The Ketogenic Diet: A Complete Guide for the Dieter and Practitioner (Spiral-bound)

~ Lyle McDonald (Author) "Many readers may not be familiar with the ketogenic diet..." (more)
Key Phrases: standard ketogenic diet, cyclical ketogenic diet, establishing ketosis, Clin Nutr, Appl Physiol, Clin Invest (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

'The Ketogenic Diet' is a complete resource for anyone interested in low-carbohydrate diets (such as the Atkins Diet, Protein Power, Bodyopus or the Anabolic Diet). It looks objectively at the physiology behind such diets, including potential negative effects, and gives specific recommendations on how to optimize such a diet assuming an individual has chosen to do one. Two modified ketogenic diets (which involve the insertion of carbohydrates to sustain exercise performance) are also discussed in detail, along with specific guidelines. Exercise is discussed in great detail, including background physiology, the effects of exercise on fat loss, exercise guidelines and sample workouts. A great deal of basic physiology information, dealing with both nutrition and exercise topics, is included so that readers without a technical background will be able to understand the topics discussed.

From the Author

I wrote this book for the reader who wants an objective, technical, unbiased look at all aspects of ketogenic/low-carbohydrate diets. Readers looking for a light read, or another diet book promising an easy, magical approach to weight loss will probably be disappointed with this book and may want to look elsewhere. I decided to write this book for a few reasons. First and foremost, there is a great deal of misinformation being presented about ketogenic diet. Both proponents and critics of such diets tend to make basic mistakes in the underlying physiology. My first goal was to set the record straight in this regards. Second, there are a number of questions which abound regarding such diets. Most of these questions revolve around exercise, or potential health problems. A book was needed to address all of these issues (and more) in an objective way. Ketogenic diets are not magical (as proponents tend to suggest), nor are they an instant health risk (as critics tend to suggest). Like all dietary approaches, ketogenic diets have pros and cons and this book addresses both.

This book is fairly technical and readers who are frightened off by such detail may find the book difficult reading. However, the majority of feedback I have received indicates that even individuals with non-science backgrounds have had little trouble with the technical sections. As well, I did my best to include enough basic physiology information to make the more technical sections easier to understand. The few very technical sections are set apart as 'Technical Notes' and are not critical to an understanding of the physiology of the diet.

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Product Details

• Spiral-bound: 323 pages
• Publisher: Lyle McDonald (1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967145600
• ISBN-13: 978-0967145600
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #423,132 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptionally thorough and complete, July 16, 2000

By	Douglas Welzel (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have been looking for a diet book like this for years. Since I've been involved in weight lifting I have tried to read as much as possible about various diet methods. When low-carb diets became popular I was skeptical, but wanted to learn more. I read through the material I could find online and just finished "The Greenwich Diet". In all cases I found myself totally unsatisfied with everything I read. Every book pitched it's particular take on the low carb diet as a miracle cure and didn't provide much information about what was really happening to your body. I decided to give "The Ketogenic Diet" a try and was stunned -- it is the most complete diet book I have come across. I finally understand how many types of diets work (not just low carb diets).

McDonald begins with a history of ketogenic diets and then goes into a detailed explanation of how various nutrients (both macro and micro) affect your body. After this explanation he presents three versions of the ketogenic diet, with two of the diets aimed at athletic individuals who are looking to maintain their exercise performance while on one of these programs. Each diet is accompanied by detail information about how to implement the diet.

As I have said, the material in this book is incredibly detailed and completed, but what really makes this book worth 5 stars is that the information is presented in a non-biased way. According to the introduction, McDonald wrote this book to clear confusion about ketogenic diets, not to champion them. Much of the material is accompanied by research references and McDonald clearly states where research is lacking or where he is offering his own opinion.

Overall, "The Ketogenic Diet" will make an excellent addition to any dieter's collection of reading. Also, if you are considering a ketogenic diet this will gives you an unbiased view of how they really work.

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book for the intelligent dieter., August 25, 1999

By A Customer

This book is a breath of fresh air in the dank world of dieting. Many individuals have followed the ketogenic diet and found it to be both healthy and effective for fat loss. Nonetheless, various "experts" and others consistently tell dieters that it is neither. Those who use it have frequently had to keep their heads down in the "fat free" world ("You eat WHAT for dinner?"). To our great relief, Lyle McDonald has done the legwork and presents a factual, research-based, and balanced account of the effects of ketogenic dieting in one volume and in an eminently readable fashion. This book should appeal to readers at all levels, from academician/researcher to practitioner to dieter. Its value as a review of the literature on ketogenic dieting, as well as a practical guide for the application of the ketogenic diet to various situations, far outweighs its price. The compilation of these references in one place is well worth the price of the book, but it doesn't end there...it also provides easy to understand and follow practical applications. This is a book that all dieters, ketogenic or not, would do well to read.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Required Reading for Low Carbers!, September 21, 1999

By A Customer

I've been low carbing for a year now. I found Protein Power to be the very best introduction to the low carb lifestyle, though like most diet books it makes it seem a whole lot easier than it really is. I found Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution to be the best introduction to how to use low carbing for people with Diabetes. But this book gave me a much deeper understanding of what really is happening in our body's while we low carb.

This is not an easy reader. Lyle writes like a scientist. But he does explain a host of physiological processes that go on when we shift our metabolisms to a fat-based rather than glucose based fuel burning mode.

If you want to move away from diet-meister hype and overblown promises to serious understanding of how our bodies work, based on a rock solid analysis of scientific research, this is the book for you!