Dieting for Dummies (Paperback)

~ Jane Kirby RD (Author) "If you've been trying to lose weight for much of your adult life, you're not alone..." (more)
Key Phrases: liquid meal replacements, lifestyle component, healthy weight range, Food Guide Pyramid, Dietary Guidelines, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"The key to successful weight loss doesn't require magic, grit and determination, or the moral character of a saint. It's much simpler," asserts Jane Kirby, R.D., in Dieting for Dummies, a fact-filled, fad-free dieting resource. The author represents the American Dietetic Association, a trustworthy source of scientifically sound nutrition and food information. You'll learn basic, reliable facts about all facets of weight loss, including helpful information about eating disorders, overweight children, dietary guidelines, fat replacers, calorie-shaving substitutions, a comparison of weight-loss programs, and an exposé of diet fads and scams (including some bestselling diet books). The book is organized into sections on your healthy weight; developing a healthy relationship with food; a plan for healthful living (including exercise); shopping, cooking, and dining out; and enlisting outside help. An excellent chapter on eating out spells out exactly what you should and shouldn't eat at restaurants of different kinds. As you'd expect from a For Dummies book, the writing is lively, friendly, and down-to-earth. The content is reliable and organized into accessible, easily skimmed chunks, with plenty of bulleted lists and charts making the information easy to grasp. If you've been confused by controversial diets or seduced by weight-loss fads-of-the-moment, read this book cover to cover. --Joan Price

Product Description

If you've been trying to lose weight for much of your adult life, you're not alone. Excess weight is the No. 1 nutrition problem. The statistics are alarming: Of the ten leading causes of death in the United States, being overweight is a risk factor for half; and the number of Americans who are overweight is increasing. It's estimated that 55 percent (or 97 million) American adults and 15 to 20 percent of American children are overweight today.

Dieting For Dummies goes straight to the heart of the health risks of being overweight. Carrying the baggage of excess pounds puts a lot of stress on your body. Your circulatory system and skeleton need to work harder when extra fat weighs you down, and you're far more susceptible to developing one or more of these health problems:

Cancers

Diabetes

Gallbladder disease

Heart disease

Hypertension (high blood pressure)

Psychological and social effects

Respiratory problems

Prepared under the supervision of the American Dietetic Association, this friendly, authoritative guide explains how to move beyond trendy diets and get-slim-quick gimmicks. You'll discover how to

Define your own genetic body type – and the habits that feed the shape you're in

Adjust your attitude toward food

Figure out if you're facing an eating disorder

Enjoy a life of menu moderation

Add exercise to your plate

Shop smart and healthy

Enlist weight-loss professionals and programs wisely

Gauge the nutrients in hundreds of foodstuffs

Cook up homemade dishes for every taste and season

People come in a wide range of heights, weights, and girths. One is not better than another. But staying within your healthiest weight range can help you achieve optimal health and well-being. Dieting For Dummies cuts through the fog of fads and myths, providing practical advice you can apply today to start living healthfully.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies (December 8, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764551264
• ISBN-13: 978-0764551260
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #668,736 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy to follow and quick results!, October 20, 2001

By	Tracy Talley "Book Addict" (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

When I bought this book I was a little skeptical whether or not it was worth the money. I have read numerous books on dieting, ect and I never really understood what they were trying to teach, but this one really hit the nail on the head, so to speak.

It shows you how to cut back safely and how not to cut too much and why. It also explains in easy terms why your body works a certain way and how to obtain what you want. For example, it explains how many calories you would need to cut back to lose X amount of weight in X amount of time. It has information on weight groups, the food pyramid, healthy weights and even a section in the back with foods listed and how many calories and fat they contain. So far I have been following the suggestions and have lost just about 40 pounds so I would definately say its worth the money! Its not hard to stick to (believe me, I HATE dieting) and you don't feel hungry all the time. It shows you how to start eating right and how to indulge when you crave. Its definately not a diehard-drop-the-weight-now book in any means. Learning how to eat right and how to eat your favorite foods and how to learn when to say when. I have since learned how to eat better and how your body sends signals when its full, truly full, and when its really hungry and not just craving that piece of cake you were eyeing. LOL... A way to finally lose the weight and how to maintain it is what I was looking for without pills and fad diets,and this is the book. Definately not a book for 'dummies'...

Tracy Talley~@

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Exactly what I've been looking for!, March 30, 1999

By A Customer

After years of looking for "the answer" to the weight loss questions I had, this book is it! It covers healthy eating, exercise, the mind battle all overeaters face... the answer is here, but the answer also lies in you - your choices, your decisions. This book teaches that dieting doesn't have to be a restrictive period of torture!

32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS BOOK COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!, February 27, 2000

By	Bill Butler "Bill Butler" (Tarzana, Ca. USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I totally agree with the reviewer from Michigan who gave this book only two stars. But a lot of people's health is being ruined by these "fad diets". The American Dietetic Association is "scientifically based". And in chapter 20, you will learn about diets that can kill you. Literally. It's very good to have this book on your bookshelf. Then you can go from there like Michigan has and REALLY eat healthy. But you need the basics first. The food pyramid, the weight charts, and all the other basics. This is an excellent place to start.