Customer Reviews

The L.A. Shape Diet: The 14-Day Total Weight Loss Plan

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I found this book very informative and an easy read. Dr. Heber's LA Shape Diet is proven within his scientific research and his patient's results. I had started a program similar to what he suggests at the beginning of March by consuming 100 grams of protein each day, except I have not been exercising, and only eating four of the suggested seven fruits and vegetables each day. My first 3 weeks I have had great energy, better looking skin and hair, less moodiness, zero cravings, nor was I hungry staying within 1400 calories a day. So far I've lost 9 lbs and 11.25 inches and I can actually see a little muscle definition. After reading about my own shape, I've made a few minor changes in my plan and can already feel a difference.

The LA Shape Diet covers all the areas why most dieters fail and offers advice to be successful. I especially liked all the recipies for filling,low calorie snacks and meals. Heber's discussions about how to choose and use herbal supplements is a well written tutorial to help the wellness seeker know what to look for when choosing safe, effective supplements as well as choosing the most nutritious kinds of food at the grocery store. If you want to learn how to exercise, eat healthy and find out what your personal best strategy is to lose weight and keep it off, this is the book for you. The CEO's of the Fast and Processed Food Industry and of all the diet fads out there won't want you to read it!

I have been looking for a book like this. It takes a sensible approach to weight loss and doesn't follow any of the extremes that have been diet fads- it doesn't tell you never to eat carbs- you just have to eat the right ones. It doesn't tell you to go hog wild on protein- you have to eat the right sources of protein. I have been following Dr. Heber's advice since he wrote "What Color Is Your Diet" and I have never felt better. I start every morning with an empowering shake (from Herbalife) and feel great.

I've read some of the other reviews on this book and am a bit annoyed with most of the negative one.

Before answering the negative comments, let me say that I've been following the diet for 7 weeks and have lost 20 pounds. The thing I like best about it is that it's the ONLY diet I've found that allows me to eat the quantity of food I'm eating, and still keep my calorie count at about 1350. I love having a full plate and a full tummy. With this way of eating I get full at all 3 meals, have 3 snacks during the day, and am still able to lose weight. On Atkins I got full, and my lipids and sugar were great, but I didn't lose much weight because my calorie count was too high. On Weight Watchers I was always hungry, because I invested too many of my points in refined carbs and grains. This works for me.

I'm planning to use Dr. Heber's earlier book "What color is your diet," for maintenance. I have my physician's enthusiastic blessing for both.

BTW - I have no cravings. I'm easily able to say no to candy, chips, cake, cookies, etc. My pre-diabetic metabolism is loving this!

Here's a typical day's menu for me:

Breakfast: Shake made with 1C skim milk, 1 scoop protein powder, 1/2 a banana and 1/2 cup of frozen raspberries.

Lunch: Salad made with 3 C romaine lettuce, 1/2 a cucumber, a 1/4 of an avocado and 3 oz of roast chicken.

Dinner: 4 oz lean ground turkey burger smothered with sauteed onions and mushrooms, 2 C pureed cauliflower (a la Atkins), 1 cup thinly sliced butternut squash sauteed in a small amount of olive oil

snacks/dessert: 1 C non-fat cottage cheese with 1/2 c pineapple; 1 clementine orange; 1 c watermelon; 1/2 cup blueberries with 1 T low-fat coolwhip.

All this runs about 1350 calories, with 140g of protein (1 gram for every pound of lean body mass I have), and is about 20% fat. A smaller person, with less lean body mass, should be able to eat closer to 100 g of protein and still get all of the fruits and vegetables in, for fewer calories.

My reaction to other comments about the book:

1. I read the book cover to cover and (unless I missed it somewhere) I didn't see the name "Hebalife" anywhere in it. It does NOT promote any particular brand of protein powder. It does suggested using "flavored" shake mix (vanilla or chocolate), but I ended up getting plain unflavored protein powder (Genisoy) that I could mix with skim milk. If I want chocolate I add a tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa for 15 calories. For the person who said the shakes taste horrible, well, for goodness sake, try a different brand, and be sure to add some fruit!

2. How can anyone say this is not a healthy diet? You end up eating a huge amount of fruits and vegetables, healthy added fats like olive oil and avocado, and lean protein. No one needs grains in their diet. They're just not necessary. I use a computer-based program (fitday.com) to keep track of my calories/carbs/fat/protein and 32 different nutrients. I consistently take in well over 100% of the RDA's for all nutrients (except vitamin D, but you get that from sunshine too), without taking any supplements. And I get about 30 grams of fiber a day.

4. Even some of the people who said they liked the diet didn't seem to be really following it. A nutrition bar for lunch and a reasonable dinner? That's not what this diet is about. You're supposed to eat from all 7 colors of fruits and vegetables every day. You can't get them in if you don't eat them at every meal and for snacks. Nutrition bars are not recommended in this diet. Have a huge salad with meat instead!

If you follow the diet the way it's laid out, it's very healthy and satisfying. But like any diet, if you stop eating that way and go back to eating the way you ate before, yes, you're going to gain the weight back. That's how you got fat in the first place!

The truth is that Dr. Heber is right about the protein theory. Whether you "like the shakes" or not, well documented, scientific evidence shows us three important points missed by those who are too nearsighted too see the value in this book. 1. Each person has different dietary requirements (ie:protein) 2.protein CAN be satiating 3.maintaining your personal protein needs can help you lose weight and maintain health. Wake up and realize that if you don't like the food recipies prepared in the book then find alternatives! Take action in regaining a healthy weight and fitness level instead of whining and waiting for the "majic pill or diet". The only way to treat obesity is to understand the biochemistry behind the body's nutritional and exercise needs. Dr.Heber and other scientists are doing the research to help us do this. Look it up for yourselves on Medline. This program is a lifestyle change, not a "diet". I lost a steady pound a week with a shake in the am, a protein bar for lunch, a sensible dinner and daily exercise. And I was never hungry. By the way, Dr.Heber does say you have to exercise - he has a whole program in the book (directed toward the idiot who obviously didn't read the book yet called it "silly".

Hi! I'm not a Herbalife distributor like probably some of the authors of the other reviews are, but I have to say that this diet is working wonders for me. I'm a 23 year old male, and I've struggled all my life to lose weight. I have tried every imaginable diet out there, (Slim Fast, Weight Watchers, E-diets, Atkins, weight training, aerobics, low-fat diets, even a combination of healthy nutrition and exercise), but none of those things seemed to work for me very well. My friend recommended this book to me, and I am so thankful to her for ever doing so. The magic bullet about this plan is that personalized protein intake is a key here to achieve the results everyone is looking for. This is probably the reason why everything I've tried before didn't give me good results. I was very skeptical about trying the meal replacement deal again, but after reading how different this shake preparation is, I went for it, and I have to say that these shakes get me full and I don't feel hungry at all between meals. My energy levels have increased as a result, and I finally feel my body is receiving good nutrition. I am combining this diet plan with resistance bands, and the results I'm starting to see are amazing. I'm starting to trim the gut and the love handles around my chest without getting flabby skin. This is just awesome!! What's most surprising to me is that I get to eat fewer calories, but I don't feel weak or hungry at all, and with the other diets I would. There are not many high-quality meal replacements out there, but from my experience, my highest recommendations are Formula 1 from Herbalife, and GlycoSlim from Mannatech. The shakes from these companies meet the nutrients and quality standards described by Dr. Heber, and they are both scientifically proven to be low-glycemic. The above nutrition companies also have other high quality supplements to combine with one's efforts. I highly recommend L.A. Shape diet. After all, what if it works for you the way it's working for me and others? :)

Dr Heber's credentials are impeccable--he's been director of the Center for Human Nutrition at UCLA for decades, and has been working in the area of bariatric medicine for 30 years.

His eating plan is based, not on only his own patients, but studies and results of weight loss patients all over the world.

I was aware of the basics of this program before I bought the book, and was more than happy about my results, having lost 17 3/8 inches in the first four weeks on this diet. But I really appreciate the recipes, as well as the depth of data he offers for his dietary recommendations.

I've just started reading this book and already I have learned so much. In response to a previous negative review I just wanted to comment that unfortunately most people are not eating "real, whole food", we are eating fast, highly processed, loaded with fat and calories super-sized drive-thru meals and America is now 60%+ overweight. This plan is simple, convenient, and highly nutritious. I don't have to worry about what I am going to find to eat thoughout the day while I am at work and I can focus on preparing a colorful, whole-food dinner for my family when I get home. I LOVE this program!

I got this book at the recommendation of my ShapeWorks coach and I was amazed at how well the book goes along with the ShapeWorks program. At first, some of the science in the book was "deep", but I realized that the ShapeWorks program already had everything I needed. I found out later that Dr. Heber consulted in the development of the ShapeWorks program... no wonder they work so well together!

Thanks to the book, and the help of my ShapeWorks Coach, I am now at my ideal weight (lost 25 pounds since I got the book), I've lost 17 inches of body fat, I feel energy and I'm not tired... and I've actually GAINED two pounds of lean muscle-mass. Nice! Get the book and get a ShapeWorks coach!

In the world of fad diets, Atkins, South Beach, Hollywood, cabbage soup, cookie, low carb, high fat, no carb, etc. Dr Heber has finally given the world a prescription for lifelong health and wellness. We have always been told to eat a balanced diet and exercise, but no one has been able to tell us how to do that. Dr Heber finally has. Dr Heber has used his many years of experience treating patients as the Director of Risk Factor Obesity Clinic at UCLA to write this book, and has dedicated his entire life to helping people.

His credentials are impeccable. He holds a B.S. Chemistry, Magna Cum Laude, UCLA, 1969; M.D. Harvard Medical School, 1973; and Ph.D. in Physiology, University of California, 1978. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Endocrinology and Metabolism by the American Board of Internal Medicine and in Clinical Nutrition by the American Board of Nutrition. He directs the National Institute of Health (NIH) Center for Dietary Supplement Research in Botanicals, the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded Clinical Nutrition Research Unit and the NIH Nutrition and Obesity Training Grants at UCLA. He is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians and a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition. He is included in The Best Doctors in America and Who's Who in America

He is the Founding Director of the UCLA Center of Human Nutrition. He has written over 70 peer-reviewed scientific articles and 2 professional texts, and written many books including "Natural Remedies for a Healthy Heart," "What Color is Your Diet?" and his latest book, "The L.A. Shape Diet."

Dr. Heber's main research interests are obesity treatment and nutrition for cancer prevention and treatment.

Anyone who suggests that Dr Heber wrote this book for money doesn't know Dr. Heber. (I'm sure Dr. Phil doesn't care about the money he makes selling supplements because of his book. I don't see anyone complaining about that.) Dr. Heber's association with Herbalife as Chairman of the Scientific and Medical Advisory board is advisory only and, as he states in his introduction in the book, Herbalife has provided him the opportunity to get his message out to tens of millions of people. He recognizes that the Herbalife philosophy is making the world healthier through good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.

The meal plans and practical advice in this book is presented in a simple to understand, and easy to do way, even though it is based on the latest cutting edge science. He gives us a plan to change how we take care of ourselves including some delicious recipes and easy exercise routines. I have been following Dr Heber's diet and I have never felt better, had better workouts or been able to lose weight faster. Follow Dr Heber's advise and you will live a long and healthy life.

I am so disappointed in "A reader from Los Angeles, CA " review, where are your credentials listed in your statement. And you may also want to get your facts straight about the founder of Herbalife Int., Mark Hughes, before you claim to know everything about the company and nutrition. Dr. David Heber is revolutionizing the way the world needs to think about nutrition and saving thousands of lives in the process, this is a wonderful book, something every person needs to read!