Diet Health Books

Mastering the Zone gives the shortened explanation of the Zone diet. The purpose of the book is not to explain the details of the science behind diet (which is covered in The Zone), the purpose is to introduce a brief overview and then provide an abundance of recipes and food examples that fit within the confines of the diet. Sears accomplished both, and also adds a Q&A to address any issues one might having trying to follow the diet.

Many reviewers of this book have spent their time rating the diet which I have deliberately avoided. My review is based on the content of the book, and thus this book rates well independent of whether you find this diet a success or not.

Having tried and failed at Atkins and other diets, I was highly skeptical about the Zone diet. I've always been more of a believer of "calories-in-calories-out," not giving much thought to insulin and the body's hormonal response to food. The great thing about the Zone is the fact that I now have control over my eating. I still can't believe it. No longer do I have cravings and feel hungry 18 hours a day. Usually, after about 3 days of dieting using the traditional high carb low fat method, I was always starving, and the thought of food consumed my life. After 3 days of being in the Zone, I have to push myself to eat 3 meals and 2 snacks a day! This is coming from a guy who weighed over 300 pounds when he first started. Is Dr. Sears correct in his teachings about carbohydrates and their effect on insulin? I tend to think so, given my body's response. But even if he's wrong, so what? I'm now consuming about 1,500 calories per day without hunger. So even if you subscribe to the old calorie beliefs, as I had, you're still consuming far less than before once in the Zone. Bottom line: if you're tired of feeling hungry and deprived while trying to lose weight, get into the Zone.

I went from 209 pounds to 151 pounds with the principles of this book. Once you understand how insulin works against you to store fat,and learn the right amount of protein and carbs your body needs to maintain your ideal weight, you can begin your journey to eat in the zone and lose weight.It has been my eating guidelines for almost 10 years. It is well worth the trouble to learn to treat food as a drug.

Hello everyone. Early this year i was on the Zone for 6 months, and i followed it perfectly. I did lose body fat, but i also noticed i lost my muscle. Even though i lifted weights 3 times/week, i was LOSING muscle. So i decided to actually calculate how many calories i was eating per day. It came out to 1,500. No wonder i was losing muscle! According to the American College of Sports Medicine, men should not dip below 1,800 calories in a day or else their lean body mass won't be sustained. So in essence, i lost fat and muscle. Girls weren't looking at me and saying "ooh, look at that hot guy over there with a flat tummy and no muscle." Let's face it. Women like to see some mass on a guy. Since June, i've done a lot of research into nutrition and now i am burning solely fat, no lean body tissue at all. I've increased my daily calories to 2,100, kept up with weight-training, and added 5 days/week of cardio. At first i was worried that with all that cardio, i'd lose muscle, but i'm not. As long as the calorie deficit isn't exaggerated and you lift weights, it's unlikely you will lose muscle when you add a good amount of cardio.
So even though the Zone claims to be a non-calorie counting method of dieting, that's deceitful in my mind because you ARE reducing your calories--way too much.
When you reduce calories excessively and for prolonged periods, you're going to get hungry. And i was hungry all the time. In addition, your body starts to hold onto the fat it has because it thinks you're starving. After 2 months of the Zone, my fat loss pretty much stopped because my metabolism had slowed down.
There is one positive thing to say about the Zone: it encourages you to drink plenty of water and to eat only healthy foods. Just not enough of it. If a book recommends anything less than 1,800 calories for men and 1,200 calories for women, don't buy it. You'll lose muscle and your fat loss will halt after a couple of months and you'll be hungry and not keep up with the plan.
Who has the best bodies out there? Fitness models and bodybuilders. They have single digit bodyfat. You know how they do it? They stay within recommended caloric limits by the American College of Sports Medicine, they lift weights, and they do cardio(and lots of it!) The Zone showed me what healthy foods are, but that's about all it did. For long-term results, stay away.

I'm giving this book a 4 star review. It recieves 4 stars by merit of the diet's effect on me personally. Your mileage may vary. I have been following this diet mostly to the T. I have dropped 15 pounds in the last month and I feel absolutely excellent. I'm not sure whether all of the theory that this diet is based on is completely sound. The focus on hormones and stuff seems a bit pseudo-science-ish to me, but much of it is also sound. For me I think the big thing was getting more protein and having my blood sugar levels more stable. As far as that goes this diet is excellent. I notice I have lots of energy and not in a manic psychological sense, which tells me that it's legit energy... there if you need it but you can chill if you don't. My muscles are also staying quite hard despite not having added weight training to my exercise regimen until this week... an effect strangely lacking in other diets I've tried that were so calorie restrictive.

However keep in mind that everyone's individual chemistry is different. I've always intuitively felt that I needed more protein and fat for a successful diet, and I am the type of person who did not respond well at all to the typically dietary guidelines that the food pyramid recommends. Your milease may vary.

I thought at times the author was trying way too hard to make gluten the bad guy in nearly every disease across the board. I am convinced that gluten is a problem for more people than previously assumed, but i have a hard time believing it is responsible for heart disease. Much of the "evidence" is anecdotal.

Also, some of the "recipes" are simply simple-minded. A "recipe" for "Peanut Butter Waffles" has the following ingredients: gluten free frozen waffles and peanut butter. To make them, you toast the waffles and spread them with peanut butter! I would NEVER have thought of that on my own. Also, it is not a very good idea to start out a gluten free diet just by eating gluten free versions of bread, waffles, and the like. They can be hard on a healing digestive system.

Read it but don't buy it; Celiac Disease: the Hidden Epidemic is a better reference guide for the disease. The Gluten Connection has a lot of "how to" info you can find online.

This book is helping me to understand why I have a gluten sensitivity and how to live with it. As a Physical Therapist I can now see how this sensitivity is present in some of my clients and the effects it is having on their painful conditions. Just changing their diets improves their range of movement and eliminates their pain. What a great book

More people are gluten sensitive than they realize. This book points out many diseases that are caused by gluten sensitivity. After reading this book, I realized many of my symptoms were caused by eating foods that contain gluten. After I went gluten free, I am feeling like a brand new person. All doctors should read this book. Many are not knowledgible about gluten sensitivity.

The Gluten Connection is so informative! I am currently reading it for a second time. Have purchased copies for my family and have recommended it to others.

I owe my good health today to the information that I gained by reading this book. The Gluten Connection: How Gluten Sensitivity May Be Sabotaging Your Health--And What You Can Do to Take Control NowIt is a must read for people who are experiencing digestive difficulties as well as young parents deciding what to feed their children to insure better health.

I found it boring as there is too much diagnosing the function of meditation and relating itto the individual. I expected as portrayed in the advertisement to have some actual mediatations scripts, new age music etc. it was hard to find.

I was looking forward to meditation and breathing to relax. What a disappointment as it began with medical advice for shots needed after age 60.. My stress level increased waiting for the meditation, I turned it off after 15 minutes.

I think it is an excellant CD for health purpose and living in a safe and healthy surroundings. It gives great tips on breathing, the method and the results your body receive from the process. I am enjoying the purchase of this item. Thank-You

I have COPD so breathing techniques are very important to me. This audio is at the top of my recommendations both for the well described breathing techniques AND for the guided meditations. I had to have some intensive gum surgery done and donned my iPod and listened to this meditation during the proceedure and it truly helped me relax and I have suggested it to others for use during medical/dental proceedures as well. Thanks for another GREAT book, Dr Oz..........

This was rudimentary, at best. The instruction was mostly "feel good" nonsense and way too little breathing exercises - a total waste of my money.

The Seven Pillars of Health is an extremely sturdy foundation to build a healthy life! There is SO much information in this book about just about everything related to health. I learned much from this book, and being divided into 50 days was a great way to space out the information. I had only one problem with this book...Dr. Colbert owns his own vitamin company! This was disappointing because it made me skeptical of Pillar 6: Nutritional Supplements. All of the supplements he reccomends, his company produces. However, Dr. Colbert does seem pretty trustworthy, but again read this pillar with a bit of caution. The other six pillars are fantastic and well worth it!

EVERYONE should read this book!!!! For those who are healthy, or sick, this book can change your life! I have recommended it to over 20 people, most of whom have or are planning to purchased it. It has truly made a difference in my life, and those who are in my sphere of influence!

This book is a must. It's not about miracles, it's about an uncovered truth about our auto healing bodies. We don't need external chemicals to heal our body, what we need is a balanced life, what we need is to read this book. Dr. Colbert shows us how to do it, and its all simple and real, and specially very, very effective. If you are a father or a mother its a must....

I thought this was a great book. There is so much useful information in here that I have come back to it several times. With all of the areas he touches on it's a great way to get your life on track and back to feeling good again. Just get it...you'll be glad you did.

I love this book, not done with it yet. Dr. Don Colbert gets into simple details about water. He not only explains how much water to drink, but the difference between water and the containers they come in. He explains about filtration and gives you all the information you need to make a good decision and where to purchase such items. Not only does he tell you to stay away from processed foods, but why. He gives you glycemic index, and tells you which to eat if you want to lose weight.
There is just so much information, I am reading it slowly, highlighting all the important information and trying to let it all sink in. I definately recomend this book!!!!!!!! Along with "What Would Jesus Eat", I find it to be a great package deal. When I saw Dr. Don Colbert on Joyce Meyer and he mentioned how he all of a sudden had dairy allergies and was able to get rid of that by improving his diet, I just had to get the book since the same thing happened to me!!

Recieved book on time-fair condition..Interesting take on diets..Am enjoying the book.. Interesting that used books versus new books end up being so cheap but postage is so much higher then either new or used...I'd recommend this site to all my firiends....

Save yourself money and just buy Sally Fallon's book. All the Maker's Diet series are reinterations of her recipes.

To say that this book saved my life would not be an overstatement. I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease nearly three years ago at age 23. The doctors put me on Remicade (which I stopped breathing during an infusion), Entocort (steriod - so can't take that forever), and Pentasa (which made me throw up for a week and a half straight - couldn't hold down even liquid meal replacement shakes). This was over a time period of about 9 months. I had lost 15 pounds, been on liquid diets, and passed out twice in my apartment alone due to what I can only assume was malnutrition. None of the medicine helped. Finally, I had had enough. My mom found this book, and I decided (against my doctor's advice) to get off all medication and try this diet. About two weeks into the diet, I began to feel so much better. After completing the 40 day diet, I was completely restored. It has been almost two years now that I have not been on any medication, with NO symptoms of Crohn's whatsoever. I follow Phase 3 of the diet most of the time since I completed the original 40 days, but I do cheat once or twice a week. I also did the diet again for 40 days a year after I initially did it. I really do not know where I would be without having found this book and this diet. Probably in a hospital somewhere. The point is, no matter if you have Crohn's or any other disease (that they claim is "incurable"), or if you are just looking to lead a healthier life, this is the book for you. I'm not one to write reviews, but seriously, this book changed my life. If you're still not convinced, put it this way... it can't hurt to try it.

I was intrigued by the title thinking that it would offer Biblical food guidelines. But instead this author only wants you to buy bizarre products available only from his web site like special dirt to eat and soap to wash your hands with. Almost nothing Biblical about it. Actually, the Bible just says to eat lots of vegetables, avoid rich foods , shell fish and pork along with several other unclean animals. Good advice.
Forget Jordan; read Daniel and Leviticus

This didn't work for me. I ate dirt for a month. It didn't do a thing for me except give me gas.

Like most ectomorphically challenged people, I've had a difficult time gaining weight all my life, and needed a change from my normal routine. Though I didn't completely sell-out to the recommended dieting, I used it as a general guideline for calorie/protein/carb intake. I followed the lifting routine almost exactly as described (though I skipped phase 1) with outstanding results. I've put on about 15 pounds in 7 weeks and increased my bench by 50 pounds (as I just discovered last night). It's an awesome feeling. This book is definitely worth the buy if you're serious about growing...

I was just flat out impressed at the scientific approach this book takes. From self measurements to determine what kind of exercises your body would respond best to, to alternative exercises due to injuries or difficulties, this is the most comprehensive exercise book I have read yet.

this book is very good if you are the type thats finding it difficult to build muscle mass. they go into deep detail but there are some flaws in the book but what book doesnt. i would recommend buying this book if you really are lost this book i think gives you more than a head start.

This book takes a very negative approach for the thin guy. avoid it and buy Arnold's bodybuilding book.

I am of the body type targeted by this program, and I did my best to follow it. I felt their argument for why you must eat so much wasn't terribly compelling unless you are under 25, and my initial doubts were confirmed when my body fat skyrocketed from 15% to 20% in the first three weeks! Making adjustments, my body fat rise leveled off but I wasn't gaining any muscle mass at any high rate either. I kept with the full four months and came out a little stronger, but I didn't look very fit (when I did before), or even like I was someone who actually worked out at all, and I didn't feel very good either. I felt bloated a lot. After giving it a chance my waist was getting wider than my shoulders, no joke, so I immediately had to go to a cutting phase on another program (something of this nature should be included in a book that shows you how to get so fat so fast). I would not recommend this program. There are better ways to gaining weight without having to get so fat doing it. This book is so full of confusing and contradictory statements that it would be difficult for anybody to be successful without their vaunted personal training program (which is ridiculously expensive). The anwers lie elsewhere my friend. Not in this book.

I purchased this book after hearing about it for years from different sources. Read it in only three sittings because it was so fascinating. I have incorporated much of the book into my daily life, especially what I eat. Study seems to be irrefutable. Health is largely a result of lifestyle, including dietary habits. I have changed mine. Only negative comment is the book is a little more academic than I would have preferred.

I have learned allot about diet and cancer and other immune diseases. I would recommend this book to anyone who is serious about their heath.

The reader does not do a great job of reading this from the scientific basis - he does not seem to understand the science very much, therefore reads in an unusual manner. Still, the CD's are a nice alternative if you don't have time to read the book.

i feel like i know more than my own doctors after reading this book... scary how little people actually know (or even worse-- what they choose to know)

I wasn't sure about this book when I ordered it. I was having a hard time finding audiobooks on nutrition. So many diets and diet plans but not many on nutrition. When I first started listening to the book I didn't think it was what I was looking for then it grabbed me. Everyone in the world should read or listen to this book. It is a book that could literaly change the world into a better place. We are far to complacent to accept the world "as is". I plan to tell as many people about this book as possible and do my part to change the world one person at a time starting with me.

Champions Body for Life was my turning point for what I'm believing will be a lifestyle transformation. Not just for losing weight, but for completely changing my life. I had already read Body for Life by Bill Phillips seven years ago and loved it. I found it easy to read and extremely motavational. However, somehow I was never able to complete a challenge. Over the years, I managed to keep my weight down with running, but without following the weights and nutritional aspects of the Body for Life program, I never achieved anything close to a transformation and as soon as injury took me away from running, the weight piled on. I tried every diet out there, and none of them worked past five days. With each effort, I packed on additional weight. Then came Champions Body for Life.

I was already familiar with the concept. Like the original book, I found this one to also be easy reading and motivational. But Champions Body for Life offered something different ... a glimpse into the 12 week transformation up close and personal ... showing the journey that Mark Unger and Alexa Adair took. In the original book and on the Body for Life website I was able to read short paragraphs about the transformations that were possible, but this new book offered more indepth coverage. It was what I needed to help me believe that I could do it too.

I read the book in two days and immediately signed up for the challenge. (I had never actually signed up before) and I also took before pictures. The book has been close by my side during my challenge and is keeping me on track. I plan to celebrate my 12 week transformation on my favorate beach in Hawaii, and I owe it all to Champions Body for Life. I am so grateful. By the way, I'll be turning 65, so we're never too old to benefit from the book and program.

This is a great book - I expected it to be great as a big fan of the original Body For Life book. I am not disappointed.

The author does a very good job of explaining how to
reconstitute health via imagination, exercise and diet.
A definitive connection is made between the mind, body and
soul. A carefully crafted program is provided which includes:

o rest
o water
o workouts
o journalization of the routine
o goal formulation
o resistance weight training including > of reps and weights

The author indicates that the body needs protein, good fats
and carbs. Many examples are provided. Samples of
protein are chicken, tuna and salmon. Complex carbs are
lentils, sweet potato, squash and yams. Model veggies are broccoli,
asparagus, cauliflower, spinach, celery and zucchini.

Good fats include avocado, seeds, fish and nuts. Complex
carbs and protein should be eaten simultaneously. Sample
exercises are depicted, as well as a yearbook of successful
participants. The book is an excellent value for the price.
The author transcends the traditional strength training
books by explaining the mind/body connection, as well as
model foods to complement the exercise program.

Lifting weights was never my thing, but these people's stories inspired me to give it a try (it also taught me that unlike aerobic exercise, lifting weights boost one's metabolism long after you finish.) I now feel stronger and better about myself. I am not a 100% committed champion, but this book has given me the confidence to have entered a Triathlon at the end of September at age 56. I feel like a kid again. I now need to focus on the nutrition advice in this book which seems as though it will enhance all my work outs. I love each champion's story. I gave this book to my college aged daughter who also thought it was very cool. It's inspiring and practical and personal. I'' be giving it to friends, colleagues and trainers as gifts.

This book is one HUGE advertisement ploy. Nothing more!

I returned this piece of junk after reading through it. What a joke and insult to the real BFL!

The original Body For Life by Bill Phillips is all you need. Eating For Life is an excellent book of recipes and

BFL for Women by Dr. Pamela Peake is great for a more fine tuned approach for the ladies...but I whole-heartedly disagree with the diets she recommends in her book. It is all carbs, and minimal protein. A great way to create weak, ill women. The BFL book has the better dietary approach in my opinion.

Skip this piece of garbage and get the original book!

This book is written for professionals and people studying to be professionals. However, it is clearly written and a good resource for someone serious about an introducton to fitness, metabolism and training.
You can find more reasons why I like this book at this page:
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This book is very informative on the various protocols of exercise testing. After reading this book, I added new protocols to the assessments offered at my health club. I feel this book aided in setting higher standards in the health and fitness setting at my current workplace. The appendix is filled with tons of information like pictures of skinfold sites, MET values for different activities, metabolic formulas, etc.. An awesome reference for any fitness professional

The book is very powerful and everyone should read it. This lifestyle will help reverse what ever is going on with your life. EXCELLENT

I use Sears as one of my sources for nutrition. "Use" in the sense of academic information and of food source. His theories are appealing as are his supplements, Zone Bars, Olive oil, and fish oil. Sears is persuasive. His book is valuable to me.

within two weeks i was walking better and feeling better than i have in years thanks dr sears

This book was recommended to me by a person who has similar indications as I have regarding Menieurre's disease. He told me he was advised by a trusted medical doctor to read the book and feel s he has benefited from the guidance provided in the book.

After only a short period I feel I am also learning and will realize medical beneits from the advce provided in this book.

I was lucky enough to find an internist who recommended this book to me when I went to him with symptoms of cold intolerance, fatigue, swollen and inflamed joints, thyroid disorder and a host of other symptoms. In the meantime, while awaiting the results of the tests, he advised me to read this book as it would explain inflammation in the body.

Previously I had been diagnosed with arthritis and treated for symtoms and became progressively worse. Within two weeks of implementing the changes outlined in this book; both diet changes and adding 5 grams of enteric-coated fish oil per day I had significant reduction in the swelling and inflammation.

To understand how inflammation works on the body and to reduce a host of symptoms and beliefs associated with Alzheimers, etc. this book is a valuable tool for self-enlightment. Many physicians today don't take the time to treat underlying causes of illnesses before they progress to more serious problems for the patient. Read this book and Help Yourself. It won't do any harm and may do you a world of good.