The Equation: A 5-Step Program for Lifelong Fitness (Hardcover)

by Dan Isaacson (Author), Dr. Greg Payne (Author), Mark Laska (Author) "They say that timing is everything..." (more)
Key Phrases: tablespoons green beans, ounces fruit cup, lean lifestyle, Hour Water Meal, Foods Calories, Debits Total Credits (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
"Losing weight is much like being a safecracker. All that separates you from the treasure waiting behind the locked door is the right combination." In The Equation, you learn how to discover your personal combination to help you lose body fat and keep it off. Trainer-to-the-stars Dan Isaacson teams up with physical science expert Dr. Greg Payne and fitness writer Mark Laska to help you increase physical activity, decrease calories, drink more water, and make better choices.

Changing your weight means changing your habits. The authors guide you through the five stages of change and provide strategies (substitute, modify, and shift) that apply to every behavior-change goal. A week-by-week format makes the program easy to swallow, and a daily worksheet ("body bill") helps you stay on track. You figure the calories you're eating, how many you need to eat, and how to decrease calories while increasing physical activity (figured as activity "credits," which correspond to calories burned). The "Equation," then, is "calories in, calories out." The Equation is clear, level-headed, and backed by science. --Joan Price

Review
"Doing what Dan Isaacson tells you to do results in the loss of pound after pound." -Tom Hanks

"He gives you the knowledge, the desire, and the courage to approach life and health in a totally different way. -Johnny Depp

"There are certain things that Dan taught me that I incorporate into my own workout schedule to this day." -Marilu Henner

"The Equation is an excellent and helpful guide to support individuals trying to make changes in diet and exercise habits, and to improve their health. The book does not present overblown and unattainable promises to achieve perfection. It is realistic, and places attention squarely on what is important-the energy balance equation. A healthful diet and regular exercise are the two most important things a person can do to promote health, longevity, and preservation of function. The authors of The Equation provide practical and useful tips and methods to achieve these key health behaviors. The focus on gradually shaping new habits is based on the latest research in behavioral science, and has been demonstrated to be effective."
--Dr. Steven Blair, Senior Scientific Editor, Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health, and Director of Research, Cooper Institute for Aerobic Research

"In this era where flim-flam is widespread, The Equation hits the believe-it target with sound scientifically grounded, advisories for a long, healthy life."
--Dr. Walter Bortz, Author of We Live Too Short and Die Too Long, and Dare to Be a Hundred, and former President of the American Geriatrics Society

"Theories are based on solid medical research...customized plans for losing...pounds aren't complicated, unrealistic, or too strict for most people. Plus, they even allow you to enjoy your favorite foods. No gimmicks, no quick fixes. This plan is based on sound lifestyle changes proven to result in weight loss. I would definitely recommend this book."
--Cynthia Sass, R.D. and Spokesperson for the American Dietetics Association as quoted in Fitness Magazine, September 2002.
-- Review --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press; 1st edition (May 17, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312282966
• ISBN-13: 978-0312282967
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #402,371 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Smart Eating (Not DIETING!), May 9, 2002

By	Karl Miller "kemspeaks" (Phoenixville, PA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Anyone who expends more than a brain cell planning a "smart" meal is labelled a dieter in our society. It's a poor use of the term, and this is one of the first books I have ever read that puts that simple knowledge to practical use. For this is not about "dieting", but rather an easy to learn method for making smart choices in the nutrition category.
Dan Isaacson smartly emphasizes the importance of CHANGE, as opposed to elimination in "The Equation". Eating, he recognizes, is as much a habit as a necessity, and working through the habit mentality to develop more healthy practices is the goal of his program. Stressing the appropriateness of burning off the calories consumed through exercise is also part of Isaacson's "equation" (as is consumption of large amounts of water), so this plan is more program than simply a diet plan.
There are a few factors that take this book a level above most eating plans. One is Isaacson's style of writing, which I found very uplifting and empowering. You feel he genuinely wants you to succeed. Second, Isaacson's methods and lessons on the "change" topic are applicable to any area of life, not simply eating. There are some very intelligent tips for making positive change sprinkled throughout this book.
This is NOT a lose 10-in-10 program, so if you are looking for a fast fix, it's best to avoid this book (it's also best to avoid lose 10-in-10 programs, but you allready know that). If you are looking for a smart method to improve eating patterns, and coonsequently improve esteem and lifestyle, this book is a wise first step.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Common Sense Advice - That we all Need to Hear Again, April 28, 2002

By	Natz (Atlanta) - See all my reviews

I had a baby, and got fat. So, on my quest to loose weight, (and never really having a weight problem before) I searched for a book that wasn't too radical, and steered clear of anything promising me results in less than a month. What I ended up with was this book. I read it entirely at one sitting and was very much satisfied with it. It was ALL practical solutions, and stuff I probably already knew, with a few exceptions. He stresses the water drinking, which I liked, and also a very EASY way to integrate all these new eating habits into just that- habits. Instead of loosing weight and then shooting yourself in the foot by going back to your old routine. I've lost 6lbs in 4 weeks, guided by this book. It doesn't give you really any food or meal plans, it just tells you when to eat them, which is a nice change, and the guy doesn't patronize you, which is the best part of the book. A great buy for people who realise they're going to have to put out SOME sort of effort to get in shape.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FINALLY, A COMMON SENSE APPROACH!, July 13, 2002

By	N. C. (Missouri) - See all my reviews

As just another woman who has struggled forever to find the "right" formula, I was happy to discover that this book doesn't give me the latest of the newest fad diets to try. Instead, the author, who is obviously a who's who among physical fitness trainers, has apparently studied all the known methods for better health and weight loss and combined the best elements for the best results. Congratulations to Mr.Isaacson who found the "winning equation!"