I'm approaching 70 years old, and I've been overweight since my mid-teenage years. I've tried a number of weight loss plans and had success, but the pounds always returned. Last year, I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, which has motivated me more than any other factor to lose weight and live a healthier life. When the author emailed me to request a review of "TurboCharged," I was happy to oblige.
The author claims that the TurboCharged program will outperform any other diet or exercise plan. The theory behind the TurboCharged program is that by burning body fat for energy instead of burning muscle cells, weight loss will occur by removing excess body fat.
Some of the requirements for TurboCharged weren't surprising, such as eliminating refined sugar and reducing or eliminating grain products. I've seen that in other nutrition books. Some of the steps, however, were unique, at least to me, such as drinking water a couple of glasses at a time, instead of sipping water constantly. The theory behind this seemed reasonable.
One concept that was new to me was measuring your success not by pounds lost or BMI, but by percent of body fat. The book has a link to an online body fat calculator. I input my numbers and as expected, my body fat percentage is too high.
Exercise was another topic. TurboCharged emphasizes regular physical activity in lieu of bursts of intense exercise. This more closely emulates how our ancestors lived before the mechanized age.
Finally, the book covers some ideal foods for TurboCharging your body. Interestingly, it also emphasized which foods should be eaten together for optimum digestion, and it actually discouraged eating balanced meals.
There's a 33-page Q&A section that should answer most questions, plus an extensive supplemental reading list.
I mentioned that I'm a diabetic. When I began reading the book, I was concerned that it might overlook the effects of the program on diabetes, but every chapter included information about the impacts on glucose and insulin levels.
The TurboCharged program was presented with a mix of theory and practical advice. In my opinion, the author made a strong case for TurboCharged. For many people, going on the program would require significant lifestyle changes. I'm not sure if I could make these changes at my age, but it's worth considering for anyone who wants to be healthier.