The Warrior Diet (Paperback)

by Ori Hofmekler (Author), Diana Holtzberg (Author) "There's a primal instinct deep inside you that may be triggered in (what I call) moments of truth..." (more)
Key Phrases: warrior diet, giant superset, loading your body, Undereating Phase, Warrior Instinct, Overeating Phase (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

For the Greco-Roman soldier wannabe, this modified fasting program from a former member of the Israeli Special Forces is similar to weight builders' "animalbolics" diet. Forget calorie counting. Instead, Hofmekler suggests that we return to our bodies' instinctive eating style, "undereating" during the day and "overeating" at night. He recommends eating a daily main meal in the evening, with no caloric restrictions (light snacking on fresh fruits and vegetables is okay during the day, as is eating small amounts of lean protein). According to the author, this burns fat, builds muscles, accelerates metabolism, and slows aging. Short, intense strength and aerobic exercises (illustrated) are also part of the "warrior training," along with pre-and post-workout meals. Alluring though the "warrior" image may be, it seems unrealistic to expect most men especially the 40-plus who would most benefit to stick with this plan for a lifetime.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review
"Women everywhere are raving about the super-effective warrior diet—and losing weight at record speeds." -- Woman's World, November 2002

An original, distinctive, and highly satisfying diet plan, meant especially for those who pursue an active lifestyle. -- Midwest Book Review, 2002

The Warrior Diet is our "# ONE Slim-Down Miracle of 2002—Our Pick for Best of the Best." -- First for Women magazine, December 2002

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 420 pages
• Publisher: Dragon Door Publications (June 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0938045482
• ISBN-13: 978-0938045489
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (53 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #136,774 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

102 of 113 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lean-n-Mean, August 21, 2003

By	"bradleytc" (Big Spring, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Warrior Diet (Hardcover)

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.

49 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Revolutionary and thought provoking, BUT...., December 31, 2001

By	Larry Macri (Kailua, HI United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Warrior Diet (Hardcover)

Ori Hofmekler (former editor/publisher of Mind and Muscle Power magazine. Man, I LOVED that magazine!) definitely has alot of guts for writing a diet book such as this, giving controversial advice concerning meal frequency and portion sizes! The main theme is this: undereat or fast during the day, keeping blood sugar levels low and eating only very small amounts of food, like vege/fruit juice, protein, whole fruits/veges. This cycle of the diet (which occurs on a daily basis) serves as the detoxification mode. Your body is cleansing, you are working off fat stores, and brain function/creativity/instinctual drives should be increased positively. Workouts with weights and cardio should be done on an empty stomach, where fat burning is highly increased due to a 'fasted mode'. Then in the evening, you 'overeat' on lean proteins, veges, salad, etc. I highly enjoy Ori's creative ideas and the historical twist he puts in the book regarding ancient warriors and Greeks, and the diet did have some success for me, when I was strict with it. The diet is extremely convenient for students as well, who don't have the time to mess with frequent meals. But, beware, don't think that you can overeat at night on anything you want, Ori is very clear that the overeating faze is for healthy foods only! Also, I don't believe that if your goal is to gain alot of muscle that this particular diet is for you...more for people that are interested in the 'lean' look.

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More Like the Hunters Diet, February 25, 2005

By	Robert M. Kirwan "World Traveller" (Planet Earth) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Warrior Diet (Hardcover)

-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.