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Eat Bacon, Don't Jog: Get Strong. Get Lean. No Bullshit.
This is your brain on Grant Petersen: Every comfortable assumption you have about a subject is turned upside down, and by the time you finish reading you feel challenged, energized, and smarter. In Just Ride—“the bible for bicycle riders” (Dave Eggers, New York Times Book Review)—Petersen debunked the bicycle racing– industrial complex and led readers back to the simple joys of getting on a bike.
In Eat Bacon, Don’t Jog, Petersen upends the last 30 years of conventional health wisdom to offer a clear path to weight loss and fitness. In more than 100 short, compelling directives, Eat Bacon, Don’t Jog shows why we should drop the carbs, embrace fat, and hang up our running shoes, with the latest science to back up its claims.
In Eat Bacon, Don’t Jog, Petersen upends the last 30 years of conventional health wisdom to offer a clear path to weight loss and fitness. In more than 100 short, compelling directives, Eat Bacon, Don’t Jog shows why we should drop the carbs, embrace fat, and hang up our running shoes, with the latest science to back up its claims.
240 pages, Paperback
First published November 18, 2014
307 people are currently reading
673 people want to read
About the author
Grant Petersen
11 books17 followersGrant Peterson is the founder and owner of Rivendell Bicycle Works and writes the Rivendell Reader. His writings and opinions have been featured in major bike and outdoor magazines, including Bicycling, Outside, and Men's Journal. He's commuted exclusively by bike since 1980, and lives with his family in Walnut Creek, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 137 reviews
July 23, 2015
I am in the middle of trying to eat fewer carbs and focus on more high-intensity exercises -- just like the title suggests.
So, there may be a great diet/exercise plan hidden in here. I'd be open to hearing it stated as: "This worked for me and it may be worth a try for you."
But I'm frankly turned off by this author's pose (ooh, I'm a contrarian hipster! if you disagree with my contrarianism, you're part of the evil establishment!)
Nor am I convinced by the claimed science (we can dismiss all the studies that disagree with me, because they are either observational studies or loosely-cobbled-together biology factoids! ...although so are all the studies that agree with me...)
I guess it's another one of those books (like 4-Hour Body) that wasn't meant to be read all at once. You can hear the contradictions being shouted in your face:
"DUDE DON'T EAT CARBS THEY ARE EVIL YOU SHOULD EAT FAT AND PROTEIN INSTEAD.
WAIT WAIT DON'T EAT ALL FATS SOME OF THEM ARE EVIL TOO.
AND WAIT DON'T OVEREAT PROTEIN IT'LL MAKE YOU FAT TOO.
JUST I DUNNO JUST DON'T EAT CARBS."
"DON'T TRUST THE SCIENTIFIC ESTABLISHMENT THEY JUST LIE ABOUT LOW-FAT DIETS.
BY THE WAY COCONUT OIL WILL CURE CANCER AND ALZHEIMERS WE KNOW BECAUSE SCIENCE PROVED IT."
"EAT AS MUCH FAT AS YOU LIKE JUST GO AHEAD AND GORGE.
BUT LIMIT YOURSELF TO A SMALL HANDFUL OF NUTS A DAY SO YOU DON'T EAT TOO MUCH FAT."
"THE ONLY USEFUL WAY TO EXERCISE IS TO STRENGTH TRAIN SUPER DUPER SLOWLY.
SO LIKE SPRINTS ARE A REALLY GOOD EXERCISE."
"WE SHOULD EAT SIMPLY LIKE CAVEMEN DID AND NOT COUNT CALORIES AND JUST AVOID ALL THIS MODERN PROCESSED FOOD AND TECHNOLOGY.
SO THE BEST WAY TO BE A CAVEMAN IS TO SPLURGE ON EXPENSIVE BLOOD-TESTING KITS AND TRACK YOUR NUMBERS DAILY."
Plus, the recipes sound gross and call for buying a ton of ingredients I don't have: Stevia, xylitol, coconut flakes (unsweetened of course)...
Also, he talks about foods to eat and foods to avoid, but completely omits some common foods like milk or beans -- where do they fall?
So, there may be a great diet/exercise plan hidden in here. I'd be open to hearing it stated as: "This worked for me and it may be worth a try for you."
But I'm frankly turned off by this author's pose (ooh, I'm a contrarian hipster! if you disagree with my contrarianism, you're part of the evil establishment!)
Nor am I convinced by the claimed science (we can dismiss all the studies that disagree with me, because they are either observational studies or loosely-cobbled-together biology factoids! ...although so are all the studies that agree with me...)
I guess it's another one of those books (like 4-Hour Body) that wasn't meant to be read all at once. You can hear the contradictions being shouted in your face:
"DUDE DON'T EAT CARBS THEY ARE EVIL YOU SHOULD EAT FAT AND PROTEIN INSTEAD.
WAIT WAIT DON'T EAT ALL FATS SOME OF THEM ARE EVIL TOO.
AND WAIT DON'T OVEREAT PROTEIN IT'LL MAKE YOU FAT TOO.
JUST I DUNNO JUST DON'T EAT CARBS."
"DON'T TRUST THE SCIENTIFIC ESTABLISHMENT THEY JUST LIE ABOUT LOW-FAT DIETS.
BY THE WAY COCONUT OIL WILL CURE CANCER AND ALZHEIMERS WE KNOW BECAUSE SCIENCE PROVED IT."
"EAT AS MUCH FAT AS YOU LIKE JUST GO AHEAD AND GORGE.
BUT LIMIT YOURSELF TO A SMALL HANDFUL OF NUTS A DAY SO YOU DON'T EAT TOO MUCH FAT."
"THE ONLY USEFUL WAY TO EXERCISE IS TO STRENGTH TRAIN SUPER DUPER SLOWLY.
SO LIKE SPRINTS ARE A REALLY GOOD EXERCISE."
"WE SHOULD EAT SIMPLY LIKE CAVEMEN DID AND NOT COUNT CALORIES AND JUST AVOID ALL THIS MODERN PROCESSED FOOD AND TECHNOLOGY.
SO THE BEST WAY TO BE A CAVEMAN IS TO SPLURGE ON EXPENSIVE BLOOD-TESTING KITS AND TRACK YOUR NUMBERS DAILY."
Plus, the recipes sound gross and call for buying a ton of ingredients I don't have: Stevia, xylitol, coconut flakes (unsweetened of course)...
Also, he talks about foods to eat and foods to avoid, but completely omits some common foods like milk or beans -- where do they fall?
January 23, 2015
Oh that's cute, you wear a fedora when you work out. It's all about them gains, m'lady.
2 stars only because I agree with the amount of cheese it says it's okay to eat. The answer: all of it.
2 stars only because I agree with the amount of cheese it says it's okay to eat. The answer: all of it.
February 8, 2016
This has an attention-grabbing title, and the description interested me in that the author was someone who, like me, exercised regularly and ate a healthy diet and still somehow wasn't getting the results he thought he should be getting.
The logic here is that if you are eating sugar and carbs (which turn into sugar), your body is only burning sugar and never getting around to burning fat. A sugar-burner also has difficulty not eating because of the insulin spikes caused by the sugar. He proposes that a diet high in fat (specifically oily fats) and protein keep you feeling full. Once your body is no longer dependent on sugar, it will start to burn fat.
While it all seems to make sense, this is most definitely NOT a diet you could maintain as a vegetarian, as it is almost entirely based on meat and dairy products. He advocates not eating fruits except for berries, and essentially only eating vegetables for "variety, color, and texture." You would definitely need to take supplements or else you wouldn't be getting enough vitamin C or any of the other vitamins gained from eating plants.
Originally I had been more interested in the exercise section of this book. Essentially, activities like jogging do little for your muscles, because your body becomes used to the amount of effort. Sprinting is the most effective form of running. Basically, short intense bursts of effort will do more than long, sustained activity. I already do things like HIIT workouts so this wasn't really telling me anything new, although I did like the structure of some of the workouts. Yesterday I tried the "countdown" workout: 10 burpees, rest, 9 burpees, rest, etc., down to one. My shoulders and arms and back are definitely feeling it this morning. There was a rather large section about kettlebell workouts which are not practical for me (I have a hanging light in my living room that I could see being destroyed) and didn't really make sense, because during the body weight exercises he talked about not using momentum to complete push ups or sit ups, while most kettlebell moves involve momentum.
The final section was low-sugar, low-carb recipes. I may try a few at some point, but my conclusion was that this was not a diet I could maintain. Not that I couldn't, but more that I didn't want to! I can't imagine never eating bread or cookies again. A note about this book was that it was very easy to read, with each page essentially being a rule or tip.
The logic here is that if you are eating sugar and carbs (which turn into sugar), your body is only burning sugar and never getting around to burning fat. A sugar-burner also has difficulty not eating because of the insulin spikes caused by the sugar. He proposes that a diet high in fat (specifically oily fats) and protein keep you feeling full. Once your body is no longer dependent on sugar, it will start to burn fat.
While it all seems to make sense, this is most definitely NOT a diet you could maintain as a vegetarian, as it is almost entirely based on meat and dairy products. He advocates not eating fruits except for berries, and essentially only eating vegetables for "variety, color, and texture." You would definitely need to take supplements or else you wouldn't be getting enough vitamin C or any of the other vitamins gained from eating plants.
Originally I had been more interested in the exercise section of this book. Essentially, activities like jogging do little for your muscles, because your body becomes used to the amount of effort. Sprinting is the most effective form of running. Basically, short intense bursts of effort will do more than long, sustained activity. I already do things like HIIT workouts so this wasn't really telling me anything new, although I did like the structure of some of the workouts. Yesterday I tried the "countdown" workout: 10 burpees, rest, 9 burpees, rest, etc., down to one. My shoulders and arms and back are definitely feeling it this morning. There was a rather large section about kettlebell workouts which are not practical for me (I have a hanging light in my living room that I could see being destroyed) and didn't really make sense, because during the body weight exercises he talked about not using momentum to complete push ups or sit ups, while most kettlebell moves involve momentum.
The final section was low-sugar, low-carb recipes. I may try a few at some point, but my conclusion was that this was not a diet I could maintain. Not that I couldn't, but more that I didn't want to! I can't imagine never eating bread or cookies again. A note about this book was that it was very easy to read, with each page essentially being a rule or tip.
February 6, 2015
I have already read "The Paleo Diet", "Good Calories, Bad Calories", and "Why We Get Fat, and what to do about it". I also watched and own Fathead the Movie. I follow many sites that promote the HFLC style of eating. This book is a great "bulletstatement" "just-the-facts-ma'am", just what you need to know source of information for getting started and continuing in the HFLC style. I've been questioned by many people how to do this, what about this, can I eat this, you mean you don't eat this, why is this bad for you, and this book is for those who want the answers but don't enjoy reading the in depth studies. I recommend this for the short attention span chubbies out there that want something to help them get healthy. It worked for me. Also as a side: the Japaneasy soup was delicious and very satisfying.
October 27, 2015
This guy is a maniac. Here's the second paragraph of Eat Bacon.
QOTD1
So, the guy's a maniac with the diet and the working out and all... but I get it! While I am most certainly not a maniac, I share Petersen's frustration and feeling of loss of control as I am aging here. Here's one more snippet for you.
QOTD2
The main point of Eat Bacon is that carbs are bad. Replace the carbs in your diet with more fat and protein, and you will be healthier, thinner, and feel better. Petersen also discusses exercises that he recommends: short, intense workouts. This book is well-organized and easy to follow. He explains why his approach works and others fail in very simple language. His writing is light and witty. Petersen is a smart ass and is very funny in spots.
The bottom line: I've been doing the low-carb thing for breakfast and lunch, and I am definitely feeling more energy as a result. I don't own a scale, but I know that I'm leaner and meaner.
The trick: I'm not hungry. I would never signup for some stupid diet where I'm hungry. I'm not going to explain it all here, but when you get off the carbs roller coaster of sugar highs and lows, it's great! I have more energy throughout the day eating my eggs and meat and dairy.
The cost: I think the biggest cost is loss of variety in what you eat. But like I said, I eat whatever for dinner. Doing the no/low-card thing in a half-assed fashion is working great for me.
Petersen laughs about what he used to eat for breakfast: oatmeal, wheat toast, and OJ. A carb explosion! Shit, that's almost exactly what I used to do. Not any more. Yellow highlighter in hand, I've already read the book twice. There are more fun things I look forward to trying: kettle bells, measuring my glucose level, going no/low carbs for dinner when I eat at home, etc.
Eat Bacon has a been a real positive addition to my life. You know, it's similar to meditation. Meditation gives me some measure of mental and emotional control. And reducing carbs has given me more control over my physical self and energy level.
A great read!
yow, bill
QOTD1
In the mid to late 1990's, when I was in my forties, I noticed that three decades of what seemed to be a perfect diet and exercise program wasn't working. For thirty years I'd avoided junk food, eating mostly oat bran, whole grains, egg whites, lean meat, fresh fruit, nonfat dairy, salads with no dressing. For thirty years I beat myself up and got all sweaty for one to three hours a day. I rode my bike hard every day, wore out a NordicTrack, and got frustrated on a rowing machine because I couldn't get my heart rate high enough. And I was still gaining weight.
- Grant Petersen, the motivation for his book.
So, the guy's a maniac with the diet and the working out and all... but I get it! While I am most certainly not a maniac, I share Petersen's frustration and feeling of loss of control as I am aging here. Here's one more snippet for you.
QOTD2
I believed, as many people do, that it is possible to exercise more and eat less and keep it up for a lifetime That's the conventional wisdom, and it's the biggest lie in health.
As the disclaimer a few pages back highlights, I am not a doctor. But let me ask you this: How helpful has your doctor been?
- Grant Petersen
The main point of Eat Bacon is that carbs are bad. Replace the carbs in your diet with more fat and protein, and you will be healthier, thinner, and feel better. Petersen also discusses exercises that he recommends: short, intense workouts. This book is well-organized and easy to follow. He explains why his approach works and others fail in very simple language. His writing is light and witty. Petersen is a smart ass and is very funny in spots.
The bottom line: I've been doing the low-carb thing for breakfast and lunch, and I am definitely feeling more energy as a result. I don't own a scale, but I know that I'm leaner and meaner.
The trick: I'm not hungry. I would never signup for some stupid diet where I'm hungry. I'm not going to explain it all here, but when you get off the carbs roller coaster of sugar highs and lows, it's great! I have more energy throughout the day eating my eggs and meat and dairy.
The cost: I think the biggest cost is loss of variety in what you eat. But like I said, I eat whatever for dinner. Doing the no/low-card thing in a half-assed fashion is working great for me.
Petersen laughs about what he used to eat for breakfast: oatmeal, wheat toast, and OJ. A carb explosion! Shit, that's almost exactly what I used to do. Not any more. Yellow highlighter in hand, I've already read the book twice. There are more fun things I look forward to trying: kettle bells, measuring my glucose level, going no/low carbs for dinner when I eat at home, etc.
Eat Bacon has a been a real positive addition to my life. You know, it's similar to meditation. Meditation gives me some measure of mental and emotional control. And reducing carbs has given me more control over my physical self and energy level.
A great read!
yow, bill
January 5, 2015
I agree with the recommendations in this book...I'm all in with the low carb life. However, I didn't like the very short chapters and the recipes/exercise sections weren't very well done. (And a minor complaint...who exercises in a little hipster hat?) I've read a bunch of diet books and there are many I'd recommend before this one. I do love the title, though!
June 21, 2015
My husband said Grant Petersen's other book (Just Ride?) was great, and he picked this one up. I'm a sucker for an interesting title and started to read.
My word. I have never read so much drivel from someone so absolutely terrified of being fat (and I read the comments on body love blogs!) While I understand his general perspective and attitude (carbs aren't doing us any favors, protein is better, fat is not the enemy), I disagree with his insanely hard stance and restrictive eating regimen. I mean, do what works for you, but to prescribe this for everybody as a cure-all for the dreaded FAT is irresponsible. Especially when you can't be bothered to cite research along the way and instead substitute real references with a section at the end of "blogs and books that agree with me!"
His exercises are actually interesting, and I think I can and would like to incorporate some of his ideas into my own routine. I almost (almost) gave this a second star for this portion, but then he went back to his "all of this makes you FAT and you can be strong enough to kill the FAT if you're strong enough to get rid of all carbs completely including fruit and do things like put butter in your coffee to fill you up so you don't eat real food all morning" (no but seriously, and also gross).
I was completely baffled by this book while I was reading it until he said something about how, when he was buying into the idea that fiber was important and fat was bad, he used to eat peanut shells without the peanuts. And then I realized - this poor man is a disordered eater who is so desperately afraid of the evil FAT that he'll do anything to avoid it, including eating things that aren't really food and other things that most people would consider insane.
Look, if this works for him, good on him. I know people who do less extreme versions of paleo (that's basically what this is, right?) who have had great success in weight loss and health. I do question how much it really works when you consider the socioemotional toll of his strict diet, and the fact that slipping up on it would immediately make him (wait for it) FAT so he has to be extra regimented. I feel for him, but I still hope his book doesn't wind up hurting people more than it helps.
My word. I have never read so much drivel from someone so absolutely terrified of being fat (and I read the comments on body love blogs!) While I understand his general perspective and attitude (carbs aren't doing us any favors, protein is better, fat is not the enemy), I disagree with his insanely hard stance and restrictive eating regimen. I mean, do what works for you, but to prescribe this for everybody as a cure-all for the dreaded FAT is irresponsible. Especially when you can't be bothered to cite research along the way and instead substitute real references with a section at the end of "blogs and books that agree with me!"
His exercises are actually interesting, and I think I can and would like to incorporate some of his ideas into my own routine. I almost (almost) gave this a second star for this portion, but then he went back to his "all of this makes you FAT and you can be strong enough to kill the FAT if you're strong enough to get rid of all carbs completely including fruit and do things like put butter in your coffee to fill you up so you don't eat real food all morning" (no but seriously, and also gross).
I was completely baffled by this book while I was reading it until he said something about how, when he was buying into the idea that fiber was important and fat was bad, he used to eat peanut shells without the peanuts. And then I realized - this poor man is a disordered eater who is so desperately afraid of the evil FAT that he'll do anything to avoid it, including eating things that aren't really food and other things that most people would consider insane.
Look, if this works for him, good on him. I know people who do less extreme versions of paleo (that's basically what this is, right?) who have had great success in weight loss and health. I do question how much it really works when you consider the socioemotional toll of his strict diet, and the fact that slipping up on it would immediately make him (wait for it) FAT so he has to be extra regimented. I feel for him, but I still hope his book doesn't wind up hurting people more than it helps.
February 19, 2015
This is good for people who maybe already have an idea of what they're doing. Maybe you've been in bootcamp classes for a year already. You've done a whole30, or are in the process of one, maybe you've flirted with some of the precision nutrition programs, and you're trying to figure out what is next for you. I do not think this is a good title for a total newbie to the world of nutrition and fitness. Indeed, please, do not pick up a kettlebell and start swinging it around without having an experienced coach give you a few pointers first.
That said, for folks who have an idea of a plan... this is a good title. It's easy to read, I read it in all of two hours, and very straight forward. You get lots of homework if you want to do more research, and while the recipes aren't the greatest... they're there, and maybe will give some inspiration if you're feeling kinda bored in the kitchen.
That said, for folks who have an idea of a plan... this is a good title. It's easy to read, I read it in all of two hours, and very straight forward. You get lots of homework if you want to do more research, and while the recipes aren't the greatest... they're there, and maybe will give some inspiration if you're feeling kinda bored in the kitchen.
January 4, 2016
I liked the ideas in this book. I'm not new to the low-carb thing and know it works for me. It was a great little concise refresher. I liked the ideas presented in the exercise section and plan on incorporating them into my own home workouts.
August 22, 2017
Having already read Petersen's other book, "Just Ride" I knew what to expect. However, I was somewhat unprepared for how much his views and my views would align on these subjects. In retrospect, realizing that he too was a "follower" of Mark Sisson, Volek, Lieberman, Taubes, et.al. would have clued me in.
This is a great book, both for the content and for the style. Petersen has a knack for conveying information in a simplified, yet not dumbed-down fashion. He is straightforward and witty. I mentioned reading "Just Ride" before. It changed my entire approach to biking in a way that simplified the whole endeavor. This book, in contrast, simply confirmed what I already believed. But it did so via easy-to-digest morsels, and added some killer recipes just for yucks.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough, just as much because of its message as for the way that message is conveyed. "Eat Bacon, Don't Jog" is well worth reading, and as an avid runner, I can still say that unreservedly.
This is a great book, both for the content and for the style. Petersen has a knack for conveying information in a simplified, yet not dumbed-down fashion. He is straightforward and witty. I mentioned reading "Just Ride" before. It changed my entire approach to biking in a way that simplified the whole endeavor. This book, in contrast, simply confirmed what I already believed. But it did so via easy-to-digest morsels, and added some killer recipes just for yucks.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough, just as much because of its message as for the way that message is conveyed. "Eat Bacon, Don't Jog" is well worth reading, and as an avid runner, I can still say that unreservedly.
April 8, 2015
Don't be fooled by the catchy title of this book. This book is ideal for anyone who's been struggling with their weight and health; I wish I would have wrote this book.
Most people (and sadly still some doctors and nutritionists) still advocate a high carb/low fat diet even after research has dispelled this belief year after year after year.
This book is perfect for someone interested in making the transition from high carb/low fat to high fat/low carb. Give it a try, it will probably change your life for the better. No Bullshit.
Most people (and sadly still some doctors and nutritionists) still advocate a high carb/low fat diet even after research has dispelled this belief year after year after year.
This book is perfect for someone interested in making the transition from high carb/low fat to high fat/low carb. Give it a try, it will probably change your life for the better. No Bullshit.
April 16, 2015
I liked it. It was a good overview of why to eat fat and stay away from carbs that was very convincing and that motivated me to try it out. Although it was a quick read, it still had research that backed up his claims which was helpful and the book was structured well to make it a fast paced and quick read.
February 9, 2015
Don't let the name fool you-this little book is full of real tips to get your health on track. One tip per page makes it super easy to read, and follow. I may add it to my personal collection.
January 12, 2015
Here's the thing: If you want advice on working out and healthy eating habits, don't take it from someone who is not only unqualified in any given way to give such advice, but also doesn't even show a photo of themselves despite the fact they are gleaning their information from personal experience.
Not saying there isn't any accurate information in this book (there is), only that there are far superior titles out there.
Not saying there isn't any accurate information in this book (there is), only that there are far superior titles out there.
November 16, 2015
Okay! I'm convinced. Insulin is the enemy! Low carb, medium protein, and high fat is the answer to staying healthy, and this book explains exactly why and how. Easy, short paragraphs covering the science and physiology of eating, along with specific exercises and the reason they work, and many other facts and suggestions make this book a must-read if you're interested in weight management and health. And who isn't!? It's a game changer for me.
November 22, 2015
I'm a firm believer in low carb, high fat diets as a healthful alternative to the sugar-based diet that most people are consuming. I've read lots of books on this topic but never one like this. I really like Grant Pedersen's very straightforward and truthful style. I must have tweeted at least twenty quotes from this great little book.
April 26, 2015
First off, a life completely devoid of carbs is not the life for me. I have no desire to live forever as a stick. Secondly, it's hard to take someone seriously who comes across demeaning and demanding but who has no discernible educational or employment background in the doctrine he is spouting (you work at bike shop!). Honestly, I worry he might have some type of eating disorder (eating the peanut shell and not the nut because you're terrified of being fat?!). There were some positive take-aways (high intensity workouts vs running for forever; using coconut oil, eating more oily fish) and some not-so-great, bordering on disgusting (globs of butter in a cup of tea as a meal??). Personally, I have the mindset that completely ridding ourselves of complete food groups is a poor idea. Eating copious amounts of anything can be harmful. Obsessing about food constantly is not good for mental health.
January 26, 2016
Not as good as his first book sadly...which I recommend to anyone who wants to or has ever ridden a bicycle.
What I DO like about GP is that he is honest and authentic about his emotions, desires, worries, stresses. That he gets across quite clearly by the first chapter when he talks about how his grandfathers and father all suffered from cardiovascular diseases or diabetes. I liked the part about walking, standing/sitting, the recipes, butter coffee stuff and the chunks of history.. but did not like the exercise portion as much. (Though who can write better about exercise than Katy? No one really..)
What I DO like about GP is that he is honest and authentic about his emotions, desires, worries, stresses. That he gets across quite clearly by the first chapter when he talks about how his grandfathers and father all suffered from cardiovascular diseases or diabetes. I liked the part about walking, standing/sitting, the recipes, butter coffee stuff and the chunks of history.. but did not like the exercise portion as much. (Though who can write better about exercise than Katy? No one really..)
June 26, 2015
This is a decent summary of what I've found in most low-carb books. It's an easy and quick read. He doesn't really cite any sources or studies, but he seems to be taking his information from books that are heavily researched. There are some interesting recipe ideas that I might try. The exercise section is very focused on kettlebells, which didn't really appeal to me. He does promote high intensity intervals, though, which seems to be the current recommendation for best effect. Some interesting tidbits in here to try, but there are better books out there that are solidly researched.
April 16, 2015
Lean living. Good data, cites sources and doesn't waste a word, no more than a few humorous quips here and there. The news is the same thing wise men have said since Hippocrates discussed health in ancient Greece~ moderate eating means longer life, eat lots of plants, avoid bad fat (fried foods) and move your body, but don't go overboard. The format is excellent, hardcover narrow and each page is a captioned suggestion. So simple.
December 22, 2014
Easy to understand
This was a great read. I have read many books about diets but by far this was the easiest to understand. I especially liked his explanation of how insulin works in the body and how carbohydrates affect the body and cause weight gain. He is right about being more satisfying than carbs. Really a great read r
This was a great read. I have read many books about diets but by far this was the easiest to understand. I especially liked his explanation of how insulin works in the body and how carbohydrates affect the body and cause weight gain. He is right about being more satisfying than carbs. Really a great read r
January 18, 2015
I really liked this book as a concise statement of the latest research on diet and nutrition and exercise. It is contrary to everything we have been told about nutrition from the medical establishment and the government for the last fifty or sixty years. This book is a much needed breath of fresh air and truth. It is about time.
January 23, 2015
Easy read. Another book extolling the low carb method to weight loss, though by a former fitness fanatic. He basically posits that you can lose weight without extreme exercise, which will only make you hungry, simply by cutting down on the carbs you eat. My husband was able to lose twenty pounds via this kind of diet, though he did it all before we got the book.
June 1, 2015
One point per page outlining low carb living. I liked the first 1/3-1/2 of the book with simple tips on eating and nutrition. The exercise tips weren't for me but they do not take away anything from the book. This was a good and very easy read. I don't think I'd own it since I'm not sure how many times I would read this but it was fun. I liked it.
January 6, 2016
I really like the first part of this book, very simple, seemingly sound advice (although I recommended doing your OWN research before taking anything he says as fact or the way things should be done). Then towards the end, he started going into his evolution bullsh*t and I couldn't hang any longer.
May 18, 2015
Concise and pithy, this book sums up just about everything one needs to know before or about embarking on a low-carb/paleo/primal diet and presents it in a very tidy, immediately accessible way. I finished it in half a day. Highly recommended for anyone who wants a quick-start guide.
May 16, 2021
Super entertaining and easy to read. Why are people rating this book one star because they don’t want to eat a low carb diet? Reminds me of reviewers who rate Christian books one star for being Christian.
August 27, 2020
I agree with the main points:
Diet: more proteins and fat, less carbs and sugar. Let's keep the levels of insulin low.
Exercise: focus on strength training!
Overall, love yourself.
Diet: more proteins and fat, less carbs and sugar. Let's keep the levels of insulin low.
Exercise: focus on strength training!
Overall, love yourself.
July 1, 2021
Very simple book that points to other authors. A starting book for keto. I recommend for beginners with a caution that they spring board quickly into something with deeper advice.
September 11, 2022
Great book that motivates you to make some changes. Changed the way I looked at nutrition and exercise (in a positive way).
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