Robert J. DavisCritiques

This book did a good job at breaking down the different diet culture lies and explaining why they are lies. It would be great for someone who doesn’t mind reading a textbook. It just wasn’t my cup of tea

It is extremely confusing in today's world how to lose weight. I'm positive that most dieters feel the same way. There are countless books, all countering what the other books say to eat or do. Supersized Lies highlights many different diets claiming weight loss and discusses the pros and cons of each diet. There are common myths explored to see if they are fact or fiction. I can tell there is a lot of research gone into this book. However, I'll be honest and say that this book is a difficult read. The person reading this book is trying to find a no-nonsense way to lose weight. Finally. But this book feels more like a discussion of the pros and cons of dieting different methods and focusing on common sense to break through the lies out there. In the end I didn't learn anything new to help me achieve my goals. For example the book states that the eating pattern best for our health is a plant-based diet and goes on to describe poultry and fish to be part of that diet. That's not a plant-based diet if there's meat involved. So I don't feel like I got much help from the book. However, I do appreciate the common sense approach to break through fad diets that come and go and can sometimes be seriously harmful.

Supersized Lies by Robert J. Davis
The only reason I don't give the book 5 stars because the book didn't give me the magical solution to weight loss. I purchased a while back a years membership to an online program to lose weight. Most of what they presented was information on what works and doesn't work for multiple approaches to weight loss. Robert J. Davis does the same at a cheaper price while making the information a little more accessible. It is a common sense book explaining the pros and cons for many of the approached to weight loss used today with researched and anecdotal evidence At the end giving practical do's and don'ts for each chapter.
It is well written and easy to follow. So if you are interested in getting an up to date overview of dieting today, I highly recommend the book.

Supersized Lies by Robert J. Davis was well written in everyday language. He carefully explains why most diets don't work. I just wish there was more that did work. The best advice he gives is to eat a healthy diet without a lot of processed foods and to exercise for the health benefits, not to lose weight. All his assertions are well documented with the backup research.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but what I got was an entertaining and comprehensive critique on weight loss and dieting. The author cuts through all the BS about diets and losing weight, but does so in a nonjudgmental and highly entertaining way. Several times, I found myself laughing out loud--something I thought I'd never do with a book about diets! I also enjoyed the many firsthand narratives of real people who have struggled with this problem. But most impressive was the amount of research included to back up Davis' claims. This book was obviously a labor of love. Written in a casual and easy-to-read style, I recommend Supersizer Lies to anyone interested in the topic.

I liked how each chapter broke down the myth but I didn't find the book to be very interesting. I have a back ground in nutrtion and maybe I expected too much. I think if you are new to reading about nutrition, dieting and weight loss this would be a good book but if you have a vast knowledge of those subjects this is probably not the book for you. I wanted to like this book more than I did.

An eye-opening review of how every diet's claims are not as founded upon science as we have been led to believe. This was helpful in the sense that it showed fallacies of "methods." He stresses the importance of regular exercise and healthful eating that suits your body, rather than adhering to any one method.

While the thrust of the book was informative, it certainly did not inspire much motivation. It painted nearly everything as rather hopeless and nothing founded upon real science. As one who was actually diagnosed with Cushing's Disease (Syndrome is mentioned in the book-they are similar, in that the effects of high cortisol are present and cause excessive weight gain, even with diet and exercise, as I will absolutely attest!), I certainly desire to return to a healthier body. It's getting better since my pituitary tumor was removed in November 2020, but his words served only to discourage me. While it is something I have found to be true in my own health journey (that no ONE things seems to be a magic cure), the instruction to eat healthy food and exercise wasn't any more helpful.

I had to comment on this line in particular because it stuck in my craw. The author states "This [The Obesity Epidemic] wouldn't be such an urgent problem if obesity were just a cosmetic issue. But in fact it's a matter of life and death." (pg.16) and I just have to say that for some people it is just a cosmetic issue. A person can be categorized as obese and still be healthy. Given that this section came just after talking about biases it came off a bit... um well, biased toward the idea that fat = unhealthy. That isn't always the case.
Also, while this book is full of interesting information and analysis I think I am missing the point of it. It seems to be leading the reader to the conclusion that weight loss in different for each individual (which I would say is accurate), but do we need a whole book to say that? Or to even say most diets are flawed in one way or another? Like I said, the book is full of interesting tid-bits (I particularly liked the 'Myth or Truth?' tid-bits) and stories of real people and their struggles.... but this reads more like a debunking video than anything else. And that may be exactly what some people are looking for... but for me, I just kept looking for a deeper theme. It just doesn't offer anything new.
Also, one note about formatting. The citations after each section of the book are distracting, I would have preferred those to be housed in a bibliography at the back/end of the book.

We are flooded with dietary advice from magazine snippets, talk shows, multi-level marketing friends, health food/supplement vendors, and social media. If you were to track the information you received you would find that much of it is contradictory and relies heavily on conventional wisdom. Davis digs into the research that challenges the unregulated assertions of purveyors of supplements, superfoods, and other health "secrets". He explains how the simplified calories in and out are more complex than presented and that a lot of factors affect the success of exercise and some diet choices. Sadly, the supersized lies travel faster than the truth but reading this book will help you save money that could be wasted on questionable diet solutions and frustration when you feel that exercise is not producing the results you hoped for. Well written with plenty of citations if you want to do additional research.

If this is the first diet book you’ve read, it is an excellent place to begin. And if you’ve read many diet books, this is the last one you will need. Weight loss secrets and quick fixes are pervasive in both scientific literature and popular press. This book examines “these misguided ideas and practices, what they are, where they came from, and how they’re hindering our quest to lose weight…” There is a tremendous amount of evidence that carrying excess weight is harmful to our overall health. But statistics show that the number of the overweight and obese continues to rise. In a $60 billion dollar industry, there are only a few effective ways to take weight off and keep it off. We’ve been led down one dead end after another. There is relentless marketing of seemingly logical plans as well as nonsense and conjecture that masquerades as fact. Dr. Davis does an outstanding job of sorting the myths from the truth. In an easy-to-read style, he lets us see how unsupported claims have undermined our weight control efforts. Each chapter ends with tips and the closing chapter summarizes what really works. Eye opening and encouraging.

Supersized Lies by Robert J. Davis, PhD is an interesting read about diets and how they work or don’t work. Most of the information is not anything new, but the way the author explains the aspects of the diets and why they do or do not work, makes for an engrossing read.

Chapters include eliminating a food, calories, exercises, superfoods, meal timing, weight loss supplements, BMI, and finally the author gives you facts on what really works. In each chapter there is a section about the subject he’s discussing, myths or truths, and what you should really do.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are my own.

Supersized Lies is one of the best researched, referenced and written books on dieting that I have had the privilege to enjoy reading! The book is equally well-organized, with specific chapters devoted to debunking common myths about the dieting process. Although much of the information encountered in the book covers scientific information already familiar to me, folks without a scientific or healthcare background are likely to find the book comforting in a very pragmatic way. Diet trends like calorie-counting, Atkins, Paleo, etc. are discussed. The book has a particularly helpful discussion on the integral role of food nutrients as key elements of weight loss success. The wisdom shared in the concluding chapter (8) is the same wisdom on weight loss that has been around for decades, but that still bears repeating. I won't spoil the fun or the learning opportunity for readers by sharing details from that chapter. This book has almost all the information a novice seeker of the truth about weight loss may need to get started on the journey to better weight management and health. The book has perhaps just one missing element in its ample discussion on the state-of-the-science in weight loss, and that is on recognizing the existence of different body types, that is how and why some people thrive on certain diets whereas others don't. The ultimate truth about weight loss is that no two human beings are created identically (even twins!) so there really is no 'one size fits all' diet scheme that is guaranteed to work for every person. Each person--with the guidance of his or her health care provider and/or nutritionist--needs to discover their own unique path to sustainable weight loss. Supersized Lies is the perfect book to explore to begin that journey.

I am someone who does not give five stars very often, but I thought this is one book that deserved all five. Davis has clearly done a lot of research and investigation into what works and what doesn't work when it comes to weight loss over the long term, and it is the long term effects that really matter. Davis tells the reader there is no magic bullet, no secret diet, or wonderful shortcut when it comes to weight loss. If that is what you are looking for, this book is not for you. But if you want a common-sense approach to weight loss and the ability to keep the weight off, then you really should read this book.

Perfect! Unless you don’t believe in science and research! Davis explores the truth about recommendations by some of the biggest names in the industry over the years and the long term outcomes of following their plans. I won’t spoil your discovery of outcomes but I recommend you read his book and follow his common sense suggestions to reach your goals and thrive.

This is actually quite good but I feel like I would only give it 4 stars if it had a little bit more heft to it. Like seriously you can read this in an hour. There was a bibliography in the back so you would be able to do more in depth research if you wanted more detailed answers, but I wanted more in depth answers for everything. EVERYTHING.

Davis, an award-winning health journalist, and Kolowich, a Certified Personal Trainer whose clients include well-known actors and athletes, have joined together to create this no-nonsense approach to exercise. They take the excuses out of working out and debunk some common exercise myths to get readers motivated to get in shape in just fifteen minutes a day.

The four sections of the book deal with motivation, knowledge, eating, and the actual workouts. The book never talks "over my head" and offers a simple approach to making the time for fitness in our already overly scheduled days. Who doesn't have fifteen minutes a day to devote to themselves?

One tip that stood out to me while reading included the motivation behind "loss-aversion". As much as we love receiving a reward, we hate losing that reward even more. A study showed participants kept their goal more if they were rewarded at the beginning of the month and would lose parts of that reward for not following through. Rather than waiting til the end of the month to receive your reward, give it to yourself to start with and if you don't meet your goals, the dress, the money, the vacation or whatever your reward is, is returned or canceled.

Throughout the book, there are personal stories of client's fitness journeys. Readers will be able to find someone that they can identify with from either gender and many age groups. I found Leigh's story of being exhausted from work and finding yoga helped her cope with daily challenges in her job as well as offering calm and strength to her body. The flexibility tests in the book were eye-opening to me and just reaffirmed my need to incorporate yoga into my daily routine.

The brief section on supplements and food offer just the highlights and some solid advice on what to avoid, what to watch out for in the ingredient list, and what you may want to add to your daily diet. Even though "The Eight Eating Rules" weren't anything new, they are still a good reminder for what to focus on when you are starting a new health and fitness plan.

Finally, the book ends with the actual workouts. Each workout has a photo and description of how it should be done. The workouts include beginner levels and advanced levels with a 7-day workout plan. I appreciated that all of the workouts use your own body weight, dumbbells, or furniture, all things I can do in my own home.

I felt like this who book was easy to understand and could realistically be incorporated into a daily routine. The workouts don't take a lot of time or space and could be done either in the morning or after work. Whether you are looking to live longer, improve your heart health, cut your cancer risk, become more flexible, or boost your brain power or mood, this book offers an ideal approach to fitting in quality workouts in a short amount of time.

This book is broken out into four parts: "How to Motivate Yourself", "What you need to know about aerobic exercise, strength training, and stretching", What to eat and How to prevent pain", and The Fitter Faster Plan".

In the first part, the book breaks down all of the benefits of exercise as well as some myths. After you have read the first part and determined that exercise in any form even walking is good for you; you are ready to move onto the second part of this book. For example, I was happy to see HIIT featured in this book. I am a fan of HIIT. It is a good workout that provides good results in a short period of time. Anyone can do this exercise. Additionally, you will never get bored with the many different variations of exercises you can put together for a HIIT routine. You also learn about circuit training and stretching.

The third part of this book will go into topics like eating protein, being selective with supplements, and does cupping reduce pain to name a few. Finally, you get to the last part...the exercises. I thought that the illustrations as well as the instructions for the exercises were well done. There were modified versions of exercises as well; perfect for beginners.

lots of "new" viewpoints. Yea, I love coffee. Now, I don't have a guilt complex.

lots of "new" viewpoints. Yea, I love coffee. Now, I don't have a guilt complex.