209 of 213 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Book - Not Quite as Good as the Title., August 20, 2010
This review is from: The Carb Lovers Diet: Eat What You Love, Get Slim For Life (Hardcover)
We can probably thank Dr. Atkins for creating the belief that "carbs" and not money is the root of all evil. There is just one problem that comes up. I have never known anyone that has been able to stay away from cars long term.
The Carb Lovers Diet tells us that carbohydrates are not the enemy when it comes to losing weight. In fact, eating the right types of carbohydrates can help you drop pounds, since they can help curb your cravings, preserve lean muscle tissue (which can keep your metabolism from dropping) and control your blood sugar levels (so your body stores fewer excess calories as unwanted body fat.)
The real hero in this book is called "resistant starches". It seems that different types of starches digest at different speeds. Resistant starches will pass through the body without being digested, similar to fiber. This does sound like a dream come true, doesn't it? The book suggests raising the average of 4.8 grams of daily resistant starches to 10 to 15 grams through various carb-based recipes.
Here are the 5 rules for winning the carb game:
1. Eat at least one resistant starch-rich food (called CarbStars) at every meal
2. CarbStars should make up about 25 percent of every meal. The rest of your calories coming from lean meats, low-fat dairy products, healthy fats, fruits and vegetables (in other words, cut out the junk food.)
3. Watch your portion sizes (brilliant!).
4) Don't deprive yourself, but use moderation for the bad foods.
5) Create a power pantry (stock up on CarbStar foods).
The first 7 days allows only 1,200 calories a day divided among four small meals. The second portion of the program (21 days) allows for to 1,600 calories divided among five small meals.
This program really follows the idea of a calorie-restrictive, nutrient-dense, fiber-rich diet, which is actually a great way to eat. The book offers 85 recipes with a colorful picture of every meal, which makes the meals seem more visually desirable. Haven't you done that in a restaurant when you see some food go by? Of course, the program also includes exercise, which is a great idea.
Bottom Line
The Carb Lovers Diet follows the usual plan of most diet books, although it is a fresh approach that may help you rethink how to eat better and exercise more. It is solid advice that will work if you stick to it. The big letdown for me was that it doesn't really live up to its title. If you love those sinful unhealthy carbs (ice cream, chocolate, cookies), you may still face the same challenges you had before. If you came here looking for a magic fix for eating bad foods and losing weight, you will have to look elsewhere. If you are looking for good advice on healthy weight loss, you have found it.
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323 of 334 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Carb Lovers Diet, August 11, 2010
This review is from: The Carb Lovers Diet: Eat What You Love, Get Slim For Life (Hardcover)
After months of struggling to stay within points on Weight Watchers and making just too many concessions I bought this book. I think if I was to ever meet up with these authors I would probably burst into tears and thank them. Not only are most of these meals inexpensive and easy to prepare, but each meal ranges about the same calorie intake so you can have whatever recipe strikes your fancy for that meal. Another reason I would start crying: I have yet to be hungry. I have managed to stay within the portion sizes and not once did I get hungry enough to jump off the menu. Most days I don't even eat the snack that is allowed. I would never, ever have thought that a piece of rye toast, almond butter and a banana would keep me satisfied for up to 6 hours. I don't get weak or shaky from getting too hungry too fast. Within 2 days of starting the program every craving I had vanished. For the first time in a long time I feel like I am controlling the food versus the food controlling me. I also noticed a wave of energy without that afternoon/evening drop. I am staying up an extra hour and half without impact. Sometimes I have so much energy I can't be still. Another plus for those who are on a budget and short on time, most of these recipes are fast and quite of few of them use the same ingredients or an ingredient can be substituted easily for one that you have already bought. The best part of this whole thing is I can have my morning egg sandwich and cheese. The only thing I had to change was from a bagel to rye bread. Losing my egg sandwich was a deal breaker for me and why I left WW. Seriously, I am so happy to be losing weight and feeling full after every meal, I could cry.
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135 of 137 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great diet for vegetarians!, July 28, 2010
This review is from: The Carb Lovers Diet: Eat What You Love, Get Slim For Life (Hardcover)
I am a vegetarian and find the diet easy to follow and vegeatarian-friendly. I never feel hungry on the meal plans and love how the recipes incorporate some of my favorite foods --- sweet potatoes, beans, almond butter, strawberries, raspberries, coconut, and other fruits and veggies. Chapter 11 is especially helpful with the charts listing correct serving sizes so I don't overeat. I also like knowing the number of calories and resistant starch values so I can make the healthiest food choices.
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