I was never overweight until I hit my teens--then I struggled for decades with an increasing weight problem that got worse with every diet. I'd collect diets and diet books, Scarsdale, Rice Diet among others, all promising 20 pounds of weight loss within two weeks--and you know what, I succeeded in that. Problem was, that was a weight loss I couldn't sustain, not even long enough to get to goal weight and each time I'd fall away I'd get even fatter. Body for Life, the parent book, made a big difference for me. I lost over 100 pounds. Over the years I've put some of it back--but I didn't ever go back to my top weight--not even close. This stopped the yo-yo-ing.

I liked how the diet portion doesn't focus on calorie counting or weighing and measuring. You get a list of healthy foods, then a meal consists of a fist-sized portion of protein, a fist-sized portion of grains/carbs and lots of veggies. I find that a lot easier to live with than a program like Weight-Watchers. That book, and the program recommended isn't just about food though, but exercise. So this book really is a supplement--but a useful one. A cookbook filled with healthy, tasty, and easy to make meals that are practical for someone with a busy working life and Meal Plans and Grocery Lists that help you put it all together. ( )

Part 1 of the book (74 pages) describes how modern society has trained us to eat incorrectly and how a few simple changes can turn weight gain into weight loss. There are chapters on Myth vs. Fact (that covers common misconceptions), and specifics on the four-part formula for eating right (the right foods, right amounts, the right combos, the right times). The chapter where the author describes his own experiences is the weakest (in spots it contradicts the earlier chapters and it has an overly-conversational style), but it does contain a few additional insights.

I am finding the eating guidelines very effective because they are sustainable--I don't really feel like I am dieting and believe I am adopting new ways of eating that I can use indefinitely. It's much easier to follow than other diet plans that require counting or buying specific foods. I get the sense that as long as I follow the principles, rather than having to be exact, I'll end up with great results without all the stress. I've lost eleven pounds since reading book and following its guidance (3 weeks).

Part 2 contains 248 pages of full color recipes that follow the guidelines of Part 1. It breaks down the recipes by meals with dinners followed by desserts, breakfasts, lunches, midmeals, and nutrition shakes. What really makes this stand out for me is that there are very few recipes I'm not interested in trying. These are practical, mostly easy to make (there are a few exceptions), and very tasty. It has plenty of creative ideas and successfully finds ways to make each dish interesting. The recipes have a few other unique features: each section has a variety of meals that serve differing numbers of people, so it's easy to find a ready-made idea for yourself for lunch or for a family of four for dinner (of course, they can all be adjusted to meet the necessary number of servings). In my experiences so far, the photos with each recipe are faithful to the actual result. Many of the recipes also include a photo of the actual ingredients required, which is an easy way to know at a glance whether everything needed is already on hand. Several of the desserts and most of the nutrition shakes call for Myoplex Lite, the nutrition powder sold by the author's company, but presumably any comparable supplement could be used.

The end of Part 2 includes sample meal plan charts, blank plan charts, and grocery lists. These items can be downloaded from the web site and printed by owners of the book.

The appendix contains stories and photos of people who have had amazing success with the Body for Life program (which this book could be considered an extension of). It's interesting to look over those case studies but some of them are actually a bit frightening. I think most of us are looking for more moderate success. There are also typical sections including a glossary, descriptions and photos of kitchen utensils, and conversion charts.

I have been very pleased with the book and look forward to making many more of the included recipes. ( )