The Rotation Diet [Mass Market Paperback]

Martin Katahn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1987

Anyone with a weight problem can lose up to a pound a day and never gain it back with Martin Katahn's fabulous and famous Rotation Diet. It's simple . . . it's safe . . . it's fast . . . it lasts . . . and it's a bestseller. To keep "rotating", Bantam also offers Maintaining the Rotation Diet audio cassette in a mixed book/cassette floor display. Each display contains 30 books and 6 cassettes and each book/cassette display is net priced. A 36-copy Rotation Diet (books only) floor display is available at standard Ingram discount.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Is there need for another diet book on your shelf? Decidedly yes in the case of Katahn's new plan. Director of the Vanderbilt University Weight Management Program, author of The 200 Calorie Solution and Beyond Diet, and a dieter himself, he provides here a simple, sensible approach to controlling weight on a long-term basis. Men and women vary the number of calories they consume during a three-week period (the rotation for women is 600/900/1200 calories; for men, 1200/1500/1800); after three weeks and presumably a hearty weight loss, the dieter takes a breather and is allowed to return to "normal" eating habits. The premise at work here is that diets fail because people get tired of dieting and because metabolism gradually slows after the body maintains a strict diet. To control eating during the maintenance phase, Katahn makes a number of helpful suggestions (i.e., exercise, drink plenty of water and avoid artificially sweetened drinks) and includes some not-so-exciting recipes. 100,000 first printing; first serial to Self; BOMC alternate; author tour.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Martin Katahn, PhD, is professor of psychology emeritus at Vanderbilt University. He was the director of the Vanderbilt University Weight Management Program. He has maintained a weight loss of 75 pounds for more than forty years. His #1 best-selling books include The Rotation Diet, The T-Factor Diet, and The Low-Fat Supermarket Shopper's Guide (with Jamie Pope). He lives in Nashville, Tennessee. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (April 1, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553276670
• ISBN-13: 978-0553276671
• Product Dimensions: 4.3 x 0.8 x 6.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #857,945 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Diet I've Ever Tried, October 27, 2004

By 

Tonua Brown "tonuab" (Ann Arbor, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Rotation Diet (Mass Market Paperback)

I tried this diet for the first time about 15 years ago when I got out of college. I had tremendous success on the diet and was able to maintain my weight for several years after that... until I went through some changes in my life that resulted in a major lifestyle change (stopped exercising, changed my eating habits, etc.).

By that time, I had forgotten about The Rotation Diet. I tried many other diets (Atkins, juice fasts, vegetarian, etc.) in order to lose weight, but none were very successful. And, even when I had success, as soon as I came off of those diets, I would gain the weight again because none of those diets taught me how to eat when I was OFF the diet.

Recently, when going through some old boxes, I found my old copy of The Rotation Diet. The thing that makes The Rotation Diet work is that you are feeding your body highly nutritional, low-fat, low-calorie foods. Plus, with the concept of "free vegetables" (vegetables that are so low in calories that you can eat as much as you want) and "safe fruit" (a fruit that you can eat as a snack whenever you feel like you might cheat), you never feel hungry. However, critical to the diet is that exercise is a key part. You can still lose weight without exercise, but the weight loss won't be as effective.

During my first rotation on the diet, I lost 13 pounds. When I rotated off of the diet, I stayed off for three weeks and basically ate whatever I wanted. The three weeks on the diet has influenced my eating habits, however, and I ate much healther during those three weeks than I had prior to the diet. Furthermore, I continued exercising regularly. During that three weeks off the diet, I ate some sweets and some high-fat foods (though I didn't go crazy and eat them for every meal) and I didn't put on a single pound. I attribute that to my body's increased metabolism from exercising as well as my healthier eating habits as a result of the diet.

Also, because I had such success during the first rotation (both on and off the diet), I am highly motivated and excited about beginning my second rotation on the diet. Some people may be turned off by the restrictive meal plans (he basically tells you what to eat for every meal), but I found it very liberating. I never had to guess what I should eat for the next meal (and, therefore, give myself an opportunity to justify cheating). I also discovered that I like some new foods that I always thought I hated.

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good and effective, but....., January 15, 2002

By 

"smalayman" (Kettering, OH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rotation Diet (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a diet that really works, but you must follow the plan to the letter. The back portion showing the calories in various foods has no standard portion measurements, making it imposible to compare apples to oranges (If you'll pardon the play on word)
The diet requires tremendous willpower because you will be very hungry on this extremely low calorie diet. It is important that you read the entire book so that you understand the priciples that make this diet work. If you aren't willing to make a permanent( although not terribly difficult) lifestyle change, don't try this diet. If you are serious about loosing weight and keeping it off, this really works. Because of the exercise and very low caloric intake, you might want to consult with a doctor before undertaking this diet.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I've tried them all and this is the best by far, February 20, 2008

By 

N. Rooney (DC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Rotation Diet (Mass Market Paperback)

I've been on many diets over the last 18 years and none of them compares to this diet on any level. I have been successful on this diet whenever I do it. I am a size 12 5'4" woman who has trouble losing weight and I just lost 15 pounds in one round (including 2 weeks maintenance)on this diet. That is diet amazing. You have to have the right mindset going into it and you have to stick with it even when it seems impossible, but you will achieve results. I don't follow the food plans of the diet at all.. I just do the calories.

I have found a few foods that have really, really helped so I want to share them. For breakfast I have one package of Quaker cinnamon roll oatmeal with 1/2 cup of applesauce stirred into it after it's cooked. I usually use those pre-portioned applesauces (50 calories) so it's really easy. Also, the thing that I just found this week is snack-sized cottage cheese. It's 90 calories and it keeps me from being hungry better than anything else for 90 calories. They are perfect. I buy yogurt (100 calories-key lime is the best), slim fast shakes (180 calories-cappucino flavor is delicious!!), 30 calorie fake cheese and 40 calorie bread (I toast the bread in the toaster, put cheese between 2 pieces and microwave the sandwich for *5* seconds to form a 110 calorie grilled cheese which is not that bad); wheat thins and tuna; and I fry eggs in no-cal butter spray and put them on 40 calorie toast with a little ketchup, salt and lot of pepper and it is very satisfying for 200-300 calories. I eat a 15 calorie popsicle when I want to eats something sweet. When I am starving and feeling like I might go off the diet, I eat as many dill pickles as my little heart desires with the caveat that I vow not to weigh myself the next day. Dill pickles are my go-to desperation food that I haul out when I can't do it otherwise. You will retain water, but you will have kept on your diet and that is the most important thing. Just don't weigh yourself the next day or your might lose motivation.

I eat the grand majority of my calories during the day before working out so I can actually focus at work. Then, I go home at night and eat at least a cup of sugar-free jello with a few tablespoons of lite cool whip on it. Then, I go to bed. Throughout the day I am prepared at all times with low calorie foods to eat. I don't find myself tempted to go get something because I have all my food with me all the time. I carry food in the trunk of my car, my refrigerator is never out of anything and I have food in my desk at work.

I've cut out caffeine for the most part except my 1 big cup of coffee in the morning. It's best not to drink soda, but if I do, I drink caffeine free diet soda. I've recently read that caffeine increases cortisol stress hormones in the body, which makes it hard to lose weight. Who knows if it's true, but I'm decreasing my caffeine anyway.

When you are hungry, go to bed. Get as much rest as possible. Between all the added rest you are getting (which also decreases your stress and cortisol levels) and the time that you are using exercising (I exercise medium intensity for at least an hour 5 days a week), then you only have less than 14 hours in a day to eat anything. Do as many non-food related activities as possible.

I hope this review is helpful. These are all the dieting tips I've got.