Choose to Lose Weight-Loss Plan for Men : A Take-Control Program for Men With Guts to Lose (Paperback)

~ (Author), Nancy Goor (Author) "CONGRATULATIONS! You have taken the first step to becoming a lean and healthy man..." (more)
Key Phrases: minimum daily total caloric intake, minimum total caloric intake, following calorie figures, Fat Budget, Lose Weight-Loss Plan, Daily Value (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Men are luckier than women when it comes to weight loss. For one thing, men tend to store most of their fat in their midsections, and abdominal fat is much easier to lose than fat stored in the thighs or buttocks. For another, men have more muscle mass, which means a higher metabolic rate, and thus more calories burned throughout the day.

So why aren't all men thin? Because of the fat they eat, say Drs. Ron and Nancy Goor. And the lack of exercise. And the fact they don't eat enough fiber-rich carbohydrates.

In fact, the Goors are the polar opposites of those who tell people they've gained weight because of the way their bodies react to sugar and other carbohydrates. They say it's actually very difficult for your body to convert carbohydrates into fat, but that the fat you eat is easily turned into the fat you wear. (The Goors include a section debunking all the claims of the high-fat, high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet gurus.)

Thus, the cornerstone of their program is a "fat budget." You figure out your ideal weight and calculate how many fat calories you can afford to eat at that weight. Then you add in daily aerobic exercise--they recommend 30-minute walks--and make sure you never skip a meal. In fact, the meals they recommend are huge--cereal, fruit, yogurt, toast, and orange juice for breakfast; two turkey sandwiches for lunch; soup, chicken, rice, and vegetables for dinner. All that, plus snacks.

Food tables make up about half the book, telling you how many fat calories are in fast foods, restaurant meals, meats, fish, and just about anything else a person would eat.

Blessedly, the Choose to Lose program is scientifically sound--virtually all weight-loss research points to the diet-and-exercise combo as the key to successfully dropping pounds and keeping them dropped--but ultimately puts a premium on discipline. Starvation isn't required, but keeping your fat intake down around 20 percent of total calories in a fat-saturated world is a heck of a trick to maintain for life. --Lou Schuler

Review

Men are luckier than women when it comes to weight loss. For one thing, men tend to store most of their fat in their midsections, and abdominal fat is much easier to lose than fat stored in the thighs or buttocks. For another, men have more muscle mass, which means a higher metabolic rate, and thus more calories burned throughout the day.

So why aren't all men thin? Because of the fat they eat, say Drs. Ron and Nancy Goor. And the lack of exercise. And the fact they don't eat enough fiber-rich carbohydrates.

In fact, the Goors are the polar opposites of those who tell people they've gained weight because of the way their bodies react to sugar and other carbohydrates. They say it's actually very difficult for your body to convert carbohydrates into fat, but that the fat you eat is easily turned into the fat you wear. (The Goors include a section debunking all the claims of the high-fat, high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet gurus.)

Thus, the cornerstone of their program is a "fat budget." You figure out your ideal weight and calculate how many fat calories you can afford to eat at that weight. Then you add in daily aerobic exercise--they recommend 30-minute walks--and make sure you never skip a meal. In fact, the meals they recommend are huge--cereal, fruit, yogurt, toast, and orange juice for breakfast; two turkey sandwiches for lunch; soup, chicken, rice, and vegetables for dinner. All that, plus snacks.

Food tables make up about half the book, telling you how many fat calories are in fast foods, restaurant meals, meats, fish, and just about anything else a person would eat.

Blessedly, the Choose to Lose program is scientifically sound--virtually all weight-loss research points to the diet-and-exercise combo as the key to successfully dropping pounds and keeping them dropped--but ultimately puts a premium on discipline. Starvation isn't required, but keeping your fat intake down around 20 percent of total calories in a fat-saturated world is a heck of a trick to maintain for life. --Lou Schuler -- Review

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (January 13, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395966493
• ISBN-13: 978-0395966495
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #493,619 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the Best!, March 5, 2001

By	"dangoor" (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews

I'm not obese and I don't have a "problem," but I'm the kind of guy who needed a little something extra to get into my ideal shape. I found that something in this book. The methodology makes sense. The book is clear, sensible and fun to read! When you need motivation, it's there. When you need an explanation, it's there. Everything is there, but perhaps the best review I can give it is: Using this book, I lost 25 pounds and now feel better than I've ever felt before. Thank you!

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars sound nutritional advice, January 5, 2004

By	leaf coleman (Dryden, NY United States) - See all my reviews

I have tried various diets including low carbs etc.I always felt sick I.E. dizzy ,weak etc.I bought this book and have been pleasantly suprised.The diet provides you with a fat budget that you don't exceed.I can eat whatever I want,including limitless fruits and veggies.I also like how it talks to men,although my wife does the program as well.The only down side is it becomes tedious to keep a food log 24/7.If you go out to eat it also is frustrating.I think if you want a sound nutritional base or don't mind counting calories this is a fine book.Didn't give it full 5 because of all the list keeping.

2 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good weight loss plan for guys, March 7, 2000

By	BryanP (Garland, TX) - See all my reviews

I used this diet for a while and enjoyed steady healthy lost weight loss (about 25 pounds) while on it. It is a fairly simple plan, however eventually counting calories became a nuisance and did not fit well into my normal routine. However, this book still has a good bit of information on healthy lifestyles and healthy eating, and is written from a guys perspective, in a very to-the-point manner. If you respond well to low-fat diets, and have the willpower to monitor caloric intake, this plan should work, and the book is a good read. I have revised my review to 3 stars (from the original 5) because it turned out to be impractical for me in the long run.