Customer Reviews

Marilu Henner's Total Health Makeover

5 star:		(79)
4 star:		(21)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

The first time I read this book and was introduced to the concept of food combining, it sounded unrealistic and impossible to follow. I tried it for about 2 days and gave up. About a year later, when diagnosed with an internal Candida imbalance that was causing lots of chronic health problems, my doctor suggested I follow a special diet that included food combining. So I got out Marilu's book and read through it again. This time I stuck with it and found that much of her nutritional suggestions mirrored that of anti-Candida plans; i.e., no dairy, food combining, no sugar or artificial sweeteners, etc. I was a fairly healthy eater to begin with but of course a major change in diet takes determination and time to adjust. Let me assure anyone out there that this book is full of good information to start you on a path to total wellness, inside and out. While some of the presentation is a tiny bit corny, it's also approachable and it's interesting to see the road she, herself, was on in terms of bad health and where she is now.

Since making the decision to stick permanently with food combining (which can be complicated but she presents in a very easy to follow, organzied way) and eliminating sugar (about as hard for some people to do as quitting smoking or drinking) I have never felt better. My Candida is under control, my chronic ailments (asthma, allergies, rashes, joint pain) have all but disappeared, I have tons of energy all the time, I sleep better, I look better (better skin, hair, body) I feel consistently in a good mood and a nice side benefit was dropping from a size 12 to a 6.

After nearly a decade of struggling with my weight and being "sickly" I am now strong and truly healthy and found that only when I focused on my health rather than my size did I lose weight. I am now going back to college to obtain a degree in Kinesiology specializing in Athletic Training, a lifelong dream I never would have thought I could pursue in my prior condition. You need to be inspirational to train others and certainly you have to walk the talk.

With all the other fads being tauted out there, like the Atkins diet which is completely nutritionally unsound and puts people at a risk for renal failure and serious dehydration, I can tell you that the reason plans like Marilu's aren't as popular is ause they are more difficult initially to get accustomed to and don't allow for taboo foods as much as the hi-pro/hi-fat phenomenon. This may be a tougher challenge at first, but the long term health benefits are limitless.

I have read and reread everything from the Zone, Atkins, macrobiotics, sugar-busters and the blood type recommendations (which are actually very similar and is also a great book to keep as a nutritional bible) and it's Marilu's book I find myself whipping out for reference or review.

If you buy this book and stick with it for a month (it takes at least that long to remove prior waste product from your blood stream, tissues and organs) you WILL feel a sense of total health and well being that will amaze and surpise you. It's a great investment in yourself and the better your body functions, the better the quality of your life.

I've been doing the program for over six months, and I agree that the most compelling evidence is Marilu's own transformation. She explores a new path to health; this isn't a fad, it's a permanent approach to the way we eat and how we live.Even doing just one step or two of her program will recharge your energy and take off the pounds. I swore I could never give up red meat, but it's gone from my life. I never in a million years thought I could say no to dairy -- also gone. I'm fighting right now to get off sugar, and it's shocking how poisoned the foods are at the supermarket with the stuff. I've lost 23 pounds so far, and my skin looks fabulous. My allergies are not as severe and I rarely get sick. (I used to be chronically ill with colds and bronchial problems) Through Marilu's book, I'm now reading a lot of material by Michio Kushi. Again, it's a life changing process, and you have to be committed to make it work. And given the poor health that Americans are in today with obesity, respitory and circulatory problems, it's about time somebody spoke up and kept speaking up until the message was heard.Thank you Marilu!

I purchased this book approx. 3 1/2 weeks ago and gradually started applying the changes in my eating habits along with the overall knowledge that Marilu provides here. I've found the transition to be simple and truly beneficial in how I look & feel. I've lost 11 1/2 lbs in 2 weeks and I don't feel deprived. Someone had commented on the extreme cost - Granted rice and soy milk may be more expensive. However, I no longer purchase all the junk foods and garbage I used to eat which has resulted in a drop in my grocery expenses. If you truly READ this and FOLLOW THROUGH, you will see & feel the results. Buy it and USE IT. "USE IT" being the operative word. I don't think Marilu could have spelled it out any clearer - Yet she does with her book "The 30 day Total Health Makeover" which get's 6 stars!

The first of Marilu's books, this one is padded with mumbo-jumbo and pseudo-science. The following book - 30-Day Total Health Makeover - repeats the truly essential information and provides a useful plan for a healthy diet. The recipes are tasty and healthful, and put you on track for both weight loss and a better diet without added sugar, red meat and dairy. Plus, because it contains both protein and carbs, the plan does not leave you famished. Head straight for the second book and when you're through the 30 days, get the Healthy Life Kitchen for more recipes.

Excellent book with ideas on eating right/well, exercising, gusto/energy and alternative medicine. Marilu also includes information on caffeine, sugar, dairy, food combining, vitamins, chemicals, beauty, sleep, poop, face reading and SO MUCH MORE!!! Everyone will find at least one thing to help them feel healthier in this book. Marilu is informative, knowledgeable, honest and funny. You will be entertained as you learn how to be healthier. Marilu is a great motivator!

My husband snickered when he caught me reading this book. He's the type who doesn't believe "celebrities" should be offering health advice. I showed him the back cover and said I wanted to know how Marilu got to look so good, so I could at least have a fighting chance.

I haven't followed everything to the letter in this book, but I did give up dairy and caffeine and started a steady exercise program, and used some principles from Weight Watchers. I dropped 35 pounds!

I suppose the key is reading this book and manipulating the suggestions so it suits your needs. Not everyone has the same body, so not everyone should use an identical program. What worked for Marilu might not have worked for me. Improvise.

I loved this book! I could relate to everything she said. I Think the program is a hard one to follow, but if your committed it will help you tremendously. I have only 2 of her 10 steps left to go and lost 40lbs in the meantime. Eliminating processed sugar is a hard one but eventually I will do it. If your serious about changing you lifesyle and relationship with food this is a book for you! I read it in one weekend. I just couldn't put it down and found it very entertaining. When I feel my will slowing I refer back to this book to pick my motivation back up and keep me on the right track. A+

If you can change your eating habits to follow Marilu Henner's health makeover, well good for you. You are a better person than me. In this book she asks people to give up dairy, most meat, caffeine, sugar and to combine foods every time you eat. So, if you eat melon, never eat anything with it. But if you eat chicken, then you had better have a grapefruit too. I found the overall makeover really demanding. I could never follow it to the letter.

BUT, Marilu does have some good points on why foods like dairy, sugar and meat are really pretty bad for you. I liked her ideas, and have modified my diet because of some of her ideas. I feel better and more energetic, as she promised. And she also asks you to address your health makeover one step at a time. I think that is realistic.

This easy read is good information to have if you are looking for a way to eat healthy. But don't read it and follow it to the letter. It is way too demanding, and I think some of her ideas are medically uninformed. So, balance this book with another book on eating well.

I bought this book approximately a year and a half ago, out of curiosity after seeing an inter- view with Marilu on a talk-show. After having gained 60 lbs with the pregnancy of my first child, and not really being a big fan of excersize, I thought her approach to food combining was rather neat! In about 6-9 months, with no excessive exercise, I was still able to lose 30 lbs with the help of this book. I really didn't expect it to work so well! Now my mother-in-law and sister-in-law are also trying this approach. East to read and follow, a great book overall. I plan on continuing her diet after the birth of my second child in a few months.

This book spoke to me right away--I couldn't put it down for three days. Marilu seemed to talk about everything I'd been questioning in my own diet...and much more! I have been using it as a guide for a month now, taking some of her tips on body care, exercise, etc as well, and I feel much better. After many failed fad diets, just reading this one book made me much more conscious about eating and grocery shopping. And unlike those diets, which count on short-term commitment, this book explains nutritional needs and eating habits in a way that makes you WANT to permanently adjust your lifestyle. A must read, even if you don't want to make a change and just want some info!