Customer Reviews

Cliff Sheats' Lean Bodies: The Revolutionary New Approach to Losing Bodyfat by Increasing Calories

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Lean Bodies made losing weight more comprehendable for me. The author, Cliff Sheats, was able to explain WHY certain foods, sugars, simple cabohydrates, etc., were making it almost impossible for me to lose fat. I kept losing, then gaining, and losing and gaining... the typical roller coaster. I had never really had a problem with weight before the the birth of my son, and did not have a CLUE as to what was good, and what wasn't. A year and a half later, I had to do SOMETHING!! Everyone had different advice for me, but nothing was consistant, therefore, nothing worked! After only a couple of weeks on the Lean Bodies program, I could actually SEE the weight coming off! At the peak of my weight loss, I was losing approximately 1/2 lb A DAY! And I had so much energy, I couldn't believe it! In 4 months time, I had lost a total of 25 lbs, and had reached my goal. And I didn't even follow the diet exactly to the "T". Maybe if I had, I would have lost more weight faster, but I was able to go at my own pace. I recommend this "way of life" to everyone I meet.

Lean Bodies is one of the best "diet" books that I have read. It is no nonsense and to the point. The author basically has the following message: If you want to lose weight and lose it fast, eat only lean protein, complex carbs and vegies. No sugar, no fat, no white flour. You don't get "cheat days". You either eat right and lose weight, or you don't. The choice is yours, but the information in the book is so complete that you WANT to follow the 7 week plan simply because it makes sense.

This book is absent of pep talks, which I personally found refreshing. It is full of information on how you body processes different food to effectively burn fat. He is not pushing pricy GMC products (unlike his Body For Life cohort) and does not have any cheesy before and after pictures of people who have finished the program. I found this book appealing because it spoke to my intelligence. I want to eat this way because I understand how the food will work for me. Ultimately, my eating habits will change for good thanks to these logical explanations.

Easy to read, and the meal plans are written for you. No guessing on what to eat and how much. Ciff Sheat has it all written down for you, for 7 weeks. And if you don't like the food he picks for this meal plan, you can change to what you like to eat. I lost 40 pounds, and hit the beach. I had plenty of food to eat. You must follow the recipes and drink 8 (8oz glasses of water)important. Also exercise, to burn fat. This is the only book that worked for me. Thanks Cliff...I don't like oatmeal so I would change that to eggs w/salsa.

Cliff Sheats' _Lean Bodies_ program is simply the easiest and best way to to successfully lose bodyfat, add lean bodymass and obtain the health you desire. I jumped on Cliff's bandwagon 5 - 6 years ago and have never looked back.

Unlike Bill Phillips' program, which came years later after other high-metabolism authors such as Keith Klein (of Houston) wrote for Muscle Media, Sheats' program emphasizes:

- More carbs for quicker metabolic results (65/25/10 ratios)

- Less emphasis on packaged foods (aka Myoplex) like Phillips

- Less bad fats (ex. Phillips allows for yolks, etc.) in BFL...Sheats recommends EFAs, etc., for your fat sources

Sheats also provides variations of the program for people who have been chronic dieters, are interested in endurance sports vs. weight training alone.

The money you'll save on supplements alone are worth the price of the book and more!

In reading reviews of this plan, I have to say I was disappointed in how rigid some people are. The diet works and is much easier if you use your imagination. Until I tried Cliff Sheats' program, I couldn't go a day without something sweet, and I couldn't stay on a diet for more than one or two meals. I'm on day 6 now and haven't had a sweet craving yet, and I've lost 3 pounds. I feel pretty good and by eating something every 2-4 hours I don't feel deprived.

As for no foods being available without having to be cooked, I disagree. I have followed the guidelines, but modified the suggested meals to the foods I enjoy, just keeping in mind a good balance of protein, fat and carbs. If I go over by a few percentage points in one area or another on a given day, it's not a big deal. I do spend more time in the kitchen, but it's only because I'm not ordering from restaurant carry-out.

The program is working for me.

This is not a book for folks who like to 'diet' -- it's a way of eating for people who love food. It regulates insulin levels quite well (without giving up bread or potatoes) and you can eat most 'normal' food. 5 of us eat together everyday: 3 of us went on this diet to lose weight. The other 2 never noticed the change in food! The recipes are great. It took awhile for me to get used to cooking from scratch, and planning, but we spend a whole lot less on food now. And yes, we all lost lots of weight. Two tips: 1: I personally don't like ground turkey or chicken breast, used in many of the recipes. So I bought some ground venison and Longhorn Beef from a meat distributor (cheaper than beef at the supermarket: and it is EXCELLENT) 2.Buy the cookbook, it's worth it, and Swimsuit Lean, which gives the same information in maybe a simpler format, and more about excercise.

I don't see any recent reviews for this program and I think it is really a shame. I have been on several different weight loss programs and I always find myself returning to this one. Why? Because I believe in the principles it is founded on, ie, that you cannot diet restrictively for the rest of your life without messing up your metabolism. This program is based on raising your metabolism and helping it to recover from years of yo-yo dieting by actually increasing the amount you eat, starting from a base of 1500 calories for women and 1800 for men and slowly increasing intake. Quite a different take on dieting! The calories, however, are comprised of specific foods, mostly consisting of a little protein (about 3 oz), some carbs (baked potato or brown rice), and lots (minimum of two cups) of vegetables at each meal. If you follow the program, you will not be hungry at all.

So, why did I go off the program? Following it at the 1500 calorie level, I did lose about a pound or two a week and I could actually see and feel my body becoming leaner. However, when I tried to increase the calorie level, per the recommendations, I would start to gain back. Maybe I have already ruined my metabolism or it could simply be due to an aging metabolism that no longer needs high levels of calories. So, I left the program. However, I have returned to it twice, now, even after sampling WW, South Beach, and others. Because it works and I find it an easy one to follow. Compared to lots of other highly restrictive diets (1200 calories and under), I think this is a generous allotment of calories at which to remain, indefinitely. Also, this is the level of calories that will maintain my goal weight, once I reach it, so it makes sense just to eat at that level now and no further adjustments will then be necessary when I reach my goal weight (credit to Ray Kurzweil for that idea).

In principle, this program is somewhat similar to Volumetrics (eating fiber rich, filling foods) and WW's Core program, but it preceded both by many years. With all of the different plans out there, I like the simple sanity of this one. I have learned not to throw my Lean Bodies books away because I always end up returning to this plan, and scrambling to find them. I just can't figure out why this program has fallen into relative obscurity. Perhaps this is lucky since you can get used copies of them very inexpensively. For me, this program is a keeper. As a side note, I do not use the MCT oil, or the supplements recommended in the book. I substitue protein shakes and the like that I find at Whole Foods or Trader Joes. And, it still works for me.

I have been familiar with the Lean Bodies program for over 7 years now, and am convinced it is the one program you can live on. The book is easy to understand and easy to implement. Anyone who desires to make a healthy life-style change, not just go on a diet, will find this book invaluale.

I admit it takes a little doing to get going on this program, but it's worth it! First, read the book. Then, empty your kitchen of the junk food. Then, go to the grocery store and buy healthy foods. After that, you are ready to become a Lean Body.

This is an incredibly sensible, lifelong program that has allowed me to live a "regular" life. As a mom, I'm pleased that I can cook for the whole family with this program, allowing extra treats for my kiddo which give her the fat she needs in her diet. I can even go out to eat if I'm willing to exercise discipline in choosing restaurant foods!

As you're buying this book, also pick up "Lean Bodies Cookbook" to give you a slew of recipes to support your healty lifestyle.

I'm eating more and weighing less! My energy level is high and I feel fantastic. The toughest transistion for me has been eating enough to satisfy my body's needs! There are no exotic foods mixed in the recipes and eating out is not a problem because the suggested foods are American staples (lean poultry, fish, vegetables, low fat diary, egg whites, ect..) .. Hunger and deprivation are not included in this plan. It was recommended to me by several fitness professionals and I'm eternally grateful to them and most of all to Cliff Sheats.