53 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
As Concise as It Gets, February 16, 2006
This review is from: The No-Beach, No-Zone, No-Nonsense Weight-Loss Plan: A Pocket Guide to What Works (Paperback)
No-nonsense style, very concise (except for various calculation examples, which might be good, as math literacy is alien concept for most).
About myself: 12 years ago I was 160 lbs. (I am 5'9"). Once I hit 230 lbs a few weeks back, I got myself a stack of books, including this one, to avoid previous failures (210 lbs to 190 lbs 2 years ago and gaining it all back and some more).
Jim Johnson's advice was instrumental in setting up my diet and stopping systemic overeating. So now I am under 218 lbs and feeling great on 1500 calories a day. Even more importantly, now I know there is no quick fix - one has to change a lifestyle. It is all about patience, perseverance and will to treat your body right.
The only suggestion: to count calories use software, not paper. I use FitDay.com - it's free.
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72 of 78 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Cuts the confusion on weight loss., March 26, 2005
This review is from: The No-Beach, No-Zone, No-Nonsense Weight-Loss Plan: A Pocket Guide to What Works (Paperback)
Jim Johnson a physical therapist has done extensive research to find what does and does not work for weight loss. He recaps his findings in this book, "The No-Beach, No-Zone, No-Nonsense Weight Loss Plan: A Pocket Guide to What Works".
Using the studies Jim explains that bottomline weight loss is dependent on calories consumed and exercise helps. To lose weight you simply eat less and your body will gradually use up it's fat stores. Jim clearly explains how to figure out your caloric needs, basal energy expenditure, the truth about cellulite (yep you can be skinny with cellulite)and more.
One big surprise was Jim's information on exercise. According to the studies Jim used, overweight women who exercise do not lose weight by exercising alone. In one study Jim shares a group of overweight women walked for 45 minutes 5 days a week and did not lose weight. This doesn't seem right to me. If you weigh around 155 you will burn about 250 calories in a brisk 30 minute walk. If calories are the bottomline in weight loss as Jim says, then you would lose weight - about 26 pounds a year. I also know women who have lost weight just by walking (albeit slowly) so I do have to question Jim on this one.
What Jim does do is point to the facts that regardless of the type of diet you are on ...weight loss will result if calories in are lower that what you had been consuming.
Another area of concern is Jim's comment that one day he stumbled across the "National Weight Control Registry". Most people in the weight loss arena are fully aware of this organization which tracks winners at weight loss. Jim's lack of knowledge of this makes me realize that though he may have written the book to help others he may not have a solid grounding in the weight loss arena. Which leads me to ask what studies he missed that may contradict some of his work.
Jim has an easy breezy writing style, and is very clear in his explanations.
His book is a good primer for weight loss. Though the 138 page paperback is slim it contains a wealth of information. You will learn how to figure out if you are fat, how many calories you need to consume to stay fat or lose weight, how to count calories, how to fit in exercise without doing it formally, and more. Most importantly you will learn that regardless of what you do, The Zone, The South Beach, The Apple Diet, Weight Watchers etc. If you are losing its cus you are eating fewer calories!
One good inclusion is how to get motivated. As Jim says most of us do know what to do, but don't do it. Jim has good suggestions on how to rethink things so you are motivated.
All in all a good little resource if you need some help figuring out weight loss basics. And an excellent book to read if you are confused by the conflicting information on the market today.
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22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
getting down to the heart of the matter, April 23, 2005
This review is from: The No-Beach, No-Zone, No-Nonsense Weight-Loss Plan: A Pocket Guide to What Works (Paperback)
Once again Jim has done the research for the consumer and simplified the search for a succesful weight loss program. He examines the popular myths and plainly states, in his straight-forward way, how to get on track in a manner that anyone could follow. If you are truly interested in losing weight and particularly are confused about the many weight loss programs which abound, I highly recommend that you read this book. It will be worth your while!
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