Customer Reviews

Men's Health Muscle Chow: More Than 150 Meals to Feed Your Muscles and Fuel Your Workouts

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's hard to find a decent clean-eating cookbook. This one certainly is decent, but I wouldn't give it much more praise than that. There are some recipes that are pretty good and all of them are quite straightforward, but my major problem with the book is that some of the recipes are complete fluff that could have been all compiled onto a single page ("quick bites", or something like that). For instance, the "Fix and Eat Sardine Sandwich". Now, I'm going from memory here, but I'm pretty sure that the steps boiled down to these steps: Take two slices of bread, spread mustard on each slice, then put the sardines between the two pieces of bread and eat them. Sorry, Gregg, but I'm a healthy eater, not someone who's never been in a kitchen before. There are other recipes like this ("Slice up a head of lettuce and serve it with mustard as dipping sauce", for example) that are really wastes of space.

Also, it would have been good to see more explanation regarding carb-cycling (or carb-shifting as he describes it), along with macronutrient breakdowns for the different eating phases Gregg describes in the book.

There's some good stuff in here, that's for sure, but it's too much like a fluffernutter sandwich: lots of healthy potential surrounded, unfortunately, by too much fluff.

OK. I know this is a guy book and I'm not a guy. Let's start with that. I was led to this book because I had read about it in one of my publications. I absolutely detest cooking and I have a panic attack just thinking about the kitchen. My mother taught me to drive and type. She didn't teach me to cook.

I've bought many cookbooks and hate them all. They're all too complicated for my maladjusted cooking genes. But this book --- well that's a different story! This is easy to follow and fun. Yes, fun.

I've found that I can eat foods that taste absolutely fantastic and it takes little effort, little fat and no junk that's bad for me. I've learned to use spices and things I had never known how to use before. I'm loving this.

Moreover, I'm losing weight. I log everything in my Palm Pilot on a program from CalorieKing. It's easy to know how many calories are in each dish. Now, as a woman, I may not eat a whole serving. So I simply adjust that in my log.

I must tell you that for the first time in my life I'm enjoying being in the kitchen. I fix foods ahead, which makes my life much easier.

All the recipes are easy to fix and don't take many ingredients. You'll find this type of eating gives you more energy and keeps you feeling full. At the same time, you can get really ripped. And losing weight is easy and fun.

And, if you guys will forgive me, I recommend this book to my sisters as well as to you.

The one thing I don't like about it is not the content. It's the book. I'd prefer a spiral book that I can lay out on my tiny kitchen counter. Also one that can be cleaned as I am a mess in the kitchen.

Update: After using the book for a month, I do have at least one issue with it. Take for example the Mixed-Berry Protein Mousse on page 237. This is a wonderful menu and the taste is indescribable. Wonderful. But it says is makes six servings. That's fine. But how much is one serving? I mean, out of the total made, is a serving 1 cup, one-half cup or what? I would like to know how much to take out of the bowl to make one serving. Otherwise, I'm unsure how many calories I'm actually getting.

Having said that, I've lost seven pounds in one month by following the foods and counting calories and I've yet to be really hungry. It's amazing!

But dear author, when and if you do an update (and I hope you do) please tell us what one serving is.

I did improve on one of the easy recipes. At least to me it's a major improvement. The recipe calls for mashing tofu and adding protein powder. Well, It's okay. But here's something better:

Tofu as called for in recipe
Protein as called for in recipe
Put in blender (preferable one with a milkshake blade)
Add coconut water (not much)
Add one pk. stevia

Blend until smooth. This makes a wonderful milkshake with a lovely texture. It's much better than what you get with the recipe in the book and just two or three added calories from the coconut water.

Highly recommended.

-Susanna K. Hutcheson

In the spirit of full disclosure, I live in the same town as Gregg Avedon and have spoken with him about nutrition at the local gym. His knowledge rivals that of classically trained nutritionists. Though he's much more practical. A father and a husband, he lives a regular life and balances his nutritional recommendations for the real world. I can attest, Gregg walks the walk. That said, there is a key difference in his book you won't find anywhere else. It's simplicity! Period. For example, he simplifies and reduces the topic of supplements into just a few items. All in about one page. To some, the book could be worth it just for that page alone!

Most diet or nutrition books go on-and-on with their educational "mantra." Hey authors, we know most of this stuff already reading it in the papers almost every day. Gregg skips over the chemistry class and dives right into what to buy at the grocery store. I have many nutrition books, though few ever begin with the simple idea of shopping for my fridge, my pantry, the herbs and the tools I'll need. In those few pages, I've begun to feel confident that a regular guy could manage buying all these items.

Did I already mention the sheer simplicity of this book? Yeah, there are lots of recipe books out there, but Gregg's has some that go like this: ingredient 1, ingredient 2, step 1, step 2...eat it! I kid you not. Some of the recipes are quick yet healthy and in one pot or one pan, the average guy can make a meal. My 18-year-old son, who's so bad in the kitchen that he could probably burn water, turned to page 151 and commented that he could personally make his favorite Protein-Rich Quinoa Salad...everyday! Although Gregg states his book is "food for dudes," my Mom started marking off recipes as soon as she got her copy.

I particularly like the alternative late-night snacks, my own weakness. Plus a simple tip like what to eat at the restaurant -- "eat before you eat." Now, anytime before I go out, I drink a filling protein shake, and I'm all set. Thankfully, Gregg hides his emphasis on protein by sneaking it in...everywhere. He's buried protein in the Chocolate Mousse, in the Raspberry-Mocha Chocolate Chip Cookies -- for real! (page 233). Yeah, this ain't no diet book, its just smart food that includes the widest variety of food types from any of my diet or nutrition books. As Gregg says, "...this isn't brain surgery, it's learning how to eat more nutritionally dense foods as a way of life..."

I say, I could actually eat only what's in this book for the rest of my life...and never miss a thing.

Ok. I'll start with this: I am a firefighter, not a bodybuilder or extreme athlete. So, I do NOT make a lot of money. Your average parking meter makes more than I do, as a matter of fact. I also never cooked once before joining the fire service. Plus I come from a Mexican upbringing, so you can imagine the food I am used to eating.

I bought this book mainly because I wanted a good cookbook so I could learn some cooking skills along with some healthy dishes. I am a pretty avid reader of Men's Health, and after reading Greg's columns I finally caved in and bought the book. This book is very greatly organized and gives some great tips for anyone who IS looking to increase muscle mass, or things like that. (such as tips on creatine intake) Now, it is also organized so it can also be a great resource for someone who just wants to get leaner or just wants to eat cleaner. The book starts by telling you that this book is also a diet program, which works in three phases. This program basically works by starting your diet nice and easy and then restricting it more and more throughout the workout program. By the most restricted phase of the program, you can only eat foods labeled "Ripped" in the book. And as I thumbed through the book, I thought to myself, "The ripped phase is gonna suck. There doesn't seem to be many recipes that you can eat in this phase."

Well it turned it around on me when I really focused on the chapters. There are a great amount of options you can choose from for this phase and they all ROCK! Not too mention, the Ripped phase is only for 2 weeks! Now, let me clear this up even more: there are three phases to this program. They are:

Relaxed: 1 Week
Lean: 5 Weeks
Ripped: 2 Weeks.

In the fire station, we usually never eat earlier than 11 PM. And even for me, the program was VERY easy to handle! I never got bored, or aggravated with repetitive recipes. My personal favorite recipe was the avocado toast. It is fantastic! My commitment was there, and I was sick of making excuses. If you have the same, this plan is EASY! Granted, you have enough money of course, which brings me to my next point.

Greg gives you two shopping lists in the book: one for ingredients and another for tools and utensils. ANYBODY who has ever been in a grocery store will tell you: Eating healthy is EXPENSIVE! Some of these ingredients are actually not very expensive at places like a Wal-mart or Costco. But finding things like organic ingredients can be a pretty big chore. I am lucky enough to have a store that provides these close-by but it can get quite expensive. But honestly, the shopping lists save you quite a bit of money if you go into a grocery store blindly looking for healthy foods. I didn't see this until further down the road.

Now, for my last point. You're not a huge fitness enthusiast? Neither am I! I hate counting calories like bodybuilders do. Greg made it VERY easy to balance out your meals for max effectiveness. The beginning of the book gives some priceless tips on general health, supplements, meal timing, what to eat more of and what to eat less of, etc. So even if you do not plan on following the diet like I did, the tips and recipes are worth it alone. I passed the book on to a fellow fireman because of his high cholesterol. Withing something like two months, he was a cardio machine. He did not follow the diet like I did, so the results were not as dramatic, but they were still awesome. Now I have the entire firehouse stealing recipes for our dinner from the Muscle Chow book. Trust me, that says a lot!

In closing, what do you have to lose? The book is inexpensive and if you have trouble with affording the ingredients, just save for a while and you will see it was worth it in the long run with all the stuff you learn. Especially if you don't know the 1st thing about cooking. Try it and stick with it. You'll see what I saw.

This is a great alternative to a typical "dieting" cookbook with recipes to build muscle while keeping nutritional requirements in balance. It isn't about mindless dieting and filling up on non-fat, no-calorie foods. Also beneficial to those who are looking for clean eating recipes. Bought this book on a whim and am extremely pleased with the purchase.

This is a decent book. It's written like a Men's Health mag, so if you don't like that "voice" then you won't enjoy this book at all. It's a bit silly but supposed to be inspiring, motivational, casual guy talk. Whatever.

Some reviews have complained about similicity of recipes. Or that recipes when followed have no flavor. Or that they turn out bad when followed exactly. Well, let me address these points.

1) Simple recipes are a positive thing for a busy man who is trying to balance a fast paced, demanding career with an active social life and a tough workout regimen. The more easy ways we can get full nutrition with high protein content the better. Less items to shop for, less time spent preparing food items, less time consuming them.

2) For somebody who is focused on body building or athletic performance, food is fuel. It isn't a social occasion. It isn't something where you sit down and enjoy all the flavors and aromas. It's like putting gas in your car. Pick the quality grade you want, pump it in, and get back on the road.

3) If you follow a recipe and it turns out bad, you probably did something wrong. If you follow recipes to the letter, you're definitely doing something wrong (unless you're baking). Recipes are guidelines. What is a "medium" tomato? Or a "large" egg? Or even "medium" heat? Food products vary widely by location, consumer-grade ovens can vary by as much as 25 degrees, stovetops vary in heat output.. you don't like cumin? Well then don't put so much in the chili. Enough said.

Now I do agree, the organization of this book is somewhat poor. It seems good at first, but after you first look at it and then start using it, you wish things were in different places. Well ya know what I did? I used a razor and cut the pages out. Used a 3-hole punch and re-organized them into a binder. Now the pages are where I want them, with dividers and markers so I can find everything quickly. It's not a holy Bible, you can suit it to fit your needs, remove the junk you don't want. I also added pages from other similar books that I like and compliment this material.

Also, this isn't a diet book per se, it's a nutrition book more than anything. If you're looking to loose weight by changing your diet, just eating the foods in the book won't be as beneficial as something tailored towards weight loss. These foods are to be paired with a strenuous exercise routine to build muscle in the serious athlete.

And finally, everybody is different. While it's tempting to have a play-by-play which tells you exactly what to eat, when to eat it, what supps to take, etc.. that doesn't mean it's going to work for you. You need to work at it, take notes, and change things one thing at a time to see what effects it has, and over time you find the right combination for you. Yea it's good to have a starting point, but unless you're built like Greg Avendon (if you're reading this you probably aren't!), then you most likely won't benefit from his nutritional profile. Take the concepts he lays out and then do the hard work to make it applicable to you.

This book is very cool. Gregg does a nice job of compiling recipes that are easy and taste good. Also, the three phases he recommends (Relaxed phase, lean phase, ripped phase) really helped me to strike a balance in my nutrition plan.

Bottom line: I am in much better shape than I was before I started using Gregg's nutrition guidelines. I consistently use this book 5-6 days out of the week--definitely worth the $13.

I am a 24 year old former college athlete, and this book is a must have for people trying to eat healthier and who want to see more results from the hard hours they put in the gym. The recipes are super easy to follow and taste great as well. Not only does this book provide you with great recipes, but gives a good overview on how to eat healthy / healthier. If you don't already follow the eating principles in this book (I would guess that 90% of the people out there don't), you will see and feel results within ten days. I highly HIGHLY recommend this book.

This cookbook is a must-have for fitness enthusiasts of all levels, as well as anyone with the desire to just eat healthy. In today's fast-paced world, good nutrition often "takes the back seat" to everything else, even by the most dedicated athletes. Who has the time to research the nutritional profile of foods, let alone put together a solid meal plan that really works; a meal plan that will not only help you achieve a body that looks great, but feels great as well? Well I've got good news; Gregg has taken the guesswork out of that meal planning. This book is packed with effortless, healthy and delicious recipes. Gregg covers the full spectrum, from breakfast to desserts to late night snacks. Every recipe in this book was designed to help you achieve the body of your dreams while still providing the full flavor you expect from the meals you eat. The book is also loaded with tips, tricks and facts to help make the already effortless recipes a breeze to prepare, as well as to educate the reader on some of the fundamentals of nutrition. I have several other "healthy" cookbooks, however they pale in comparison to Muscle Chow. They all seemed to be missing something, whether it be taste, or just that some of the ingredients in their recipes were questionable. Folks, Muscle Chow is the real deal...pick it up! Did I mention these healthy recipes are delicious?!

This is a great recipe and diet book. I was turned on to this book by a couple of sample recipes found in one of the last Men's Health issues. The sample recipes were awesome and the book is a bunch of just the same. I like how the chapters were broken down by the type of protein included in the recipe. This is exactly how I think when planning my meals for the day. Most of the diet concepts I was familiar with (i.e eat six small meals a day, eat lots of quality protein etc) but the portion focused on sodium intake was very helpful. Go look in your fridge right now, and you will find foods loaded with sodium that are otherwise healthy, like cottage cheese, most dairy, and whole grain bread for example. I will definitely be paying close attention when I go grocery shopping next time. Which reminds me; the book has a complete grocery list, helping you find all the ingredients needed for the delicious recipes.