How I Gave Up My Low-Fat Diet and Lost 40 Pounds..and How You Can Too: The Ultimate Guide to Low-Carbohydrate Dieting

by Dana Carpender

How I Gave Up My Low Fat Diet and Lost Forty Pounds! is a breezy, chatty, non-technical, fun-to-read explanation of low carbohydrate dieting -- why it works, the surprising health benefits, and most importantly, how to "do" the diet. Or, rather, diets,since the book details three very different main approaches to controlling carbohydrates (including the Basic Low Carb Diet, similar to Atkins or Protein Power, and the Mini-Binge Diet, popularized as The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet), plus several variations, finally summing up the basic principles which tie them all together. The point is to give the reader the tools necessary to construct a new way of eating that will fit his or her body, psyche, and lifestyle, thus allowing them to stay slim, energetic, and healthy for life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Diets, Food

316 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 1999

About the author

Dana Carpender started her writing career as a self-published author. In 1995, after years of creative low fat cooking featuring whole grains and other “healthy” carbohydrates, and despite five step aerobics classes per week, she found herself a size 20, and gaining! Worse, her blood pressure was rising, and she was left dragging by energy swings. Dropping carbs long before it was fashionable, Carpender lost 40 pounds with no hunger, achieved normal blood pressure and excellent blood lipids, and found herself with more energy in her forties than she’d had in her teens.

Carpender lives in Bloomington, Indiana with her husband, two dogs, and a cat, all of whom eschew junk food. When she’s not cooking, writing, or reading the latest nutrition research, she power-walks, read mystery novels, and is an enthusiastic Toastmaster, taking the occasional trophy.

From the author's website.

Reviews

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great informative book. The dos/dont of low carb journey. (Hate the word diet) Each chapter is filled with explanations of low carb eating and why it is so important to fuel ourselves with good fats and oils. Cut the carbs and feel better!

[Joanne J. Dallas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. The author is quite humorous and I enjoyed that. She made me smile a lot. Very informative too!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Generally speaking, I enjoyed this book. It is a very enthusiastic, occasionally simplistic book about the low-carb lifestyle, with a style that is sometimes a little grating, sometimes helpfully cheerleaderish. It uses lots of exclamation points. It's a tad out of date on the subject of ephedra, but I get the impression that it is updated regularly, so that should be fixed eventually. It is written from a very personal perspective, but also presents the science in an extremely reader-friendly way. (At times it was a little too reader-friendly for my tastes, but for many it might be the only way to absorb some of this information.)

Generally this is a nice counterpart to the more scientific texts that I've been reading on the subject. I also found the description of several variations on the general low-carb theme to be informative and useful; I may try the Carbohydrate Addict's Diet as presented here when I am in a position where some "cheating" is difficult or impossible to avoid, such as holidays.

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dana Carpender preaches low carb with an evangelical zeal in How I Gave Up...and... You Can Too. I found her overview of the three general low carb plans and their variances very informative. The book is written in straightforward terms and the testimonials from Dana and some of her low carb converts give it a conversational feel. The book also includes chapters on supplements, indulgences, plateaus, and exercise plus loads of resources in the appendix. If you're on the fence about reading this, check out her blog and podcasts on her internet site, Hold the Toast.

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a non-technical book on living a low-carb lifestyle written in a fun, conversational style. It includes an overview of the three main low-carb diet plans, with the pros and cons of each plan. It also outlines the basic low-carb principles that tie all the plans together.

I consider myself fairly well-read on the subject of nutrition, and I found this book both entertaining and educational.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book - my only beef with it is that Carpender doesn't site her sources in anywhere near enough detail. This is too bad, because there have been many, many times when I've wanted to use some of her arguments to face down the Low-Fat Anti-Atkins Food Fascists, but felt that I'd be laughed down because Carpender by her own admission is a layperson. If only she'd cited her sources!

[Francisca · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving it 4* because it convinced me to try it but it disappointed me that it didn't had a plan or recipes, (i realize that it was not advertised as having but i expected to and think that it could benefit with it).
All and all it really makes very strong arguments for a new approach to carbs and i related to much the information (thus being convinced to change my eating habits).

[Catie McVinney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carpender has a wonderfully personable and easy-to-read tone throughout the book. If you want the hard science, read Gary Taubes, if you want a mix of the science and a little bit of entertainment with your low-carbing, this is the book for you.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book that got it started for me. Dana's writing style hooked me at the beginning and never let me go. I lost ~20 in a very short period of time because she made it so easy to get started and keep with it.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this quite a bit. It was a good companion to Gary Taubes “Why We Get Fat.” This was much more practical and action based. I got a ton from reading this and have lots of highlights to refer to later.

[Geraldine Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written great information.

very interesting facts will use as reference. I want to read again and highlight. I would recommend this book even if not needing to lose weight because there is much health information good for all.

[Roland · Rating 4 out of 5]

very good

[Joe Lucas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A easy read with a lot of information. I enjoyed the comparisons between different variations of low carb diets

[dragonsdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative. She explains the main reasons low carb eating can work. She also goes over the major low carb diets and their pros and cons. Will keep as a resource for my diet.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book...I like how Dana relates her own experience, but also shows you different plans that will work best for your own needs. She has a very easygoing writing style.

[Sandie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read!

[Carole Parma]

Very helpful. Along with Diana Schwarbein's books, you have the truth about how to lose weight and be healthier.

[Lj · Rating 4 out of 5]

good info on low carbing. I think I will check out her recipe books.

[Cindy Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome information

I chose 5 stars because the information in this book is great. All these low fat diets in one place.