounds. I went down to 216 in less than 5 months! Then I moved in with my girlfriend who refused to even consider following the plan so I started eating like her... BIG MISTAKE! Over the past 2 years I regained all the weight I lost PLUS 40 pounds more. I'm going back to a more natural way of eating, following the principles in Fit For Life. This time I intend to stick to it no matter how much my girlfriend wants to poison HERSELF. I can't blame anyone for myself for giving up the healthy lifestyle I was leading. I can't say enough how much better I felt when I was following the principles outlined in Fit For Life, I KNOW it works. Some of the scientific principles outlined are a bit hazy, but I don't really CARE what the principles are as long as >I< feel healthy and can be a healthy weight! Every criticizm I've seen of this plan was along the lines of "the scientific theories don't make sense but it seems to work". Well you know what? We don't have to understand all the reasons WHY we feel healthier and lose weight on a "Fit For Life" lifestyle, it's enough that we DO! Buy this book, STICK TO IT! If you don't stick with it and go back to eating in a foul unhealthful way do not be surprised when you find yourself right back where you started.