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JJ Virgin's Sugar Impact Diet: Drop 7 Hidden Sugars, Lose Up to 10 Pounds in Just 2 Weeks
From New York Times bestselling author of The Virgin Diet comes a groundbreaking program that will revolutionize the way readers think about sugar and help you drop fat fast--up to 10 pounds in just two weeks!New York Times Bestseller If you're eating healthy, but just can't seem to lose weight, you're not alone. Sugar is the single biggest needle mover when it comes to your health and the number on the scale, but sugar hides in places you'd never whole foods, diet foods, packaged foods, dressings . . . even sugar substitutes. And it's not enough to cut out or cut back on sugar-you have to cut out the right kinds of sugar. In this groundbreaking book, New York Times bestselling author JJ Virgin explains the powerful concept of Sugar how different sugars react differently in the body. High Sugar Impact foods cause weight gain, energy crashes, and inflammation. Low Sugar Impact foods fuel your body for prolonged energy and promote fat burning. This eye-opening book pinpoints the most damaging sugars that we eat every day-without even realizing it-in common foods like skim milk, diet soda, whole-grain bread, and "healthy" sweeteners like agave. By swapping High Sugar Impact foods for Low Sugar Impact foods, you will shed fat fast--up to 10 pounds in 2 weeks!--and transform your body and your health for good. Best of all, you don't need to eliminate sugar completely or count calories. Prepare Lose the bloatTarget belly fatRev your metabolismCut cravingsBecome a fat burner, not a sugar burnerLose fat fast-and forever!
343 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 4, 2014
186 people are currently reading
603 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
May 25, 2024
I won this as a Goodreads giveaway in exchange for an honest review.
I'm a sucker for healthy living books; maybe a little bit of that is my hopeful 'reading creates healthy by osmosis'. I've perhaps read more of these (and absorbed more information) than I realized because I knew most of the things presented in this book. Ketchup tastes so great because yes- it has tons of sugar! Sugar hides in so many things we eat (oh, delicious bagels..)
In terms of a starter book for anyone earnest about giving themselves a dietary overhaul I would recommend this book. Years ago I read 'Fit For Life', actually it still remains my favorite book in the nutritional genre.
The author's approach is straightforward, very reader friendly and easy to follow. The effects of sugar on the body section will more than motivate you to avoid it too. It's literally poison to your system.
Her plan for phasing out sugar is also very helpful. The one thing I didn't care for was the protein powder plug/supplements (she sells them too, you knew that was coming) because it seems to contradict her platform for eating whole foods. That stuff is ok once in a while I suppose but to me nothing trumps eating whole foods. That's a minor quibble however and a matter of personal preference; overall this is a decent book to pick up if you're ready to clean the slate and purge the junk from your diet.
This would be a good 'starter' book for someone; if you've read many books on nutrition already you would probably find most of this information redundant.
I'm a sucker for healthy living books; maybe a little bit of that is my hopeful 'reading creates healthy by osmosis'. I've perhaps read more of these (and absorbed more information) than I realized because I knew most of the things presented in this book. Ketchup tastes so great because yes- it has tons of sugar! Sugar hides in so many things we eat (oh, delicious bagels..)
In terms of a starter book for anyone earnest about giving themselves a dietary overhaul I would recommend this book. Years ago I read 'Fit For Life', actually it still remains my favorite book in the nutritional genre.
The author's approach is straightforward, very reader friendly and easy to follow. The effects of sugar on the body section will more than motivate you to avoid it too. It's literally poison to your system.
Her plan for phasing out sugar is also very helpful. The one thing I didn't care for was the protein powder plug/supplements (she sells them too, you knew that was coming) because it seems to contradict her platform for eating whole foods. That stuff is ok once in a while I suppose but to me nothing trumps eating whole foods. That's a minor quibble however and a matter of personal preference; overall this is a decent book to pick up if you're ready to clean the slate and purge the junk from your diet.
This would be a good 'starter' book for someone; if you've read many books on nutrition already you would probably find most of this information redundant.
September 18, 2014
JJ Virgin's Sugar Impact Diet book was good. It was filled with helpful information, meal plans, recipes, and fitness suggestions. While being thoroughly comprehensive, it was also fairly repetitive. With that said, however, I must say that I liked the ongoing reminder that sugar is bad and that we should beware of both the very evident and the super sneaky sources of where it is found.
I appreciated that Virgin took the time to present how sugar impacts the body's systems. The influence of how sugar manifests itself in the human body is startling. This book will do well in educating the public at large about this unfriendly and dare I say deadly foe.
Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
A complimentary copy of this title was made available by the publisher/author via Net Galley in exchange for an honest critique.
I appreciated that Virgin took the time to present how sugar impacts the body's systems. The influence of how sugar manifests itself in the human body is startling. This book will do well in educating the public at large about this unfriendly and dare I say deadly foe.
Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
A complimentary copy of this title was made available by the publisher/author via Net Galley in exchange for an honest critique.
November 16, 2014
Good message for people who are concerned about sugar and who think "added sugar" is the only thing they need to manage. Also good for people who don't realize the negative impact of sweeteners - including some natural ones.
I won't be following the diet or most of the recipes, though.
My biggest turn off is the featured use of protein powder, which she happens to sell, for meal replacements, while touting "real, whole food."
I also dislike the lack of precise language and seeming contradictions - we're supposed to be losing our sweet tooth, which will allow us to taste and appreciate the natural sweetness in foods - but sweeteners are included in some recipes. She often says "as little as possible," but why go there? She also says it's not about willpower, so don't have "bad" food in the house - sweeteners are "bad," so what's the message?
I won't be following the diet or most of the recipes, though.
My biggest turn off is the featured use of protein powder, which she happens to sell, for meal replacements, while touting "real, whole food."
I also dislike the lack of precise language and seeming contradictions - we're supposed to be losing our sweet tooth, which will allow us to taste and appreciate the natural sweetness in foods - but sweeteners are included in some recipes. She often says "as little as possible," but why go there? She also says it's not about willpower, so don't have "bad" food in the house - sweeteners are "bad," so what's the message?
May 16, 2017
This diet has helped me so much with feeling better and avoiding sugar crashes. I had ditched added sugars and starches years ago, but continued to have low points throughout the day. The secret was the fructose in fruit: I was having too much! My only problem with the book is that sometimes the information isn't organized as well as it should be, or the details are missing in certain places. I've overcome that by rereading and using post it flags to mark the sections I refer to the most. I liked it so well I have gotten the Sugar Impact Diet Cookbook as well.
January 15, 2015
I've noticed a lot of positive reviews of this book but very few people who have actually DONE the diet. My husband and I are in the middle of Week 2 and thought I'd share our experience so far.
I did the Virgin Diet almost a year ago and lost 50 pounds as a result, and have managed to keep it off. That programme was fantastically helpful and I recommend it for everyone. Sugar Impact Diet is also very good, but much harder to implement. The recipes are complicated and require expensive ingredients like red palm fruit oil, walnut oil, macadamia oil and so on.
If you're someone who can happily throw things together in the kitchen then you may not find it as hard, but I find myself referring to the book daily to remind myself what I can and can't eat.
In week 2, we're both struggling with ups and downs in energy. I found the first several days quite hard -- mood swings, exhaustion, depression -- and I don't eat much sugar. I was eating rice cakes, cereal and potatoes though, and clearly that's enough to cause huge problems. My husband hasn't eaten sugar in 15 years, but he does eat oatcakes and apples, also containing sugars that he's now going without during this diet.
Now for the positives: after a lifetime of having to eat every 2 hours or feeling gnawing hunger, crankiness and even nausea, I'm going 3-6 hours between meals easily. I haven't lost any weight, but it's meant to be this week and next where the weight comes off so we'll see.
Though there are some ups and downs still with mood and energy, overall I'm not ending the day exhausted like I used to. I definitely feel more energy, which is why I did it in the first place.
Overall, I expect this diet to make a huge difference. I recommend doing it and think everyone would benefit hugely. Be warned that you will almost certainly experience withdrawal, despite what Virgin promises to the contrary. But keep going and the rewards will be worth it.
I'll update this review once I've finished to see if my predictions proved right!
I did the Virgin Diet almost a year ago and lost 50 pounds as a result, and have managed to keep it off. That programme was fantastically helpful and I recommend it for everyone. Sugar Impact Diet is also very good, but much harder to implement. The recipes are complicated and require expensive ingredients like red palm fruit oil, walnut oil, macadamia oil and so on.
If you're someone who can happily throw things together in the kitchen then you may not find it as hard, but I find myself referring to the book daily to remind myself what I can and can't eat.
In week 2, we're both struggling with ups and downs in energy. I found the first several days quite hard -- mood swings, exhaustion, depression -- and I don't eat much sugar. I was eating rice cakes, cereal and potatoes though, and clearly that's enough to cause huge problems. My husband hasn't eaten sugar in 15 years, but he does eat oatcakes and apples, also containing sugars that he's now going without during this diet.
Now for the positives: after a lifetime of having to eat every 2 hours or feeling gnawing hunger, crankiness and even nausea, I'm going 3-6 hours between meals easily. I haven't lost any weight, but it's meant to be this week and next where the weight comes off so we'll see.
Though there are some ups and downs still with mood and energy, overall I'm not ending the day exhausted like I used to. I definitely feel more energy, which is why I did it in the first place.
Overall, I expect this diet to make a huge difference. I recommend doing it and think everyone would benefit hugely. Be warned that you will almost certainly experience withdrawal, despite what Virgin promises to the contrary. But keep going and the rewards will be worth it.
I'll update this review once I've finished to see if my predictions proved right!
November 4, 2014
I liked this book because it provides a systemic way to eliminating sugar, through three clearly-defined phases. The tools inside the book are a useful path of stepping stones to creating a life without sugar - from 7 foods to swap to a long list of delicious low-sugar impact recipes, this is a fantastic all-in-one plan to braking the sugar trap.
In a nation that's facing the highest obesity rates of all time - and the reality that our children will (for the first time ever) live shorter lives than we will, due to a long list of impending health crises (most of which linked to sugar consumption), aren't we ready for someone to take on this issue and lay out a plan of action? This is that plan.
In a nation that's facing the highest obesity rates of all time - and the reality that our children will (for the first time ever) live shorter lives than we will, due to a long list of impending health crises (most of which linked to sugar consumption), aren't we ready for someone to take on this issue and lay out a plan of action? This is that plan.
January 21, 2015
I picked up this book because Dave Asprey from Bullet Proof Executive endorsed it on his website. I went into it knowing more or less what Ms.Virgin was going to say. Sugar in its many forms is not a healthful food/substance. What I didn't realize is how many places sugar can hide. It really opened up my eyes to just how much sugar is stuffed into everything. It also afforded me more technical information. I learned how sugar affects hormones controlling fat storage and hunger signals.
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn about sugar and ways to reduce it in their diet,
Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone wanting to learn about sugar and ways to reduce it in their diet,
December 5, 2014
Very good book. I read the book first, now I will get started on the plan. I don't have any weight problem but my husband does. He is very addicted to sugar, so I was reading it to help him. I learned that there are many sneaky ways that sugar get in you, even if you thought that you were eating healthy. JJ has an easy to follow plan to slowly move you from high sugar impact to low sugar impact. It doesn't take something away without giving something to replace it with. JJ gives you a lot of help along the way. Great inspiring stories too.
January 18, 2015
Excellent information, easy to read.
July 20, 2018
I've yet to resemble Ms. Virgin in any shape or size, but the gospel she's preaching is right on the money: That sugar's the devil! Not her, of course, she's an advocate of life. I'm talking about my life-long relationship with sweet stuff. It's killing me! It was literally, but now it's figurative (and I mean that literally, considering how much better my figure looks without it). Seriously though, it's like an obsessive ex who's not willing to see you happy without him. The western world is so conditioned to swallow this drug...the struggle is real. Cheers to the growth industry of healthy agriculture, and thanks JJ, for an excellent plan, and recipes!
I should add that in avoiding processed foodstuffs, I substitute herbs, minerals and proteins rather than supplements and powders, so I'll advocate for her books and videos (as seen on YouTube) but not for the nutrimeds.
I should add that in avoiding processed foodstuffs, I substitute herbs, minerals and proteins rather than supplements and powders, so I'll advocate for her books and videos (as seen on YouTube) but not for the nutrimeds.
June 11, 2023
I came across the author on a podcast, and was interested in picking up this book after she mentioned managing energy levels through managing sugar impact. When I read, I found a lot of interesting information on sugar and various ways that it can affect the system that I was unaware of. Some of the information was a bit hard for me to digest (no pun intended) and some of it seemed repetitive and vague. I feel like I'd need to read this at least one more time just to start the diet and more to really get the hang of it. But I will be using the information I've learned to make better choices about what I eat in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2017
Has good information for those who don't know much beyond "sugar is bad for metabolism", but mostly yet another too complicated diet that most people will likely have troubles even starting.
Also, be wary of any diet book author that lets you know you can treat yourself to 100% cacao dark chocolate like it's akin to winning a trip to Disneyland. They no longer have any concept of what the average American feels is possible to do on the path to weight loss, leading to the "not even gonna try" attitude.
Also, be wary of any diet book author that lets you know you can treat yourself to 100% cacao dark chocolate like it's akin to winning a trip to Disneyland. They no longer have any concept of what the average American feels is possible to do on the path to weight loss, leading to the "not even gonna try" attitude.
August 27, 2021
I love reading diet books because I find them really fascinating and weird and this one was surprisingly thoughtful compared to many of the ones i’ve read . However it falls prey to the usual sort of like … unsupported causation claims, fear mongering, buzz words, promises of extremely fast adjustments marketed as being slow paced, and quite frankly listening to the lists of foods to swap in and the foods she describes as “delicious” made me feel quite depressed. The idea of following this protocol sounds expensive, time and thought consuming, and quite frankly sad.
April 19, 2019
Awesome book to help you uncover the hidden sugars in our foods. Great plan to help bodies convert from sugar burners to fat burners. Lots of great lists to help determine which foods to avoid due to their high sugar impact on the body and which ones to use instead. Great explanation of fructose and why it is not great to consume. It is an excellent book on how to lower one's sugar impact and gives clear great tools to do this.
December 13, 2023
I don’t think I learned as much as I thought I would’ve when I began this book. However, I did learn some things. The best thing for me about this book was being motivated to cut out sugar and start on a path of regular exercise which I have not been regular with in years. Hoping it’ll help me get more energy and better sleep.
October 16, 2017
Lots of enlightening stuff regarding sugar's harmful effects on the body. I don't agree with all of the suggestions Virgin gives, but I still found a lot of take-aways in this book to improve my health and the health of my family.
January 26, 2019
The plan is easily written out and everything is described in detail. I am getting ready to start a sugar detox and I am excited to use this as a tool.
July 7, 2020
Good read if you are a good cook. I am not and never could follow her recipes. Not that I did not try.
July 10, 2024
Factual information with some realistic steps, some more difficult. I docked stars for the dash of fear mongering woven throughout.
August 21, 2025
Too bad writing - couldn’t even finish reading it and had to stop reading after few pages.
January 25, 2017
The recipes were really good. It had some good tips to cut sugar.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2017
Some good stuff in here with background on how and why sugar is to detrimental to your body, and how it sneaks into everything.
I don't have a lot of the problems that are the cycle 1 "swaps" but you aren't supposed to jump to cycle 2... so I'm pessimistic about losing "10 lbs in 2 weeks".
What didn't like in this book - the multiple references to "resources" online (which you have to give your email to access, so fine) that ended up being just a JJ Virgin store. Or I can't find the references... non- JJ Virgin protein powder recommendations? Where? Alternative fiber supplements recommended? Where? (And the link on her site to hers is broken so I can't even see what this is).
Anyway, if you're choosing between this or the cookbook - choose the cookbook. It's very detail redudant to this and has more recipes.
I don't have a lot of the problems that are the cycle 1 "swaps" but you aren't supposed to jump to cycle 2... so I'm pessimistic about losing "10 lbs in 2 weeks".
What didn't like in this book - the multiple references to "resources" online (which you have to give your email to access, so fine) that ended up being just a JJ Virgin store. Or I can't find the references... non- JJ Virgin protein powder recommendations? Where? Alternative fiber supplements recommended? Where? (And the link on her site to hers is broken so I can't even see what this is).
Anyway, if you're choosing between this or the cookbook - choose the cookbook. It's very detail redudant to this and has more recipes.
November 11, 2014
More reviews (and no fluff) on the blog http://surrealtalvi.wordpress.com/
JJ Virgin's Sugar Impact Diet is an ideal "catch all" diet and health book. Most of the current knowledge we have about dieting and health is in here in brief form - leaky gut, hormones, low fat/low carb debunking, etc. The tone is friendly, the plan very easy to follow, and the recipes aren't too exotic or take heavy preparation. The best aspect of the book is that it doesn't feel like another narrow focus fad. Despite the implication of the name "sugar impact" seeming to be about just removing sugar, the information provided within is very comprehensive.Contents: The book is broken down into three parts: Sugar Impact: The hidden cause of weight gain; Seven foods to swap; 2 weeks to fast and lasting fat loss. Chapters are: Introduction; break free from the sugar trap; track your impact; The sugar impact plate; Be gone grains, roots, and fruit; Ditch the low-fat and no-fat diary and diet foods; So long, sweet drinks and dressings; See ya, sweeteners and added sugar; Cycle 1: taper; Cycle 2: transition; Cycle 3: transformed; Low sugar impact recipes; The final frontiers; eating out and working out; Conclusion, sweet freedom; References, Index.
Most of the book is about information you can use to understand the choices being made when eating. The angle of the book is about sugars in places you'd never expect them: ketchup, low fast salad dressings, organic fruit juices, etc. Virgin educates readers about the latest debunking of a lot of food myths (low fat isn't a good diet, why artificial sweeteners can be worse than sugary drinks, the need for protein, sugar bombing the system through certain types of sugars, etc.) while at the same time cleanly explaining why weight loss efforts may be failing many.
Although the cover and blurb may feel like it is for those who need to lose the little weight left that is stubbornly refusing to go, in actuality there is a lot here for everyone, from vegetarians to the obese. She also devotes sections to those with special needs - gluten free, etc.
The recipes are few - enough for a 2-3 week diet. But there are resources for everything she lists in the recipes and none are too crazy or odd to make. Soups, better salad dressings, and especially how to replace super processed foods (from sugary vinaigrette dressings to mayonnaise). A lot of focus is on protein replacing sugar, including protein shakes in the morning.
This is one of the better diet books out there. She condenses a lot of the latest findings in diet and health research without the need to endlessly discuss this research or that. The tone is always encouraging, upbeat, and friendly. The book can be read through in under two hours and is an easy read.
Reviewed from an ARC.
April 23, 2015
I've known for years that I'm addicted to sugar and that it is a huge contribution to my weight issues. This book helped me understand that not only is sugar causing me to keep gaining weight but also that it is harming my body and is the root cause of most of my medical conditions. Now, that I know all this information it is up to me to follow the recommendations in the JJ Virgin's Sugar Impact Diet book.
The book has a step-by-step approach to move you through the program using three phases/cycles: Taper, Transition and Transformed. One of the first things that I have to do is go through my pantry/refrigerator and toss out anything that is high in sugar. Gasp! Throw it away? I paid for that high sugar/bad for me food - I can't just throw it away. This part may be a struggle for me but I'll have no trouble buying healthier swaps in the future from the lists provided.
This book offers some recipes that look somewhat easy to make once you locate a few of the slightly expensive and strange ingredients in your local grocery or Whole Foods grocery store. There is a wide variety of meal plans that use the recipes in the book to help you along on the Sugar Impact Diet and a Sugar Impact Plate that you can use as a visual aid to remind you to eat a Lean Protein, Healthy Fats, Non-Starchy Vegetables, Gluten Free High Fiber Carbs and fruit at every meal to help you transition to three balanced meals every 4 to 6 hours with an optional snack without feeling deprived.
I plan on giving this diet a try or at least follow the swaps of High Impact Sugar foods to Low Impact Sugar Foods. JJ Virgin's Sugar Impact Diet book offers comprehensive information on the impact of sugar to your health, and a three-step phase on how to cut back on sugar and lose weight in the process.
The book has a step-by-step approach to move you through the program using three phases/cycles: Taper, Transition and Transformed. One of the first things that I have to do is go through my pantry/refrigerator and toss out anything that is high in sugar. Gasp! Throw it away? I paid for that high sugar/bad for me food - I can't just throw it away. This part may be a struggle for me but I'll have no trouble buying healthier swaps in the future from the lists provided.
This book offers some recipes that look somewhat easy to make once you locate a few of the slightly expensive and strange ingredients in your local grocery or Whole Foods grocery store. There is a wide variety of meal plans that use the recipes in the book to help you along on the Sugar Impact Diet and a Sugar Impact Plate that you can use as a visual aid to remind you to eat a Lean Protein, Healthy Fats, Non-Starchy Vegetables, Gluten Free High Fiber Carbs and fruit at every meal to help you transition to three balanced meals every 4 to 6 hours with an optional snack without feeling deprived.
I plan on giving this diet a try or at least follow the swaps of High Impact Sugar foods to Low Impact Sugar Foods. JJ Virgin's Sugar Impact Diet book offers comprehensive information on the impact of sugar to your health, and a three-step phase on how to cut back on sugar and lose weight in the process.
March 15, 2016
Husband and I have been on Slow Carb for over a year now, and, as with many things, diet fatigue has set in. Husband decided that this might be something good for us to try, so I read it with the purpose of understanding what we will be following. I will update this review once we have actually been on the SI diet.
This book reminded me a lot of the Whole 30 "It Starts With Food" which annoyed me. The overly casual tone while clearly selling products reminds me a lot of an Amway presentation or a fair presentation. Many of the things Virgin says are things I've read before in It Starts with Food, as well as The 4-hour Body, and documentaries of sugar. I really really disliked the entire "You'll lose 10 lbs with this gimmicky diet" feel to it, including her pushing her shakes and bars.
Aside from that, I felt like it still presented a solid eating plan based on how foods affect your body. I always like the "listen to your body" paired with an eating plan that allows for time in that. This presented several lists of low, medium, and high sugar impact foods, broken down by category. They don't just break it up by sugar content/glycemic impact, but rather glycemic load, which also takes fiber into account. Overall it feels like a reasonable eating plan, shakes aside.
This book reminded me a lot of the Whole 30 "It Starts With Food" which annoyed me. The overly casual tone while clearly selling products reminds me a lot of an Amway presentation or a fair presentation. Many of the things Virgin says are things I've read before in It Starts with Food, as well as The 4-hour Body, and documentaries of sugar. I really really disliked the entire "You'll lose 10 lbs with this gimmicky diet" feel to it, including her pushing her shakes and bars.
Aside from that, I felt like it still presented a solid eating plan based on how foods affect your body. I always like the "listen to your body" paired with an eating plan that allows for time in that. This presented several lists of low, medium, and high sugar impact foods, broken down by category. They don't just break it up by sugar content/glycemic impact, but rather glycemic load, which also takes fiber into account. Overall it feels like a reasonable eating plan, shakes aside.
March 22, 2015
The basic premise is to cut back on foods with a high sugar impact (which is pretty much anything with a high glycemic load (GL)). For one week, you replace the high GL food with medium GLs. Think sweet potatoes instead of bread. For two weeks, you only eat low GL foods. That means no fruit, either.
There are tons and tons of lists to describe what's good and what's not. Some of the explanations are a little weird. The discussion of how the typical balsamic vinegar on the grocery store shelf has lots of sugar because it isn't really balsamic vinegar is only helpful if you eat that stuff -- what about people who spring for the real deal? The book says peanuts are bad, but doesn't explain why. I've long had issues with the eat whole food mantra but protein powder is fine (ahem, Rachel Cosgrove & Precision Nutrition) so its use here didn't bother me so much.
This book suggests to me that JJ Virgin is really just taking people through multiple books to get to a Paleo-type diet. According to this book, JJ Virgin eats low GL foods, but has a medium GL food/meal once a week. Low GL puts a diet at meat, veggies, fat, and nuts.
There are tons and tons of lists to describe what's good and what's not. Some of the explanations are a little weird. The discussion of how the typical balsamic vinegar on the grocery store shelf has lots of sugar because it isn't really balsamic vinegar is only helpful if you eat that stuff -- what about people who spring for the real deal? The book says peanuts are bad, but doesn't explain why. I've long had issues with the eat whole food mantra but protein powder is fine (ahem, Rachel Cosgrove & Precision Nutrition) so its use here didn't bother me so much.
This book suggests to me that JJ Virgin is really just taking people through multiple books to get to a Paleo-type diet. According to this book, JJ Virgin eats low GL foods, but has a medium GL food/meal once a week. Low GL puts a diet at meat, veggies, fat, and nuts.
September 14, 2015
I really enjoy JJ Virgin's shows/speeches, she is sassy. She presents interesting ideas in this book - looking at Glycemic Load instead of Glycemic Index for a better understanding of the impact of the food. And she presents a very well-worded scientific discussion of how fructose is dealt with in our body. As well as a good/in-depth discussion of artificial sweeteners. I also like that she is a proponent of a slow transition from sugar-burner to fat-burner, with decreasing your sugar in take in steps. Overall a lot of information about hidden sugars etc., was not new to me. But could be new to someone who is just beginning the journey of learning about what's in packaged food. Either way, she has a great way to explaining complex ideas in simple/easy to understand ways. Plus there is still a bit of sass that you see on TV. =) And she references a lot of interesting work/great scientists throughout the book.
January 22, 2017
I am somewhat addicted to diet books, as I am always hoping to find out something new or different in each one. We all know that sugar is bad for us, especially if you are on a weight loss journey or have related health issues. Anyhow, I found the information on hidden sugars not too surprising, but to give up soy on this diet was a little much for me. I really don't know if I could do so, even though soy has been linked to impaired thyroid function, etc. She recommends taking a vegan protein powder instead, which I find very expensive. I really like all the lists and recipes included in the book. Although this book is tempting, I would really have to be able to accept all the foods she wants you to cut out in order to be successful on this diet. Not sure if I am ready for this yet.
August 24, 2017
I received this book as a Goodreads giveaway winner.
I try to eat whole foods as much as possible and as little processed foods as possible. This book opened my eyes to where sugar is hidden. I have been using agava nectar in my tea but now I'm going to try monk fruit. I'm hoping by adjusting my food consumption to lower my sugar intake it will shrink my stomach more. Of course pre-menopause doesn't help with the stomach either.
If you are looking for a book that could help you with losing weight and you have a sugar addiction like most of Americans, then is is a worthwhile book for you. I took photos of several sections of the book and text it to my sister. Her responses were "wow!"
I try to eat whole foods as much as possible and as little processed foods as possible. This book opened my eyes to where sugar is hidden. I have been using agava nectar in my tea but now I'm going to try monk fruit. I'm hoping by adjusting my food consumption to lower my sugar intake it will shrink my stomach more. Of course pre-menopause doesn't help with the stomach either.
If you are looking for a book that could help you with losing weight and you have a sugar addiction like most of Americans, then is is a worthwhile book for you. I took photos of several sections of the book and text it to my sister. Her responses were "wow!"
November 4, 2014
I liked this book because it provides a systemic way to eliminating sugar, through three clearly-defined phases. The tools inside the book are a useful path of stepping stones to creating a life without sugar - from 7 foods to swap to a long list of delicious low-sugar impact recipes, this is a fantastic all-in-one plan to braking the sugar trap.
In a nation that's facing the highest obesity rates of all time - and the reality that our children will (for the first time ever) live shorter lives than we will, due to a long list of impending health crises (most of which linked to sugar consumption), aren't we ready for someone to take on this issue and lay out a plan of action? This is that plan.
In a nation that's facing the highest obesity rates of all time - and the reality that our children will (for the first time ever) live shorter lives than we will, due to a long list of impending health crises (most of which linked to sugar consumption), aren't we ready for someone to take on this issue and lay out a plan of action? This is that plan.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews