Customer Reviews

The Belly Fat Cure: Discover the New Carb Swap System and Lose 4 to 9 lbs. Every Week

5 star:		(176)
4 star:		(58)
3 star:		(43)
2 star:		(46)
1 star:		(43)

 

 

Please, before you judge or listen to the negative reviews let me say something. I started working this plan when very little information was available about it May of 2009. I did it when there was no book and only limited information available via the internet. Basically I took the 15 sugar 6 carb idea from Jorge and ran with it. So far I have lost 60 lbs on the Belly Fat Cure and I plan to lose 30 more to reach my goal. Those people writing negative reviews just want to open a book and have the weight fall off their bodies. You have to take control and want this for yourself. Read the book for insight and understanding and not just to be led around like a puppet.

Second, I live in a rural area with no Whole Foods Market or anything around and have to travel far for a health food store or order online to get some of the items that are in book. But not all of them. Jorge just gives the healthiest options, but you can make substitutions. If something is not available in your area, use something else. Most of us don't know that these healthier products exist. We let the mainstream dictate what we are putting in our bodies and feeding to our children. What we should be doing instead of attacking Jorge is to demand that these healthier options be made more readily available to us in our local markets. A lot of what he proposes include no artificial sweetners because of their alleged negative affects. If this isn't a concern of yours then make a substitution that includes artificial sweetners. I'm sure Jorge wouldn't advocate this but I have to admit that I do use some of the products that are on his Belly Bad List. I make the food and the plan work for me. For instance, Jorge doesn't like sugar free puddings that you can buy on the shelf because of the artificial sweetners. I try to avoid the artificial sweetners as much as I can but if I want a chocolate pudding then I'll have one. No biggie. Personal choice, hello?

I do not have a ton of money and was actually unemployed when I started this way of eating last summer. Yes, I think of it as a way of eating - not a diet. This is how I live now. So to those who claim its expensive that's not true. It doesn't have to be. The recipes in the book are simple and great tasting. They include normal foods that you probably already eat now. Its just about making it in a healthier way and making better choices. Things you would never think you could eat while losing weight. You do not feel deprived at all. It really is a mindset change more than anything.

I'm shocked and amazed at the people who complain about it being full of recipes, menu plans, and product evaluations?? Really this has me baffled. Isn't that what we all need anyway - the meat and potatoes of the thing? While Jorge explains an overview of the science behind why the plan works, do you really want a book full of technical jargon and trials and studies? If you google Jorge Cruise or take a look at some of his Youtube videos....he has interviews on there with experts that explain more indepth about the dangers of sugar. This is serious business, folks. Check them out.

I really hope that people will try this way of eating and don't judge the book based on the negative reviews. Its a shame because I know that I rely heavily on amazon reviews for nearly everything but this is one instance where I can truly say the negative reviewers have it all wrong.

Thank you, Jorge, for your passion for health and bringing awareness to this nation. The book and your wisdom have been a blessing to me and my family.

I was introduced to the Belly Fat Cure in March as a result of an article in Costco's Costco Connection magazine and applied to be his coaching class for Costco members. I had been selected to take part in the program and during the course of the 11 weeks of coaching, was able to shed 47 pounds and 10 inches off my belly. I religiously followed the program during the coaching and tracked every meal making sure that no meals exceeded the recommended 5 grams of sugar and 2 carb servings. I was also taking probiotics and psyllium husks three times a day. The pounds literally were just melting right off of me.

I also want to note that I had started a running program in December of 2008 and by the time I started the Belly Fat Cure program, I had gone from not being able to run much of one mile to running three miles the whole way and was running 5 to 6 days a week. The running didn't result in any weight loss at all for me, just increased endurance. Once I added the Belly Fat Cure program, I started seeing weight loss.

Like Corrie Hearn's review, the book as it exists now wasn't available, we just got the core information about not exceeding 15 grams of sugar and 6 carb servings per day. We were taught how to read nutrition labels (that information is in the book) and given some key suggestions. We definitely did not the recipes and for that matter initially the food list. We did get that a few weeks in as an Excel spreadsheet. So essentially we had to "figure it out." It took a little trial and error but I started losing weight right away and inches. Some weeks I lost more than others, some I plateaued but stuck with it and it started falling off again.

What struck me as most beneficial about the program is that I had no idea how much sugar I had been consuming prior to the program. Even though there I was having a lot of "low fat" items those foods were actually loaded in sugar. The first week was a little rough getting used to dramatically less sugar. I probably went through about 15-20 packets of Truvia that first week to replace some of the sugar. I swapped out Iced Tea for sodas until I tried the Caramel Vanilla tea in the line of Lipton teas Jorge has recommended. I thought that tea was so disgusting it got me right off iced teas too and I've been more of an avid water and Zevia drinker ever since.

Within the first two weeks my appetite dropped considerably and the size of meals I used to eat all of and would still be looking for more food to eat right afterwards were becoming ones I couldn't finish and I was feeling full for a few hours instead of maybe an hour. This really hit home for me when I went out for dinner with a friend, my friend had an appetizer, a full entree with side items, and a dessert. I just opted to have loaded baked potato and I couldn't even finish it. In all fairness my friend didn't eat all of his meal either, but he had considerably more than I had and I know I would have had similar amounts prior to the program.

Following the coaching, I pretty much had a routine for my first couple of meals for the day so I stopped tracking every meal and then periodically would allow myself have a meal or two per week that might have slightly more sugar than 5 grams or maybe a meal with 3 carb servings. I even cut back on the psyllium husks and probiotics to once per day then to only 3-4 times per week. I also got so burned out on the running program I had been doing and quit it entirely. I haven't been back to any of the running in nearly six months now. But I've still lost weight with the Belly Fat Cure program despite stopping the running. Albeit, the rate at which I was losing weight has slowed considerably too. Since mid July, I've only lost another twenty seven pounds. I'm fine with that. I'm sure if I step back up to the three times daily probiotics/psyllium husks, the vigilant meal tracking, and the running I'd be getting back to the faster rate of weight loss.

I want to add a couple of comments to address some of the concerns of others here that have given the book poor ratings. Those comments are:

** Food is too expensive, too hard to find items in the book **
It can be if you let it. I don't use very many of the products myself. I just read the nutrition labels in the stores, whether its my local supermarket or a natural foods store, or even a 7-Eleven. I can find something to eat just about everywhere, it just takes a little time to pay attention to the labels. Maybe this is because the recommended foods list didn't exist at the time I started the program, so I just naturally gravitate towards reading labels in the store.

What's featured in the book is to just give you ideas of what to look for. They don't have to be those specific brands as featured in the book. They're just there to illustrate that there's a variety of products out there that you can have. And sure, maybe Zevia is the only recommended soda in the book, but that's because it's the only one on the market made with all natural ingredients and doesn't have the toxic artificial sweeteners found in other sodas. I was personally amazed by how great tasting it was, their Root Beer flavor especially reminds me of how A&W Root Beer used to taste to me when I was a kid but doesn't any longer because it's now made with High Fructose Corn Syrup. And the good part is Zevia's Root Beer is not bad for you.

Another example is the Ezekiel breads that Jorge recommends. I've never tried it. I don't use enough breads at home to justify buying a loaf of any kind of because I usually have to throw out more bread than I use, so I just don't buy it. I also don't use the Whey powders because I think they're expensive. About the only expensive product I do regularly buy is 5-lb bags of Zylitol and I get those here on Amazon because the bigger bag costs less than buying 3 1-lb bags in local stores (which are the largest I can find locally) so it's like getting 2 lbs for free.

** Not a lifestyle, unrealistic to cut out fruits **
You don't have to completely eliminate fruits, you just choose ones like blackberries and blueberries which are low in sugar. The key is to drop sugar so that you can lose weight. Once you do lose the weight you want to lose, then you can add it back in if you like. Just go in moderation. You don't have to completely ban it from your life. If you're willing to have a smaller portion of a high sugar item you can have anything you want.

For example, if what you really want is a banana, assume the banana is 20 grams of sugar. Cut a banana into quarters and you can have a quarter of the banana with four separate meals, maybe add it to your sugar free cereal for breakfast or with a breast of chicken for lunch and then you do it again the next day with the other two quarters. You still get your banana and are compliant with the program. I did this with a tube of imported Smarties Chocolates from Europe (kind of like a plain M&M). In the past that tube wouldn't have lasted a day, but when I only had no more than five or six little pieces a day, that tube lasted me about 3 months. And really it satisfied me because I was happy with just a little taste of it.

** Recipes Too Difficult **
I've had a draft version of the book since July and that older draft version has about 95% of the recipes that's in the final version of the book. And I've still only ever made one recipe from the book. That recipe is the home made sugar free ice cream recipe. I'm not a cook nor will I pretend to be one.

While the recipe section of the book is the least useful to me, I still appreciate having it because it's got a wealth of ideas that I could try if I was feeling up to cooking. The bulk of my meals I've done on this program have come from restaurants and a significant number of them have been from fast food, which brings me to the next complaint...

** Not Fast Food Friendly **
On the contrary, I find this program is very complimentary to fast food as that's mostly what I've eaten. I am a single guy who doesn't cook, so drive-thrus tend to be where I get a lot of meals. I want quick, simple, and cheap and all of it is possible with this program. The trick is CUSTOMIZING. For example, if I'm getting a burger, I find out what sauces a restaurant puts on their burgers, and then ask them not to use them. The sugar free sauces you can have are mustard, and mayonnaise so I'll often ask to have that used instead of ketchup, barbeque, or "special" sauces. Then I'll ask to have my burger wrapped in lettuce. This lets me use my 6 carb servings per day on other foods. And KFC's Grilled Chicken is fantastic on this program and its delicious too.

** French Fries And Bacon Are Not Healthy **
I wouldn't necessary call these items the healthiest either, but they are low sugar options. What people seem to be forgetting here is that if you're overweight the chances are pretty good you're not eating the healthy, all natural foods that people are complaining this program is not advocating enough of.

If all you eat are highly processed packaged foods, fast foods, restaurant meals, and/or things that come in boxes with nutrition labels, then this program is going to show you that you can still do the same thing, but with some education, you'll learn to make better choices and use many of the same foods to actually lose weight instead of gain weight.

This makes the program very simple to follow and easy to incorporate into your life and make it a lifestyle. The easiest changes to make are small changes. Once you've made one small change, you can build on it by making another one. You don't go from a lifetime of McDonald's value meals to homemade Vegan meals overnight without it being a complete shock to the system. Sure the Vegan meal might be the better choice, but its a completely foreign concept to the Big Mac fan. This is just a first step to better eating, and seeing results is going to help motivate further changes where maybe the fries and bacon get left behind in favor of better food choices. The changes have to start somewhere and picking fries and bacon over a Jamba Juice smoothie is only a first step. The goal here is to kick the sugar habit and drop some pounds, once that's been achieved, then we can worry about making better food choices.

This book could be summed up in one paragraph. Eat fewer than 15 gms. of sugar. Eat protein (and fat). Eat six servings of carbs. Eat fiber. Will it work? Yes. Do you need to spend $20 to know this? No way. Most of the products (or equivalents) are not too tough to find. I started purchasing the Almond Breeze milk a few months ago and found that it's not too much more than regular milk. It's a little more, but I end up saving money on it because it doesn't spoil as quickly as skim milk so I haven't thrown any out. To the reviewer to wasn't happy about eating "religious" bread...you don't have to go to Mars for it. (or spend $5 to have it shipped.) If you have access to a decent health food store, you can find the Ezekiel 9 bread. And talk with your local grocer. Often they are willing to order products. At least that has been my experience. The Belly Fat program seems to leave room for substitutions. I know I have been successful when I've limited my sugar intake--sugar is very addictive for me. Overall, the program makes sense. I like the fact that Cruise stresses not dieting and making smart choices a life style. That's great counsel regardless. Exercise should be a lifestyle. So should drinking enough water, getting enough sleep, and living a balanced life. I'm embarassed to think I need to buy a book to tell me that.

I started this program exactly 1 week ago. My original weight was 233 lbs., I'm now 219 lbs. on the dot. I have lost 14 lbs all together. In the book, Jorge gives you different ways to eat, be it home made meals, or meals on the go. I chose the fast meals, because I work nights and barely have time to cook. I won't lie though, it is hard, the first few days, you'll be hungry and temptation will be on your face every day; specially if you love Coca-Cola or any other soft drinks. That was the hardest part for me, seeing my co-workers drink and nice,cold, sweaty orange fanta.....it was hard.

This program tells you to limit your carb intake to 6 servings per day and your sugar to only 15gm a day! compared to a single coke, which contains 40+gms of sugar.

Some of the brands in the book are hard to find, but you can always substitute with others, as long as you follow the guidelines. I must say though, if you are a fruit lover, this diet might not be for you, because as we all know, most fruits have high levels of sugar and this program is a low sugar one, so you may find it hard to adjust. Also, since I started the program, I have suffered from light constipation, but I took care of it with baby spinach.

Like I said before, the book only allows a max of 15gm of sugar a day, since the day I started, I kept the sugar intake to a max of 11gm, which is bellow the recommended amount, I did however take all my carbs, no more than six or lessn than five though. I've been eating egg whites and two bacon strips every morning, two lean cuisine meals (the ones recommened by Jorge ONLY), snacking with chips; the type and amount are in the book, and cheese. No sodas, no fruit juices; only water or mineral water.

After a week or so, you won't feel as hungry, I've noticed that now I get full much quicker and do not crave sweets. My energy level has increased and I feel much better about myself.

This book works, it simply works. Give it a try, you won't be sorry.

P.S. If you are a beer lover like me, the book offers some beer brands that fall under the program.

The whole program is quickly summed up in 3 chapters - most of which expounds why people are unhealthy because they eat too much sugar - and then moves on to the program proper, which gets a couple of pages with very little explanation or ways to make it easier to understand. When I got to the food charts (the next 200 pages worth) I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Pancakes with butter, bacon, sausage and eggs. For ONE meal. Fake caramel and nuts. Butter, butter and more butter. Everything else was made of chemicals and sweeteners. And fresh fruit? No. Raw vegetables? Maybe. If it's lettuce or spinach. You want an apple? Wait until you lose all the weight. In the meantime, here's another list of things you can't eat. But you can eat a pile of fruit flavored xylitol covered with heavy cream. Page after page of pictures with "BELLY BAD!" vs. "BELLY GOOD!".

I went to the local Health Food Store to see if they had any of the healthy things you'd need to get through a day. Barlean's Omega 3 swirl was nearly thirty bucks a bottle. Zevia soda was about five for a six pack, and tasted awful. He tells you on one page not to eat at Carl's Jr. because of their sugary hamburger buns. In the back of the book one of the approved foods you can eat at a fast food place? A Carl's Jr. Spicy Chicken sandwich. HUH? It also doesn't say anywhere that if you order a sandwich or a taco that you should have it without ketchup or tomatoes or any of the myriad things that you're not supposed to eat because they're full of sugars.

I checked out "BELLY GOOD!" Fage Greek Yogurt and one serving of plain yogurt had 6 grams of sugar per serving. Over a third of your daily sugar allowance.

Everything else in the book seemed like marketing to me...I felt like Jorge had completely sold out to one company or another. I would have liked more explanations or more healthy options. I didn't feel at all like this was an eating program I could stick with for the rest of my life, it was too much like South Beach or Atkins. After angsting over making a chicken taco recipe I wanted to try, in which everything was healthy and "BELLY GOOD!" except 1/2 cup of orange juice, which would have skyrocketed me 1 point over the line, I decided this was not worth it to me. I just couldn't stand all this counting and no room for even healthy and nutritious foods.

The thing that really bothered me most about this book? Saying you don't need to exercise. I'm sorry, but that's not healthy or good for anybody...I don't care how much weight you lose!

I'm going back to my regular exercise and eating food that will keep me sane AND healthy. Plus I'd really just like to eat an organic apple without feeling bad about it. I really liked Jorge Cruise when he first came out with his exercise and diet books. I LOVED 8 Minutes in the Morning. I liked his straightforward and caring approach - he really seemed to have a handle explaining everything so it was easy to understand, and on visualization and meditation along with simple exercises to make you feel good about yourself.

Although I like the diet and ideas in this book, I would not recommend it as a kindle book. The graphics showing the menus and food lists were so tiny I feel like I have to buy the actual book in order to see what it said.

I pre-ordered "The Belly Fat Cure" for my Kindle on December 28, 2009 after seeing Jorge Cruise on "The View." Of all the diet plans that were being reviewed by "the girls" of "The View" Jorge's was the only one that I knew would work for me and made any sense, once again for me. What appealed to me was science behind the diet and my personal desire to remove all the hidden sugar from my life. Diabetes runs rapid throughout my mother's side of the family. I have several autoimmune diseases and I last thing I need is to develop Type 2 diabetes. To date I have not even after being on prednisone for eleven and a half years. Prednisone can trigger diabetes. Since then I have also purchased "hardcover" copy at my neighbor bookstore for ease of cooking the recipes each day. I did not have and continue to not have any of the problems the other reviews have had with the cover or the pages concerning the spiral binding and cannot understand why anyone would since it is all one piece. Maybe it has been changed since I brought my copy. Mine was purchased in January.

I began the diet, or as I prefer to call it the life change on January 4th. To date, I have lost 35 pounds, 10 inches from my hips and 7 inches from my waist and couldn't be happier. I have to agree with some of my fellow reviewers that the book was somewhat disappointing and repeated itself from time to time. I also agree that Mr. Cruise did recommend certain specialty food products I could not find in my regular supermarket. I, like other reviewers do not live near a Whole Foods. However, I took the extra step of learning about the products on their websites by reading their nutrition side panels, then found similar products in my supermarket. I am very motivated to lose 100 pounds and I know this life style change/diet will work for me.

Now for a few negative comments: prior to going on this plan I had my cholesterol, blood pressure, etc. taken by my doctor. Being overweight doctors almost always assume you are going to have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc. I am happy to say my blood pressure and cholesterol were very far below nationally averages. He was shocked! I was not. I have always eaten healthy; just too much. I was basically a vegan/vegetarian before going on this diet. I stayed away from red meat, chicken and only occasionally ate fish. I didn't eat eggs or cheese. I did eat lots of fruits, vegetables, nuts, yogurts, tofu and whole grains. I never ate process meats like bacon or hot dogs because of nitrates. That's not to say I don't like them. In fact, I love all of the foods mentioned above. I just wanted to live a healthier life style.

This diet concerns me because of the consumption of bacon, sausage, tons of eggs and lack of fruits and minimal vegetables (although I eat lots of the salads that are for lunch for dinner instead). The diet is constipating and I find I have to consume psyllium husks and plenty of water on a daily basis to remain regular.

I will continue with this diet as long as it works. Yes, I have hit plateaus, but not for long periods and mostly because I have cheated. The plan works. Yes, there have been some weeks I have lost more than 4 pounds in one week, but never more than 7 pounds and certainly not 9 pounds. But of course everyone is different. As for exercising, some days I do and some I don't. I think in general it is good for overall health but is not necessary for weight lost. Good science has proven that. I read the article in Newsweek or Time magazine (I forget which) long before Mr. Cruise posted it on his website. I believe exercising becomes far easier once one has lost weight and toning becomes important for overall appearance.

Dieting is a very personal thing. One must find the plan that works best for them. I have been on every diet known to man. This one works best for me at the moment. I recommend it, however one must do what is best for them.

To set the stage, I am girl in my mid-twenties with a professional job for which I travel constantly. Also, when I'm home in Chicago I like to go out to eat, enjoy the nightlife, etc.

I stumbled upon this book one day at Sam's Club and checked it out since it caught my eye. I am about 5'6" and at that point I weighed about 15 lbs more than I wanted to. The idea that sugar (not fat) is what makes some people fat was a foreign concept to me, as I've had about a million friends and family members do the Weight Watchers thing.

This is the easiest way to eat in the world once you get used to it. I started this plan at the beginning of March of 2010 and it is now June and I weigh 23 lbs less. I have never been to a restaurant where I couldn't find something to eat, and with the advice from Jorge in the book about restaurant foods, and the availability of nutrition information on the internet, it is easy to put together some go-to options for when you are on the road.

Also, the food I make from the book and the recipes I have created using the S/C counts go over amazingly well with my boyfriend and non-Jorge following family members. I never feel like I'm eating 'weird diet food'. To be honest, I have friends who don't even know I'm doing the plan based on what I order at restaurants-- they just think I'm on some crazy workout regimen.

Please check this book out if you are hesitant. Not all diet plans are for everyone, but this one worked for me and my body chemistry. I plan on eating this way for a long, long time since it has made me feel and look so much better.

**UPDATE**

I posted my first review this summer. It is now November, and I am down a total of 39 lbs with a BMI of 22. This book has changed my outlook on food and fat forever. PLEASE check it out if you are looking for a liveable way to lose weight, have a few drinks and some fun, go out, and eat delicious things. Good luck!

I started The Belly Fat Cure last week, and I already feel great! I've lost 1 lb in 3 days and an inch off my waist. I was already a healthy eater (mostly whole, "real" food, minimal processed foods, lots of fruit and veggies), but I've been having trouble losing weight from my two pregnancies in the last two years. I have about 15 lbs to lose (150 lbs,5'5", and a size 14 now, plan to go down to 130-135 and a size 8), and I'm excited to lose it with this program!

There are lots of criticisms that people have raised, and I think many of them are good points. For instance, "How can a diet that limits fruit and milk intake be good?" Or, "He promoted too many processed foods." These are both very good points. However, this diet is highly adaptable.

I am able to stick within the guidelines of the diet by making much of the food myself, from scratch. My homemade tortillas are 100% whole grain and have no sugar (3 cups flour, 1 cup water, 1/3 cup coconut oil, and salt to taste, roll flat and cook in a skillet. They are soooo yummy). You can use whole grain pasta or brown rice as well. Make salad dressing yourself (olive oil, lemon, garlic, shaved Parmesan, and salt and pepper). There are plenty of ways to get natural calcium without drinking milk, like through cheese or real broth, which you can eat as much as you want.

I plan to stick with this plan as a lifestyle. I do plan to add fruit back in to my diet once I reach my goal weight. I think that the body treats these natural sugars a lot differently than processed ones.

One reason why I am really liking this diet is that, as a breastfeeding mother, my milk supply has not suffered at all. When I do simple calorie restriction, my milk supply decreases. This hasn't happened on the Belly Fat Cure, probably because you are getting more than enough fats. I'm very careful to get as many nutrients as possible on the diet, but I may start adding some fruit back in to guarantee I get all my baby needs.

So, overall, I really like what Jorge says, and I feel great on the diet! However, he does promote too many processed foods. You can easily adapt this into a healthy, "whole food" lifestyle. You'll feel great getting off sugar, and you'll feel thinner almost instantly, even though the scale may not show it for a couple days.

I'd always been very skeptical of anything that remotely resembles the Atkins diet. I'm a vegetarian and have had some moderate success with low fat diets in the past, so carbs were friends. I picked this book up though, because even though I was relatively happy with my figure (size 8), I could never lose my disproportionally large belly! No matter how much I ran, did Pilates, or other abs intense exercises, I had a hard time finding clothes right because of my large belly.

After seeing what was involved with this, I figured I'd give it a week and then return it after it didn't work (and I was sure it wouldn't!). Lo and behold, the scale didn't move much in one week (2 lbs), but my belly was shrinking. The belt had to be taken in another notch and my clothes were getting lose around the waist.

I have stuck with this since and have over four months lost 12 lbs and shrunk from a size 8 to a size 4. I feel different too--I think I must have been living on an insulin high my whole life. I've always worked out a lot and now I have even more energy and more a lot more muscle definition.

I haven't adhered to the prescription in the strictest sense, because I work out so much and am a vegetarian. Sometimes I'll eat a piece of fruit or two in a day and probably eat closer to 130 - 150 grams of carbs a day, which I doubt Jorge would approve of. Either way though, this has worked amazingly for me!

I can see why some say it's expensive, but when you compare it with the health costs that you'll pay later, not to mention compare it with how much people spend on liposuction and tummy-tucks, it's worth it.