Editorial Review :

In search of the perfect human diet, Victoria Boutenko compares the standard American diet with the diet of wild chimpanzees. Chimpanzees share an estimated 99.4% of genes with humans, but their diet is dramatically different from ours. The most glaring difference is that chimpanzees consume significantly more green leaves than humans. Victoria developed a series of greens smoothies that enable anyone to consume the necessary amount of greens in a very palatable way.

Customer Review :

Not too many good recipes

I'm a huge fan of Victoria but I was a bit let down with this book. I haven't really found a book with a lot of good smoothie recipes and this is not it. It explains the philosophy behind them and you quickly learn as long as you have a green lettuce, any type of fruit(s) and a sweetener if need be plus any optional items such as protein or psyllium powder, its really all about experimenting. If you want the philosophy, buy the book. If not; spend you cash on ingredients and look up recipes online.

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This will have you hooked on green smoothies...

The principles Victoria discussed in her book were interesting, but I was disappointed to see that she rarely included any references to back up the claims. That's why I didn't rate this book with more stars.

However....it will have you hooked on green smoothies! There's no denying that leafy green vegetables are good for you, and this is an unbelievably easy and painless way to eat them. My husband and I bought a VitaMix (also highly recommended) eight months ago and I'm still drinking green smoothies on a regular basis. I also haven't been sick since, and I swear my skin is clearer because of the smoothies. I would wholeheartedly recommend trying a green smoothie for yourself--and this book is a nice introduction.

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Green for Life

Really informative. Great research for raw foodists or not. Well written and easy to read. You will know why and how to eat more greens forever.

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Excellent way to get healthy!

If you want to eat more fruits and vegetables...especially vegetables/leafy greens then this is the book for you. Easy to read, straight forward and loving. You must want to change and once you begin you will be amazed at how much energy you get. Also there may be some detoxing Read and find out...as least be informed..I admit this is cutting edge material not everyone will be willing but that is all it takes is to be willing. The author is so loving and she did her homework so the data and research is there. Take a look.

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Informative book with plenty of interesting information about healthy living.

This book was not entirely what I expected to read when I ordered it from Amazon; however, I still feel it was worth the time to read it! I was expecting more raw recipes, only to find that the focus is on incorporating more greens into one's diet. Knowing that, I wouldn't have purchased it... I eat a salad a day, that's plenty, right? Wrong!- according to Viktoria. I am happy to have stumbled across this book, as it provided me with a lot of useful information specifically on this much neglected 'food group' that I had not come across before. I've had other women in my office read it as well, all with good reviews. It is a super-fast read, accessible without being dumbed-down, and one I will pass around plenty I'm sure.

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Customer Review :

very good

this book was described as very good condition with a page corner turned and it came in just that description. it arrived in less than 2 weeks and has a lot of fast and simple recipes. thank you.

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This is actually working for me!

I decided to try a diet for the first time in my life when I lost the baby weight I had put on, then gained it all back by the time my son was 8 months old. Also, I have been trying to feed my son healthy foods, and noticed that I was often not eating healthy food myself. My father in law had sucess with his diet the year before, so I thought I would try it. So far I have lost 27 pounds in 5 months (11 lbs. in the first 2 weeks), and generally loose one pound a week, even when I feel I have strayed (like at a party or wedding). I already lost the weight I had put on, and am continuing with it to get down to a healthier weight for myself. Plus, now I can fit back into my jeans that I had packed away even beore I got pregnant. Once I got used to the food guidelines, I have found it easy to stay on track, and can alter many of our usual meals to fit the guidelines. I see this as a change in the way I eat, not just a way to loose some weight, then gain it back again.

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This makes it easy

This cookbook provided lots of easy recipes for all phases of the South Beach Diet. They were not only quick and easy, but very flavorful. They helped us to stay on the diet and not feel deprived.

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Wonderful

Wonderful recipes. Great way to continue the South Beach Diet. Lots of choices to choose from. This book helps my husband and I to not be bored on our diet.

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South Beach Quick & Easy

This book is excellent - I now have four South Beach Diet Cookbooks and this is by far the best, easiest, and quickest recipes. Everything I have tried has been easy to follow and yummy.

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1. Product #: ES-049997
2. Manufacturer: EAS
3. Manufacturer Item #: 9780060193393
4. Product Category: Nutrition - Fitness Accessories
5. UPC: 9780060193393

Customer Review :

Good,basic,introductory, beginner's workout plan...motivating read

The best things about this book are that it is written in a highly motivating way, and it gives a good, basic, introductory overview of standard,conventional, strength-training exercises. And that can certainly be of great value to people who are absolute beginners in weight-lifting and know nothing about the subject.
What this workout plan will not enable you to achieve is "maximum results in minimum time". And since your body, your health and your time are probably your three greatest assets in life, isn't that what most people want in an ideal workout plan? And the reason that this program does not deliver in this regard is simply because the book never defines "intensity" adequately to begin with. Having the "right" definition for intensity (i.e. one that works both in theory and can be readily applied) is vital for obtaining "maximum results in minimum time" for two reasons:
1) The secret to building muscle lies in subjecting your muscles to a higher level of intensity than what they are currently accustomed to; then your muscles grow bigger and stronger to adapt to that higher level of intensity.
2) Intensity is inversely proportional to duration. The higher the intensity of an exercise, the shorter the exercise has to be in terms of time duration, simply becuse you'll tire faster.
Thus it turns out that the "most effective" way to build muscle is actually the "least time-consuming" way, IF you know the secrets to maximizing the intensity of any given exercises that you do. And for that, you need that right definition for intensity (which this book doesn't have), because without that definition for intensity, you won't know which strategies work best to achieve maximum intensity for any exercise that you do. But then no conventional, workout plan has ever defined intensity adequately, which explains why they all fail to deliver when it comes to enabling one to obtain maximum results in minimum time. Thus, it's no surprise that Sylvester Stallone (in his book "Sly Moves")disappointedy states that it took him at least six years before he finally got his "after body", when using a plan like the one in Body For Life.
The best published book that I currently know of for obtaining maximum intensity (and thus "maximum results in minimum time") is John Little's book "Max Contraction Training".
In sum, I gave this book 4 stars, simply because I think it gives a good, basic, introductory, overview of conventional weight-lifting exercises for beginners, and it is highly motivating to read. The dietary advice might be revelatory to junk food addicts who don't even know what healthy food is, but for others, it's nothing enlightening, and even outdated at this point.
I should also mention that you can get good results from this workout plan if you've never lifted a weight in your life, since in that case, almost ANYTHING that you do will be more intense than what you were previously doing, which was nothing. But even if you're a beginner to weight-lifting, you still won't get maximum results in minimum time from this plan, for the reasons explained above. Additionally, this book leaves out a lot of important motions that need to be done to develop the muscle fibers that come into play only for those particular motions. So as a result, you will never fully develop your biceps, or your triceps, or your glutes, or your pectoral muscles, or your hamstrings, or your qudriceps, etc., with a plan like this.

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Need to Change your Life, read this book!!!

This book breaks down how to get fit, not just lose weight but really get your mind and body working together. It is simple and once you read it you will wonder why there is so much fuss around losing weight and getting fit. It is written in easy to read language and gives you points of reference all the way through. A great resource in your fitness journey.

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This fitness program is the real deal! Great book!

"Body For Life" is the most approachable, motivational, and effective fitness program I have encountered. Several of my male friends were getting in extremely buff while following this program, and their wives were getting into great shape, so I had to toss my skepticism aside and give it a try. Sure enough, even after 6 weeks, people were noticing that I looked "physically fit."

The book explains the workout process and the eating process in a clear, informative, and motivating manner, not only explaining how to work out and eat correctly, but WHY it must be done correctly. The book also contains many photographs demonstrating proper workout techniques, as well as lists of "proper" foods, and even some recipes!

Probably the most effective part of the book is the inclusion of dozens of "before-and-after" shots of "Body For Life" success stories, along with several testimonials of those who followed the program. These success stories really make it seem possible that even you(!) can get into awesome shape, really fueling your motivation.

I highly recommend this program to anyone who wants to get into fantastic shape relatively quickly (and who doesn't?). If you're not self-motivated, find a workout partner and follow this program, but by all means take the "Body For Life" challenge and get yourself into great shape!

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Down to earth

I love his book. He is very down to earth and explains things clearly and simply (with a sense of humor). The plan is very simple and easy to follow, that's why it works. He tells you things like eat 6 meals a day. Each meal should have a protein and a good carb portion. That's it! We choose how we want to use those portions. With eating 6 times a day, I really am not hungry. Also, since we get a day off a week to eat whatever we want, it helps curve the cravings during the week. The other day at work, someone brought a beautiful birthday cake. It was actually easy for me to say no, because I knew that my day off was coming up in three days. So, I don't feel like I am saying "no", it is more like a "not right now". I've been on his plan for a month and I am starting to see changes. I now have definition lines on my arms, which I have NEVER had in my whole entire life! Also, the pride I am getting from sticking to the plan is hard to describe.

Buy this book. It is the first step toward a positive, healthy future.



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This has been my life changer!

My daughter's physician wrote an article on weight loss and recommended this book and program. Having tried every diet known to man, why not try one more!? Well, FOR ME this has truly been life changing. The food plan is easy to follow and you DON'T have to use the supplements. Since I eat six times a day, hunger is never an issue. The exercise is actually fun. I've never done actual weight training before and even for a 51 year old grandmother, it works and is enjoyable. As already mentioned, the program is based on 12 week challenges. I was going to wait until the end of my first challenge to write a review, but my results are already so great, I wanted to give my two cents worth NOW. I am in my 8th week of the challenge and I have already lost 23 pounds. My only problem is having to buy more clothes when I know that they, too, will be too large within a few weeks.

I had almost given up on finding something that would "work" for me. Body For Life came to me at the perfect time and I plan on continuing this way of life from now on. And this is the first time I've ever felt like I could do that.

The companion book, Eating for Life, has been another huge help with the program. It has great recipes and meal plans to make this much easier to implement into your lifestyle. I HIGHLY recommend both books.

I'll be forever grateful to my daughter's physician for recommending this to me. Without hesitation, I recommend it to anyone who wants to find a healthy way to live.

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Editorial Review :

The average reader is either trying to lose weight, eat healthier, or reduce health risks such as diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer. This reliable, conveniently-sized, portable book provides a quick way to check the calories, carbohydrates and fat content of food and drinks.

Customer Review :

Great for road trips

This is a colorful, easy to read reference. The best one I've ever seen. Not only does it have tons of items you'd use everyday, but great restaurant guides. This would come in very handy on road trips too.

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Calories in/Calories out

Just buy it. Unbelieveable amount of information, all useful. Remember weight loss is nothing but counting calories. This book is a big help. I highly recommend it, especially at the price it sells for.



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diet resource

An excellent diet resource tool. Well organized and easy to use. This selection comes the closest to having "everything" and with the annual revision/update they surely come quite close to the goal.

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Great Book

This book is very helpful for anyone who wants to have the information needed to eat healthier.

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A Great Resource when on the go!

This book is small enough to carry in your purse, but still contains a lot of information. It has really helped me make better food choices when dining out. The only thing I wish it listed is the amount of protein. However, for the price and the convenient size, this book is great!

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Editorial Review :

With The Eat-Clean Diet, the diet that fitness professionals rely on, readers will transform themselves from sluggish, exhausted and overweight to energetic, lean and fabulous! Just like the author and cover girl Tosca Reno did when she was sixty pounds overweight, readers will discover how to make their bodies burn fat while eating tons of food. We've all seen the fitness professionals on the covers of magazines and wished we could look like them. The truth is, they are real people. Just like you, they had to figure out how to get their bodies to look like that. And they all came to the same conclusion: Eat Clean! So who better to write a book on the subject than formerly overweight fitness diva and mother of three, Tosca Reno? Tosca shows you how to lose over sixty pounds, like she did, or just that last ten. When you read The Eat-Clean Diet you will: Rev up your metabolism to burn more fat -faster!; Lose weight quickly and easily; Never go hungry; Eat all food groups: protein and carbs and fat; Eat five to seven meals a day; Receive Eat-Clean recipes with color photos; Have more energy than you ever dreamed possible; Stay lean forever never worry about dieting again!

Customer Review :

Great info!

I already work out and eat well, but this book gave me even better tips. Plus, it allows you to eat constantly by making better choices and gives some great advice about supplements. Great read!

Rating :

Too Much, Too Soon

How would you feel if you purchased a book titled "A Beginner's Guide to Exercise" and the first page said you were going to have to run the New York Marathon... tomorrow? This is, essentially, what Mrs. Reno presents in this book. She expects the average American to move from french fries and hamburgers to dressingless-salad and bee pollen over night.

One thing that Science has proven (over and over again) is that most obese (and even overweight) persons have a food addiction that is equivalent to a drug user or an alcoholic. Taking away every morsel of food which has been a staple of a person's diet for years and replacing it with an all "clean" diet is going to be (at the least) very painful.

So why 3 stars instead of 1? Because, Mrs. Reno is right in many ways, eating all naturally and as close to organic as possible will give us the most optimal health. On top of that, I think she does give some excellent tips and the book is gorgeous. Every page is bright, colorful, well organized, and most have pictures.

What is Included in the Book?
1. A personal history of Mrs. Reno's weight (and personal) struggles.
2. A guide on what is "clean eating"
3. Shopping Strategies
4. How to pack a lunch box
5. How to eat at restaurants (somewhat unpractical)
6. A very brief explanation on how to introduce children to clean eating (in which her explanation is: they will see you doing it and will want to eat clean too, this may be a BIG generalization.)
7. A brief section with recipes.

A comment on the recipes:
1. Many of them don't look (or taste) appealing
2. Taste pallets are difficult to change, it would be nice(r) if Mrs. Reno had included an in between guide on how to make slower changes
3. Some of the recipes call for rare or expensive ingredients
4. Most of the recipes are not what I consider kid-friendly (and I'm not one to say that kid-friendly means mac & cheese and chicken fingers, kids can eat lean meats and vegetables, but I don't know about many of these recipes)
5. If it sounds nasty (bee pollen) it probably is. (As a mini rant I, thankfully, did not waste the money or time on finding and purchasing bee pollen but got to try it with a friend of mine who is fascinated with "clean eating"... and I (as well as she) thought it was awful! (& awfully expensive too).

This book is not very detailed (considering the page numbers) and has many, what I would consider "page fillers." Also, one thing that bothers me is a chapter titled "Cheating." Isn't this book aimed at removing the "diet" mentality and moving towards healthful eating? Occasionally you will eat cake, or fast food, or (you name it), it's not cheating (done in moderation and only occasionally) and can be part of a healthy lifestyle (and part of being human).

Overall, Mrs. Reno is on the right path, eating natural (things that come from the earth, aka not marshmallows) is a great way of living. But, like I said earlier, you can't take a couch potato and make him/her a marathon runner tomorrow, and you can't expect a person with an addiction to American eating (no matter how detrimental it is to his/her life) to fall in love with bee pollen and soy milk over night either.

I don't regret the purchase of this book, but do note that chances are it will become "just another diet/health book" sitting on your shelf if you try to change to this lifestyle tomorrow. Take her advice and move towards eating as naturally and healthfully as possible while still maintaining your enjoyment of food (and sanity).

If this seems too hard core for you, and you are looking for a natural diet that doesn't require strange ingredients (etc) I strongly suggest the AB's Diet (which is not a gimmick, but a healthy diet centered on natural foods as well).

Pros:
*Introduce (a very extreme) healthy diet, and shows how it can be (some-what) practical
*Emphasizes natural, healthy, organic foods (not junk we are used to eating)
*Does not do the "diet" thing (aka "carbs are evil", "sugar is evil", "fat is evil")
*Book is well designed and is attractive and bright

Cons:
*Seems to anticipate an average (unhealthy) American to change to an all natural (and expensive) diet overnight
*Recipes aren't very good (see above)
*Not a good explanation for how this is practical for families (may need to purchase her book focusing on families, although I have not read that one)
*Impractical, although a good idea, for everyday people

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Never Got It

I would review this if I ever actually got it. I tried twice to get this book and both times was sent the original version, which I already have. In defense of Amazon, they were very nice both times regarding the return and I am sure it is just a matter of a "bin error". But please be aware that you may not receive the expanded edition. I gave this review one star for the customer service.

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Covers it all.

I really enjoyed this book. It was to the point and not full of junk I didn't want to know. The book is colorful and fun to read. She lays out what you should eat if you want to be healthy. I found it to be very helpful.

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Wrong book sent twice

I ordered the Eat Clean Expanded Edition. Amazon sent the wrong book - (the original, not expanded edition) and agreed to send the correct version. Then, the they sent the wrong book again. I requested a refund which the gave, no shipping charged and a $15 credit for the hassle. I had to order from the publisher to get the right book.

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