Customer Reviews

The Structure House Weight Loss Plan: Achieve Your Ideal Weight through a New Relationship with Food

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Finally, Dr. M. has put his program into a book. I've been to Structure House many times. The book not only conveys the Structure House program in detail, it also captures the experience of being there. This book provides a great review for participants after they leave and find themselves back in a toxic food environment again. It also provides new additional materials on motivation that I found very helpful. For those that have not yet invested the time and money to visit Structure House you should know that although it is easy and pleasant reading, it is not a quick fix, not a fad, not a diet. It is not a way to starve and dehydrate yourself, or to temporarily fool the bathroom scale. It is simply healthy eating, 3 meals a day, 365 days a year, and no snacks. There are no forbidden foods, just keep track of your calories and make better choices to reduce the fat calories in your daily routine. You plan all meals in advance. When unexpected schedule changes require you to think on your feet, you not only practice making good choices, but also keep records to go back, review, analyze and improve your decision making process. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who struggles with body weight issues, or unhealthy eating habits.
T. Talkowski, M.D. California

I, too, have been to Structure House many times. I credit it with my sanity and with being able to keep off nearly 100 lbs., but find it hard to satisfactorily describe how it works to others so I was very pleased when the book was finally published. I must say it is a disappointment. It is too dry, too predictably menu-oriented, too concerned with the basics that any dieter knows. It fails to capture the real depth of wisdom that SH offers, glossing over the critical differences that make SH work. I had been to Duke Diet and Fitness program, also in Durham, many times before going to SH - Duke's program is a medical-model with an overlay of behavioral approaches. What SH offers is the same medical knowlege and benefits as an undercoating for the teaching of the behavioral and attitudinal skills that truly determine the success of anyone with food abuse problems. It is at SH where I finally learned that being harsh and judgemental about my 'failures' was a sure way of never keeping off the weight that I lost. This is the key element to the SH approach, but it is not treated as such in this book. Learning the SH approach to "unstructured eating" is what I credit for the success I now enjoy. This book does not give enough time or emphasis on what actually produces change. It certainly isn't the actual 'diet.' Too bad. Dr. M, write another one. Don't be afraid to be creative in your presentation, either --- SH is a kalidescope of 'news you can use,' and a book that takes a multidisciplinary approach, even in its structure, would better represent the impressive program you founded and sustain.

Thank goodness that Dr. Musante has finally written this book! I have been to Structure House on 5 to 6 occasions since 1985, and I tell folks the key three factors that keep me coming back:

1. I understand that, generally, only 5% of the national population that diets is successful at maintaining the weight loss, and that no other program claims a "success rate" of more than 20-25%. At Structure House, 67% of the participants keep the weight off or continue to lose after they return home. They've got some answers no one else seems to have.

2. Everything that Structure House has taught me is well grounded in science, provable in a lab or in rigorous medical studies. When a participant finishes the program, (or thoroughly reads this book), he or she is armed with everything they need to be an expert on the issues affecting weight loss, and keeping weight off. I have shared the information I have learned at Structure House, which is also contained in this book, with my circle of friends and family, and all have confirmed that what I have learned is medically correct.

3. As a result, the classes at Structure House have taught me that I am and can be in control. Even though the problem of excess weight seems intractable at times, if I do what they say, I am doing everything I can to lose weight. It also gives me the courage, and knowledge, not to be swayed by my internal emotions, or those messages popularized in the media from time to time, i.e., the latest and greatest, that bombard one with what ultimately proves to be misinformation.

This book gives the reader what I have learned over the years at a cost of thousands of dollars, and is invaluable. Not only buy it, but take it to heart, and re-read it time and time again, until you master the information, implement it in your lifestyle, and you are successful in your weight loss goals. I know I will. And remember, it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle that makes sense, without the necessity to be come an acolyte or "believer" in anything other than oneself.

Finally a system for weight loss that is easy to understand, easy to implement and easy to sustain. Dr. Musante discusses the problems with being overweight and transitions to action steps that result in weight loss without feelings of deprivation.

It is an awesome revelation to understand the behaviors that get us to an oversized state. The simultaneous education that food can be managed in the same way that many of us manage time demonstrates why Structure House has been so successful with its resident programs.

Even with the above being said, in my case success (right on schedule based on the calculations that were provided) may not have happened without the recipes that were included. They proved that meals can be both tasty and satisfying without ingesting huge quantities of calories and fat.

This book is highly recommended for those interested in losing weight and keeping it lost.

As someone who considers Structure House a time share, this book keeps it real--as real as actually being in Durham. With the lifestyle changes I have acquired about food and exercise, I have been able to withstand many stressful, catastrophic moments--from deaths and major surgery to cruises and dining out--without resorting to the inappropriate use of food. Permanently altering the way I eat and move has left me with a taste for the good life; that taste is satisfaction--satisfaction with my weight, my attitude and my well being.

The book reflects the program--just sensible logic. You wonder why you didn't think of this yourself. It has realistic, achievable, simple steps to long term weight loss. It even helps you to get up when you stumble. You become empowered. You learn what to do and how to do it.

For a graduate of the program, the book serves as a refresher. For anyone who is unfamiliar with the campus experience and is struggling and searching for a healthy, wholesome solution to the weight loss puzzle, here is the missing p-e-a-c-e

Let me start by saying that I haven't gotten my book back in almost 4 weeks. Everyone here at the office has been borrowing it.

Like many others, I've been on LOTS of diets. And by virtue of this fact, have been unsuccessful at them all. While time will ultimately tell, I feel that the tools the doctor teaches the reader in this book are grounded in truth, not pie-in-the-sky fiction. There are too many products and too many "solutions" out there that aren't worth the paper they're written on. But this is the only one I have ever felt would really work. The food diaries are great. No gimmicks.

Good job, Structure House. Finally, a no-nonsense approach to weight loss.

Fit'nFifty

http://www.amazon.com/As-Ourselves-Pat-Little-Band/dp/B000VJG79I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1234458478&sr=8-1

Potpourri of good advice but a dry read. This book presents a path that is reasonable and rewarding but it takes conscious, daily effort. It would make sense to use this book in the company of others for support, encouragement and discussion.

"Health" Magazine recently rated it the number one successful diet plan. But this book does not offer a quick fix. It is not full of colorful gourmet recipes and daily menus and accompanying shopping guides. It is about examining and redefining one's interaction with food and life.

Remember what it was like to feel good and make fulfilling plans? Remember the days when it was more than the daily routine followed by collapsing in front of mindless TV or Facebook with a handful of munchies? The Structure House Diet calls to mind reorganizing the way we spend our time so that it is not about impulsive eating and lazy entertainment.

This book is about crawling back to a broader experience of life. It outlines an intentional framework wherein food is a key yet contained component and fun-loving activities revive us again for the wonder of living life to the full.

The Structure House Weight Loss Plan by Gerard J. Musante, PH. D. is more than another book on weight loss. It is not a quick fix. The Structure House plan is more of a life changing long-term goal. Based on his Structure House weight loss center in North Carolina, Dr. Musante wanted to be able to help more people. He accomplished his goal with this book.

The Structure House Weight Loss Plan helps readers reevaluate their lives and their relationship with food. Why do we overeat? Stress, boredom, and habit are several reasons. Dr. Musante looks deeply into each of these. He also discusses "comfort" food. Dr. Musante also describes, in detail, different food groups and what exactly we need to eat for nourishment. An entire section discusses grocery shopping, your kitchen, and the daunting task of eating out. He discusses exercise and how to be more active in life. He also discusses life style changes, helping readers have happier and healthier lives with better eating, more exercise, and how to be a happier person.

For readers looking for a quick fix weight loss, The Structure House Weight Loss Plan is not for you. However, Dr. Musante writes a clear and concise book about weight loss. Quick fixes do not work in the long term. Dr. Musante wants readers to re-learn how they think about food. He wants them to make life-style changes. Weight loss is not the goal. A healthy and happy life is the ultimate goal. He will tell readers that it is a daily struggle but it is achievable. The Structure House Weight Loss Plan is also filled with helpful checklists and charts for readers. Dr. Musante's book is a helpful resource readers can revisit as they need to.

I'm so excited about this book that I'm leading a weight loss class (free of charge) in order to help others get healthy. Structure House Weight Loss Plan is a no-nonsense approach to discovering why we overeat and teaches strategies for healthy behavior changes. I'm not only losing weight, but am learning how to eat healthy for the rest of my life. In the past I've tried at least a dozen different weight loss plans over a span of 30 years. I lost the most (47 pounds) on Weight Watchers. However, over a 4 year period, I spent nearly $2,000 at meetings and regained nearly all of my weight. Structure House teaches not only how to eat healthy, but also how to stop the unhealthy eating (snacking, overeating and poor choices). I've learned how to read food labels, plan balanced meals and grocery shop according to a healthy menu. I haven't read the entire book yet, as I've only had it a few weeks, but have already lost 7 pounds. Yes, common sense is still alive and well here.

this book gives you a step by step plan for controlling your eating, it is very creative, and right to the point. it focuses on the emotional aspect of eating, not on just the foods you eat, but WHY you eat what you eat. it has helped me to change. I also found that it is simular to the info in Dr Ian's book for weight loss.