Customer Reviews

The Warrior Diet

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(8)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I came across this title on the Dragon Door website where I had ordered a set of kettlebells (see The Russian Kettlebell Challenge by Pavel Tsatsouline). After doing a little background research about the Warrior Diet book and its author, I decided to order it from Amazon.com.

I followed the diet along with following a system of workouts based on static weightlifting (i.e., deadlifts, standing presses) and ballistic lifting (clean and jerks, snatches), as well as aerobic training.

As for the diet itself, it is revolutionary to our modern dietary "philosophy", which in my way of thinking, says: "I would rather be comfortable than be truly alive." It was not so much the name "Warrior Diet" as it was the philosophy behind it that inspired me to practice it.

In short, the author encourages the reader to strive for a state of physical and mental toughness, the foundation of which is built on our most basic function- eating. During the day, one eats small amounts of fruits and vegetables (with a little protein). At night, one can eat until s/he is satisfied.

Over a period of two months, I've lost only 8 lbs. (from 175 to 167), but, much to my wife's delight, I have regained musculature that I haven't seen in twenty years. Even more, my concentration has greatly improved and I don't get the afternoon blahs like I did under my old (conventional) rules of eating.

To top it off, I think my attitude is changing. I am an engineer, and more like Dilbert than I care to admit. However, since I've been going without food during the day and eating like a horse at night, I've turned into a real horse's $$$ at work. Not in a bad way- I still have my job- but I find myself speaking up to defend good ideas and tearing up bad ones. In other words, I don't go with the flow anymore. Is this due to the diet or merely psychological? I don't have a clue, but in light of the other benefits, I'll keep practicing the Warrior Diet.

And I don't care if you find this review helpful or not.

-I was skeptical at first, just reading this book, but decided to give it a go. It goes against everything I have read or been taught prior on eating. I was eating 6-8 small meals throughout the day maintaining my sizable physique plus some stubborn fat stores. Now I eat little bits here and there throughout the day followed up with a feast at night of such size that previous eating habits would have made me feel guilty. The book is a good read adding some historical bits here and there to put you in a good thought process.
-I have been on the diet for nearly a month now and I have to admit it works, for me. During the first two weeks I was dropping a pound every 1-2 days slowly tapering off to 1 pound of weight a week(13 total pounds as of this morning). I didn't find it hard to undereat during the day as long as I knew I was getting my reward that evening with a nice big meal. I am an avid drug free weight trainer and have lost no strength nor have I lost any size where it counts. I am losing bodyfat big-time, and have lost a total of 4 inches off my waist as of the day I write this. I have an over-abundance of energy throughout the day but especially around feeding time and have caught myself pacing in anticipation of my meals, its not a hunger thing either its more like some sort animal hunter thing that has been awakened, Grrr!
-After reading this over though I am thinking it may be a conditioned response... like some sort of zoo animal at feeding time. I guess I could vary my feeding times or take up hunting animals with a sharpened stick and a big rock.

First off, I gave this book 4 stars only because of the recommended supplements - if the author wasn't touting expensive supplements to go with the diet I'd give it 5 stars.

That said - it really isn't a fad diet! I've been on fad diets and gained to 160lbs as a 5'7" female. Atkins, low fat, high fat, 6 mini meals, until I finally decided to give up dieting once and for all.

I found myself eating a large meal at night and not much during the day and feeling better and losing weight! So I researched large dinner meals on the web so I wouldn't feel so guilty for eating against most nutrition and diet fad dogma. I found this book and was so happy to have someone back up my own instinctive findings!

While this way of eating may not work for everyone, once you get used to eating very lightly during the day, you'll have so much more energy! Sometimes I break down and eat a sandwich or a meal at lunchtime, then get very sluggish and I find I need coffee or some type of caffeine to get through the afternoon. When I'm drinking lots of water and small bits of protein bar throughout the day - no meals - I fly through with amazing clarity of mind.
I find I look forward to my main meal around 8pm and it tastes so good. It also feels better than ever in my life after eating that meal. Instead of feeling bloated and sick I feel satisfied and comfortable.

One final note (actually 2)
1) I absolutely love eating a large meal at dinner and having other girls look at my chocolate cake or fatty meal in envy (I'm now 130lbs 5'7" and toned), or have my friends make remarks that they can't believe I can eat like that and stay thin :)

2) I used to binge eat when I was dieting, and would eat until I felt very sick at night. I can honestly say this is different, I'm not rifling through the fridge stuffing whatever I can find in my mouth, or going through a tub of ice cream, I'm just eating a large meal, as I've seen so many athlete guys do at night (I used to be on a swim team, and boy do those guys pack in their dinner). It feels healthy, satisfying and I've grown to like the slight feeling of emptiness during the day as I feel alert and energetic, not deprived as I used to.

PS. There was a reviewer who said he gave the diet a bad review until he tried working out before dinner...I usually do go for a jog just after work/before dinner so yes, I do work out along with eating this way.

This book has some interesting ideas but would be much better if the author would tell you how to implement the diet without having to use all the supplements he recommends. Warrior-zyme, warrior-milk, warrior-growth serum, minerals, probiotics, and more. There's an order form at the back of the book with prices. Buying from the books source, the minimum he advises taking, I came up with $740. for a months supply. Yes, you read that right and bear in mind this is the minimum he advises. I called the 800 number on the order form and guess what? Those supplements are no longer even available from dragon door (the publisher).

i made a review on this diet about a year ago. I dont know how to remove it, so ill add a positive review. It turns out i was doing the diet totally wrong and that is why i was losing muscular mass. I am currently following this diet and i am much leaner. Heres a tip to maximize weight loss: Before your "meal" make sure you do ANY kind of workout to promote digestion and anabolism. It really helps. The thing this book didnt touch on isa that you need to work out before your meal or it is possible the food will just turn into fat.

This approach to eating actually works. I started using it, almost accidentally, last March, before I ever head of or read the book, and lost an unneeded 40 pounds. Several of the caustic reviews are almost nonsensical in the criticisms they level at the concept. Any approach to managing one's weight, muscle mass and body fat content requires management of total caloric intake, as well as the proportions of carbohydrates and protein in the diet, agressive hydration, AND vigorous exercise. That is really all that the author recommends. I am not enamoured with catchy titles - Warrior Diet, South Beach Diet, Atkins Diet - responsible eating doesn't need a name. Expensive, proprietary supplements are equally silly. But, the concepts the author recommends, including nightime 'overeating' coupled with daytime fasting, are as physiologically valid, and effective as other approaches, and simply do not lead to 'eating disorders', renal problems, or any of the (very unlikely) other negative outcomes predicted in several of the somewhat fanciful reviews. The book and the concept deserve scutiny if you are seriously interested in a potentially helpful approach to managing your eating and health.

While the articles in Muscle & Power got me interested in the premise of The Warrior Diet, this actual book left me with more questions than answers. I gave the diet a month (honestly) with no results and I allude this to one aspect - a calorie is still a calorie no matter when ingested, even if from clean healthy foods. The biggest problems I had with this book are thrice-fold (a) lack of scientific evidence, (b) structure and (c) product selling. The lack of scientific evidence (How much and what early man ate? Actual diet information of the Greeks, Romans, Norse, etc? and, The hypothetical caloric intakes and daily workloads of such as well as hunter-gatherers) or excerpts from other studies from anthropologists or archeologists leaves his major premise suspect. Even a detailed appendix chapter listing resources explored would greatly add to the author's hypothesis... As to structure, the workout section is too open. While the push-pull, grouping of exercises is fine, I can't help but wonder why the author did not equate the actual daily chores a warrior would go through to these exercises to add credibility to his argument. (Ergo, how far did a hunter travel per day to hunt? How much effort does it take to thatch a house? Groom a horse? Fight a battle?) Last, I do not like books that offer great ideas only to sell a product line - this is why I have great problems with EAS (but that's me). Why offer a great way to help people lose weight and better themselves when the seemingly only way to do so if to sell expensive supplements? I do not understand this rationale. It truly is hard enough to buy good clean foods at a decent price, let alone add extra $$$ per month on supplements. Warriors would have not had access to this supplement line in ancient times which seems a hypocritical aspect of this book. Yes, modern man has access to supplements, but it goes against the hypothesis of this book... While I did enjoy the premise of this book, I hope that in the second or later editions some thought is given to these aspects.

It sounds odd to have a gargantuan meal for dinner to lose weight, but it worked. I do find it very hard to stick to only fruits and vegetables during the day though. I once went on Atkins for a couple weeks, the weightloss was rapid, but I felt really tired during that time. With The Warrior Diet, I lost weight almost as quick, but wasn't tired. I also did not follow this book 100% and had a small meal during the day instead of sticking to fruits and vegetables. I did however follow Ori's plan for the Big Meal when I made the small meal. The results were still there. There is also a grueling workout Ori has if you're up for it. I'm just not sure if Ori needed all 418 pages.

I started this diet five years ago while stationed in Japan. I decided the food the Navy was feeding me had two major problems, it was too often and too much. After a year on the ship I had gained 15 pounds and was facing getting the waist of my dress blue pant let out.

One of the other guys in my shop who was trying to loose weight had bought this book (hard back) and told me to read it. I realized quickly that it was going to take a life altering change in eating habit to stick with it (eat almost nothing during the day, eat a huge meal at night, but the meal at night has to be eaten in a certain basic order (vegetables first, starches last but room for some variation), but decided to go for it.

Early on, I was famished during the day. I coped with this by eating excessive amounts of carrots, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Eventually I cut back on these until I ate almost nothing throughout the day. It was a gradual cutback and was based on my hunger pains. Additionally, I started to workout twice a week (45 min weights and 30 min cardio each time. It was the most I could fit in my schedule). With in a year I had basically no hunger pains at all (though still ate a small portion of fruits/vegetables/nuts on workout days).

After five years, at 6', 170 lbs, and a 29" waist, I'm in better shape than I was in college (I was a slug in college, but a thin slug who started putting on weight later). Due to my job I occasionally have to eat a social lunch during the day. When possible I get a salad, if that's not possible I eat light and then eat light in the evening also. On the down side, I'm no longer use to being lethargic during the day so, when I have to eat lunch I really want to find a place to go take a nap within an hour of eating. It's amazing how much more energy you have if your body is not spending all it's time digesting food. Additionally, I found I fall asleep much quicker at night with a full belly.

Good luck to all who try it, but this diet is no different than others in that it requires self discipline.

After a couple of years of trying to get down in weight, I by chance happened to experience I could not eat at daytime and fully eat in the evening and lose weight!
After weeks of searching on the internet how this was possible and looking for negative side-effects I found there was a diet which did the same: The Warrior Diet.
I am convinced this is it for the rest of my life: Happy eating instead of worrying about fat and food.
I am 45, was 100 kg, 30% fat six months ago, now 88 kg, 23% fat.
I changed my rigid style to the advises of Hofmekler and eat some fruit, creamy dessert, egg and cheese at daytime. In the evening I eat everything. I can guarantee you that as Ori says your body and mind will change gradually to healthy food, just eat intuitively! Start just with everything you like, even fast food or other bad foods. You will change automaticely.