Customer Reviews

The Take-Control Diet

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I bought this book on the street date and began Dr. Smith's plan a week later. It works! It's reasonable and sensible. I talked to my doctor about it, and he gave it an enthusiastic thumbs-up. I've been on the plan for four and a half weeks, and I've lost 14 pounds.

Dr. Smith's plan has changed my life. I finally have control. I will update this review every once in a while with my new total. I know I can stick with this plan, because I've done it for a month, and I don't feel hungry or deprived. It works!!

Finally, someone has written a book that makes sense and doesn't ask people to starve themselves or not to eat carbs or other things. The diet is practical and it makes sense for everyone. I find the reading very easy

First, reading some of the other reviews, some people are reviewing the wrong book. Any review referring to "phases" should be completely discounted because it is a review of Dr. Smith's Fat Smash book.
Second, Dr. Smith isn't just some guy on tv, he's a Harvard and Columbia grad. Not too shabby.
But to the book...this was the first "diet" book I read that really made sense for me. This isn't a crash diet, you'll lose a moderate amount of weight by making simple changes. He really spoke to, as the title says, taking control of your life. You can't lose weight just by hoping or wanting it bad enough. You have to work at it.
The book has lengthy, but useful, exercises to find out things like your current level of consumption and activity. It is basic, yet teaches a lot of things that really need to be known to have a healthy weight loss plan. I've been on a lot of plans, read a lot of books, but never had it broken down for me in such a way that a) it made a lot of sense, b) didn't talk to me like I was a simpleton, and c) made it seem doable and not extreme.
Exactly what I needed.

If you've tried every diet under the sun and don't know where else to turn for getting on track with your weight, I recommend Dr. Ian Smith's book. He takes a scientific and a practical approach to weight management.

In this book, you are given easy to use formulas to determine the exact caloric intake your body needs according to your frame, plus ideas on how to control your calorie intake throughout any given week to achieve weight loss.

Dr. Smith provides practical applications to a lifestyle, rather than a diet, that prevents dieters from having to refrain from favorite foods. For example, if you know you are going to a party where you will be eating cake and ice cream, he suggests that you subtract those calories from another day's caloric intake to make up the difference and still allow net weight loss for the week.

We've all been in and out of "The Zone", we've given up our carbs for Dr. Atkins, and we've gone to "South Beach" with temporary success, but if you want to truly stay on track with your weight management skills, I highly suggest you give Dr. Smith's book an opportunity to help you gain your weight loss sense back again.

What I liked about the book is that it tells the truth about exercise and the need to eat good food. This isn't information that you can't find in many other places, but given this is a bestseller I'm happy to see this position take front and center.

I don't doubt that this system of weight loss will work, but you would need to be very disciplined and have a lot of free time to follow it completely. This may not be practical for most people.

I didn't find anything extraordinary about this diet book. What it does is to provide a structure for you to change your life gradually to a healthier lifestyle. I agree with one of the other reviewers that Andrew Weil's "Eight Weeks to Optimum Health" is at least as good or perhaps better. It is certainly more realistic.

I think the correct audience for this book is people that are very serious about losing weight and changing their living habits forever. Without a deep commitment to living differently, you aren't likely to stay with this program for long.

I agree with Dr. Smith that exercise is one of the most important factors to lose weight, regulate appetite and manage stress which often leads to overeating. I also agree that making gradual changes over time is the best way to make major life changes.

Where I feel the book failed is in providing more content, depth and added value. In my opinion, almost everything that was said in this book has been said in many others that are just as good or even better. This book is not a waste of money, but it is not a practical long term solution for most people.

I've also read the Fat Smash Diet Book and have similar sentiments about it. Neither of Dr. Smith's books is anything new and revolutionary. If you eat right and train hard, you'll lose weight. That's the bottom line.

I have also done a detailed review of Dr. Smith's latest book the FAT SMASH DIET. If you scroll down to reviews for August 21, you can see my comments about this book as well. This may help you decide which one is right for you or if either of them are right for you.

After trying diets all of my life and failing all of them, I am now a believer! This book has inspired me to lose my weight forever. The menus are excellent and the advice is worth following! You won't be disappointed!

I am so pleased of my purchase for this book. I couldn't have spent the money a better way. And I stick to this Control Diet like clockwork. I started the diet December 28th, and so far I've lost 28lbs. I thank you so much Dr.Ian, for someone finally being honest about how the body works and what it needs. I wish I could hug you myself. You are a blessing behind a book. I'll keep intouch with my progress.

I think this is a well balanced diet, it focuses on reducing calories and fat to lose weight not just cutting out entire food groups. It explains other fad diets and why they may have some success but ultimately why they are not the best choice. Easy to follow.

When I bought this book, i thought it was a program to follow like another of Dr. Smith's books. This book did put me in the right frame of mind to succeed with a lifestyle change I needed to make.

This book has helped me start a new life. I now know how to eat and exercise for me and not for other people. I have tried lots of diets and read lots of books. This book has been the best by bar. It also doesn't hurt that the author is cute!!