Customer Reviews

Where Did All the Fat Go?: The WOW! Prescription to Reach Your Ideal Weight- And Stay There

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Unlike many gimmicky and fad diets out there, this is a plan rooted in how our bodies are actually wired to be healthy. With an empasis on getting healthy instead of losing pounds, the end result is incredible transformation with a new lease on life and a maintainable weight loss! I was one of the Season 3 Biggest Loser at home contestants who had nothing but Dr. Huizenga's WOW Prescription to reach my ideal weight; no trainers, no gym equipment, no fairy tale weight loss ranch. I followed his advice and guidance to the letter and over the course of eight months I lost 176 pounds (see my transformation at www.MatthewMcNutt.com). I've read his book and am overwhelmed at how he has successfully captured on paper the plan that has helped five seasons (and counting) of Biggest Loser contestants lose the weight - and it can be done all at home, like I and 35 others demonstrated in season three with the at home competition! Unlike many weight loss books, Huizenga has woven the stories of the 36 at home participants through out the book, using our examples, questions and experiences to illustrate how to implement his plan. Rather than just tell the reader what to do, he demonstrates that it is possible in the real world. Not only that, it makes for an enjoyable read! Besides giving a behind the scenes look at how the contestants actually lose the weight at such a dramatic pace on the Biggest Loser Ranch, he communicates a sense of hope and possibility that many of us have lost sight of. Without a doubt, there is someone in the book that each reader can identify with and find an inspiration with. I absolutely recommened this book; it has literally saved my life.

My name is Mark Monaco, and I agree with everything Matthew said. I was an 36 at home contestant along with Matthew. I represented Montana. Prior to The Biggest Loser, I tried almost EVERTHING!! This book IS The Biggest Loser. It is exactly what Dr.H taught us. There are no gimmicks here, just common sense, hard work, and consistency. Add up four or five of those 16 oz. Lattes and you have the cost of the book. What do you have to lose ;0)

This book could change your life if you let it. To a certain degree, it reminds me of those P90x or Insanity commercials. The premise being, "If you dedicate yourself to this program, it will work." The only way you can fail is by giving up. Your future is in your hands.

This book is broken down into two major segments. The first half of the book is history, plan, and workouts. You first learn what you are doing and why are doing it. The second half of the book is an inspirational journal for your journey. You read the first half before you start, and the second half as you go.

The plan itself is rather simple. You work out for 2 hours a day, six days a week. To be more specific, he instructs you to do jogging (walking if needed) in the morning for an hour each morning. On Monday, Wednesday, and Friday you will do weight training in the evening alongside of more cardio. On Tuesday and Thursday nights, you should get involved in a sports activity. On Saturday, you should have a family type outing, like hiking, bike riding, etc. The outing should last a minimum of 2-3 hours.

On top of the heavy workout schedule, you need to eat right. Eating is a huge part of weight loss, even if you are working out 2 hours a day. He has a formula to calculate your calories, but it is about 80%-100% of your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR).

So what happens if you follow this program? I lost 7.2 pounds the first week, while being injured. As a result of my foot injury, I did a lot of upper body workouts and biking. I am getting back to full body workouts, so I should burn more calories. I plan to beat the 7.2 pounds this week. I'll update this review to let you know my progress. I started at 288 and am now 281 a week into the program.

I'm willing to bet that you're thinking, "Who has 2 hours a day to workout?" Rob addresses this well. It's your health and your life. If you don't make time for getting healthy, no matter how extreme that may be, then you aren't treating the situation seriously. And it IS serious. I have a full time job like everyone else, and I was able to fit this into my schedule. It isn't always easy. I do my best to work around my schedule. This concept cannot fail unless I let it fail. I'm the only variable; the rest is science. If I fail, I caused it.

Change your life while you have the chance. Don't waste your time on hype and get-slim-quick schemes. Don't buy into easy weight loss. Weight loss isn't easy. It takes hard work and dedication. Most importantly, it's a lifelong commitment to stay healthy and active. Make your commitment now. Buy the book, read it, and start on the journey with me!

GOOD:
Oct 2008 weight watchers was getting me nowhere. I felt like I wasn't eating enough. Watching biggest looser, I saw they were wearing something. It was the BodyBugg. Bought it to try. Well, I started at 275, and lost a little more than two pounds a week, and got down to 225 in just about 25 weeks. AMAZING. But, then I HIT THE WALL. Only 1 or so in a month. Frustated,I hit the message boards. Someone said, look at this book "Where did the all the fat go". So, still needing to loose 35-45 more pounds. I needed answers. This book has amazing insight to the origins of the show, and puts to bed many weight loss myths. My problem? I was exercising too much. (I had gotten to be the fuel efficient car on the highway so I wasn't burning enough) The book had tips on that. And what I think I just found as a BIG BIG issue for me. Not enough salt. Now, most people may have too much salt. Especially if they are obese like I was. But, with the amount of exercise, sweat, and water I am drinking. Plus south florida heat and humidity. I did not have the right salt intake. AND THAT can make you KEEP WEIGHT on.
BAD: The only downside to the book is that it's a little outdated. It is pre "bodybugg" so the effort to journal, and write down and calculate all the calories is a labor intensive part of the book that is not needed today.
FUTURE: I'd love to see an updated version of the book with the knowledge the good doctor has gained since he wrote it, and with the "bugg" tracking.

I read a library version of this book and I am going to buy my own copy so I can easily refer to it over and over.

In this book the author tells how the idea of the Biggest Loser developed and how the exercise and diet ideas were put together. It is written of course, by a doctor and there is wonderful references to actual scientific studies.

But it is not dry, it is a pleasant read that is very inspirational. Over and over he talks about how morbidly obese people can exercise intensely and why they should. The diet plan is just common sense and reasonable. He discusses why many have failed to get good results in using the latest fad diets and the typical cardio programs.

I think the strength training ideas in the book is great for starting out perhaps, but that is a weak area. However, Just Say No to Cardio: Burn Belly Fat in Half the Time Using Research Proven Turbulence Training has a wonderful plan for strength training and is useful for beginners as well as advanced athletes as there is a beginner program to start and advances to very very challenging strength training that can be done in your home with minimal equipment.

Working out intensely is the message of both of these books. Although, Lose the Fat has a lot more cardio, it is my layperson's opinion that this may be necessary for obese people, especially the ones who are morbidly obese like seen on the Biggest Loser. Shorter high intensity intervals (used in turbulence training) is also needed but the obese may have trouble achieving sufficient intensity initially.

This book is not just a diet and fitness plan. In fact, that is not really what I like about the book. What I like is the inspiration and motivation the book has given me. The only recipes is for a post workout shake. The diet plan is just about following a healthy diet with so much protein, carbs, fruit and an emphasis on a colorful vegetable selections. Watching portions so that you can count the calories is a part of Where did the Fat Go.

Craig Ballantyns's program is about eating "Clean" and not about counting calories. (Or, the Eat Stop Eat Program with eating clean. Clean meaning healthy whole food choices that emphasize enough protein, and lots of colorful vegetables with some carbs.)

It is a relief to find programs that have real results that are not about buying some special food or supplement or paying a ton for prepackaged food with a ton of additives. These two books will likely fall under the radar because they will not get the support of the food or supplement industries who honestly, are advertising America into Obesity.

I've been curious about the incredible amounts of weight loss on the TV program Biggest Loser. This well written and informative book gives insight into how they do it. Better yet, how you can accomplish the same results at home. Dr. Huizenga writes in a simple, but not condescending fashion and explains it all. I highly recommend it!

This book is written as if Dr. Huizenga is speaking directly to you with straight forward language that's easy to read and follow. He has broken down all the misinformation from various "experts" in the weight-loss field and offers a logical and proven formula for losing fat and improving your life.

This is the real deal, and I think the author found the formula for keeping off weight.

Overall an extremely valuable book about the REALITY of losing fat. Written by someone who has been there in the front lines and has seen it happen and has monitored it. Unfortunately I think most people want to hear there is an easy magic pill that allows you to eat all you want and not exercise. Following the steps outlined by Dr. Huizenga are key to succesful fat loss in almost everybody. This man and his research are literally rewriting the dieting guidelines and the possibilities that are within everyone. Will most people follow it?

While I am not obese and in fact just got back into the normal weight category, I was intrigued to read the Biggest Loser story. The book is well written and useful for anyone who wants to improve their weight and overall health.

I was a bit surprised that Dr. H's maintenance program includes 9 hours of weekly exercise. I do 5 and thought I was doing enough. But overall, for the obese person to be able to see such dramatic results - exercising at home - is truly inspiring. If you need to take off a lot of weight - read this book and follow his advise. And if you can possibly do so, take a trainer as well.