The Virgin Diet: Drop 7 Foods, Lose 7 Pounds, Just 7 Days

by J.J. Virgin

<br><br><em>Your fat is not your fault.</em><br><br>Are you eating all the right things—low-fat yogurt, egg-white omelets, whole-grain bread, even tofu—but still can't lose the weight? Your favorite "diet" foods may be to blame.<br><br>In this groundbreaking program, nutrition and fitness expert JJ Virgin reveals the real secret behind weight gain—<em>food intolerance.</em> A negative reaction to certain foods like dairy or gluten can sabotage your health by triggering inflammation and causing a host of nasty symptoms like bloating, breakouts, headaches, achy joints and—worst of all—stubborn weight gain.<br><br>On <em>The Virgin Diet,</em> you'll eat plenty of anti-inflammatory, healing foods to reclaim your health and reset your metabolism, while avoiding the 7 foods that are most likely to cause food intolerance. You'll never feel hungry or deprived, and in just one week, you'll drop up to 7 pounds, lose belly bloat, gain energy, clear up inflammation and look and feel years younger. And that's just the beginning!<br><br>

Genres: Health, Nonfiction, Food, Self Help, Diets, Nutrition, Fitness

354 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Diane Kistner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those seven "high-FI" (food intolerance) foods? They are in everything. Everything. I have enough trouble having to deal with preparing meals for DH and me (we are an older couple in fairly poor health) without having to eliminate peanut butter and eggs, too. I could have guessed corn and soy, gluten and sweeteners would be on the high-FI list, and dairy figures also, but eggs and peanut butter are staples in our house. When we have to take our meds at various times of the day with food, those are items we reach for, along with fruit.

Well, JJ Virgin (that's her name, hence the title) explains it and why you have to give it all up for a while. This diet is to help you determine your food intolerances and which foods you can reintroduce after being off of them for a while. The program is very regimented so nothing gets by you. You should not go into it until you are ready to do it all the way; otherwise, it's going to be a big fat waste of your time. JJ provides shopping lists and what to keep stocked, and there's nothing bizarre about any of it. (I already use xylitol as our sweetener and have virgin coconut oil on hand, but I think I'm going to have to try the red palm fruit oil.)

I found the concept of the Virgin Diet Plate to be far handier than a bunch of recipes (she does include some in the back if you want them), because I don't do recipes. This is definitely a good diet for people who need to just throw something together and be done with it. You just have to be careful what you're throwing! And I guess I'm going to have to start eating breakfast. Yeah, yeah, I know....

This diet is designed to be anti-inflammatory, which is important to anyone struggling with heart disease or autoimmune diseases, as we are. It also makes a lot of sense. I consider myself pretty informed about health issues, and I learned some new information in this book. JJ does help put the whole picture together in an understandable way. She left out Earthing, but that's about all.

I was glad to see that JJ has resources available online, including symptom tracking and food diary guidelines, but I was disappointed to find that she has just one brand of protein powder listed as being suitable for her Virgin Shake. She says some products are adulterated with the forbidden 7 foods, and the way she discussed it in the book, I thought she was going to objectively steer us to several supplement manufacturers from which to choose. Apparently JJ is just like everybody else: She's got one product she's pushing. I knocked off a star for that.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book from the library but now sent in my order to Amazon.

Have I read it all? No. Why am I giving 5 stars to an only partially read book?

She gave me the kick in the ass I needed to seriously try this.

I started a low carb diet in the fall and lost 17 pounds over the course of a few months. Good results (especially since I ignored the diet over the holidays) but nothing earth shattering. I've known I had problems with certain foods over the years, but mainly lived with whatever symptoms they caused.

Since eliminating these 7 foods I've lost an additional 9 and a half pounds in less than 2 weeks and I feel SO much better.

I am not following her plan to the letter... so far I'm just trying to not eat those items. They're ubiquitious - it isn't easy. And the typical American diet? They're everywhere.

I'll be (finishing)reading, and re-reading this book. I may try a shake or two - but even if all I ever get out of this is the courage to have stopped those foods... I give it 5 stars.

[AH · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having struggled with weight issues for all of my life, I am always open to finding some sort of eating plan that would work with me and not feel like a diet. Sadly, The Virgin Diet is not for me. There are far too many exclusions of foods that I enjoy and I can't see myself sticking to such a diet. Sure, you could lose a lot of weight following this diet. Who wouldn't? Seriously, if you cut out dairy, soy, eggs, bread, corn, sugar, sugar substitutes - yes you will lose weight. Would you be happy? I don't know.

The other issue addressed in this book is gluten - this is a gluten-free diet and a lot of the claims made by this diet rest on the assumption that gluten is bad for you. Not true. Yes, there are people that can not tolerate gluten, apparently they are only a small percentage of the population.

So my verdict is - I'll pass on this diet and continue eating the fresh fruits, veggies, whole grains, and lean proteins.

*I won this book in a Goodreads First Reads giveaway. *

[Marguarite Markley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good health/fitness book will provide resources to further investigate claims made by the author. A good health/fitness book explains in simple terminology the science of whatever subject the author is writing about. A good health/fitness books doesn't require the purchase of the author's products to complete the diet/exercise.

The Virgin Diet: Drop 7 Foods, Lose 7 Pounds, Just 7 Days, by J.J. Virgin is a great health/fitness book. J.J. Virgin explains in simple terms why everyone should cut out the worst 7 foods for at least 21 days to give their gut a chance to heal. She recommends cutting out gluten, soy, dairy, eggs, sugar (and artificial sweeteners), corn, and peanuts. She provides research based evidence as to why these foods are damaging our health. While Virgin has shakes, supplements, and vitamins for sale on her website, one could pretty easily follow her diet recommendations without purchasing any of her products. (Note: She also explains how vegetarians can cut out these 7 foods and not starve to death too.)

My number one favorite point she makes is that ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS ARE BAD FOR YOU. Most diets rely on sucralose (aka Splenda) and other artificial sweeteners to replace your sugar fix. J.J. recommends cutting it ALL out (except Stevia and Xylitol if one MUST have a sweetener).

**Why didn't the book get 5 stars?** It was a bit repetitive (but, that probably helps to ingrain the points in your brain.) Good, refreshing read if you've already done your research on the crap we ingest...great read if this information is new to you.


I would recommend this book to anyone living with digestive troubles, anyone who likes "foodie" books, and anyone interested in the science of what we eat and how it affects our bodies.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book frequently reads like a sales pitch: jokey, folksy, and incredibly repetitive, there is some good information in here, but you'll find a far more thorough review of food intolerances in other books. Contrary to what Virgin says, this really is a diet book. Also, read its admittedly cursory information with care: it isn't cowritten or reviewed by a doctor - those little endorsement blurbs don't count! Also, the book is fairly dismissive of vegetarian/vegan diets, so if avoiding animal products is your thing, this probably isn't the diet plan for you since it strongly resembles Paleo.

[Anita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is based on the fact you may have food intolerances(not allergies) that are causing you all sorts of grief and weight retention, the worst of which is the icky sounding "leaky gut." Not something I've heard from the AMA, but she makes a case, and we all know people with food allergies, so maybe there is something to it. Sounds easy--just drop these 7 foods--oh, what are they? peanuts, soy, corn, okay. . . sugar (no surprise, and no artificial sweeteners either), eggs, dairy, and gluten. The good news is, just drop them for 21 days, well, not quite, there are four more weeks and most of these she thinks you should cut out in essence for life. So really, a piece of cake--wait, no gluten, dairy, sugar or eggs--so more of a bite of apple.
As always this diet book is repetitive and full of case histories, so not great writing, but some interesting ideas. Besides I saw her on PBS, how terrible could it be?

[☼Bookish in Virginia☼ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I asked for this book (it was an ARC) not so much because I wanted to lose weight, though I surely need to, but because I've become very interested in nutrition. I want to feed good food to my children --of course-- and also to my husband and myself who are getting older.

WHAT'S COVERED
--THE VIRGIN DIET book provided a boat load on info on sugar, carbs, synthetic foods, GMOs etc.
--the book covered Virgin's 3-Part program
--there are recipes
--there is a reference section

WHAT I LIKED
--I really liked the discussion of nutrition in this book. The author obviously knew her stuff and her references were up-to-date. The oldest reference was 1987, but most were in the last 7-years.
--I liked the author's presentation of the information. It was well organized and clearly stated.
--I liked her approach which views food as a source of 'information' for the body. It's a model that ties in well with how hormones and chemicals work.

WHAT I WASN'T THRILLED ABOUT
--While the author takes a logical approach to implementing this dietary plan, it will be a difficult one for many people to follow. Ceasing to eat eggs, dairy, gluten, sugar-and-sugar substitutes, soy, corn, and peanuts for even 3 weeks is going to be tough.
--Ingredients are not easy to find locally. I mean, if Whole Foods doesn't have pea-rice protein powder, who will?
--Finding grass-fed beef and free range chicken is going to be difficult for many people. (You need these to not be fed any corn or soy products or by-products)


Now, if I can backtrack, let me say something about the Diet plan itself. The idea is that some people (note that this is some and not all) find it difficult to loose weight because of the toxicity of modern foods. They cause inflammation and this disrupts the normal function of our body, sending it the store-fat message. [Excuse me for this briefest of summations, but I wanted to give you an idea of what the program is about.]

The idea is to remove all foods that the body might be sensitive to, for long enough for the body to clear itself of the inflammatory elements. At that time you can re-introduce the foods, one at a time, to see whether you can tolerate them. If you can't, you drop that item for an extended period, before you try it again. You benefit from doing this, by feeling much better, and by --one hopes-- loosing weight.

============
I thought that the arguments presented in this book were very convincing. I'm a fairly suspicious and critical audience and I like that there were authoritative studies that backed what this nutritionist was saying.

And this is why I've given the book 4-STARS. Because I think you should read this book for the information it delivers... not necessarily because it's a diet you'll be able to follow.

I learned a lot. It was well written and I will recommend it to family and friends.

Pam T

[Marla Mutch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good information, and a really helpful Facebook page by people who have read the book. I didn't loss weight like crazy, but several health issues cleared up that I was not expecting. I plan to remain on a modification of this diet because I just feel so much better. I hope as I continue on this diet even more "aging" issues continue to clear up. I am very happy to never eat wheat again if I get to be this well. And I do not have celiac disease, I was tested. I would recommend trying this if you have any hormone, thyroid, urinary or sleep issues. It may be that what you think you have to put up with because you are getting older is something that can be cured through diet. It is surprisingly easy to find gluten, soy free food and recipes and it is a much healthier way to eat. Will I get thin? I doubt it, but I can be well and happy. And sleeping through the night is a lovely thing, as is not planning all trips around bathrooms. I lost 6 pounds in 2 weeks and then stopped losing, I am on week four. I can eat out, and have company over to dinner without blathering about what I am doing. I am no longer hungry all the time. My skin cleared up. All good things.

[Jennifer Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The idea is the same as pretty much all diets it seems. Eat vegetables, fruits, and lean proteins and you are set. There really is nothing original in the idea but the cover caught my attention since it states lose seven pounds in seven days. So I decided to see what it was about. She wants people to cut out sugar/artificial sugar, corn, peanuts, dairy, eggs, gluten, and soy. That basically states the new paleo-diet that is going around. I understand that this diet probably does work. It makes sense for it to, my problem is that even though she promises a happier, better new you I am not willing to give up all the other foods to do this. Also she states moderation doesn't work and that you should not "treat" yourself to junk food because that will cause you to want it more. Makes sense once again but what is the point in living if you can't enjoy the pleasures around you? I think I will stick with the idea of moderation dieting. I might not end up being as skinny or as healthy as this diet might make me, but I think its just a better fit.

[GONZA · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was interesting enough but still there was nothing particular y new or innovative. Food Intolerance has been since long known as one of the reason people could have problem losing weight, so, as usual, my favorite part of books regarding dieting are the recipes....

THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND HARLEQUIN FOR THE PREVIEW

[Rosey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a no nonsense guide to eat well. I am now on to cycle 2 and feel that it is a science project. It really works - easy to lose weight without any hunger pains or cravings . You feel good about the process especially if you are doing it more to solve the question of what is bothering me than just wanting to lose a few pounds; that is the bonus to this :). Very informative.

[Darren · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the book cries out "drop seven foods, lose seven pounds, just seven days". Who doesn't want that kind of easy and quick results? OK, maybe by not eating for a week you'd get similar results, but that is a bit of a drastic step and you would have to start eating again sometime.

There are so many conflicting opinions about diets and which is the right and only way to lose weight. By reducing what you put in your mouth might not be enough and what exactly are the "good" foods and the "bad" foods. The author notes that you might think you are eating all of the "right" things, such as low-fat yoghurt, wholegrain bread and the like yet the weight doesn't seem to budge. Would you be surprised to know that your new, favourite diet foods, promoted heavily by big food companies as helping a dietary programme, might be responsible? The author also considers that food intolerance can play its part with weight gain as well as contributing to a host of other ailments.

After setting out the central thoughts behind the author's opinions and an examination as to how the diet could work for the average reader it is straight onto looking at what are the seven key food groups to cut out from your diet or, at least, reduce as much as possible if you want the most success. Let the descriptive chapters give you the possibly bad news: Gluten Gone; No Joy in Soy; Dump the Dairy; Pluck the Eggs, Corn and Peanuts and The Sweetness Trap. Still interested? Anything left to eat? Well the author goes into a lot of detail about why things are perceived to be bad and looks at various substitutions for things you might feel a difficulty in giving up! After that it is a set of three different cycles that should be followed to keep the weight off, a process of elimination, reintroduction and maintaining a lifestyle on the new regime. There are even a few tips for dining out so you don't need to necessarily feel a pariah or compromise your healthy regime.

The book ends with some guidance as to how a balanced meal should be assembled along with some recipe examples. The recipes themselves are a bit perfunctory but they contain all of the key information you require. The production values for this book feel that they have been on a diet. Some photographs, particularly of the dishes, would have helped perhaps convince the wary more that healthy food can be visually appealing and thus tasty (as we eat, partially, with our eyes).

This reviewer had mixed views about this book and found it difficult to gel with. No opinion can be given as to the veracity or effectiveness of this diet and what might work for one person might not for another. The arguments felt convincing even if the changes required felt too onerous for this reviewer. Maybe a better design and reading environment might have just made things feel more enticing, with part of the battle being won. A difficult thing to say, for sure. At the very least you should take a bit of time to check this out at a bookstore if you are not prepared to buy blind. It is worth that at the very least.

The Virgin Diet, written by J. J. Virgin and published by Harlequin. ISBN 9780373892716, 336 pages. Typical price: USD25.95. YYYY.






// This review appeared in YUM.fi and is reproduced here in full with permission of YUM.fi. YUM.fi celebrates the worldwide diversity of food and drink, as presented through the humble book. Whether you call it a cookery book, cook book, recipe book or something else (in the language of your choice) YUM will provide you with news and reviews of the latest books on the marketplace. //

[Nicole Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first saw the Virgin Diet in Barnes and Nobles I thought it was another fad diet book that was hype and would not work so I passed. Then I won the Virgin Diet through First Reads. So I thought "ok...I am meant to read this so I will give it a go." A day orvso after receiving the book in the mail I was admitted to the hospital for what I thought was just a stomach virus and low bp but turned out my intestines were extremely inflamed and mildly infected. This was a wake up call to me to get my life organized and get back to being healthy. While recovering I started reading The Virgin Diet and at a follow up Dr appt my doc said to continue reading that (I was reading it while waiting) and to follow the diet it will help my digestive ans intestinal problem. Ok I thought I really was meant to read this.
So for my review. The Virgin Diet is a must read. It really does work. Within the first week I lost 7 lbs and by week 2 I am down 9 lbs. For me it is easy to follow as I need to heal my body after having 2 children and lose the baby weight that has not budged since having my second daughter last year. I got my co workers turned on to it also and a few clients. All have lost weight. I feel healthy, lost weight and no longer have mommy brain or brain fog even with waking multiple times a night. The only part I did not agree with in this book is JJ Virgin is against a vegetarian or vegan diet and recommends we need animal proteins as it did not work for her 20 some years ago. As a vegan I do not agree to thus as we can get more than enough protein from other sources as my blood work and numerous studies has proven. This section bothered me as it is innacurate. As for dropping the 7 foods I do agree with that.
I definitely recommend the Virgin Diet for thise who are struggling to become healthy again and lose those unwanted pounds.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books that makes one smack their forehead and say, "Duh!" Makes total sense! But if it's going to work for you, YOU MUST BE WILLING TO CHANGE.

We're older folks (57, 65), on a fixed income with some major arthritis issues between us. Hubby has a big belly and always feels bad about how his clothes fit and how he looks; I've suspected leaky gut for a while. We learned last year that he's sensitive to foods we take for granted, most of which are in everything: Wheat, soy, corn, yeast, carrot, peanuts, potato, tomato, strawberry, apple, orange, and more...you get the drift. (Did I mention he only likes certain vegs?)

So we're already gluten-free/mostly paleo at our house, with very little processed food -- which is good, since we're also on a fixed income. I went paleo in late 2012, before knee replacement, and lost 8 lbs in 3 days, total lost since then 30 lbs. I make all of our meals at home, so I asked him if he'd be willing to try this eating style. He said he would and that he would eat whatever I put in front of him. (Yeah, right!)

We're now in week 2 of Cycle 1. We've found some of the recipes are unpalatable for him, like the power oatmeal (he won't eat it), and I have to be creative with the shake, going slightly more fiber than protein powder as the pea-rice protein/greens blend we found at Costco can be...um, challenging...if additional greens are added. He is down 6 lbs and I'm down 3 after week 1 (figures, lol!). The big difference, though, is in our measurements! It is visibly noticeable that our bellies are shrinking. He's more "regular" on high fiber and *lots* of water. Misses his milk and popcorn, but this is doable for both of us. I simply remind him that he gets milk back for 4 meals in 4 weeks... :)

Highly recommend!

[Jennifer Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This diet works. I was already a vegan before I began, so I wasn't eating dairy or eggs to begin with. No doubt that fact made it easier for me to be on this diet than most people who are moving from "no-holds-barred" to "Whoa! What the heck can I eat?" status. I have lost 9 pounds in the 21 day Cycle 1. Today, I saw a number on the scale that I haven't seen in YEARS, and that is extremely satisfying for me! My blood pressure has gone from borderline hypertension to normal. My clothes are too big now. I feel clearer and cleaner and am amazed at my own willpower! I also didn't really get hungry between meals on this diet--JJ has taught me that I need to have protein with every meal and to make an extra effort to get more fiber. I think it would be smart for EVERYBODY to try this diet just once in his/her life. This diet presents a very doable way of eating if you're just willing to be strict with yourself and give it a try for 21 days. I did get somewhat bored on this diet because if you are vegan, you can't have the meat dishes that Ms. Virgin advocates. She does suggest substitutes for the items that are forbidden and there are helpful recipes and resources in the book. The meal ingredients are not hard to find or expensive, even in my mid-sized city. My advice is, check the book out from your library and give it at least the 21-day try. You just might amaze yourself.

[Eleni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok- at first i thought this book was Just ok- I like the idea of an elimination diet to figure out food triggers. I like the idea of eating real foods. I didn't like the idea that the first phase of diet is about replacing 2 meals a day with shakes. Hmmmm. While most of the food ideas are sound (tracking food, portion control, focusing on vegies, even including good carbs) at first i felt other ideas were just another way to sell processed powders as meals.
Then I tried it. Lost 10lbs in two weeks. Feel fabulous. Replacement shakes make eating easy. Whole foods the rest of the time so yummy. So now I'm up to 4 stars

[Jeannie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, along with the PBS special changed my life. I lost 40 pounds over the past year and feel great. I didn't know how bad I felt and that it was directly related to the highly allergenic, inflammatory foods I was eating. Who knew this dairy lover is lactose intolerant? Gluten makes me sick. Go figure. Give it a try even if it's just for a few weeks. It's not the end of the world to try something new.
I got this book at my library and needed to look back at the recipes so much that I bought my own Kindle edition. I don't buy books so that's a major endorsement from me.

[Valerie Zink · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is excellent. It is well researched and noted to that effect. It is clear and easy to understand and gives a lot of great information as to why you should dump 7 inflammatory foods for 21 days. I have currently been dieting so I have already given up some but not all. They are: gluten, dairy, eggs, sugar, artificial sweeteners, peanuts, and soy. I highly recommend this book...not just for weight loss but also for anyone who is sick and tired of feeling sick and tired!

[Judy Benvin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting premise. Looking into food allergies is a good idea. Around page 150 I discovered that the suggestion was to replace 2 meals with protien shakes! No wonder people lost weight so quickly! Some of the nutritional advise is questionable - how does a personal trainer think she's a nutritionist???

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have tried this diet and feel great. My energy is so much higher, I sleep better, my skin even looks and feels better and of course I have lost weight. But I did it for the health reasons. It also helps the pain of my minor arthritis in my hip, neck and hands. I am still reading and re-reading it to learn as much as I can and to be sure I am on the right track.

[L.M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

So...I have very mixed feelings about this book. My doctor recommended it to me in order to facilitate an elimination diet (which I understand and have no problem with). However, If you're looking to do this on your own as a diet? Beware. It is hella complex with a ton of rules that are nigh impossible to remember off the top of your head. Don't be fooled by the "It's as simple as cutting out these 7 food groups..." No dawg. She also wants you to eat at specific times, drink at specific times, get specific grams of fiber, include only certain fruits and carbs, etc. etc. etc.

I was also a bit skeptical about much of her scientific reasoning behind the need to drop these inflammatory foods. I'm not saying they aren't problematic for people, because many of these foods (corn, soy, peanuts, dairy, eggs, sugar, gluten) are quite allergenic for many people, but I just want hard science backing this stuff up, I guess.

My advice? Talk to your doctor if you're looking to do an elimination diet and work closely with them. My doctor recommended this book to me, which is why I read it, but I know that I can rely on her to work with me throughout the process. If I were attempting to do this on my own? (O_O) I'd be pretty freaked.

[Candace Madera · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was recommended to my by a family friend and I feel like the word "Diet" was only put on the cover to sell copies. This book has so much interesting information about what different foods can do to our bodies if we are genetically intolerant or have developed an intolerance.

The testimonials were a bit much but this book gave me a better understanding of what food intolerances can be doing to my body.

[Nina Harrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Virgin Diet by JJ Virgin


Idea for the Eating Plan?

Drop the 7 foods which are most likely to cause food intolerance and you can loose up to 7 pounds in 7 days and look years younger.

Key features of this approach include:

The secret to weight loss is not calories, fat, protein or even carbs. These things can be important but you won't lose weight if you are eating foods that your body cannot handle.

The key to weight loss is avoiding and overcoming food intolerance.

Food intolerance is not the same as allergies and the symptoms vary from person to person. The most common include gas, bloating, fatigue, moodiness, irritability and weight gain. If you are eating foods that your body cannot tolerate then you are likely to gain weight, feel terrible and look years older than your actual age.

What is the solution? Cut the top 7 high FI foods and focus on low FI foods that will give your digestion a break for just 3 weeks you'll see amazing results. And stop counting calories.

What are the top 7 HIgh FI Foods? Gluten, Soy, Dairy, Eggs, Corn, Peanuts, Sugar and artificial sweeteners.

after a 21 day break you can add some of the healthier high-FI foods back into your diet and see if your body can accept them.

Exceptions are sugars, sweeteners, corn and peanuts which should be cut out for the long haul.

You can eat ideal amounts of clean lean protein, healthy fats, non starchy veggies, and high fibre low GI carbs every 4 to 6 hrs.

Plus take time to eat slowly. Put your fork down between bites and chew slowly to improve your digestion.

You will have poops you can be proud of!

This is a three cycle plan. Elimination of the top 7 high FI foods, then rechallenge your system each week with one from the top four most reactive foods - soy, dairy, eggs or gluten. And in stage three build in life maintenance.

Summary.

The concept of food intolerance is now new but this is an excellent, well researched and very professional approach to the problem which focuses on weight loss and physical appearance, backed up by personal accounts of the success of the program. Common sense in many areas, and not always easy to follow. For example, the breakfast shakes as meal replacement will not be attractive to many readers, but overall a great introduction to the principles.

[CJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book rates 5 stars from me because the content changed my life. Really. I believe it has the potential to do so for others too, and not for healthy weight loss, though it works well for that too. I read it first several years ago at the prodding of my sister-in-law. It's a system of clean eating and eliminating many foods that cause trouble for people, and then reintroducing those foods a bit at a time. After almost 20 years of chronic pain that no one could diagnose or treat, despite every imaginable effort, I found that an intolerance to gluten was the culprit. I have been almost pain free in that area ever since and it is something that I can easily control without meds. So, this book had an extremely happy ending for me. :-) Now, I pick it up every so often to shed some pounds, flush some toxins, rebalance things in my body, and remind me about healthy choices.
As for the way it is written... it is sorely in need of an index and I had a difficult time with JJ Virgin's organization. My sister-in-law doesn't agree so that could be a grain of salt thing. Lots of repetition but many of those are important points so it might be argued as helpful. What's well done is is the tone that the author uses, like she is your friend and cheerleader.
But, 5 stars without reservation. The content was invaluable for me.

[T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. Virgin echoes my feeling that food allergies lead to weight gain, amoung other health issues. The diet is fairly easy to follow with a few exceptions (I can't locate palm fruit oil even at Whole Foods). Her recipes sound scrumptious. If you think food allergies are a problem for you, then this elimination diet is a good (and cheaper) alternative to ful-blown allergy testing.

I will give it a try after the holidays.

A few negatives-
1) It's not cheap to eat grass fed, antibiotic-free meats all of the time, but I do agree it is the much healthier option.

2) Her dining out suggestions are unrealistic for most of us. For example, she recommends having a spoonful of dessert (if you absolutely must) then chunking the rest of it. Not going to happen.

3) She recommends staying on the diet 90--95% of the time. Sure, that would probably be ideal, but 75-80% is more realistic.

[Elyse Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was on a conference call with J.J. last year along with a team of other doctors and nutritional consultants.

Later I was asked to submit a recipe that would be published in "The Virgin Diet" Companion Cookbook.

You can see make my "Yummy Recipe" under side dishes (red lentils/ quinoa/red& yellow onions/a fennel bulb/marsala...etc. (by me: elyse walters)

I 'did' pick up some wonderful 'TIPS' in this book BESIDES the 'elimination foods'.

For example: I have never cooked with Palm Fruit Oil. It is rich in tocotrienols (member of the E vitamins),and beta-carotene. Can't wait to try it. I already do use 'Ghee'. (delicious).

I also loved a few of her suggestions for "The Sweet Tooth". Vanilla, nutmeg, and cinnamon recipes. YUM!

Thanks, J.J. You wrote a clear-no-nonsense 'healthy-eating'--(feel good & look good), book!!!!

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Food intolerances solved!!!

This to me is the easiest and most healthy way of dealing with excess weight. Truly food sensitivities seem to cause weight gain and a feeling of poor health. I was NEVER hungry on this diet and have been successful in giving up dairy and sugar. Even with an airline job requiring constant travel it was easy to maintain. I did not try the shakes. My only quibble is that there is a lot of "fluff" and repetition. It could all be spelled out in a few pages, but her methodology is very thoroughly explained. I did lose 6 or 7 pounds in a couple of weeks and if I don't cheat the weight stays off.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. She says to drop all High Inflammation foods: wheat, milk, soy, eggs, sugar, corn and peanuts. Then, add them back and see if you are affected. I am not planning to do her whole plan, but she convinced me to cut way back on sugar, corn and milk. (I already don't do gluten or soy). So, here's the deal, I think I actually feel better! Cool! The funny thing about this book is she says over and over, "drop the 7 foods, lose 7 pounds in 7 days, feel better and look younger." It's a Harlequin book. Lol. But it has some good facts and information.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nothing to lose by trying this, especially if it helps, even marginally, to reduce immune response and inflammation. On day 4, feeling lighter but that's it so far. Hoping there's no surprises ahead.

The vegan guide PDF from her website is much more positive towards vegans and vegetarians than the book, which basically states even if you are vegetarian for spiritual reasons you need to eat clean animal protein (farm-raised poultry, wild fish) to be healthy.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a actually a reread. I started her plan last year and felt great after just three weeks. But life got in the way so now I'm going to do the full plan. Hence the reread. She gives a lot of references and research as well as real life stories to motivate. But... She repeats the same phrases over and over- which is mildly annoying. She is also a little overly dramatic at times. All in all- the principles of health are sound and they work!!