Diet Health Books

I purchase cookbooks like most women purchase shoes - and this is by far, my most favorite cookbook. I use at least 4 recipes a week, and so far, all have been delicious. All the recipes are very fast - I am a Mom with two toddlers, and I don't have time for a lot of prep and cooking.
We love the Baked Pesto Chicken, Chile Beef Burritos, Shrimp Stir-fry, Whole Wheat Penne w/ Eggplant, Sweet Potato Fries, Warm Steak Sandwiches - Really everything we have made!

I don't like to think I'm on a diet, just that I eat healthy food. What's great about this cookbook are the simple recipes, most ingredients you already have (or need to make better buying choices), and the recipes are not time consuming. I also like that most of the portions are for 2-4 servings, so I can easily know how many meals I have. All the recipes are fresh and appetizing (certainly not like the old Weight Watchers meals)! I've been making a new recipe each day and they're great. And, all recipes are worthy of guests... they never even realize it's Southbeach!

Great recipes! Easy diet! The first two weeks are the hardest and I really felt tired in the afternoons, I love bread and sweets, but if you can get past those first two weeks then you have it made.

This cookbook has so many great recipes and they are so quick and easy. Makes losing weight a breeze and very satisfying. You will be eating something different every day for months and loving it all.

I enjoy some of the recipes in this book, however I am finding a problem with it. I am one person living alone and so many of the recipes are for 4 or 6 people. The recipes that I have made of the larger portions are certainly tasty and that is the problem, there is so much food and it tastes good, so I overeat and that negates any good that I am doing. I do wish they would put out a cookbook for the many who are living alone or as a couple who want to help themselves and become healthier without so much food being prepared. Some of you may think, well just halve the recipes but I am not a good cook and often I find it just does not taste the same. Please a cookbook for one or two servings in a lie flat book format with bigger print size would be wonderful.

What: South Beach Diet
Start Date: 6/30/2008
Beginning weight: 256 lbs
Today's Date: 8/31/2008
Current weight: 224 lbs
TOTAL POUNDS LOST: 32 lbs in 2 mos.

I heard of the SBD many years ago when it was first introduced. Like every other fad diet, I dismissed it without even giving it a second glance. "They never work," I said, and went about my happy carb-filled and FAT life. I have always been heavy, and my famliy is full of big people, so losing weight hasn't ever been encouraged at home.
I was raised on lots of bread, pasta, potatoes and fattening carbs. I NEVER drank water. I ate whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, and it left me feeling depressed and hopeless. I hated how I looked in everything--even though I loved clothes and fashion--because of my weight. I had tried several times to lose weight, to restrict myself, and would average 6-8 lb losses before giving up and reverting back to my old ways.
June of '08 I actually found a copy of The South Beach Diet outside in a shopping cart at the grocery store. I picked it up and flipped through it, threw it in the car and thought I might read it. Someday.
It sat around the house for a while before I finally picked it up and gave it a go.
Immediately I thought, WOW, is this the answer?
and then right after that: "YEAH, RIGHT."
But, negativity aside, I read the book and decided to give it a try.
It made total and perfect sense why I was fat--the book explains the reason behind it and the why and how, and the proof is undeniable.
I completely cut out bread, potatoes and pasta, and anything with sugar in it. I followed Phase 1 pretty well for about 4 weeks, and in that time alone, lost about 18 lbs. I would sometimes walk for 10 or 15 minutes here or there, on my lunch at work, or at home around the block, but I wasn't making any real efforts as far as exercise went. However, it was so much more than what I used to do, I started seeing a difference in how I felt and looked almost immediately.
As each week passed by and the number on the scale steadily decreased, I found myself feeling more and more energetic, and committed to the new "lifestyle".
It doesn't feel like you're on a diet, it feels like you're just being HEALTHY.
I have never been able to stay on a diet before, but the South Beach Diet is so easy to follow, and the results are so remarkable, I can't even stop myself now!
It took me a while to get into the swing of things, but now that I have been doing it, it is natural to me.
I was once a skeptic of this and other fad diets, but now I am recommending it to everyone.
Even with minimal exercise, to date, I have lost a substantial amount of weight and the best part is--I don't feel hungry or deprived--EVER!!!
I really have to give it to Dr. Agatston because even though I have only lost a fraction of the amount of weight I want to lose, I know that it is something I will acheive because of this diet.
I stepped on the scale today and had to smile: 224lbs.
I haven't weighed that since college (sadly!).
I know I still have a long way to go, but I also know that I will make it, and all my thanks goes to Dr. Agatston and his book The South Beach Diet.
I urge anyone who is fed up with being overweight, and fed up with diets, to BUY THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It really changed (and IS changing) my life, everyday.
I think it can do the same for you too.

It works if you work it!!!!

I looked at this book for research purposes, not really interested in going on a diet right now... my general impression: The diet itself can be basically summarized in a page or two (it's practically on the back cover), so, really, you might think about borrowing the book versus buying for diet purposes, and writing the three phase plan down. The science behind the plan is, as most of dietetics, under question and debate, although there does seem to be a consensus that the American addiction to simple carbohydrates is a health problem. What is more interesting about the book is that a large chunk of it is devoted to recipes based on the phase of diet, a few which I have tried and seem to be worthwhile. Other people must also think so, as there have been spinoff south beach diet cookbooks that have also been successful (haven't tried them yet). So, one might consider purchase for that reason.

Dont waste money on this or any diet book.
Just get online and use a free calorie calculator, determine how many calories you can eat and loose weight, dont exceed that and step up excercise.
You dont need a book, just control how much you eat!!!!!

Finally, a member of the medical profession who has an inkling of human nature, a connection to something besides mere medical reality! I'm normally highly skeptical of such books and almost any medically recommended diet I've ever heard, seen, or smelt. This one is so firmly wedded to practical, everyday concerns and human nature that it simply blew me away. There is no fear peddling, no lecturing--just straightforward, easy to read and understand explanations. Above all, the diet is practical. Its only shortcomings are the considerations of time and expense, especially the latter. This is not so much a failing of the diet or the book, but rather that the agribiz megacorporations have decided that healthy food should be expensive, and food that is bad for you should be cheap. But I can guarantee one thing: you will be astonished at what food is healthy! This diet isn't hard--its tasty and fun!

Even if you aren't particularly overweight, this book is worth reading and serious consideration.

My wife and I have been on this diet for nearly 8 weeks now. In that time I have gone from 242 pounds to 208. I have been very good at following this diet with one small exception while eating out. My wife has had less success, but she is close to her target weight and had much less to lose than I did.

I believe the author does a good job describing the diet, the logic and science behind it and how the diet has evolved. It is interesting that weight loss for the patients on this diet was a bit of a happy side effect. The primary intention was to get patient's blood sugar and cholesterol levels in control. With diabetes in my family, as well as my wife's, this got our attention. We didn't realize what we were doing to ourselves with our earlier eating habits.

By itself, this book is only a start. I found it necessary to do more reading and looking at other cookbooks (including SBD cookbooks) to increase the variety. However, everything needed for the first few weeks is included. The knowledge gained by reading this book is enough to make healthy choices at the grocery and in restaurants.

As others have stated, this is not a "diet" as much as a lifestyle change. I have found that our food bill has increased somewhat, especially at first. We tried many new recipes and they often had ingredients that weren't in our pantry. This is not a complaint! We have discovered some wonderful new meals as a result of having our horizons opened. Some of those meals are in this book.

For your convenience, there is a Phase 1 diet plan already designed for you. The meal plan includes all the recipes for the meals and snacks. We tried this plan, but for two people it wasn't all that convenient. We spent a great deal of time preparing food - our evenings were consumed with cooking dinner, eating and preparing lunch and snacks for the next day. The included plan does a poor job for using leftovers and simplifying the food preparation. I believe this is due to the author attempting to provide more variety. After about a week, we abandoned the prepared plan and adopted our own version that fit our time budget. For this reason, I give this book 4 stars instead of 5.

For anyone heading down this weight loss path, I highly recommend a sugar substitute called Stevia. It is an extract of a plant that is very sweet and is sold in health food stores. Unlike the other chemical substitutes out there like Splenda, Nutrasweet and Saccharin, Stevia is a natural product that has been used for three decades in Japan with no reported side effects. The jury is still out on Splenda. There are different companies that produce Stevia extract, with different results. The best I have found so far is NuStevia No Carb blend. Good luck!

I was checking out another book in this series that was recommended by a relative (she finds clean eating helps tame her food sensitivities)when I came across this one. I lovvvve it!! It's an easy read for any age group --kids and adults alike! Lots of pictures ...I also like how Tosca addresses the growing concern about obesity in North American kids today and offers some healthy alternatives. Great recipe ideas too!!

Great cookbook with very delicious recipes. Recipes are not too complicated or time consuming. This cookbook hasn't left my kitchen since I bought it.

My family and I have really enjoyed trying the recipes in this book. It doesn't seem to be much of a diet book, but more of a great cookbook that sends you in the right direction to eat right with lots of flavor. Yum!!

Great book. Tons of great healthy recipes that taste amazing! Highly recommended. Very easy to make, and most, if not all, made from fresh foods and vegetables. Love it!

The Eat-Clean Diet: Fast Fat-Loss that lasts Forever!

Great inspiration for eating clean & healthy. A great motivation tool & good recipes too. Reading this will make you look at food in a whole new way.

highly recommended.

This is a very common sense, easy to follow plan on how to eat healthy and stay fit, for life, without starving and exercising for hours.

Great book, with great information. I have had problems with belly fat for
years. Even with dieting, and regular exercise, including ab work, I have never seen much results, until this book was recommended to me. In the past 3 weeks, I have seen dramatic loss of belly fat. I also feel wonderful.

I admit that I was skeptical when I bought this book. Oh, no, not another stupid diet craze. But I was pleasantly surprised. The nutrition advice is solidly based on science and a common sense approach: eat more unprocessed foods, be careful of trans fat, protein is your friend, etc. This is more of a guide to basic nutrition than a "diet book." And the exercises included in the back are great! They're easy to do and can be done quickly ( like circuit training). It only takes me about 15-20 minutes a day to do ab work and either upper body or lower body workouts. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to get healthy, learn about what's really going into their bodies, and do something about it!

This diet book has great smoothie recipes! Whey protein in a morning smoothie helps burn weight!

I bought this week recently and in 1 week I have lost 8 pounds. I have tried many diets and bought many diet books. But this one beats the others because it shows you how to eat for LIFE. You eat so much that you do not realise that the recommended food is keeping you full and making those muscles burn fat.

What amazed me that it shows you how to calculate how much excess fat you are carrying in your body. It was an eye-opener. You realise that you can't carry on like this any more and have to take action. Even the exercises are very cool taking around 35-40 minutes.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone.

This is one of the BEST books I have read on nutrition and living healthy. The other BEST book I have read in the same regard is Disease Proof Your Child: Feeding Kids Right by same author Dr. Joel Fuhrman. Both books are a "must read". Dr. Fuhrman offers practical, straightforward informantion and anyone can comprehend and apply to their daily lives. His plan is simple and makes complete sense as we are faced with daily pressure to eat fast food,junk food and foods loaded with sugar, fat and preservatives. Some nutritous food may not always be as convienient as fast food but nutritous food won't kill you, fast food and junk food (empty calories) will. I plan to read all Dr. Fuhrman's books and apply his plan to my daily living.

I read Eat to Live after I read The China Study by T Colin Campbell.
Herein lies the truth about nutrition. This information will change
your life forevermore--if you let it. Excess weight will literally
fall off. Cholesterol will come down. High blood pressure will come
down. Diabetes can be reversed, as well as heart disease. And there
is still more . . .

This books contains all the information you need to implement healthy changes in your life. No one could adopt these dietary changes without seeing improvement, or complete resolution, of their chronic health conditions.

I am a practicing anesthesiologist, and as a physician I admit to some bias. I segregate books on health-related topics into two categories: those written by qualified professionals (M.D.'s & PhD's), and those that were not (which I fondly refer to as "groovy books"). I admit to reading the groovy ones, too, but I take their claims with a grain of salt. This book, so obviously based on the latest research as well as Dr Furhman's clinical experience, abundantly referenced, is a wake-up call. I fail to see how any intelligent reader could come away from this book without a new perspective on health, disease, and their deitary habits.

I deal daily with surgical patients who are in their poor state of health, and scheduled for operations, as a direct result of many years of dietary self-abuse. If I could but hand them a copy of this book and turn back the clock, I have no doubt that I would be out of a job.

I bought this book and began following Fuhrman's dietary guidelines at the end of April, committing to 30 days to see if there would be any results. I had previously been an ovo-lacto vegetarian for four months, but had only succeeded in putting on weight (cheese probably being the culprit). Following Fuhrman's ideas for a vegan plan, along with regular moderate exercise, not only did I stick to it past the initial 30-day period, but I lost over 30 pounds in about three months. I'm now at 158, down from 190 pounds at my heaviest, and close to the weight I was throughout my twenties. I'm back to the same size pants as I wore in college and my mid-twenties (I'm now mid-thirties), lost nearly all of that dangerous belly fat. I have more energy and feel great. My formerly high total cholesterol is down to about 150, LDL about 100. All other blood parameters look great, although my blood pressure is still high.
My wife and I eat lots of leafy greens, beans, fruit, whole grains, and virtually no added cooking oil. We have been taking B12 supplements and some vegetarian Omega-3 DHA since we're not eating fish.
After four months of Eat to Live, I would highly recommend this book. I never knew that weight loss could be this easy, nor that I had the capacity to positively affect my health so quickly. My caveat would be that, especially if you want to do the vegan plan, you need to spend some time borrowing or investing in some good cookbooks (most veg/vegan recipes can be easily modified by cutting oil). I don't find it hard at all to stick to this diet, but I think it is in part because my wife and I are fairly adventurous and like to try different things. We eat lots of delicious Indian, Mexican, and Chinese-style dishes. Also, there is a short transitional phase, after which your taste-buds will definitely adjust. After staying away from typical American foods drenched in oil and fat, even vegan dishes in mainstream restaurants can taste too rich. On the other hand, we haven't felt it too difficult to find appropriate dishes when eating out in the Twin Cities area.
Finally, we think it costs us about the same as before on this diet. We buy lots of veggies at our local Farmer's market, plus whole grain bread, pasta etc. at Trader Joe's. We have never been extravagant, but we've never shopped purely on price either.
Try it for at least 30 days and see what happens.

This book emphasizes eating foods rich in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytochemicals in order to enhance health. The diet focuses on greens, fruits, and beans, while nearly eliminating fats, starches, and empty calories. Weight loss is achieved by consuming foods that are high in nutrient density so that you are maximizing micronutrients while simultaneously minimizing calories. The book is aimed at promoting health, which the author describes using a formula: Health=Nutrients/Calories. The author, Dr. Fuhrman, believes that people are satisfied eating fewer calories if those calories are rich in nutrients.

The book includes 7-day menus and recipes for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. A sample day is:
Breakfast: Baked apple with raisins and cinnamon.
Lunch: Salad-stuffed pita with Hummus Spread and Fresh fruit.
Dinner: Mixed baby greens with cracked peppercorn dressing, Broccoli and Red Pepper Soup, slice of 7-grain bread, Corn on the cob with Vege Base seasoning.

The contents:
Foreword by Mehmet Oz, M.D.
Introduction
1. Digging Our Graves with Forks and Knives: The Effects of the American Diet, Part I
2. Overfed, Yet Malnourished: The Effects of the American Diet, Part II
3. Phytochemicals: Nature's "Magic" Pills
4. The Dark Side of Animal Protein
5. Are You Dying To Lose Weight?
6. Nutritional Wisdom Makes You Thin
7. Eat To Live Takes On Disease
8. Your Plan for Substantial Weight Reduction
9. Sculpting Our Future in the Kitchen: Menu Plans and Recipes
10. Frequently Asked Questions
Glossary, Notes, Acknowledgements, Index

The diet is focused on health and weight loss and offers a way to use nutrition to assist in fighting disease. An inspired person can use the advice to reconstruct their diet to promote health. I like the idea of enhancing health through nutrition and weight control, and while the menu may seem time consuming, I believe the author is trying to show that you can turn highly nutritious foods such as veggies, fruits, beans, etc., into a tasty meal. I can recommend this book. I also recommend: THE 3:00 PM SECRET: Live Slim and Strong, Live Your Dreams

INformation packed book makes you take a closer look at what you are eating....have not begun the process...very complicated...

I agree with K Copper in the fact that I do what I can, I did find a "green drink" at a health food store and it had the green & berry flavor, trying it alone I could hardly choke it down but now I mix it with crystal lite green tea & raspberry flavored on the go packet, it taste much better, & I also found in the natural section by pacific, a veggie low sodium broth for my soup, I so far have been doing it for 3 days and I lost 4.5 pounds, I feel so much better, you do what you can do.

I bought the book first & once I was mentally ready I bought the plan from Ebay (much cheaper than from the actual site.) I stuck with it for 21 days & I lost 15 lb. It has been 1 month, today, since my 21st day & I am maintaining & I have lost more on my own. This book/plan altered my lifestyle. I cleansed my body, mind, closet, fridge & pantry. I am a procrastinator too - go figure.

My friend just finished & lost 16 lb. If you are ready you will succeed. I didn't do any enemas, colonics, etc. I did what I could afford & had time for. I treated myself w/something ea week. I did the detox bath (very inexpensive) & I had 2 massages. I didn't juice anything either. I just drank what I bought..I did make the pureed soups during week two. I just boiled and used my food processor.

I also think the book is pretty straight forward - meaning the author knows that most people can not follow nor afford the plan like those people that actually go to Martha's Vineyard Detox Center & have all of the resources provided to them. Maybe going to MVineyard would have helped me lose the extra 6 lbs??? Who cares, I lost 15 and I got past the plateau. I am working out (yes, I actually dusted off an exercise dvd & haven't stopped since 8/2).

The book was good. However, not many people I know could stay on this for 21 days.

First, I'm not a dieter.
Second, I don't do diets!!

I didn't do this just for the weightloss. I wanted to do this to feel better. Today is my 21st day of the detox and tomorrow I start the break.

My wife and I decided on this program after much research. We read both the posoitive and the negative. Having read a large portion of the reviews here, I found it odd how evenly split they were. Those that panned this program all had a common theme, they all wanted this quick easy weightloss program and didn't really see what this program is really about; detoxifying your body and feeling better. Remember, weight loss is a side benefit of this program and should not be the main reason you do this.

Yes, the program was tough at time. My healing crisis lasted over two days, but I got through it. The one thing (of many)that I learned is this: Our association and fixation on food and eating is over 95% mental and that's the hardest thing to overcome. While following the nutritional guidance, physically, I was never hungry, but mentally, I missed eating and chewing but I really wasn's hungry. Once you get past that, the rest is easy. I'm happy to report that as of today, I have lost 26 lbs and my wife 25 lbs. I still have some more weight to lose, but I feel great and I'm ready to start eating with a different perspective and pay much more attention to what I put in my body.

This program may not be for everyone, but if you can maintain you dedication and remember why you're doing it in the first place, you can do it. As for the colonics, when you see what you have hiding in your colon, just sitting there rotting, then you'll have a whole new appreciation for how colon cancer develops. If you skip that and the enemas, your missing out on a major component of this program.

Very useful tool when going on this diet. Helps w/ having variety to eat while in phase 1, 2 and 3. Very timely delivery.

The recipe book and its companion paperback guide make it easy to sort out where all the "sugar" and "fats" are hidden in the prepared foods at the grocery store so you can make healthy decisions according to your own needs. The recipes are good - some a bit too fancy for our tastes - but all can me modified with the foods and spices on the lists that you like. We've also found several new favorites!

I went on the South Beach Diet in November 2005. In one year I went from weighing 280 lbs to weighing 215! My cholesterol went from 221 to 141,and my blood pressure went from 150/100 to 117/77 (with NO drugs). Also I lost 6 inches around my waist. It went from 42 inches to 36.As of May 2008, I currently weigh 212 (at 5' 11') and am trying to work my way to 195 now.I own all of the books and am one of the biggest advocates of the diet. I would recommend this book to anyone!

This recipe book has some good recipes. I especially like the sausage and cheese breakfast cups. Some of the other recipes are rather complicated, with ingredients that may be hard to find. I have had better luck with "South Beach", than anything else.

My stepdaughter Liana used SBD to lose 46 lbs after having her son, Lewis. She is now a size 18 and has about 40-50 pounds more to go.

She has two cautions though.

1. The diet gave her measles (yes I don't see how but that's what her natureopath tells her, of course Dr. Denjela drinks his own urine so other than Liana and her partner Franklin no body in our family puts much creedance in what he says.

2. the Turkey Chili recipe has a significant typo. I's supposed to be one teaspoon of Tabasco sauce NOT one cup!!

caio // gurkha

This book was advertized as used-good condition. I can tell that this book had been opened, but it doesn't really show any wear or any marks or highlighting. It is in better condition than advertized!!

I orderd it on 8/5 and it was shipped on 8/6. I feel bad because the book was sold to me at a reduced cost and then it was shipped standard parcel post...much more expense than 'book rate.'

I will definately purchase college books through Amazon in the future. Thanks.

Roberta

This product arrived quickly and as promised, with no highlighting. The book was in fantastic condition!

Unfortunately I ordered this product on May 10 my class started on May 27 and still no book. I have not even received the book. I received the diet analysis cd but that's it. I have submitted a claim.

The book has no damage when I received it. And the price is decent for a new book. Thank you!

The book itself is fine, however the access code is no good and when you contact the company for help, they never respond to your email. If all you need is the text book, go ahead. However, if you are taking this course on-line like I am it's essentially useless with a non-working code.

My sister introduced me to this book and I enjoyed the information. It's great to be able to know which foods are healthiest and it also includes information regarding which foods are best to buy organic.

Although this is not a cookbook, it would have been great if a basic recipe would have been included with each food, perhaps from one of the experts quoted in this book. I would love to try all these foods but lack the knowledge on how to prepare most of them, especially the vegetables.

Other than that, this was a very informative book.

Really great and simple premise, the sections are well thought out and informative while not running on. It's obviously not an end all for all people as certain people work better with certain foods, but it's a great starting point or refresher for everyone.

The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth is one of the best books I've ever read and very educational. Excellent reading and it confirms a lot of the foods I have been eating for quite sometime. I always learn something new and it was very entertaining also.

I bought this book as a gift for my father and he told me that it is wonderful.

Excellent for the serious health nut and very educational for anyone who really wants to learn how to keep a healthy body running at it's best.

Lessee here. I pay $20.00 for a brochure on a $68,000.00 treatment program not funded by any insurance company offering a gaggle of techniques that do not appear to be algorithmically integrated... when I could simply buy a few -other- books on amazon.com to see the statistical evidence on the most effective treatment regimens.

Hmm. This is tough.

I rarely make blanket statements like this, but after 22 years in the field and working with a -wide- variety of approaches (from 12 Step, gestalt and hypnotic to cognitive, pharmacologic and psychodynamic), I'm forced to say, "Enjoy the book, but keep your credit cards in your wallet." And...

Look these up on amazon.com:

Beck, Wright, Newman, Liese: Cognitive Therapy of Substance Abuse; Gorski: Staying Sober, and Passages Through Recovery; Frances & Miller: Clinical Textbook of the Addictive Disorders; Ellis: A Guide to Rational Living; Perkinson and Jongsma: The Addictions Treatment Planner; Rotgers and Davis: Treating Alcohol Problems; and Rassmussen: Addiction Treatment - Theory and Practice; etc.

And if you can find Sharron Ekleberry's phenomenal Seminar on Substance Abuse and Personality Disorders, read -it- for sure.

Frankly, this book smacks of marketing scheme, though it does (all too briefly) chase down several of the issues that do need to be dealt with to assure long-term abstinence without relapse or addiction-switching.

One can get the job done for a lot less than $68,000.00, however. A -lot- less.

I too, am a "recovering" alcoholic with 23 years of sobriety, and I am very grateful for the gift of finding the treatment that worked for me. I stumbled across Chris Prentiss quite by mistake today, after taping a 30 minute program on the subject "Alcoholism and Addiction Cure." I felt like I had found someone who heard the same "voice" that I had heard within myself for the past 20 years. I too, consider myself an intelligent (I cannot tell you what my IQ is and I am still going to college, part time, and working full time for a large healthcare concern, but I consider myself extremely intelligent and open to new ideas)and open minded individual.
What I do know? I come from a family of addicts; my father's father emigrated from Germany before Hitler's control over that country was irrevocable and he was an alcoholic who passed the "disease" down to his sons - my father, the youngest son, died an alcoholic at the young age of 58. I will not go into detail about my childhood traumas other than to say that I began my journey into my own addiction (lucky me, my drug of choice was alcohol) when I was 15 years old. It culminated with my experiencing panic attacks in my early 20s and subsequent heavier drinking ensued in my desperate attempt to quell my rising panic attacks - I was running away from my childhood pain and I was self-medicating.
What I discovered, quite by accident and to my great relief and immense gratitude was a therapist, who was one of, if not "the," early humanistic therapists in the treatment arena. This woman walked with me through my treatment, unpeeling the layers of protection that I had wrapped by battered and abused psyche within and, after seven years of on again, off again, therapy (each new level, each new unveiling, opened doorways that I had shut and hidden behind) I walked into my first Al Anon meeting and within a month's time, my first AA meeting. I remember the intense self loathing and reluctance that I felt at having to go to that meeting where I had to admit to myself and others that I WAS AN ALCOHOLIC - the one thing that I hated my father for I had become.
The main reason I began my road to recovery in AA was, I knew I needed the strength and support of a fellowship where meeting and talking to others, who were traveling the same lonely, frightening path that I was on, would help me to "stay sober," while I continued with my individual therapy. But as much as I cherish those first couple of years in AA, I came to the realization that there had to come a time where not drinking became a personal choice and not just the choice of the group. I saw too many people who switched their addiction from the drugs or alcohol, to the group and who wouldn't miss a meeting if their lives depended on it and for many it did. And then there were the ones who moved on to other 12 step programs because they were sober but now they were attending Overeaters Anonymous or Workaholics Anonymous or Co-Dependents Anonymous because the root causes for their original addiction remained. Yes, it was healthier than being in the addiction but they still seemed frozen in time because they were still "dependent" on something outside of themselves for validation and strength or had simply switched addictions.
I left AA, but I stayed sober because I began my journey in one-on-one therapy where I was willing to do the work, no matter how painful, to heal my wounded psyche. And I did it with a therapist who allowed me to heal at my own pace and who never, ever, led or told me what I should feel, think or do. She was my guide, my mentor, my belief system when I did not believe in myself, and she let me go when it was my time to go.
When I was in my addiction I always felt like I didn't fit in with the rest of the world; but when I left AA with the belief that one had to finally make their choice not to use, a personal choice and stop being co-dependent on an outside source, I felt like I was different, there, too, and did not "fit in" with the traditional treatment for addicts. I truly believe the reason for relapse is because AA cannot provide the intense therapy necessary to find the root cause of an individual's addiction - I think "getting sober" is the easy part, staying sober, is the hardest thing to do, because then all you have is this open, gaping wound and you will eventually return to the original addiction or find another one to cover the untreated wound.
Today, I feel exonerated and I would encourage anybody who is struggling with recovery to read the book and go find a good therapist, preferably one who is humanistic or holistic (I truly believe you have to treat the mind, the body and spirit because ALL of you is involved in the addiction not just your diseased physical being) and be willing to do the work - not just counting 12 steps and giving it all up to an outside source. I am a deeply spiritual being and I believe addiction stands between you and that spirituality but you must find your own path and be willing to go it alone while in therapy, but know that you are never alone in healing. And by all means, incorporate the individual therapy with a group, such as AA, because it is extremely healing to hear your fears, pain, anger and frustrations, echoed in others - it depletes that sense of aloneness.
I am grateful for 23 years of sobriety and I am grateful that there are those in recovery programs who finally "get it" and are working on treating the mind, body, spirit! Don't give up on yourself or someone you love in addiction - I only wish those who came before, and lost to addiction, had the same opportunity.
"Seek not the favor of the multitude, for it is seldom got by honest and lawful means. But seek the testimony of the few, and number not the voices, but weigh them." Immanuel Kant

I have noticed that some posters are upset about the price of being "cured." I am not an addict, but my best friend was, and I would have sold my house out from underneath me if it could have cured him.

I knew that he had a real problem when he was fourteen years old, and knew where he was heading from my experiences in college -- people I knew. He was given an unnecessary tonsillectomy, and the well-meaning surgeon prescribed (Acetaminophen) #4 (with codeine). This was in 1971.

I have taken the same drug, without problems, usually for dental pain. I have never taken it for more than two days.

Well, my best friend was introduced to the same feelings that I get when I do something exceedingly well, only his performance dropped off to near zero. Later, he met a junky nurse, and I knew that it was game-set-match. I intervened and ran her off.

I knew I had no control over his addictions, but I did everything I could do to buy time. He finally went to a detox center and became a sponsor at Narcotics Anonymous. By this time he was married, and my wife learned that they were beginning to use again (she went through detox with him), and I had a decision to make. Something told me that he would not survive the year.

He had learned that narcotics lead to institution, jail, and death. Well, he was arrested for "uttering a forged instrument," which is to say, forging a prescription. Back to detox.

By this time, he was, in my opinion, too old for me to treat him as a child, and I made it clearly known to him that I would be there to intervene only if he asked. I had pulled him out of desperate straights before, but against his (temporary) will.

His junky wife found him dead one Christmas morning, about ten years ago. He had accidentally overdosed. I had an intervention plan set up for the 26th, and missed it by one day.

One of the lines of a poem I wrote to him before his first detox included, "May you find peace in Oaklawn's Gardens, and Sleep the Never-Ending Sleep you Seek. I have seen it all before, but this was my best friend Keith." I hope, somehow, that he did find that peace. He was a gifted person, and my best friend. I frightened him with that poem, and in his last days, he somehow knew what was going to occur. He reported "lucid dreams, where he was with (a friend who had died of drug abuse). I was supportive, and only this one poem was pessimistic.

A copy of that poem is in his casket. It should not be forgotten that people do manage to become addicted to drugs and return to a normal life. These drugs were designed for pain, not getting high. He slipped away one day before I was going to intervene with his recovered addicts alongside me.

If you have an addicted friend, their life is in your hands. Please do not forget that. The price of the regimen in this book is the price of life. Find a way to do whatever it takes, or lose your friend or loved one.I know this post is too long, but it, like and along with the book, will save lives.

I like the fact that it gives a more flexable approach to recovery than the very rigid (although , successful ) suggestions put forth by AA and NA. It looks to the underlying causes of the repatative destructive behaviors associated with alcoholism (in my Case). One more tool to help those still suffering that have a bias towards AA and other 12 step recovery groups.

Jim Bowen

I AM AN ADDICT.... AND I UNDERSTAND TRYING TO FIND THE UNDERLYING CAUSE OF MY USING DRUGS. BUT I ALSO BELIEVE THAT THIS BOOK WAS A COMMERCIAL FOR PASSAGES (WHEN I CALLED THEY TOLD ME TO COME UP WITH 68,000 DOLLARS). I CAN'T EVEN AFFORD ALL OF THE COUNSELORS AND HOLISTIC PRACTITIONERS THEY ADVISE I USE. HOW COULD I AFFORD TO GO FOR 30 DAYS TO A PROGRAM THAT MAY OR MAY NOT WORK. WHEN I GOT TO THE CHAPTER OF THE BOOK THAT TOLD ME TO GET ALL OF THOSE DIFFERENT DOCTORS, I WAS HEARTBROKEN. BECAUSE OF THE TITLE OF THE BOOK, I HAD SUCH HIGH HOPES, BECAUSE I THOUGHT THIS WAS IT, THIS WAS THE ONE THING THAT WOULD HELP ME GET OVER MY ADDICTION FINALLY. BUT AS EVERYTHING ELSE I'VE TRIED IT FAILED ALSO. I AM GOING TO TRY THE ACCUPUNCTURE AND MY MEDICAL DOCTOR IS WEANING ME OFF OF OXYCONTIN RIGHT NOW. BUT THAT IS MY PLAN. I PRAY AND PRAY AND PRAY THAT IT WORKS. MY FAITH IN GOD IS WHAT WILL PULL ME THROUGH THIS, I KNOW IT. THE ONE THING IN HIS BOOK I TOTALLY AGREE WITH IS THAT EVERYTHING IN THE UNIVERSE.. GOOD OR BAD ALL WORKS TOGETHER FOR OUR GOOD. EVERYTHING IS AS IT SHOULD BE, EVEN BEING ADDICTED TO DRUGS, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW I AM LEARNING A LIFE LESSON. AND THAT IS A GIFT FROM THE LORD.