This is a book review.
The book, obviously, is about food. But it is not a cookbook. Nor is it a weight loss book. This book is about health.
Chapter one is titled, “Food should make you healthy,” and it says, “There is no food neutral; there is no food Switzerland–every single thing you put in your mouth is either making you more healthy or less healthy.”
This book tells you which foods are which. Some of them will surprise you.
For those who need to know why the book includes what the authors call the “science-y” parts. Those of us who just care what can skip those parts although my experience is you will come back to them later since knowing why can help keep you motivated to go on improving your health.
Once you learn which foods are which, the book teaches you how to get the unhealthy ones out of your life. This part is called the Whole 30 and it is about detoxing your body from all it’s bad habits and cravings. Yes, your cravings will go away; I promise they will, if you stick with the program.
It is important to do a Whole 30 if you want to be heathy. Here’s the authors’ explanation of why: it’s called Cat Math. “Think of it like this: You’re allergic to cats, and you own ten of them. One day, fed up with your allergies, you decide to get rid of nine of your cats. Will you feel better? Maybe a bit–maybe not so stuffy, itchy, or headachy. But will your allergies go away entirely? Not a chance, because you are still living with a cat! Removing only some commonly problematic foods from your diet is like getting rid of nine of your cats–with even a little bit remaining in your diet, you can’t hope to be free of the negative effects it may be having.”
So, you rid your body of all it’s reactions to foods that make you unhealthy. Now what? This book teaches you that, too. My favorite part of this book is Appendix A. It includes master recipes for batch cooking proteins, vegetables, and sauces/dressings. Then it shows you myriad ways you can combine those to make quick, tasty, healthful meals. In fact, you can make one of those meals faster than you can fetch fast food.
Now there’s a plan I can live with. Healthfully. My weight loss is just a bonus of this type of eating. I know that for sure because when I stop eating this way, my weight loss stops, too. Some of us have to learn by stretching the boundaries until they break. I now need to do another Whole30 to get back on track. This new book will help me do that.
Go here, http://whole9life.com/, and scroll down the right column to choose whether you want to buy your book through Amazon or Barnes & Noble. I truly believe this is the best investment you can make in your health. And what other investment is so important?
TTYL,
Linda
You are right. Everything starts with food. It also ends there. You’ve done an amazing job with your weight lost and change of eating habits. Good for you. Wonder if we’ll recognize you when we see you next?????? Will we?
My problem right now is that we are traveling so much and I WANT to test and taste the local specialties. I have been pretty good keeping the weight off. I don’t snack at night and never drink sugary drinks. I have started to drink way more water than I ever have. I think that makes a big difference in my being hunger.
Glad the book is working for you. Keep up the great work. AND I know it is work!
thanks for the book recommendation.
i was forced to start eating better by way of a heart/arteries/hypertension problem.
my weakness is salt. i crave it like some people crave sweets.
i have learned to drink water… like marsha above. i never liked water.
am finding it’s so important!
and one reason i became vegetarian… if you ever learn (by watching true documentaries)
of how the animals people eat are treated so inhumanely… tortured even… it changes you
forever. you can then never ever say again… “i didn’t know.” you can still eat them but
you know what they went through so you could absorb all the wrong things done to them…
and then… most people even leave half of it on their plates!!! so all that suffering for … what?
so sorry. i’m passionate about stopping factory farms. not in a crazy peta way. but in a “why can’t
something be done about this if everybody knows about it?” kind of way. yet it goes on and on.
i’ll get the book and read it. thanks again!
I can see the logic.
Key Lime Pie = Healthy.
Not letting me have Key Lime Pie = Unhealthy.
It works!
Good luck on the plan. You will see some amazing changes and when you cheat, you will immediately feel it.