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Comment on The Smarter Science of Slim: What the Actual Experts Have Proven About Weight Loss, Dieting, & Exercise, Plus, The Harvard Medical School Endorsed Program To Burn Fat Permanently by Evelyn Uyemura

Evelyn Uyemura — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:50:50 +0000

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

The Why but not the How, December 19, 2011

Evelyn Uyemura (Torrance, CA USA) -

This review is from: The Smarter Science of Slim: What the Actual Experts Have Proven About Weight Loss, Dieting, & Exercise, Plus, The Harvard Medical School Endorsed Program To Burn Fat Permanently (Paperback)

I was sent a free copy of this book by the author to review.

The research here is impeccable. It is a proven fact that our current obesity epidemic us caused by eating too much carbohydrates, specifically sugars and starches, and NOT by eating too much fat or protein, too much meat, or simply too much. These facts have been available since the days of the original Atkins diet, and this book does an excellent job of pulling together all the scientific research to prove that eating fewer starches and more fat, protein, and leafy greens is the road to permanent weight loss. The theory that all calories are created equal is clearly disproven.

The emphasis on lots of exercise is also shown to be the wrong approach, as most of us can attest to: the more you exercise, the more you eat, and no one can burn off enough calories to lose weight.

So in terms of the Why and What of weight loss, this book is a clear winner.

Where it is lacking is in the How, and it's for this reason that I give it only 4 stars. Take the question of cultures that are rice-based. This book brings up that question and basically says, Never mind, don't worry about those people. But maybe you ARE one of those people. Maybe you are Asian-American, or Hispanic, or even Italian-American, and for you, a meal is built around rice or pasta. Well, the author has nothing to say to you except, Change how you eat. But how? How do you commit to a lifetime of eating in a way that is really different from the way your entire family eats? What does a meal look like in this new approach to eating?

The helpful suggestions were not helpful to me--eat whey powder? buy a freezer? Shop at Costco? These are not useful to me, as a person who enjoys eating, who is part of a cultural context in which eating is important, as a person who has never exercised in the manner described here.

A more detailed look at how to incorporate low starch, non-sugar, eccentric exercise, and lots of vegetables and meat into a lifestyle that is not built around weight-loss and exercise would have helped me tremendously. How do I eat at a restaurant? What do I do at the holidays? How can I plan meals for my family (which includes a person who expects to build meals around rice) would have made this book a real hit with me.

But the facts are indisputable--eating a corn-based diet is killing us! Fat is not the problem, starch is.

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Comment on The Smarter Science of Slim: What the Actual Experts Have Proven About Weight Loss, Dieting, & Exercise, Plus, The Harvard Medical School Endorsed Program To Burn Fat Permanently by Mir

Mir — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:40:20 +0000

24 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

A Significant Work for Those Who Want to Lose or HAVE LOST (like me) and Need to Heal and Lose More in a SMART way!, November 9, 2011

Mir (North Miami Beach, FL USA) -

Do you believe science supports that..?

~~You can eat more if you eat SANE foods--and be satisfied and lose weight.
~~You can exercise less if you exercise smarter--and get fitter than with hours of gym work.
~~You may be metabolically totally screwed after "starvation" deficit dieting
~~A calorie is not just a calorie
~~Your body works to hold onto particular set points--and that set points can be altered

Are you skeptical that...
~~Big business is not your diet friend.
~~And neither are government guidelines.

I can tell you that I wish, oh, I wish, this book had been around 4 years ago when I was in a quandary about dieting/weight loss surgery, stuck in that "starving obese person" mode. I had to experiment on myself over years to hit upon a formula that worked, and ended up very similar to what Mr. Bailor's science-round-up recommends.

I envy those on the weight loss journey who have this book as a guide. No stumbling. Just some science and good advice, right off the bat.

I've been reading this book slowly since a couple weeks back. I have a notebook full of notes on the research/research facilities/researcher names/conclusions/highlights. This is totally a serious matter for me. I was 300 lbs. I'm now, as of this writing, 177 lbs, and I want to be 160 lbs or less. I'm middle-aged, post-menopausal, hypothyroid, auto-immune afflicted, have osteoarthritis (in joints from years of morbid obesity), a torn ligament in one knee, and totally was terrified of what this book might say about exercise.

Well, there are two main issues addressed in the book for getting slim in the smart way. The eating. The movement.

First, the eating is actually a snap. No one should be hungry or deprived unduly on this program.

It's not that different than the formula for eating that made me finally, after more than 2 decades of obesity, be able to drop big poundage. Except I'm allergic to seafood, so one of the priority comestibles on this plan (yes, seafood), I cannot have at all. Sucks. Still, I have at points eaten very similarly to how Bailor sets up in the book, although since spring, I ditched the whey protein and most green tea in favor of, respectively, animal or animal-source proteins (eggs, cheese, yogurt) and gourmet coffee. HOwever, I did do the strict dieting version: 1200 calories for six months+, then more like 1300 to 1400 for most of the summer/early fall. Now, I'm up to 1500.

The reason this was an important analysis and round-up of research (well, that alone, the round-up aspect is cool) is that I stalled and I burn way fewer calories than calorie calculators say I ought to for activity level/age/gender. I noticed that last year when I began tracking nutrients and calories. I burn slow. My metabolism is effed up. From obesity. From yo-yo dieting (all short term with swift regains plus).

So, reading what the studies show about the hormonal wackiness that starvation inducies (ie, low caloric intake as in dieting) and lack-of-fat-burning efficiency in the obese versus the normal/lean, it made sense. It described not just what I had been going through for decades (constant hunger, crazy appetite, while overeating and so forth). And the post-diet insanity. NO joke. I've seen way too many of my fellow blogging dieters fall prey to that crazed hunger, accompanying easy and stunningly swift regain, even on not a lot of additional calories at times. Then losing is agonizing and slow even on low calories, as if the body had, in fact, gone off the rails set-point-wise.

Seeing the studies Bailor highlights explains a lot of the body-weirdness that leads to just that post-diet nuttiness.

When I became exposed to some of the science out there last year--in THE END OF OVEREATING, in WHY WE GET FAT, in THE NEW EVOLUTION DIET, in THE PALEO SOLUTION, etc--I radically reduced starches, eliminated sugar, quit eating processed, went fresh and focused on protein and vegetables and some fruit --and yes, went to see an R.D. with the proviso that I was insulin resistant/Metabolic Syndrome and needed to eat at 1200 calories in a lower carb version. She agreed that a few years ago, she'd tow the high-carb line, but her own middle-aged reality and practice showed her lowering starches was prudent and effective. She took me down to 1 starch serving a day. Boom, started to lose GREAT. Started to get insane energy. When I got rid of the wheat/gluten, and let my starch be tubers and a bit of rice now and then, it was even better. On days/weeks with NO starch servings, losses were great. I'd read Paleo/Primal/Primarian/New Evolution/Taubes/Jaminet/etc writers on obesity and healthy eating and I find there is a lot of info that jives with Bailor's program.

So, what Bailor describes works, in my experience (even though mine is not identical, it's based on similar... Read more

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Comment on Kathy Smith – Fat Burning Breakthrough by Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:34:55 +0000

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

What A Workout!, December 28, 2001

"toohardtofindanickname" (Antelope, CA United States) -

This review is from: Kathy Smith's Fat Burning Breakthrough [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Kathy Smith's Fat Burning Breakthrough is an awesome low impact, high intensity step aerobic workout. It focuses on all the major muscle groups,and believe me, it works them hard. After just two weeks of using this video I noticed visible results in my buttocks, abs, and especially my thighs.

This video is based on a wave concept; in the first wave, your feeling easy as the moves begin to "wake-up" your muscles; the second wave gets you moving a little harder, putting a little more resistance on the muscles, particularly buns and thighs; the third and final wave zeros in, working your heart and muscles, creating a challenge that's sure to break through the toughest plateau.

Also included in the video are two weight lifting segments,which use light weights for sculpting and muscle building. This is great for beginners, but those with more stamina can use heavier weights for terrific results.

I recommend this workout for anyone who needs a challenge in their routine, but also needs fun choreography with hip hop music. It's great!

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Comment on The Smarter Science of Slim: What the Actual Experts Have Proven About Weight Loss, Dieting, & Exercise, Plus, The Harvard Medical School Endorsed Program To Burn Fat Permanently by Jennifer Smith

Jennifer Smith — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:17:49 +0000

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

Hope for the hopeless..., November 5, 2011

Jennifer Smith (California, USA) -

There are probably 50 trillion diet books on the market, so my hat is off to Mr. Bailor for jumping into the fray and getting his message out about the how and why of fat loss and keeping it off.

I am not a fat person; I am a flabby person. I am 5 feet 7 inches and weighed about 145 and I had been trying to lose the same 15 pounds literally for 15 years. A couple of years ago I had some weird GI problems that made it almost impossible to eat or drink and I went from 155 to 145, but since then I have been stuck.

I have read so many diet books I can't even name them all, but this year at age 45 (sigh...) I realized that my weight problem is three-fold -- self hatred toward my body led to a fear of food which led to disordered eating patterns. I also have several food allergies/sensitivities which have turned me into a picky eater. So through the years I have read diet books and done the low-fat/high-grain/walk-5-miles-a-day/starve-yourself-Saturday/everything-in-moderation programs that were so big in the 90s and early 00s. Heck, I'm not even religious, but I tried the Hallelujah Diet! Yet the flab remained, and the older I get, the more tired I am of treadmills to nowhere.

So when Mr. Bailor sent me an advance look at his Science of Slim book I was eager to take a look. It takes awhile to get through as it is pretty thick and crammed with studies (you will feel a new level of compassion for rats after you see what scientists put these poor creatures through) that show our girth is not as easily related to our sedentary/high-fat lifestyles as the latest Health and Nutrition news program would have you believe. Heck, I walk at least 60 minutes a day with my siberian huskies and my diet was basically bread, peanut butter, tofu, and fruit.

The nitty gritty of the book of course is the regimen Mr. Bailor encourages us to take up. There are S.A.N.E foods (satiety, aggression, nutrition, efficiency) and there are inS.A.N.E. foods, and it turns out that I happen to LOVE inSANE foods. I love yams and potatoes, and sugar, and flour, and Dove dark chocolate, and brownie batter (but not brownies...go figure), and pizza, and...and...and...In other words, I love all the foods that are clogging my system and making me a flabby, tired, swollen hausfrau. I had to change my bad habits and start stuffing the old pie hole with non-starchy veg, lean protein, some legumes, eggs, and fruit. As Mr. Bailor says, "the easiest way to eat the most S.A.N.E. foods as possible is to eat as much as you want, whenever you want, from foods you could hunt or gather." Perhaps in heaven there are Pop-Tart trees, but not here on earth, so veggies and eggs it is.

I went through and copied the charts in the book about which foods are more S.A.N.E. and made it a priority to eat those as much as possible and, God help me, stay off the Dove bars. I confess that I tended to take the easy way out and made smoothies most of the time with whey protein powder, milled flax seeds, spinach, berries, and half a banana. The smoothies, which only filled a coffee cup, were so filling I almost felt nauseated for a couple of hours after having one. Those would be breakfast and lunch and for dinner I had steamed or roasted vegetables and cottage cheese and water since I don't eat meat or seafood. For dessert I had an apple with a slice of cheddar cheese, which tastes better than it sounds.

As I said, I was feeling so full I felt almost sick to my stomach. I was not used to eating so much at one time, and I actually felt anxiety doing it. I was going to balloon!! I would become obese!! I was freaking out with each meal.

Well, here it is 5 weeks later and except for the expected PMS-related cookie binge I have been eating very S.A.N.E. and am down from a 10 to an 8. I don't have a scale anymore, so I can't say how much I weigh now, but I have more energy and I am starting to have a healthier relationship with food. The chart of S.A.N.E foods is on my fridge and is my go-to list for whatever I put in my mouth. I am eating way more berries and veggies than before and no more Doritos (precious, precious Doritos)or pretzels or peanut M&Ms. At first I thought I would go crazy without these, but surprisingly, I have survived intact and no psych ward was needed for the detox period.

In this era of Biggest Loser, where the idea is that you have to work yourself half to death at the gym 5 hours a day and practically starve yourself to lose the chub, it is thrilling to find a plan that lets me eat enough I feel stuffed for hours afterward and can still lose weight. And this is something I can do until I am toothless in a nursing home.

For exercise the plan is to "exercise forcefully. Not too often. Mostly eccentric." For me that means lifting some dumbbells and a kettle ball I've had sitting around. I hate lifting heavy things. HATE it,... Read more

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Comment on Kathy Smith – Fat Burning Breakthrough by Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 12:12:53 +0000

90 of 92 people found the following review helpful:

Best K.S. in 10 yrs.!, January 11, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Kathy Smith's Fat Burning Breakthrough [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I came on-line only to write this review because I would have found it so helpful for someone to let me know about videos instead of having a library of 30 videos, only 5 of which I use! This is the BEST Kathy Smith video in 10 yrs. I think it is a much better workout than Functionally Fit. It is along the lines of her first fat burning videos. The cardio is a step up (no pun intended) which is the real challenge/high point. I actually double both cardio segments because I really enjoy cardio. The weight portion is enough to get a little pumped up for the day (this time, pun intended). The abs are easy but a good maintenance. I am not gifted in choreography, but I was able to get a great workout the first time through. It does get hips and thighs with the killer squat segment on the step. For only 50 minutes, this is amazingly efficient. Not a minute is wasted, yet I never felt left in the dust as I have with MANY other step videos. I may not look like the exercisers on stage, but I also don't feel like a complete moron. I really look forward to doing this video and feel great the whole day through. I consider myself an intermediate to advanced exerciser but a beginner in choreography, in case this information can help. Hope this helps you decide! And if Kathy Smith reads this, I say "Thanks, and keep 'em coming!"

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Comment on Kathy Smith – Fat Burning Breakthrough by "toohardtofindanickname"

"toohardtofindanickname" — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 11:44:45 +0000

101 of 102 people found the following review helpful:

Excellent and varied interval workout, March 8, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Kathy Smith's Fat Burning Breakthrough [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I've owned this video for a month, and already it's become one of my favorites. The aerobic portion consists of two five-part, 18-minute "waves" of varying intensity. Each wave progresses as follows: (1) lower intensity (but not wimpy) step aerobics; (2) intermediate intensity step aerobics; (3) very high intensity step aerobics; (4) low intensity step aerobics (to bring the heart rate down a bit, but your heart is still working); and (5) upper-body weights with optional cardio intensifiers. After the two waves is a series of exactly 100 sit-ups, followed by a thorough, relaxing stretch that progresses smoothly and logically from one muscle to the next. The total workout length is 50 minutes, about 37 of which are aerobic. (You remain in your working heart rate zone during the weight training portions.)

The variety, fast pace, and efficiency of this tape make it so attractive. The moves change with each part of the wave, so you don't get bored. Not a minute is wasted: the transitions are very rapid -- so rapid, in fact, that you need to have your dumbbells ready to pick up immediately after the step aerobics. Additionally, the instrumental, non-vocal music has a great, modern beat and is very motivating.

Sometimes Kathy cues a little late, but the choreography is so basic that it's not a problem after you do the workout a few times. Her instruction is pretty business-like and non-chatty, and she whoops only once or twice. I've always liked Kathy; she seems down-to-earth, smart, and sincerely interested in her fans' well-being.

This video is adaptable anywhere from intermediate to advanced levels. The more advanced can use more power moves or add heavier weights during the weight sections. I highly recommend this tape.

Equipment needed: step bench and at least two sets of dumbbells (5 to 15 pounds each depending on your level), plus towel to wipe off all the sweat!

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Comment on Rapid Weight Loss for Women: How to Lose 10 Pounds in a Week by Cat mom

Cat mom — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:18:31 +0000

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

rapid diet disaster, January 18, 2012

Cat mom (LI NY) -

This review is from: Rapid Weight Loss for Women: How to Lose 10 Pounds in a Week (Kindle Edition)

so,you lose 10 lbs. on this diet. you go back to regular eating and in one week,you gain it back.ms. perry's intentions are good.but,there is no substitute for a healthy eating plan.a weight loss of about 2 lbs a week works for the longterm.

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Comment on Rapid Weight Loss for Women: How to Lose 10 Pounds in a Week by Irish Girl

Irish Girl — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:25:20 +0000

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

Rubbish, January 18, 2012

Irish Girl (Milwaukee, WI United States) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Rapid Weight Loss for Women: How to Lose 10 Pounds in a Week (Kindle Edition)

Why are 1/2 of these reviews written by men when this is a book about women's weight loss? And what happened to the negative review I saw 2 days ago? It miraculously disappeared. Sure, anyone can lose 10 pounds in a week if they stopped eating. I agree with the other reviewer, save your time and read a serious weight loss book.

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Comment on Rapid Weight Loss for Women: How to Lose 10 Pounds in a Week by JwB "BookBuddy"

JwB "BookBuddy" — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:53:44 +0000

17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

This "book" is a crock of redone idiocy, January 18, 2012

JwB "BookBuddy" (Kentucky) -

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Rapid Weight Loss for Women: How to Lose 10 Pounds in a Week (Kindle Edition)

Don't waste your money on this... even if it's free.
All this book is is a redo of the old cabbage soup diet along with the "master cleanse" recipe that has been around forever (water, lemon juice, honey and cayenne). The ONLY difference in this book is that she suggests exercise which is great. The eating "plan" however is a recipe for disaster. Yep, you'll lose weight... that's why it's been around in one form or another for about 40 years. But the weight you'll lose (unless you keep up the exercise) will be 95% water weight and the second you go back to normal eating you'll gain it all back, most likely with more added. Add in the possible health issues with this (can we say far too much potassium if you eat 8 bananas a day?) and this is a crock that the "author" should be ashamed of recirculating. It's crap like these methods that leave so many women yo yo dieting and thinking that there really IS some quick fix out there to lose weight. Unfortunately, that's not true. If you need to lose weight, the only way is through diet and exercise and slowly. Quick weight loss leads to quick regain in the vast majority of cases.

Bottom line? Don't get this book. Please. Do your health a favor and pass it up.

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Comment on The Gluten Free Fat Loss Plan: Your guide to losing fat & getting fit by eating gluten free by Vicki

Vicki — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 12:20:28 +0000

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

I'd Rather Be At The Beach: Reviews, August 5, 2011

Vicki (Florida) -

This review is from: The Gluten Free Fat Loss Plan: Your guide to losing fat & getting fit by eating gluten free (Paperback)

I've heard so much lately about people going on gluten free diets that I wanted to read this book to see what gluten was all about and why/when it should be elliminated from a diet.

There are four parts to the book:
1) The Connection Between Gluten and Fat Loss
2) Your Gluten Free Fat Loss Meal Plans & Workout Programs
3) Recipes
4) Appendices, Resources, References

I found this book to be very informative and easy to follow. The author is very clear about what to eat and when to eat it, what exercises to do for each day and how long to do them, and even gives you charts, pictures and logs to copy so you can write down what you're doing and your progress. There's even a question and answer section.

I don't have a problem with gluten as far as I know, but I think anyone could do this fat loss plan. I don't do as well on my on as I do with a scheduled plan that tells me what do do and when to do it, what to eat and when to eat it, so this looks perfect for me. I don't think this book left anything out.

It looks very easy to use, and if I can find most of the the ingredients needed to do the meal plans, I'll give it a try. I may have a problem with some of the gluten free items since I live in a small town. But, I assume if you live in a bigger city you would be able to find them all.

Overall, I think this book is great! I would recommend to anyone who feels they need to get in better shape.

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