Customer Reviews

The Lean Body Promise: Burn Away Fat and Release the Leaner, Stronger Body Inside You

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I've been in the fitness industry for over a decade and have seen many many "starter programs." Most become short-lived fads and overemphasize one thing or another (no carbs, or no fats, or all strength training, etc.)

The first one in my view to be time-efficient, well-balanced and effective was Body for Life by Bill Phillips. That's a great program, based on well-accepted science, for a 12 week jumpstart to fitness, nutrition, weight loss, looking and feeling good.

The minor problems with Phillip's approach, in my view, were that it was a bit rigid and becoming slightly dated on a couple points.

Lean Body Promise, I feel, is as good as Body for Life, and improves on it in several ways:

- First, it is ALMOST identical to Body for Life. In fact, the author cites Phillips in his acknowledgements.

- While both are highly motivational and nicely written, I felt Phillips is a little over the top in some of the emotional fluff -- Labrada strikes a bit better balance

- The strength programs are both split routines. Phillips uses an upper body / lower body split. Labrada uses a push, pull, legs split. Phillips does an ascending half pyramid with a super set at the end. Labrada uses 3 sets of 10 reps on 2 exercises per muscle group. These are both perfectly valid and widely used approaches to strength training. I prefer Labrada's mainly because I don't have to change the weights every set! But overall, you're doing about 6 sets per muscle group with a minute of rest in each program.

- The CV programs are both interval training. Phillips is 20 minutes with 5 different settings, changing every minute. Labrada does a 26 minute routine with 3 levels changing less frequently. Again, both are extremely effective and time efficient, but I slightly prefer Labrada's because you're not constantly changing the machine level every minute.

- Diet is extremely similar too. 5-6 meals, spread every few hours. A palm of lean protien, a fist of whole grain carbs, some veggies... A shake or a bar when you're rushed. Phillips prescribes 1 cheat day per week. Labrada prescribes 2 cheat meals per week. Very similar. This REALLY works though -- takes a couple weeks to get used to, but you don't feel hungry and you get fast results. And it's not a half-baked fad -- this is good science of a balanced healthy diet you can live with long term.

- Rotation of workouts: Phillips alternates cv and strength each day, with 1 off-day per week. Labrada does 2 strength then 1 cv, with a suggestion that you fill in an extra cv or 2 per week on light strength days. He doesn't build in a day off, but assumes you might miss a day here and there, in which case you pick up where you left off. I like that approach a lot -- there's some built in flexibility to add the cv when you can fit it in. There isn't a fixed expectation that you can schedule your off day perfectly.

Again, I like the notion that Labrada builds in that you're going to miss a day here and there. That you might be faced with only unhealthy meal choices at a party some time. Etc. And he gives specific suggestions on dealing with those. He also gives suggestions on dealing with the desire to overdo it at times. Phillips, while also excellent, prescribes more rigidly and as a result doesn't build in a lot of information on how to recover from speedbumps.

Overall, this is a great program that you're absolutely going to see results on if you follow, and hopefully can make an ongoing lifestyle change using.

You can't go wrong with Phillips either, but I think this one's a little easier to stick with and will give the same results.

In The Lean Body Promise, Lee Labrada presents a balanced, easy to understand program for fat loss and fitness.
The former Mr. Universe's program attacks excess body fat from all angles, strength training, cardio and a balanced eating plan.
The workouts are brief, and when I did them they were as short as 25 minutes and as long as 40 minutes, but they're very intense and require a daily commitment. I can see how working out really hard day after day can become a grind after a while, but if you can stay motivated to give your best effort every day, you should see some good results. Labrada also provides a ramp-up program that true beginners can follow to prepare themselves for the rigors of the full program.
The eating plan is easy to understand and requires nothing more than food you can buy in your local grocery store. Yes, Labrada owns a nutritional supplement company and he does recommend his products (mostly the meal replacement products), but they're not absolutely essential unless you plan on entering his company's transformation contest. At no point does he make it sound as if supplements are an essential part of the program. You can do quite well on the plan with real food if you really want to do it. The recipies are easy to make and the ones I've tried are quite good.
Labrada also tries to entertain the reader, making little corny jokes throughout the book. It seems like he's trying too hard when he does this but it keeps the book from getting boring.

I was skeptical when I first thought about getting The Lean Body Promise. I had tried every other book out there that promised to help me lose weight, be healthy, and feel better. None of them worked. I've always been "husky"; it's been like that since I was a kid.

As I sat thinking about the book for a day or two, I wondered: could this be the book that finally works for me?

In the past I had gotten my hopes up about other books, only to end up wasting my money and being disappointed. So, I wasn't expecting much this time. I also decided that I wasn't going to buy another book on getting healthy if The Lean Body Promise didn't work. If it didn't work, I figured that I was probably meant to be the way I've always been - husky.

When the book came in the mail, I wanted to open it, but I didn't. I let it sit on my coffee table for a couple of day, and I'd look at it whenever I walked to my kitchen. I didn't know what to expect when I finally opened it, but I was curious. I got excited right away.

On the first page I read that I could do anything - if I had the truth about how to be healthy. I also learned that it wasn't my fault for failing before on other programs - and that this time was going be different because this book told the truth.

I was still skeptical, but as I flipped through the book, I saw that all of the tools I needed to get healthy were there. And, to my surprise, I actually understood the advice in it. It was refreshing to know what to do, and to know why I was doing it. It was simple. It all made sense. I was relieved.

Unlike other books and programs I've tried, there were no confusing "points" to add up, no scientific terms that only a doctor can understand, and I didn't have to live in the gym for hours (I have a real life!), or end up starving myself.

I love food. I always have. I always will. My mom was a great cook, and at this point in my life, I'm not going to give up my favorite foods. The only problem is that sometimes I eat too much of what I love, and I end up feeling sick. My wife always tells me to stop, but I usually don't listen.

Now that I'm doing the program, I can still eat what I love, but I've learned to eat less - to eat in moderation. I don't have to starve myself, and I don't have to give up what I love. Now, I enjoy my favorite foods without feeling sick, or guilty.

This book has a section of recipes. I'd like to see more because there's only a few of them, but they all taste pretty good. I'm never hungry when I eat now, and I don't get strong cravings anymore. In fact, I'm eating more now than I've ever eaten.

This book also got me off of the couch so now I'm more active. I'm not a gym rat, but it's pretty easy to follow the weight programs in the book; all I do is take the book to the gym with me, look at the pictures, and do the exercises. 30 minutes later, I'm heading home.

I've been doing the Lean Body Promise program for about six weeks now. I've lost six pounds of fat, and my wife says my stomach is smaller. I feel good, and I'm happy again.

This is a good book if you've tried other programs that don't work. It's the only book that's ever worked for me. If you're like me, I know that you know what I mean when I say it's not easy.

It's never been easy for me, but I'm doing it now.

I own 'Lean Body', the work of Lee Labrada and his friend and nutritionist, Keith Klein, as well as Lean Body Promise. After reading both, I tend to enjoy Lean Body a little more than Lean Body Promise (LBP), but I understand the idea of Labrada's latest book.

'Lean Body' is really geared more toward someone who would like to actually become a body builder. The overall eating and exercise plan in 'Lean Body' is more strict than the one given in LBP, telling me Labrada is trying to target a larger audience who does not want to get down to 3-4% body fat. But that approach makes sense, seeing there are many more people in the US who simply need to lose weight rather than those who want to become bodybuilders. So at worst, Labrada is giving this nation another no-nonsense fat loss program that truly works.

I am a big fan of Labrada and think he provides people with a good motivational base to start a TRUE fat loss program. Others have said the info in his book can be found for free online, but I dare you to find such info in as inspriational a book as this one. But since we are talking about free items, you can go to Labrada's website and find tons of free resources to supplement this book.

To me, the info in LBP is common sense, but the fact of the matter is that MANY people don't know about the very simple concepts presented in this book. Eating 5-6 small meals a day, cutting out refined carbs, not spending 2 hours a night in the gym....these are all things Labrada reinforces in his book. If you did not have this knowledge and found it in this book for the $20-25 price and used it to lose 30, 50 or 100 pounds, then you'd think it was worth it right? Of course so!! That is really what Labrada is trying to do with LBP - make losing fat as simple as possible so ANYONE can do it.

Despite presenting a fat loss program that is simple and effective, Labrada makes sure the reader realizes that it takes hard work to achieve a lean body. Many programs are sugar coated and make the reader believe that it will take minimal effort to lose fat, when in fact it takes serious dedication and consistency to achieve fat loss (for most folks that is).

Is it the "end all, be all" diet and exercise book? Of course not, but most books are never the ONLY book one needs for any given discipline. In my opinion, it is a great book to add to anyone's fitness and nutrition library. It has a great combo of inspiration, true stories, a model for an exercise and diet program, and great recipes.

Being a 29 year old who used the program in his first book once before to lose 30 lbs in 12 weeks (and is doing it for a second time to get below 10% body fat), I can attest that the info in this book is more than worth the price of admission. After completing the program in late-May 2005, the weight has stayed off, which is an even bigger testament to how the program provides long-term results.

Even better, I have a 55 year old mother who followed this same program to lose weight when no other fat loss program ever worked for her. So I have first hand experience with the info Labrada provides and can give my personal seal of approval.

At the end of the day, the reader has to execute and want fat loss bad enough to make the program work. But Lean Body Promise sets the stage for anyone to successfully lose fat and keep it off. The fact that the info in his book is simple should not discount the fact that it is VALUABLE info.

We've all heard the saying that if you commit to doing something long enough, then it will very quickly become a habit and a regular part of your routine. And that is the secret behind former Mr. Universe Lee Labrada's book entitled The Lean Body Promise: Burn Away Fat and Release the Leaner, Stronger Body Inside You.

I think I love this guy (in a brotherly kind of way, of course!) because he just makes sense. And he should know what he's talking about since he has appeared on magazine covers, on television shows, and headed up an anti-obesity campaign in Houston, Texas. As a world-class bodybuilder, Labrada has seen all the good and the bad when it comes to health and he shares it in this engaging book.

With a natural wit and ability to connect with his reader, Labrada goes through step-by-step what YOU need to do to overcome the mental obstacles that stand in the way of your eventual success, provides examples of people who have been successful to serve as inspiration for your new journey, arm you with ample motivation for getting the job done, providing specifics about the kind of diet you should be eating to attain optimal results, and, of course, give you specific direction about how to workout your body to look and feel better than you ever imagined.

Sounds awesome, doesn't it? But aren't books like The Lean Body Promise just a bunch of marketing hype from people who have never had to deal with being overweight and out of shape? While that's probably true about many such programs, you can sense Labrada takes a personal interest in seeing real success from average everyday people like you and me. I think he really does care about YOUR success and will celebrate with you once you reach your goals.

The chapters in this book zoom by quickly thanks to Labrada's unique conversational style and the very clean formatting. Of course, it doesn't hurt to have his smiling picture looking at you from time to time to encourage you to implement his strategies into your life to change it for the better. It's like he's watching you as your own personal weight and fitness coach!

Easy-to-digest sections in each chapter are followed up by "The Skinny So Far..." to recap the primary points Labrada wanted you to remember. This is an extremely helpful way to reinforce the lessons you have learned so that you'll be well on your way to having that "lean body" he promises in just three months! YOU CAN DO IT!

As someone who has lost nearly 200 pounds on the low-carb lifestyle, I did have a few concerns about Labrada's views about diet in The Lean Body Promise. It wasn't all bad, especially his disdain for sugar and simple carbs, processed foods, trans fats, junk foods, and even those packaged low-fat foods. We totally agree that these are NOT good for you no matter how you slice it.

Where we part company is on the subjects of saturated fat and complex carbs.

Tons of research has come out and will be coming out very soon (remember the names Dr. Jeff Volek and Dr. Stephen Phinney) showing the minimized impact of saturated fat on the body when carbohydrate-restriction is in place. On a low-carb diet, such as Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution (the one I followed), consumption of red meat, egg yolks, bacon, butter, and the like are all extremely healthy for you because the atherogenic impact is minimized.

Actually, what Volek and Phinney have found is those who eat a high-carb diet that is lower in saturated fat content actually have more saturated fat in their blood than those who eat a low-carb diet that is higher in saturated fat content. This is a revolutionary new discovery that's gonna turn everything we've ever known about fat and heart health on its head. It's something the late great Dr. Robert C. Atkins talked about frequently and now the science is catching up to him.

As for the subject of complex carbohydrates, Labrada claims these are not as bad for you as simple carbs because they take more time to be digested and broken down which slows their impact on your blood sugar. While that's true, these carbs are still metabolized in the body as sugar. Even the supposedly "healthy" whole grain foods like oatmeal, brown rice, beans, corn, rice cakes, peas, and whole-grain breads and pastas should be avoided as much as possible to limit insulin spikes.

Despite our differences on these issues, I am still glad to know there are people like Lee Labrada out there trumpeting the cause of improving health and helping people realize they CAN change their diet for the better. The Lean Body Promise is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to learn more about how to whip their body into shape, shed the pounds, burn the body fat, and get healthier than they've ever been in their entire life.

That's a promise this former Mr. Universe says you can take to the bank!

This book is somewhat similar to Body For Life in that it preaches a balance of diet and exercise. It also shows pictures and information of contestants that have entered their challenge for inspiration and motivation. I feel this is better than Body For Life in that it goes further into explanation with exercises and the nutrition. Also gives good advice for eating at fast food resaurants or restaurants. I like the 3 way training split in this book better than the 2 way split found in Body For Life. I recommend this book for anyone whether they are advanced or just starting out. Lee Labrada obviously practices what he preaches and is a Hall of Fame pro bodybuilder. I'd much rather listen to his advice than some typical out of shape doctor.

Lee has provided a "complete package" with"The Lean Body Promise".

In very understandable terms Lee leads the reader through all the basics. He takes you from your current reality to where YOU want to be. He provides many tools to ensure you get the results YOU are looking for. Planning tools, tracking sheets, explanations of excersises, meal plan explanations, workout suggestions and perhaps the most important aspect ...that Lee will continue to support via his website. All this done with a down to earth positive attitude.

This book has given me the motivation to get off the couch and do something positive towards a more leaner me.

Thanks Lee.

The Lean Body Promise is the most comprehensive book on diet and nutrition available from what I've found. I really like how easy this book is to navigate and Lee provides a great positive tone throughout that makes you feel you can really accomplish your goals. I've tried a couple of the recipes and they were delicious! I also found the exercise photos and demonstrations extremely helpful in changing up my program exercises on a regular basis. The before and after stories at the beginning of the book are truly motivating.

I had been into fitness for some time searching for a sort of definitive guide to get in the best shape of my life. And I definitely found this in the book "Lean Body Promise" Just as Mr. Labrada indicated, if you follow to the letter, you can and will see an incredible transformation in your body in as little as 12 weeks. I went from 199 lbs. to 160. I am 61, and I have my same body as I did when I was 30. I can slide into a sexy pair of 31-inch tight jeans, and I sport a healthy musculature that has me wearing more tee-shirts that normal.

All in all, this is a very practical book, that shows you how to use progressive weight resistance, clean eating and proper aerobic activity. And it is easy to follow. Lee Labrada knows health and he knows fitness. Look. Enough talk. If you are serious - order the book now!

This book is designed to be carried in your GYM bag. The size of this book is not bigger than your palm and it has a summary of the original book.
So if you have a previous experience at the GYM and you target to loose weight and get lean in 12 weeks I advice you with this edition, but if you are a biggner and want to loose weight I advice that you buy the original book and buy the 'GYM EDITION' if you want it to be as a reminder for the exercises that you forget.