The Diet Selector: From Atkins to The Zone, More Than 50 Ways to Help You Find the Best Diet for You (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"...doubles as an anthropological study of America's obsession with diets... very attractive format with an easy-to-skim weekly menu chart for each diet." -- St. Petersburg Times

"...organized as an easy-to-use reference guide to help you select a diet that suits your needs, lifestyles, goals and budget." -- Indianapolis Star

"The Diet Selector is a treasure that may the last, or next to last, diet book you'll ever need" -- Philadelphia Inquirer, January 10, 2008

"Navigate your way through the maze of diets and make informed choices about which will work for you with this invaluable guide." -- Kent Messenger (UK)

"To find the best way to lose weight, check out The Diet Selector ... this handy guide sorts through every diet you've ever considered." -- Quick & Simple

Product Description

The only diet book you'll ever need!

Atkins, Master Cleanse, Jenny Craig, South Beach, The Zone. So many diets to choose from and so many different books to buy. But, at last, a path has opened in the enormous, overgrown thicket of diet information. This revolutionary book takes information from these weight loss and health management plans and organizes them into a sensible, easy to use reference.

There is no other book even remotely like this one--as complete or as useful. The Diet Selector gives readers the skinny on more than 50 ways to lose weight through low- calorie, lowcarbohydrate, or low-fat diets with a thorough discussion on the merits of each approach. It gives the lowdown on popular fasting diets, liquid regimens, surgical solutions, jaw wiring, patches, and pills--every conceivable tactic used today to slim down.

The Diet Selector ranks all of the best-known diets with at-aglance icons indicating: how punishing they are, cost of food, whether they're for quick weight loss or the long haul, popularity, and suitability for people of different ages. Although the information is serious and valuable, the presentation is full of colorful charts, indicating such things as caloric values of key foods and the effectiveness of different exercise regimes. Also in there for fun: diet trivia that includes the first known diet, crazy celebrity trends, and fab or forbidden foods. There are also sample weekly eating plans presented diary-style on a grid with links to relevant websites.

Beyond the quest for thin, this volume also addresses how to use nutrition to effectively combat health conditions like allergies, gastrointestinal disorders, thyroid problems, migraines, low metabolism, and heart disease. It truly is the most comprehensive diet book you can buy.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Running Press; 1 edition (December 3, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762431709
• ISBN-13: 978-0762431700
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #780,337 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #21 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Diets & Weight Loss > Diets > The Zone
  #75 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Diets & Weight Loss > Diets > Atkins Diet

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What diet is right fo you? The answer is in this book., August 8, 2008

By	Nancy Lorenz (Columbia, SC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is an excellent book, well written and full of insight and common sense. In my opinion this is a good book for anyone that is new to dieting and health. If you are interested in losing weight and cannot decide the right diet for you, then buy this book and read it. The colorful illustrations and charts made it easy to read and understand. This book is highly recommended if you're serious about making positive changes.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Weighing in on The Diet Selector, August 8, 2008

By	Leo Christie - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

From an end-user standpoint, Dr. Rodriguez' approach is a satisfying relief from the dizzying array of belief-based weight loss schemes stuffing bookshelves everywhere. I particularly appreciate (1) the scientific critique from a team of credentialed nutrition professionals, (2) the attention to pros and cons in each plan, and (3) the concise and visually appealing presentation. Readers who are searching for a balanced analysis of the available weight loss plans will benefit from the unique and comprehensive overview offered by this book. Those who are seeking affirmation of their closely held beliefs may find it less satisfying.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A few notes about The Diet Selector from Judith C. Rodriguez, PhD, Registered Dietitian, August 5, 2008

By	Judith C. Rodriguez "PhD, Registered Dietitian" (Jacksonville, FL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

* The book was written with input from 10 contributors, eight are Registered Dietitians and seven of them have doctoral degrees in a nutrition related area as well as many years of nutrition related work experience. (Other experts may have been consulted, when necessary.)

* Each diet was written by the author or one or more of the contributors.

* The drafts were then reviewed for conceptual accuracy by one or more contributors and the author.

In general:
* A consistent format (diet history, how does it work?, pros and cons, is it for you?, references and sample menu) was used.

* For some controversial diets both a pro and con reference were included, such as in Atkins, which lists www.atkins and www.atkinsexposed.org/atkins (I believe the anti-Atkins site affiliated with PCRM is www.atkinsdietalert.org)

* In that some diets have different versions, the more recent or liberal versions were used so the reader can see what it might be like to follow the diet and a menu on a long term basis. For example, the recent version of the Atkins diet does include carbohydrates albeit in restricted amounts. (Atkins for Life, St. Martin's Griffin Press, 2004, Chapter 3 is titled "Yes, you can eat Carbs!"). Due to space limitations, the portion sizes, however, are not included. It is important for readers to go to the original source for detailed information about each diet and to be able to plan menus that include portion sizes appropriate to the diet's guidelines.

The correct name for Dr. Atkin's first book is The Atkin's Diet Revolution, and the diet was commonly called a "no carbohydrate diet."

The Diet Selector is designed to provide helpful information on popular diets and objective ratings so the reader can decide the best way to lose weight and by reviewing the pros and cons of all the diets, develop a personalized lifelong healthy weight management plan.

Thank you all for your comments and reviews, they will provide constructive ideas that will make for even better future editions.

Wishing you all good health,

Judith C. Rodriguez, PhD and Registered Dietitian