Customer Reviews

The Body Shaping Diet

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I recently lost weight by following a lower carbohydrate diet and
an aerobic exercise program. I then hit a plateau and believed that a diet designed for my specific body type (gynaeoid) would get me back on track to losing weight, however, this book was one big dissapointment and had me hurrying back to "The Protein Power Plan". Dr. Cabot's recommendations for the gynaeoid body type are just too high in carbohydrates and too low in protein. On the one hand she says that the gynaeoid body type is "estrogen dominant" but goes on to advise us to eat soy beans (which are high in phytoestrogens). In one chapter she advises to eat rice, pasta, corn, potatoes (all foods very high in starch) but advises against eating bread!!! I can only comment on the section dealing with my body type, perhaps the diet has worked for others. But what I know for certain is that if I were to follow Dr. Cabot's advice for my body type - it would trigger such a sugar binge that I'd end up where I was several months ago. I simply wasted my money on this book.

I was very impressed with her ideas. I am a Thyroid type person and learned that I could help myself feel less stressed by avoiding sugar. Her information is very helpful, but it is difficult to put together the information you need because of how the book is structured. It is worth the work if you are serious about finding a better way.

I haven't read the book, just want to comment on Reviewer's misunderstanding of phytoestrogens. They bind estrogen receptors and turn them on, but at a much lower rate than the body's estrogen. Since they bind competitively, they in effect turn the estrogen signal down if a woman is high in estrogen. If a woman is menopausal and low in estrogen, they give a little estrogen boost. That's why they are helpful both in PMS and menopause.

I chose this book not to lose weight, but to try to get control of uncomfortable bloating and menstrual pain associated with endometriosis and gynecoid body type. I experienced great relief from these symptoms after about 3 months on the diet; however, I noticed an increase in energy and stamina, especially during exercise, almost immediately. I am savvy enough to realize that this may have been due to my increased attention to diet - and not the specific foods I was eating - but the overall experience was terrific.