Customer Reviews

The Traveler's Diet: Eating Right and Staying Fit on the Road

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was hoping for something more practical. This book was rather disappointing. It consists mostly of the author's experience with a rather complex (and expensive) "system" for diet and exercise. Here's what I would have rather seen:

1) Instead of a list of menu items at specific (expensive) hotels around the world, I would rather have gotten some guidance on how to select healthier menu items regardless of which hotel I find myself in. Menus in restaurants change too often for a "list" to be very practical. Also, I don't stay in the same hotels the author does, so the list is not useful.

2) It is also not very practical to me to have the personal trainer at the hotel direct me straight to the gym as soon as I check in instead of going to my room. To be able to do this, the author sends his luggage by courier in advance (so that he doesn't have to haul his "stuff" with him) and the hotel puts it in his room for him to. How about some advice for us mere mortals who might not even be in a hotel with a first class gym and personal trainer? Or no gym at all? (Let's see, what is the expense report charge number for "personal trainer"?...Oh, that's right, I don't HAVE one!)

3) I don't need a pound by pound description of what his personal trainers back home thought of his exercise and weigh-in sessions. Give me a practical, on-the-road plan to follow. Too much of the book is spent describing the author's personal adventure in weight loss and exercise with very little practical information.

4) He describes the exercises he followed by name only. Most of them I recognized, but some I didn't. How about a description of the exercises for those of us without a "personal" personal trainer?

To sum it up, this seemed more like a personal diary that a useful guide to "Eating Right and Staying Fit on the Road". I'm glad that the author travels 400,000 mile a year, (and am even more glad that I don't!!). I'm glad that he lost weight and got in shape, (I need to) and that he was successful at working out a program and then following it (again, I need to). I'm also glad that he stays only in the best hotels with marvelous facilities and that he doesn't have to lug luggage around and that he has a team of personal trainers and others to look after him, including personal trainers who attentively meet him at the front desk of the hotel...etc, etc. (I don;t and I'm jealous!!!). :^)

How about something that those of us travelers who live in the "real world" can follow?

I am one of those road warriors who saw her weight increase as much as her frequent flier mileage. I really needed this book. i just finished it two weeks ago, and followed Peter's instructions on my last two road trips. I can personally attest that it works -- I lost a pound the first week, and a pound and a quarter the second. and that's just following his diet tips. Now, on my next trip, iIm going to incorporate his exercise ideas. So thank you Peter, for always pointing us in the right direction with your previous books, and in my case, for pointing this overweight traveler in the right direction!

I love Peter's books; if I don't have them in paperback, I have them in ebook. The only one I cannot recommend wholeheartedly, without reservation, is this one. Why?

The exercise recommendations are quite good, as are the detailed reviews of hotel chains and exercise strategies/equipment. For that information alone, I give this book four stars. The missing fifth star, unfortunately, is for the book's wholesale negative attitude towards low-carb diets in general.

If you have Syndrome X, carbohydrate intolerance, or diabetes (and a greater percentage of people in today's world do), this book is a sure-fire ticket to problems. Most of the dietary advice centers around a vegetarian, high-pasta, high-rice, high-fruit or fruit juice-containing meal. That's a lot of carbs. For some people, high-carb meals tend to pack on a lot of water-weight in the extremities. That's the last thing many of us want on a long-haul flight!

Most diabetics have to watch their carb intake for health reasons - fail to do so and you need to pack more pills or insulin, at the very least. At worst, your business or pleasure trip might end up in the local hospital. So, if this is a concern you need to be aware of, this is a great book for EVERYTHING but the food advice.

If you are buying this FOR the food advice, and have diabetes controlled by diet alone, or are on Atkins/Protein Power/Sugar Busters/South Beach/Zone/any of the low-carb regimens, you will probably be happier buying a book on low-carb meals instead.

Otherwise, it's a great book! If you have no dietary problems, and want to get the spare tire off so you rattle in that coach seat, click buy now! Peter Greenberg's books are always well-researched, easy to read and follow, and are keepers on any traveler's book shelf. If you get this one, and don't have any of his other books, I HIGHLY recommend you get at least one other of his books with this one. Just one tip can save you the cost of a day's rental car or more.

Happy Travels!

My daughter sent me this book for Father's Day, not because I do a lot of traveling, but because she works for Mr. Greenberg and knows that I'm interested in what he does. I have his three previous books, but I have only read them on a hit-or-miss basis thus far. This book, however, I read while I was on vacation in South America.

I will be upfront and admit that this book does not apply to my life as specifically as it does to those poor folk that must travel a good portion of the year. I will admit that it brought to my attention the need to eat a more healthy diet. For that reason alone, this book was worth the read. I find myself ordering healthier items from the menu whether it is sit-down or fast food. I have all but stopped drinking soda pop (I have found myself drinking Arnold Palmers as a replacement, however) and prefer water or milk with my meals at home.

For those of you "frequent fliers" who are aware that you need to do something about your on-the-road lifestyle, I highly recommend this book. It is an easy read even though the complete implimentation may be a challenge. Greenberg gives loads of information on how (and in some cases where) to eat a healthy diet at the airport, how to get some good exercise at the airport, the hotel, and in the city where you will be staying. You may not be able to do all the book suggests, but finding your own niche in his overall plan can't hurt. If nothing else, it is a great reference guide that is easy to pack along.

In closing, Peter is to be lauded for his efforts in putting this book together. It would have been easy to research and write from that perspective, but he actually put his theory into practice before writing the book.

I have followed a lower carb diet for over a decade and it has worked well for me. I find Mr Greenberg's snack list for traveling VERY balanced and extremely practical. For those just starting a lower carb lifestyle, you may want a higher protein fair---but many of us are simply weight-maintainers and these choices of complex carbs available are a good choice. Serious health-conscience people know that complex carbs are essential to maintain good health and Mr Greenberg has designed the snack portion of his book in such a way that are not overly stimulating and detrimental to the body.

This book has some great information, but it is only really useful to a very narrow profile. That is, high end business travelers. I am a professional pilot, and found over half of the information was not applicable to my case. Mr. Greenburg does do a great job bringing together some diverse and interesting research. He also has compiled some useful lists with regard to nutritional information of various airport restaurants and airline food.

If you do not fit the target profile, but it is worth the money to get some of this information, go ahead and buy the book. I was able to extract some useful items that will hopefully maintain a higher level of fitness, but I don't think it will be quite as revolutionary for me as it was for the author.

"Despite all good intentions, no matter what shape you're in, or whatever your exercise program, travel is the great enemy." quote by author

This book is written by someone who travels 400,000 miles a year, and is someone who struggled with weight, exercise and accelerating health concerns.

First, he had to realize that he needed help, and then he had to keep a food diary. Keeping a food diary is a very eye opening experience. If you have never done it, I suggest you try it. Tell yourself that every bite you eat and the time will be logged, with no exceptions. Include what you are going when you eat, or how you feel at the time. Cheating on your food diary is silly, because probably only you will see it, and you know what you ate.

Actually, few people could tell you what they ate for breakfast today. Think about it...what did you eat this morning? Or how about yesterday?

Some of the tools you can get by reading this book include learning how to prepare for the worst case scenarios when you travel, such as how to handle the minibar in your room, and if possible never eat anything after 8 PM. There is more information on how to handle food decisions, and exercise decisions at the airport, and on the plane.

Once you get to the hotel you have different challenges and there is a chapter to help you manage eating at the hotel, and how to deal with your exercise plans and what is available for you at each different hotel chain.
The travelers diet - at sea. On a cruise you will be constantly bombarded with food, and he gives some good suggestions for dealing with all that yummy food. He also gives us a chart rating the different cruise lines for their positive features toward healthy eating, and also lists the overall negatives. He mentions which cruise lines have fitness rooms and the type of fitness classes available.

For traveling by air he gives detailed information on major airlines and also gives suggestions to avoid jetlag and how to take powernaps. When flying, get to the airport early and do some laps, and find a salad in the fast-food aisle. If you have a long layover, find a gym- he lists many airports with full-service fitness centers. Avoid alcoholic beverages in the airport, but also on the plane.

The final chapter lets us know what worked for him, and what didn't: cheat once a week, eat the dessert that is offered to you- once. Remember eating on the road is not easy, you don't have control on where you will be eating, but you do have control over how you eat and how much you will consume at a given setting. Don't skip breakfast, don't look at the menu, eat more slowly, eat a salad first, watch your potions, never weight yourself on the hotel scale.

There is a good resource section at the back of the book with ideas of active things to do at a variety of locations, and a listing of websites to help with weight management, up-to-date travel news, and exercise and diet facts.

Any diet book will find some people who will be helped by the concepts taught in the book. There will be others who complain because it isn't quite what they were looking for. I like to take a book and use it as a buffet and take and use the parts that will help me.

I only gave this book 4 stars because it was a little too specific, lists and lists can go out of date way too quickly. I think more information on how to make better choices when eating would have been helpful. Also, he was evaluating so many of the higher end hotels, there was no real good information for the budget traveler.