Customer Reviews

Mastering Leptin: Your Guide to Permanent Weight Loss and Optimum Health (Third Edition)

5 star:		(54)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I was impressed with the fact that this husband and wife team,in their early 50's, is so committed to bringing us the latest breaking news on leptin and the research related to solving obesity in this country. Their book (now the 2nd edition) explains why leptin is the key hormone that regulates all other hormones in the body, and how leptin imbalance is the precursor to heart disease, thyroid conditions, and cancer. The information is not their opinions, but rather a compilation of ALL scientific data on leptin to date, presented in a fairly easy-to-follow writing style. They give special guidelines for correcting leptin imbalances,including the use of certain supplements, which in turn will lead to correction of a host of other imbalances, like insulin resistance. (As an aside, insulin resistance alone affects 50% of our country's population, contributing hugely to the obesity epidemic.)

I agree that the book is a bit choppy. I think a professional writer could have helped smooth out the rough edges. However, the content is exceptional. I have recently discovered that I am a borderline diabetic with a low-functioning thyroid and insulin resistance, which likely developed as a result of my last pregnancy. Prior to that I had no apparent problems in these areas. This book helps to explain how this happened and is guiding me back to healthy. I am indebted to these authors.

I have also read the Rosedale Diet, which I think is also very good. However, I believe Mastering Leptin explains leptin and all its implications more completely. Mastering Leptin also explains the wisdom in waiting 5 hours between meals and avoiding snacks, and how that is critical to bringing leptin in line. Dr. Rosedale includes snacks in his book, focusing more on the types of foods to eat rather than on scheduling to allow your body to restore its natural rhythm. Eating all the time keeps our bodies too focused on digestion and keeps our insulin levels up. I'd go to the Rosedale Diet for the recipes but to the Mastering Leptin book for the guidance. Good luck to you all.

I'm a typical 48 year woman... When I hit 44 I started adding 10 pounds a year. I thought the middle age spread was my destiny until an older woman in my office lost weight. I bought this book in January and followed Byron Richards' simple rules religously and added some of the basic supplements he recommended for my particular issues (purchased at Walmart). In 30 weeks I lost 30 pounds, most significantly I lost the roll around the middle and I feel great!!! Richards' approach to health maintenance is truly a life style change.

Thanks to the authors for producing the first-ever (in my opinion) truly no-diet diet book. This book has revolutionized my understanding of food and the function of the body. I've only had a minor weight issue (5-8 lbs) but it's so frustrating to use diet after diet and not keep the weight off, and not understand why. This book explains why. I'm an avid health reader and have read many books on metabolism and body types and nutritional strategies, but this is the first to address the core of the issue that has plagued me.

As a hypoglycemic with a thyroid problem (and a family history of diabetes), I've been told to eat many small meals in a day. WRONG! This book explains why NOT snacking is the best thing you can do for your hormones. And it's been working great for me. It also explains when to exercise in relation to eating, why you have cravings and how to make them stop (REALLY!), etc, etc. All very practical information with no stupid meal plans, recipes, calorie counters, or food lists to follow. This book is about giving you knowledge, not controlling your life. It's very liberating.

The book is not elegantly written, but the authors are nutritionists and medical researchers, not poets. There are extensive footnotes that reference hundreds of medical journals that will be relevant to medical professionals, but the book is also organized in a way that you can skip all the technical info and just read the chapter summaries at the end of each chapter. Or, if you're really short on time or patience, you can just read the guidlines - there are 5, which would be easy to state here, but really I think it's worth the price of the book to purchase it. Also important are the exercise tips - wait at least 3 hours after eating and take antioxidants right before exercising. Simple guidelines like that are what this book is about. Backed up with hundreds of scientific reasons why, if you're the type that needs that. These people didn't pull the leptin theory out of thin air, but they are the first to organize the research and bring it to the public.

Bravo and thanks.

Purchased this book in Mid August '06, and immediately implemented. Also purchased "The Fat Resistance Diet" by Leo Galland, M.D., which has a great recipe section, and also addresses Leptin, although not as well as in "Mastering Leptin."

Family member A diagnosed with Parkinson's following Depakote (sp? anti-seizure medication) poisoning (climaxed one year ago). Had brain tumor removed 10 years ago. Had gall bladder removed two years ago. Bladder issues. Poor mental clarity. Arthritis from childhood. 63 years old. Results of Leptin regulation so far: Shaking in one hand has ceased, and has significantly decreased in other hand (is not taking any medication to reduce tremors). Has consistently lost weight at rate of ½ lb. per week. Mentally MUCH clearer. Less heartburn. Noticeable improvement in bladder control (can hold it longer and with more confidence when out and about). We are now in the process of adding supplements to help with body's natural dopamine production, and she feels ready to begin weaning off anti-depression medication. No noticeable change in arthritis, although the weight loss has made it possible to go for regular two mile walks in spite of arthritic knees.

Family member B has struggled with being underweight, lack of appetite, chronic fatigue, insomnia, shoulder joint pain, lower back pain, slow bowels (every three days), and heart irregularities (2 minor heart attacks and bothersome palpitations at night). Pre-diabetic. 53 years old. Results of Leptin regulation so far: Heart is stable, with no symptoms. Has gained 5 pounds in muscle mass without trying. Regular bowel movements (once a day, to every other day). Sleeping much better and has substantially more energy for daily demands. Is finally aware of hunger pains (doesn't like going longer than recommended in the book!). Shoulder pain decreased by 75%. The jury is still out about lower back (only because no incidents).

Family member C had been 7 years on low fat regimen, but it wasn't working anymore (35 lbs over weight). Struggled with evening over-eatng. Also, cellulite from childhood, long-term adult acne, inability to go the night without bathroom visit (or occasional accidents during sleep), fast heart beat (84 resting bpm from teenhood, non-smoker), fatigue, insomnia. 42 years old. Results of Leptin regulation so far: Has lost 22 lbs in 15 weeks (this is eating until full; book suggests slightly less). No evening cravings. Cellulite has significantly decreased beyond weight loss. 100% clear skin. No night bladder issues in over 2.5 months. Sleeping better. Resting heartbeat down to 68 bpm for first time, ever. No fatigue, and greater ability to handle stress.

Comments: Teenagers in the family unwilling to make the dietary changes. "Too many vegetables," they say. Grocery bill has respectively doubled (no inexpensive fillers like Raman or potatoes). Has not increased cooking time, but we're not fancy cooks. Also, both books caution against sweeteners, which we have changed, but not omitted (we are using low glycemic Xylitol, exclusively and in moderation).

This book is amazing. It should be required reading for anyone who wants to lose weight. Richards gives a LOT of background research, and technical information, but in a very easily read way. His suggestions for solving the problem of obesity have been working for me, which is incredible. I have been under a doctor's care for years for Metabolic Syndrome, been put on all kinds of drugs, and I finally had enough of pumping my system full of chemicals that gave NO improvement. I started following the simple steps in this book and have lost 16 pounds in four months, without drugs!

after reading and trying several diet books I found this information to be some of the most helpful I've found. I did the diet and found it relatively easy, but more importantly my fatigue vanished within a few days, I felt better all around, and lost weight more efficiently than I had on other diets. I've suggested it to several other people, many of whom now swear by it. One of these people is a chiropractor who's studied diets much more extensively and he likes it so much he's developing a course on it to help people lose weight.

The chapter headings don't tell you what you're going to find in the chapters, but it's not an easy book to skip around in. It's best to plough through the first three chapters and then read at least the first few pages of each subsequent chapter to see if it holds the info you want to find. The five rules of eating are very, very reasonable, allowing almost as much carbs as protein along with healthy fats. No surprises, except that the current trend of encouraged snacking or eating five smaller meals a day is directly confronted in this book for good reason, and is what made the difference for me. Eating only three times a day allows the body to get back into balance from the triad of leptin/adrenalin/insulin resistance that sets the body up for disease. All those cravings and what I think of as emotional eating can be tracked to those three resistances, and once they're gone, cravings are gone too.

I have finally read the right book!! After many, many tries and different approaches, these 5 simple rules have given me the right information to not only lose weight but feel so much better. Since I no longer snack in between meals, I can safely put food out of my thoughts for hours at a time. Then, when I do have a meal, I am truly hungry, get to eat real food and enjoy it without guilt. At first, I'll admit, my body experienced some discomfort waiting the 5-6 hours to eat but after just a few weeks I've adjusted and do not find it difficult at all. I do have real hunger by meal time but don't feel weak or lightheaded anymore. If you do this, give yourself time to adjust and don't give up. It is very freeing.

This is the first time I UNDERSTAND the why's and the how's of how I got this way (morbidly obese) and what I can do to change my body. I wish I could buy a truckload of them and hand them to every single endocrinologist, family doctor and specialist I've ever been to in my life - no one who had the answer. The 5 rules are easy to follow and make an instant change how you feel. I also bought the Fat Resistance diet which gave me more hints about using antioxidants and antiinflammatories through food - also about which foods cause more inflammation and which foods reduce inflammation. This was all part of my own personal syndrome as well. This information should be taught in school early on. I'm so grateful for this book - you have no idea! BRILLIANT!!

This is one of the most fascinating health books I have ever read. It is packed with information that is presented in an interesting, logical, compelling manner. I intend to try to follow the five rules. The authors obviously keep up with the scientific literature and know what they are talking about. However, I found the bad grammar very distracting, and that is why I did not give this book five stars. It is mentioned that the first printing of the book was two years ago and that much information was added for this printing. I am at a loss to understand why the grammar was not corrected for this printing. Surely it must have been pointed out by someone. It is the worst I've ever seen in a professionally printed book. If bad grammar doesn't bother you, just ignore it and enjoy the fascinating content. To the authors: Thanks very much for the great content and all your hard work. Please, please, please get the grammar corrected next time by an expert. I would buy another copy of the book just to not have to look at all those errors. (I'm talking about obvious errors on most pages--not just a few here and there.)

After a lifetime of struggling with 10-20lb weight problem and a 30lb post hysterectomy weight gain, I found the plan that works and makes sense, physician hubby endorses this diet and the science behind it. Have tried all the major: zone, sb, ww etc. THIS WORKS! Have lost 25lbs since Dec and kept it off during holidays.