Not being one who has to diet, as I'm probably at my optimum weight and healthy because of it, I do have an interest in philosophy and decided to read this book. My interest in philosophy was probably best expressed by my taking 21 college credits in philosophy for my first degree, and it wasn't even my major.
The book is interesting in that, unlike so many other diet books, it only has one recipe. Almost all of the 109 pages are devoted to telling you how to successfully diet. So many other diet books tell you to eat less and exercise more. This book also tells you that, but adds a very important extra proviso. To successfully diet, you have to change the WAY you eat, and that means changing WHAT you eat.
I know this works, as it has worked for me since I was 30 and diagnosed with hypoglycemia. I had to drastically cut from my diet sugar, white flour and other processed foods that Americans gulp down every day. In time, I came to the same realization the author of this book did. I began to love the foods I leaned to eat and not enjoy the foods I used to eat. For example, anything too sweet really turns me off due to its taste. I leaned to read labels and eat very few processed foods. I enjoy very good health, while still eating all I want. Another example, sodas are a serious no-no, as they have way too much sugar and calories. I stopped drinking sodas and today can't stand the taste of them. But I do enjoy a beer every night with supper, and don't put on pounds.
My mother often told me people, when they learned my age, asked her "What does he eat?" She always replied, "It's what he doesn't eat."
Was it hard? You bet. But I have never regretted it. Am I on some kind of strict diet. No way! You should see the wonderful foods I eat. But I do like to know what is in my food, which is why I seldom eat out. For example, like many people I enjoyed fried foods. But I knew what was in the white flour---sugars, additives, etc.---wasn't good for me. So I stopped eating fried foods, unless I cook it at home so I know what is in the batter, coating or what it is fried in. Almost at once my weight started going down. Today, I don't even like the taste of fried foods at restaurants, and, if I do have some, my body lets me know almost as soon as the meal is over, "Stupid, you shouldn't have eaten that," as the digestive process causes me problems.
Basically, what I did is what the author of this book really tries to teach you. Sure you can eat less and exercise more. But the most important thing to do is change the foods you eat. And yes, as he says in the book, I do find raw carrots sweet. I do eat a lot of things raw, but I mostly still eat cooked meals.
And, yes, the author does suggest you really cut back on your food and run more. Obviously, he is a runner. But I looked at that as something which worked for him. I know it wouldn't for me. For example, as a former Marine, I hate to run. Probably because for many years I had no choice but to run. And while the author suggests you cut back to 900 calories a day, I agree with the other reviewers on this page and also don't think it is a good idea. All you need to do is change WHAT you eat. So ignore what he tells you about running and limiting your calories.
And there is a lot of filler in this book too, as the author likes to digress. But one very important thing he stresses over and over. Change the way you eat by changing the foods you eat and over time, and he does say it will take a long time---maybe years, although you'll see weight loss soon, But you'll lose weight permanently and feel healthier and love what you're eating.
Hey, it took years for you to get fat and maybe unhealthy. So why would you expect to lose all that fat in a few weeks? Remember, statistically people who are overweight have shorter lives and more health problems.
I'm right there with Linda who wants to throw this book in the recycle bin so no one else will be damaged by it. I will not be posting my own copy, because I think it would be immoral to knowingly allow someone else to read this book. Not only is the author so filled up with high self-regard he's about to pop, he hits some all-time lows of condescension: his readers are ignorant slobs, and they also lack anything in the way of values, principles, guidelines for an ethical life.
But all is OK! Because Richard A. Watson is here to lead us onto the right path! And somehow it involves some of the most destructive advice about fitness and weight loss I've ever heard: slash your daily calories to starvation levels and simultaneously run, don't walk, long blistering miles a day--whether it drives you nuts or not, whether it causes injuries or not, whether you're feeling the medical ill-effects of starvation or not. And somehow this is supposed to make us better people who care more about the state of the universe? Right.
I thought this sort of hogwash was debunked in the '70s. Apparently there are some holdout nut cases who are unapologetic about causing their followers to go through yo-yo weight fluctuation, overall weight gain, serious running injuries, exquisite physical misery, an overall sense of crushing failure, and sometimes even clinical depression.
Numerous medical studies have confirmed: Avoid this approach. It is bad for you.
--Fiona
