Customer Reviews

The Bodybuilder's Nutrition Book

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As a natural healthcare practitioner, I often refer to several textbooks to update and review for the benefit of my patients. I have come to rely on Dr. Columbu's knowledge as it applies to athletes. Yet, there is a point to which all persons can benefit from just a little of his principles. Seldom will you find a book recommending that the specific enzyme-containing foods required for proper breakdown and assimilation of other vital substances. As to the comment that the information on the macronutrients and micronutrients being outdated and nothing new, I must respond by replying that I do not often encounter persons who have a working knowledge of what nutrients are responsible for certain functions and the consequences of deficiencies. And the information he provides is just as useful today as it was in the book's first printing. We could all use a bit of a refresher course from time to time on basic nutrition. Glad to see Dr. Columbu reiterating the value of such information.

I used this book to bulk up while losing over 50 lbs (from 225 to 165 lbs), and I maintained my strength. I did not follow the nutritional supplement advice, but did follow what to eat religiously. This is the best sports nutrition book, period.

An Update (6 months after my original review above): OK, I stopped following his advice (high value protein) so religiously, and I gained back 12 pounds. That's how effective this book is. Cause and effect. Follow the book, lose weight and gain strength. Don't follow the advice, gain weight and lose strength.

This is a great guide for those individuals who seek to bodybuild via real food and not via some of these synthetic powder drinks, for instance. Its a great nutritional assistant that provides lists of "do" and "don'ts" when comes to all the food groups and also explains how vitamins and supplements benefit our body. Its also a great source of some digestive concepts and information. Nutrition tables are also given for over 300 sources/items.

If you have ever seen Pumping Iron with Arnold Schwarzenegger then you will remember the scene with the Sicilian guy lifting a car out from its parking place. This is that guy, Arnold's training pal, who also competed along side Arnold, winning many titles for his weight category and would later go on to become a Doctor of Chiropractic. Before we begin we should affirm that yes we know they both took steroids, and yes this book contains images of drug users, and yes times have changed (since this book is dated 1985 it covers some things on steroid). The big question is why would you want a book that is over 20 years old? The answer is obvious in that it is the name that sells it. However this guide is far from just another quick cash-in as the author gives you almost 164 pages of solid data.

The problem is the book title does not reveal much about what this book is really about. If you know that this book is less about how to cook up bodybuilding meals and more about Vitamins (most of the book) and has 7 or 8 pages on common things you can cook up, then you will less disappointed, many even getting exactly what you are looking. In fact I haven't seen anything quite like this in the field in bodybuilding literature.

The Bodybuilders Nutrition Book is basically about selling you the idea that you should take your vitamins. While that might considered a bit of an oversell to publish a whole book on it, the fact is important in order to get all the other things Bodybuilders do and supplement with to work right. The point though is elaborated on by breaking down each vitamin into what it can do for you and how much to take. This is about the science of vitamins and nutrition and how it applies to bodybuilding. It is not a beginner's book but anyone interested in learning more about the breakdown of foods and the role vitamins play will find this book quite authoritative although a bit dated.

This is the one book I found that helped me to understand the confusing world of nutrition and bodybuilding. I use this book as a reference and have read it cover to cover at least 6 times since I purchased it. This year I plan to make this book a gift to all my friends and family interested in the sport. Thank you Franco for your help and direction.

I bought this book before it was generally released at a seminar Dr. Columbu held in early 1985 in Seattle. I was heavily into bodybuilding at the time and it was really a revelation. It is 25 years later now and this book still is as useful now as it was then.

However, most people do not understand what this book is for. It is not for pre-competition bodybuilders. It is for off competition bodybuilding. The nutritional requirements are quite different for the two types of bodybuilding.

If you are interested in understanding how your body works with the various nutrients it needs, then this is the book for you. If you are looking for a book that will take you to the next level or prepare you for your next competition, then you should look elsewhere.

In fact, even when I first read the book, I found Dr. Columbu's title to be limiting. The real title should be, "The Athlete's Nutrition Book". That is how useful this book is. Any athlete who is interested in a great, basic, no BS approach to good nutrition should read this book and take out of it what meets their particular needs.

I have given copies of this book to friends many times and highly recommend it!

I am a big fan of Franco and that is why I bought the book. I would not recommend this book to anyone. The information is the same I used unsuccessfully in the 80's. Better books include Every Thing You Need to Know About Fat Loss by Chris Aceto, Extreme Muscle Enhancement by Carlon Colker, and Bodysculpting Bible for Men (sorry authors don't have the book handy at this time).

This book addresses the specific nutritional needs of a serious bodybuilder. The author, a two-time Mr. Olympia Winner, presents the most successful strategies and diet plans for achieving an outstanding physique.

With this handy reference you will learn how the body utilizes the basic nutrients: proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, each one is discussed in detail. Armed with the most recognized and up-to-date information the book guides bodybuilders in developing a customized diet that matches his or her needs. The book also provides menus and meal plans that are geared to individual body types, exercises regimes, and levels of competitiveness.

A great book for body builders or civilians! Franco Columbu( a expert on nutrition and Dr.) goes through everything one needs to know about vitamins,nutrition,and healthy living with his own personal experiences as a professional body builder as example. The basics are covered like which sort of protein is better absorbed into the body than others,the importance of water and fats,and which kinds of eating habits one should have. The best part is the vitamin section in which he reveals which vitamins effect which part of your body,which natural food to find it,and how to detect deficiency and toxicity levels. For body builders he has calories and protein charts along with how to eat when traveling and what to do on the big day of the contest. The only one defect in the book is with the massive amounts of modern supplements sold at health stores,no extra updated chapter is added dealing with the 'chemical' cocktails many athletes take every day. All he mentions is that synthetic is never as good as natural,and coming from 2 time Mr Olympia,that should be good enough. A great book for all around health and nutrition ;all can benefit from Dr Franco's advice!

Dr. Columbu trained Hollywood stars including Sylvester Stallone. He knows what he's doing. I knew him personally and found him to be bright and thoughtful. His advice is quite valuable--and not at all gimmicky.