Weight Loss Books

I have an older edition of this book and can tell you that Ms. Novak's exercises are simple, easy to execute and really work! When I was younger my mother nagged me to stand up straight. When I became an adult it was my husband. He would say "Just remember to stand up straight", and I would for a minute or two, but as soon as I stopped thinking about it I would naturally slump. Nobody can think about standing up straight every waking minute! I always thought that there must be some kind of exercises that would strengthen my muscles and support me naturally, but despite reading many magazine articles on the subject, none of the recommended exercises proved useful. This book is different. These exercises work. I've made them a part of my regular exercise routine, and I now stand up straight all of the time without having to think about it. And best of all, I never, ever have to hear my husband say, "Stand up straight!"

There are millions of people who suffer from poor posture or clinically known as Postural Distortion Syndrome. And I am quite sure that many of us including myself have heard our mothers and spouses tell us to straighten up. In fact, countless experts have attributed such health problems as arthritis, sore necks, back pain, leg pain, digestive problems, headaches, obesity, and other chronic physical symptoms to poor posture.

According to Janice Novak, author of Posture Get It Straight, just straightening up is not the answer. Novak goes onto inform us that when most of us try to improve our posture, we jam the shoulders back, suck in the bellies, and stand stiff as soldiers. The problem with this, as Novak states, is that it is very difficult to sustain this position for more than a few seconds, but moreover, it does not align the body properly. The position feels and looks unnatural and uncomfortable. Our bodies are meant to function from a position of balance and equilibrium and here is where the techniques outlined in Posture Get It Straight come into play.

Novak is considered to be a leading posture expert and her unique posture program was developed over a period of twenty years as she worked with individual clients as well as presenting thousands of workshops for hospitals, universities, and professional organizations. She holds a master's degree in health and physical education and has been quoted in several magazines including Ladies Home Journal, Woman's Day, Muscle & Fitness, Natural Health, and American Baby. In addition, she can often be heard on radio and seen on television.

In Posture Get It Straight readers are presented with a step-by-step guide as to how to stand straighter instantly and how to keep yourself standing straighter through a combination of stretching and strengthening exercises as well as practical tips for better posture.

The 136 -page book divides itself three parts, an epilogue and an index. The first part is a general overview where we are given the tools to assess our posture, and shown why we suffer from poor posture as well as what constitutes good posture. An entire chapter demonstrates how to have better posture instantly where we are given six tips entitled One Minute to Better Posture Technique wherein this technique will get our ears, shoulders, hips, knees, and ankles in a direct line. According to Novak, it will help us have been posture immediately.

From this opening section, Novak goes onto explore common posture problems where she deals with heads that slump forward, general slumping, rounded shoulders, lower back alignment, strengthening the abdomen, knees, feet and ankles. To correct these problems, Novak provides her readers with numerous illustrated simple exercises.

The last part shows us how to have good posture all day long when sitting at our computers, planes, trains and automobiles as well as sleeping positions, lifting objects safely, good posture for sports and workouts, hobbies. There are also chapters that explore eating for stronger muscles and bones, as well as mothers who suffer from new baby backache blues, and a section dealing with osteoporosis and posture.

The Epilogue counsels when to seek medical care as when you may have been in a car accident or have fallen, when you have a feeling of numbness or tingling or a shooting pain into your buttocks or legs and the pain is sharp or stabbing, when there is a stiffness or a decrease in range of motion, weaknesses in the ankle, big toe, hand, fingers, or a loss of gripping in your hand, a neck pain that lasts for more than ten days or one that is accompanied by fever or nausea that many be symptoms of meningitis.

It should be pointed out, as mentioned in the disclaimer to the book, that the instructions, procedures and advice in the book are in no way intended as a substitute for medical counselling. Before attempting any of the exercises in the book it is highly advisable that you consult with your physician and physical therapist.

What I found quite helpful is the index that lists the exercises and stretches contained in the book along with their page references.

Written in straight- forward language with ample excellent illustrations, Posture Get It Straight is not meant to be the last word on improving posture, but should prove to be a good starting point for those who wish to take the first step.

Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor Bookpleasures

Posture, Get it Straight! discusses the widely overlooked secret to long term health care--our posture and how it affects our body, attitudes and outlook on life. More often than not we are reminded that exercise is needed to keep off weight while posture is not discussed. The good news is that regardless of the condition your posture is in, Janice Novak suggests it can immediately be corrected and improve your well being by simply adjusting sitting or standing positions.

Using her suggested stretching exercises to help limber up muscles, trains them for straight posture. My favorite sitting exercise is the trapezoid stretch, which I use when I find myself hanging my head forward while working on the computer. I was amazed to learn that sleeping with a pillow between the knees not only protects the lower back alignment and prevents the weight of the thigh from pulling on the hip socket; it also protects the posture.

After several weeks of using the suggested stretches the author offers, I discovered that good posture affects every area of our lives whether it is recreational or work related.

This book is an excellent reminder that good health begins with posture and that it does play a significant role in our personal long-term care. Who knew that something so simple that harkens back to my mother telling me to straighten my shoulders would be something I still need to be reminded of!

Armchair Interviews says: With so many of us getting computer-itist, this is a great book to put us back in order.

I was considering buying the "Posture Alignment" book by Paul D'Arezzo, but decided to buy "Posture, Get It Straight..." by Janice Novak along with the DVD. And boy, am I ever satisfied with both items. I find the book to be very easy to read, with basic, but invaluable information. The exercises/stretches are simple to do, but you'll feel completely refreshed/satisfied/better after doing them.

I particularly loved the section on food intake and the specific amount of calcium/potassium/magnesium/vitamins and other minerals and supplements that your body require on a daily basis, in order to have not just healthy bones, but an overall healthy body.

Not to say the exercise instructions on the book is difficult to follow, but if you're the type of person that benefit greatly from visual examples, then the DVD is the perfect accompaniment to the book. It takes a lot of the exercises (not all) directly from the book and put it into visual form for you to understand. For some reason, the reviewers for the DVD version neglect to mention this fact, but there's a resistance band that's included with the DVD. You'll find the book has a lot of exercises that required the use of a resistance band. However, if you get the DVD, you'll have all the necessary tools to get started toward a healthy body.

I absolutely recommend the book and the DVD, 5 Stars, anything less is an insult to Janice Novak's 20+ years of experience and her programs.

I like doing things the easy way with the least amount of work and that's why I found "Posture, Get It Straight" to be invaluable. The drawings help me understand what I'm supposed to be doing and the author is very complete with explanations and instructions.

Because I sit at a computer for most of my workday, I tend to become round in the shoulders and both my neck and mid back get very sore. There is a chapter called "The ABCs of computer comfort" that explains how to set up your mouse, monitor, keyboard and chair so that you put the least amount of stress on your various body parts. One thing the author mentions that never occurred to me is to tilt the monitor so it can be viewed with bifocals. I've been perching my glasses on the end of my nose and bending my neck to get just the right view. No more!

There are lots of exercise and stretches to do to build muscles in various areas and they actually feel good to do. The exercises can easily be done around the house using walls and chairs as props but some require the use of a resistance band. I particularly like the door frame stretch for shoulders and chest and the foot exercises to help strengthen arches that get beat up from wearing high heels.

Other chapters in "Posture, Get it Straight" cover how to sit on a plane or in an automobile, how to choose a pillow and how to sit while doing crafts. Whether your concern is posture while pregnant or how to avoid osteoporosis, you will find some practical suggestions.

The subtitle of the book is, "look ten year younger, ten pounds thinner, & feel better than ever!" I think it must be true because since I've been practicing better posture, people have asked me if I've lost weight.

I'd recommend this book to anyone of any age. It will help you understand how your body works and how you can use your body more efficiently by keeping it aligned.

I purchased this book because a friend of mine suggested it. She thought that it went right along with the Body Talk and Essential Oil book that I had been using. I thank her every day that she had suggested it.
I found this book so fascinating that I couldn't put it down. So I finished it on the day that I received it. It makes so much sence of why it is that we put on weight. It helps you to analyze what has triggered the weight gain that you have. And gives examples of how we can overcome the triggers.
This book has been a real eye opener for me. It made me look at myself differently and how I can improve on myself.
There is alot of self analyzing that you have to do but it gives you the tools that you need to do it with.
I would heartily recommend this book for someone that wants to do serious weight loss for life.

This is an excellent book that really explains just how complex obesity really is. It goes into great detail regarding the various physical and emotional reasons for the condition. The author talks about super-confident women (the book is geared to women) who have managed to overcome the odds and lose weight and keep it off. What the book does not do is offer any specific dietary guidelines. Instead she says it is best if each woman works out her own diet, taking her own needs and desires into consideration. She says you need to become a "scientist of your own body" and experiment to find what works and what doesn't for your particular situation. I thought the book was informative. It gives good guidelines about certain medical conditions, what tests you should have etc. but, in the end, it leaves the reader without any real guidance.

Finally! The complete truth about weight loss with no gimmicks, no hype. Sue Ellin Browder is a wonderfully honest investigative journalist with no pet theories to promote,no clinic to fund. She has talked to the world's leading obesity specialists, read the medical literature (more than 4000 studies!), talked to women who've been there (the weight-loss winners), and then written a guidebook any woman can use to achieve a healthy weight for life! This is a book for smart women who want to take charge of their weight and their lives. Rather than giving us a one-size-fits-all prescription (which, as we all know, never works), Browder gives us a list of options that have worked for other women and a bunch of questions you can ask, so you can make your own clear-headed decisions and make the choices that work best for you. I've already lost 12 pounds in three weeks just by becoming the "scientist of my own body" and achieving MY weight, MY way. Take charge. Buy this book. Strong, independent women have been waiting for these answers for years!!!!!

I'm telling everybody I know about this empowering book because it's helped me so much. It's the most refreshingly honest diet book I've ever read. All the studies the author writes about in the book are listed in the notes at the back so you can look them up for yourself and show them to your doctor if you want to. As we all know, it's impossible to take charge of your weight if you don't have all the facts. You begin clutching at straws. This book is called The Power because accurate information is power, and this is the FIRST REPORT telling women about all the new, cutting-edge research coming out of the biggest, most well-equipped fat labs. The most important surprise is how stress makes you fat. The big secret is a stress hormone called cortisol. Cortisol opens the unhealthy fat cell doors so the fat can go in. Cortisol can cause you to store more unhealthy fat even when you don't overeat! (That helps explain why I gained nearly 70 pounds when I really DON'T eat that much.) Scientists have now linked high cortisol levels to Depression Fat, Anger Fat, Binge-Eating Fat, Night-Eating Fat, Polycystic Ovary Fat, Lazy Thyroid Fat -- in all to 11 different ways you can gain unhealthy weight. Options. Making your own choices and finding your weight, your way. That's what The Power is all about. Buy this book. It will change your life. I've lost 60 pounds so far. Only 10 more to go!

The author of this excellent book boils down all the latest research about weight. She then includes a bunch of quizzes so you can diagnose yourself, find out what fat type you have, and then figure out how to solve it. The author makes the point (and I agree with her) that most diet books disempower women by giving us ironclad "rules" to follow, even down to telling us precisely which foods to eat. Don't you just hate those little sheets of "the right foods" that doctors hand out. Women aren't stupid. We know the difference between a brownie and an apple. What we don't know is why we feel compelled to eat the brownie instead of the apple. This book tells us WHY WE GAINED WEIGHT and how we can use this information to get thin. A refreshingly honest book that's long overdue. I'm already becoming the scientist of my own body, I've lost 23 pounds in two and a half months -- and this time I'm keeping them off because I have THE POWER. My husband (my best cheerleader) tells me, "You go, Girl!" And I have!!!

In addition to being a wonderful Dieter's Cheating Guide, this exceptionally well written book presents a very practical real world diet. I define a real world diet as one that is:

Easy to follow, practical and safe

Based on correct principles

Results in lost pounds in the near and long term

Compassionate and understanding of human nature

Some facts of life are not pleasant, such as the fact that a gram of fat contains more calories than a gram of protein or carbohydrate. Yet within such constraints Dr. Widroe offers the reader a way to manage her/his eating habits without sacrificing one's favorite foods and without the tedium of counting calories or taking on boring tasks. Further, the book is downright interesting with realistic accounts along the way that help solidify your understanding of his points.

Psychiatrist Harvey J. Widroe, M.D. presents The Smart Dieter's Cheating Guide: Eat and Watch Pounds Melt Away, a guide to losing weight on a long term basis - rather than short-term dieting, which simply forces the body into starvation mode and prompts it to quickly regain any lost pounds. Chapters address how to use "controlled cheating" that substitutes small, regular filling snacks for out-of-control binging; which foods should be avoided and what to substitute for them; why weight control clubs don't work (they fail to take into account that dieters are inherently and biologically cheaters); why all-protein diets are extremely harmful; and much more. A thoughtful, step-by-step guide to reforming one's eating habits in a manner that not only encourages good nutrition but also takes natural and sudden cravings to "cheat" into account.

Finally, a diet book that lays out a sustainable plan and gets to the roots of the psychology of, first, overeating, but more importantly, learning to eat properly! The Smart Dieter's Cheating Guide provides powerful and specific psychological tools for controlling your food intake. It starts with the premise that all dieters are cheaters, and there's no use fighting it. What Dr. Widroe proposes is a fundamental shift in perception that helped me to burn calories instead of emotional energy. "Effective cheating" might sound like an oxymoron when applied to dieting, but this real-life approach carries the heft while you lose it. I really found it very helpful, and as a food writer, I'm constantly in the way of temptation.
J. M. Booe

This is the "diet" book I've been waiting all my life for--easy to read, informative and above all, practical. Dr. Widroe confronts the myths and dilemmas that face a dieter. He is an author who understands human nature and gives examples on how a dieter can cheat smartly in a variety of social situations. I highly recommend this book.

Finally, a diet book that punctures the myth that the countless stream of diet books are full proof methods for weight loss. Psychiatrist Dr. Harvey J. Widroe, after many years of studying diet programs his patients had been following, invariably found that success was fleeting and failure the norm. From that starting point, he conceived a down-to-earth and sensible pathway to dieting.

"The Smart Dieter's Cheating Guide: Eat and Watch Pounds Melt Away," by Harvey J. Widroe, M.D., with Ron Kenner, makes the case that people are only human and easily given to temptation. Widroe's innovative approach, with a focus on the mindset of the dieter, allows the dieter to cheat-- but cheat smartly.

This is not a crash program that excludes any one food group. Widroe allows you to have your cake and eat it, too; in lesser portions of course. But his strategy is anything but simplistic. It involves such things as shrewd restaurant ordering, and planning rewards in advance. In one chapter, How to eat Effectively, the reader is given space to write in his or her current cheating list and then devise a new, improved cheating list. There is fun to be had in candid confession. Perhaps most unique to this work are the human vignettes, where we get into the lives of husbands, wives and friends, as they confront the diet challenge and learn how to reap the benefits of smart cheating.

This is a diet book for the thinking person who doesn't want to obsess over calories, nor suffer the sin of giving in to temptation. In appealing to our ability to conquer weight loss through the use of our own psychological tools, Widroe has turned an old axiom on its head: Cheaters can prosper--but only by being honest with themselves.

Having a flat stomach requires a lifestyle change, not just more exercise. "Stomach Flattening Training Manual" is Doug Setter's guide to putting one's body through the lifestyle change it needs to change its life for the better. His methods are comparable to what police and military fitness routines ask of their participants, and they can help civilians make themselves the epitome of fitness. "Stomach Flattening Training Manual" is a must for anyone who wants to take their health to the next level.

WOW! I've read my share of exercise books and this one definitely tops the list. Doug Setter covers EVERYTHING you need to know about getting and maintaining a flat stomach, from exercise and breathing, to proper nutrition and developing proper habits.
If you really want to know how to get a flat stomach, put down the diet books and latest fad workouts and get yourself a copy of The Stomach Flattening Training Manual. You will not be disappointed!

"Stomach Flattening" is written by a guy who definitely practices what he preaches. Doug Setter's stomach is flat! This is not like visiting a cardiologist who turns out to be an overweight smoker. Setter is a former paratrooper who has completed 5 marathons and climbed Mt. Ranier. He has written extensively on fitness. The book goes way beyond simply flattening your stomach. After convincingly explaining the importance of having a flat stomach, the author provides a road map for how to do so in a very clear and concise way. I loved the section on doing exercises at your desk, and I've begun to incorporate them when I'm at work. The chapters on nutrition and 'stomach flattening behavior' make this a complete plan for reaching your goals of having a flatter stomach and getting healthier. This is a real gem. Very highly recommended!

Doug Setter's Stomach Flattening is a bare bones, cut-to-the-chaste, how-to book on flattening your gut. I was surprised at the little known topics of posture, breathing, exercise sequence and how-to change your behavior. You get information of several books into one.

"Valuable information in Somach Flattening. It is like a fitness textbook that has been condensed and then rewritten for busy people. I enjoyed Doug's no-frills, plain language, get results approach. The section on changing behavior could have been a book in itself. Doug gives specific examples of how to change your mindset to get the results you desire. I highly recommend Stomach Flatttening for fitness beginners or athletes who want stronger, slimmer midriffs."

Laurie Bell
natural bodybuilding champion, USA
Author, Lose the Lies Lose the Weight: Your Weight Loss Resource Without the Hype
[...]

I found this book motivated me to get out and do something more physically active. The premise is that anything is better than nothing and any little activity will get you moving and eventually onto bigger and better activities. I like to dance with my son, chase my son to get him dressed and changed, and play with my dogs. It's a start.

This was a cleverly written book with a sensible, realistic, and humorous side to dieting. The tips and suggestions of eating and exercising are do-able and a program that will work into anybody's lifestyle. Having finished the book, it gives me hope for a lasting and healthy way to live my life. And the best part---don't deny yourself the cookies!!

I thought that this book was great! After I read this book it made me see the big picture of living a health and active life style with out giving up the things I love! I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to start live a healthy and active lifestyle!

This is a very good book for those who are just starting on a fitness program, mainly because the enthusiasm displayed by the author is inspiring. What impressed me the most was instead of dictating a specific type of excersise (weights, running, etc...) Boyd recomends that an individual should develop their fitness program around activities they enjoy, and he emphasizes his point strongly. I myself have learned from experience that if you don't like a particular form of excersise you won't stick to it. When I was in college I hated lifting weights but I would play racquetball till I dropped. Guess what I did more often? I strongly recomend this book to the beginning fitness enthusiast.

I have bought and read this book and thought it offered a practical approach to dieting and fitness. Got me motivated to start exercising more and watching what I eat. As long as I know I can still have cookies and such but in moderation, then I can work easier towards obtaining a fitness lifestyle that will work for me. Loved the cover!

"I realized that to lose weight and be the thin and healthy person I wanted to be, I would have to make a lifelong change. It finally forced me to look at my `issues.' In order to become the healthy, slimmer person I desired, I would need to `renew' my life." ~Ann King

"These Hips Are Mine" is a book by an author who spent many years looking for lifestyle changes that would assist her in her weight loss goals. She didn't want to live by strict restrictions on what she couldn't eat; instead she wanted to know what she "could" do to maintain overall health. Through her research she learned how to shift her thoughts from "losing weight" to "I want to eat and be healthy."

Some of the topics include:

Identifying the Need to Change
Goals
Visual Tools
Choices and Responses
Handling Negativity
Nutrition
Exercise
Journaling
Chocolate
Emotional Eating
Stocking Your Kitchen
Eating on the Go
Positive Self-Talk
The Five Stages of Success
You Deserve Success

Ann King, who adores chocolate caramels, writes beautifully and explores the topic of weight loss with great sensitivity and insight. She explains how you can easily create an environment for weight-lose success. Things as simple as putting out a fruit bowl and removing food temptations go a long way to encouraging success. She explains how to read food labels and identify saturated and unsaturated fats. She also explores "food myths" and explains how you can identify nutrients you are missing by the foods you are craving.

"These Hips are Mine" is an inspiring book that will encourage you to move towards your goals with a renewed sense of optimism.

~The Rebecca Review

It's not just another "Lose weight - Eat healthy" book. The fresh mental approach offered in this book also helped me in other areas that I feel needed improvement. It has also become my "Lose debt - Spend healthy" guide that I refer back to if I feel I'm "losing control". It has helped me gain a new, healthy perspective in many aspects of my life.

My wife read this and left it on the bedside table. I picked it up late one night in a desperate attempt for an insomnia cure. I got hooked a few pages into it. It's not your typical fad or jargon filled weight-loss book. As an engineer myself, I found her steady, long-term, practical and realistic approach very appealing. You might have to muscle through (or skip) some of the detailed technical or "journaling" stuff, but you can easily get back to the meat of the book. Weight loss with her approach won't happen quick, but it will probably stay off forever. Reading further, I discovered that the book was really about getting what you want out of life. It's about succeeding. It's about being happy. It's about the journey. It's comforting yet requires that you take responsibility and control. Even if you don't need to lose weight, it's worth a read.

These Hips are Mine: A Weight-Loss Companion Guide is both a personal testimony and a how-to guide to improved overall eating habits and health. When author Ann King became frustrated at the ineffectiveness of diets and diet plans, she chose to abandon calorie counting in favor of positive lifestyle changes - fruit became easily accessible as a snack, junk foods were removed, and the family kitchen was closed at night. Once the author's mental focus shifted to eating healthy and making lifestyle changes rather than just losing weight, her physical and mental well-being both improved. Her story is a life-affirming testimony to conquering both internal and external demons in the search for better health. Chapters address the steps needed to promote a positive lifestyle change, basic knowledge such as how to read food labels and recognize different types of fat, factors that can limit one's efforts at weight loss and self-improvement, survival techniques for taking control of one's food intake at home or when eating out, the five stages of success and how to ensure that success is lasting rather than the first step of a yo-yo, and much more. A positive and practical-minded guide with a keen focus on overall health rather than simply fewer pounds.

It's obvious that Ann King spent a number of years researching this very workable weight loss program. She recommends more of a self analysis to determine why and when we eat. A very necessary step to a successful program.
She also reviews basic nutritional information to give the reader a healthy start to a new beginning.
Follow her five critical steps to change and you will undoubtedly see results - results that will last a lifetime.
RK/Michigan

An anthropologist once told me that certain human beings are touched by the hand of God. Lucia Capodilupo is one of these creative, insightful, and profound authors. This book is not "yet another" trendy solution to excessive weight gain. Bypassing the quick fix, Lucia focuses on the trials of the human soul. Her writing is clear and her suggestions full of wisdom and promise.

This is a wonderful book! In "Thin Through The Power Of Spirit" Lucia Capodilupo shares her ideas of how to "Create Paradise in Your Weight and World". Instead of focusing on fat grams and calories etc. Lucia suggests we look to the Spirit within us all to find permanent weight loss. "The first step to permanent weight loss begins in the soul" according to Lucia. Lucia gives you mental exercises to do to become more aware of your spirituality. By doing so Lucia believes you can accomplish the type of body weight that is right for you. Exercises include learning to practise self forgiveness, to treat your body with love, to learn the art of gratitude etc. The techniques she shares are powerful and life changing. She also shares wonderful techniques to help resist temptation. I think the book is a wonderful guide to developing greater spirituality and creating the healthy life we desire.

Lucia Capodilupo's book is the answer for all who want to reach and maintain normal weight, whether the unwanted weight gain is minor or serious. In it she captures the essence of permanent weight loss through spiritual change. Her clear writing and powerful techniques for making peace with the physical world, understanding the meaning and function of excess weight, and accessing "perfect" form (which already exists) resonate as Universal truths in the reader.

Capodilupo, who earned a Ph.D. in Russian literature at Yale, teaches us how to define our purpose and commit to making our body, life, and environment works of art. The reader gains a new sense of self-worth and well-being -- expressed by the body through perfect weight!

Thin Through The Power Of Spirit: Creating Paradise In Your Weight & World makes the startling disclosure that excessive overweight is a spiritual problem, the root cause of which lies in the mind. the seriously overweight person is subconsciously unhappy with, and warring against, their own physical incarnation. With this perception that the "soul" or self is caught in the fleshy prison of the body, the compulsion to overeat takes over -- a symbolic acting-out of this imprisonment. The cure for excess weight lies in remembering that in the flesh, one is not meant to suffer. Permanent weight loss is possible when body reverence replaces body hatred , and weight-loss efforts are then seen as part of a larger commitment to creating Paradise on Earth. Thin Through The Power Of Spirit shows readers how to change their world view, psychology, body image, and food choices so that they can move out of the prison of excess weight and into conditions of normal weight and increased freedom. Author Lucia Capodilupo offers an effective in-depth plan that can, quite literally, change the reader's weight and life forever. Highly recommended.

This is a very fine book, well thought through and well written. The author has looked far more deeply and clearly than any other I have read into the emotional and spiritual issues involved with excess weight and losing that weight. More than that, the wisdom presented in this book could be useful for working with any personal issue or simply for personal development. Let us hear more from this author, soon. Strongly recommended for those of us who wish to truly break the superficial approach of quick fixes and really transform our lives.

I bought this when I came online to buy the Ultimate Workout Log - both are exactly what I want. Each one makes you think about different things - set different goals - re-evaluate each week, and gives you plenty of space to track. The diet log can easily be used the way it was written, or else for WW and using points. One good thing is that it makes you track your hunger and fullness at the beginning and end of each meal/snack - long before WW started doing it. It's a great tool to help lose weight, and after the weight is lost, it'll help you see what worked, and what didn't.

Excellent tool for those who have trouble getting started on a diet. Well written and organized.

I really do believe keeping a log helps you while dieting, but I've tried three or four other logs over the years, and I always quit after a couple weeks. Tracking all the info gets so tedious! But this log's five-day inventory has helped me figure out just what areas I need to focus on so I'm not wasting my time counting calories or fat grams or other things that just aren't relevant to the way I eat and my problem areas (I admit it: sugar intake and too much snacking since I'm home all day with the fridge). Plus, the log has just made me feel a lot less overwhelmed. Instead of completely overhauling my eating, I'm just focusing on a couple things. It's also helped me identify issues that I wasn't aware of -- fiber intake, for example. The layout is great -- really easy to use. And every page has a factoid that's always either entertaining or informative. A month into it, I feel like I've finally found the right fit with this diet log -- and my clothes are fitting a lot better, too!

In a market that is saturated with diet tips, tricks and journals The Ultimate Diet Log stands out. It is is easy to keep track of, fun to write in and easy to read.

I purchased UDL after flipping through each diet journal Barnes and Noble offered in the store. The UDL was the only one with flexibility in meal times, an exercise log and tons of pertinent information.

I am now in week 7 of using this journal and it has been a helpful handy tool. For a few weeks before that, I had been tracking my food intake online, but it was cumbersome to look up each food in the database, sift through the (sometimes irrelavant) results, each time I had a quick snack. I much prefer to quickly jot it down the old-fashioned way, on paper.
One of the neat features is that each day's log has 2 columns for tracking "areas of focus." You decide which things are important for you to track: is it overall calorie intake, or fiber, or fat, or servings of fruits and veggies? And there is a helpful section at the front of the journal to help in your initial assessment to set personal goals and areas of focus. I flipped through a number of journals on the shelf at Borders before selecting this one, and I am very happy with my choice.

This book explains in general terminolgy how to eat properly and burn fat fast with a customized test to scientifically prove your body's natural way to loose weight and inches in the most effecient way. It only makes sense to be tested on know how your body burns fat by eating a balance of carbohyrates, proteins and fat to promote a healthly lifestyle. Too many people are searching for the right diet and have no idea how it is harmful for their bodies. The FitTest will eliminate the guess work and will promote proper eating habits all based on scientific testing with a customized product to assist in this proper balance of nutrients. The guess work is over for weight loss!

This is incredible! I've been "weighting" all my life for this! I've tried everything...Atkins, SlenderWeigh, Herbal Life, Fit for Life, The Zone, 4Types 4Diets, Weight Watchers. Talk about being weight loss resistant!! None of them worked for me, yet I know lots of people that were able to lose. But, they didn't keep it off! Which situation is worse? It's maddening, frustrating and depressing! Now, I can follow an eating plan that is customized just for me based on how my body metabolizes protein,carbs & fats!! Now, I finally know how much protein, carbs & fat my body needs on a daily basis. Size 7.....here I come!!!!!

This book has it all. It provides detailed information on WHY people are overweight. It provides a laboratory test to find out how to customize the proper protein, carbohydrate and fat ratios. It provides fabulous recipes that really work. And it's humorous. Most importantly, it provides deeper insights into nutrition that no other book has touched--insights that really make a difference in health. I've read other books by Dr. Tips and they all have been jam packed with valuable information. This book is undoubtedly his best work to date. He shares a nutritional clarity that is the result of experience and deep insights. In my opinion, everyone will enjoy reading this regardless of their weight situation. Finally, I'll say that this program really works. It's the easiest one I've ever done and the results stay with you. I know you'll like this book, too!

DIETS SEEM TO BE DESIGNED FOR WEIGHT LOSS AND,THEN, ALLOWING FOR SUBSEQUENT GAIN OF THE WEIGHT RIGHT BACK FOR THE ECONOMIC BENEFIT OF THE CREATOR OF THE DIET. DR. JACK TIPS HAS GIVEN US AN INDIVIDUALIZED AND CUSTOMIZED PLAN FOR PROPER EATING RECOGNIZING OUR BIO-INDIVIDUALITY AND BASED UPON SCIENTIFIC TESTING. HE SUGGESTS UTILIZING THE "FIT TEST" OFFERED THROUGH IDEAL HEALTH INTERNATIONAL AND METAMETRIX CLINICAL LABORATORY RECOGNIZING OUR BIO-INDIVIDUALITY. DIETS ARE ON THEIR WAY OUT! CUSTOMIZED EATING PLANS UTILIZING TESTING ARE ABSOLUTELY IN!

This book should be in every one's home, in every library and featured in the window of every book store. I not only bought and read the book but, I am using the "FitTest" and eating program suggested as a result of the testing. I am so impressed with the whole program of health I am also using the supplements suggested in the book. Please feel free to comment or ask questions. KCCOLONIC@AOL.COM

This book has been really helpful in me realizing the problems that lead me to being overweight. I did not think the hypnosis tracks would work but they do. It is really subtle so you don't even have to work at it the changes happen subconsciously. Reading the book just makes you more aware of what needs to change so you are thinking about it consciously as well. I would recommend this book to anyone who has tried it all and have failed...This is definitely worth a shot!!!

I got this book as a present, and didn't hold out much hope for it as I have read so many of them. This is different - the hypnosis CD (with a lovely, gentle English voice!) really, truly, works to make the changes happen. I was not just overweight, but stressy and tired all the time. Now I feel like a different person 15 pounds lost and it is STILL working for me. I can't believe it. Buy it now - it works!

My friend from England told me about this book. She had lost 15 pounds and was absolutely thrilled. For years I have been trying different diets. Most of them worked, but then the old habits took over and there I was again - chubby, unhappy, finding comfort in chocolate cakes and pizzas. So I thought - what the hell? This won't hurt. I have to admit I was skeptical at the beginning, but to my surprise it worked! The book is easy to read and gives you a whole new perspective on the weight management issue. Instead of obsessing about the extra pounds and struggling with that permanent guilt over the bad eating habits, I realized that what I needed to do was relax, look at the bigger picture, and deal with the underlying issues. Now I feel like a new person. Not only have I lost ten pounds (and still counting!) - I also feel more confident and in control of my life. The CD was my favorite part - Ursula's voice is so gentle and soothing. And that lovely British accent... I definitely recommend this book to everyone who is serious not just about losing weight, but also making a long-term commitment to a happier and healthier life.

I bought this on a whim, as I've tried others that were no good. Guess what! I lost 10 lbs without ANY effort!! Once that happened, I read around and found that others say teh same thing. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't done it myself. Brilliant book. If youve tried all the others and yo-yoed before - give this one a try. Got to use the CD though.

I wanted to read this book because I have always struggled with my weight since having my two children. Although more traditional diets have worked for me in the short term I never seem to be able to maintain the weight loss so I was fast reaching the conclusion that I needed to work on my mind as well as my body. Ursula James' book 'You Can Think Yourself Thin' came along at just the right time for me and I have been absolutely astounded by the effects of reading this book and listening to the hypnosis tracks. I had never tried anything like this before and was even a little skeptical but not any more!

The book works on the premise that if you are going to lose weight successfully you will need to deal with any issues you may have. These could include lack of sleep, your environment, relationships with others and your personal history. You may not think that there is anything you need to deal with but, as Ursula James says, if you only follow 20% of the suggestions you will be successful. All of the language in the book is extremely positive and as you are reading it you feel that she is addressing you directly. Everything she says is very thought provoking and even if it doesn't always appear relevant there is always something you can associate with it. There is also a lot of repetition which is good because it reinforces all the key messages she is giving. The most important message is all about taking control and this is a recurring theme in every chapter.

The book is broken up in to nine chapters which help you think about all the different stages of your life, starting with the past then moving into the present before addressing the future. All of these stages are accompanied by different tracks on a CD and you are told when to listen to these. There are a number of tasks which she asks you to do such as clearing out your wardrobe and dedicating at least an hour a week entirely for yourself all of which are helping you to create a positive self image.

The hypnotherapy tracks are amazing especially if you have not tried anything like this before. I was very impressed at how easily and seamlessly I was taken into a 'deep focused state' You don't always remember what has been said but the idea is that after you have listened your subconscious will work on the suggestions made while you are sleeping. After I got used to them I found that I really enjoyed these sessions and there were quite a few of them because although you only listen to the past and present tracks once, you are required to listen to the future track twenty one times. This is because apparently it takes three weeks to either make or break a habit. Also, the CD is always there for any future use particularly if you feel you are starting to fall into your former bad habits. I'm hoping I won't need to use it too often.

The effects that this book and the CD have had on me have been wonderful. I have been reading and listening for the last month and I really feel like I am a changed person and I have also lost ten pounds in weight without even trying. I no longer snack between meals and I am no longer finishing off all my young daughters' leftovers which was possibly my worst failing. It's not even as though my willpower has improved - it's just that I don't want to do these things any more. I seem to have lost my taste for sweet and sickly things, I have slowed down my eating and therefore improved my metabolism and I'm drinking much more water. Also my motivation for exercise has increased dramatically and I am no longer finding excuses for avoiding it. In fact now I'm actively looking for opportunities to exercise. I feel healthy and I also feel confident and I'm much more able to take difficult situations in my stride. Of course, the proof will be in how I feel three months for now but I do feel more positive that I will continue to lose weight and then maintain it.

I cannot praise this book enough and I really do feel that through reading it and following the instructions that it has changed me. I've also talked about it with so many friends who have all asked to borrow it but I'm afraid I told them to go out and get their own copies. This one's mine and I'm keeping it just in case I need a dose of positive thinking again!


NB I wrote this review about three months ago when it appeared on www.thebookbag.co.uk under my name. Since then I have lost a further eight pounds, I am a clothes size smaller and I still feel great!