It has made such a difference in the way I feel. I am so much more energetic -- which helps me exercise more. My cholestrol and blood pressure are going down. I sleep better and no longer have headaches. After many years of yo-yo dieting, I feel I have found the program that works for me.
Thanks, Adele.
Blaming this syndrome, often the precursor to Type 2 diabetes, on a metabolic mix-up, Puhn lists foods, supplements, eating plans, all of which are low carb and the combination of which make you feel, at least in my case, like your "old self" again.
Very few people who don't have the problem themselves understand, as does Puhn, how awful you can feel when the metabolism is out of whack. Constant hunger and weakness, headaches, cravings--all signs of systemic imbalance--can lead to destructive overeating and weight gain. One feels in the throes of something uncontrollable.
I've only been on the plan a few weeks and am feeling in control and fit. I've tried other plans that hint at what Puhn spells out directly and am ever grateful to her for her thorough directives. The supplements she advises really help.
An avid golfer, I'm not running out of steam by the eleventh hole and am as careful about my snacks as if my life depended on it.
And I bet it really does!
What's great about her advice is that she doesn't make you quit those carbs cold turkey. You learn to do it gradually where eventually you get to a stage where you don't miss them as much as you thought you would.
Thanks to this book I have lost 20 lbs. and have learned how to keep them off. I enjoyed reading it and have recommended it to many of my friends with similar struggles of the bulge.
The diet has 4 basic steps. First you achieve BASIC BALANCE by cutting back your carbohydrate intake. Next you go to CARB CAREFUL where you further cut back on carbs. You also add SUPPLEMENTS that will help you balance your blood sugar and you add EXERCISE.
There are many good ideas throughout the book. Adele tells you never to get hungry so your blood sugar will stay on keel. She recommends hard chews (like an apple) and soft chews (like tangerines) to satisfy your hunger needs. Adele includes food choices to select from that will help you stay in control.
Unlike other low carbohydrate diets where you suddenly go from eating what is normal for you to eating low carbs, in this diet, according to Adele, the transition is gradual. The first step Basic Balance removes many carbs but in a gentle way. The next step Carb Careful removes more when you are ready. Personally, I did not see a large difference in the two steps. For example in Carb Careful she suggests removing cereal and grains from your breakfast meal, but then includes bread in the menu plan.
Menu plans are included for both Carb Careful and Basic Balance.These may get you in balance and in control of your food but they are pretty stringent. In one example, a client of hers, eats a handful of string beans with other veggies several times a day and portions of protein, with a tiny amount of grain and fat included. The menu plans to me were pretty joyless. There was no mention of wine or chocolate, fat free cheeses were used, etc. Can you eat this way for life?
One of the reasons that low carbohydrate dieting can be so successful is that the fats in the diet are so satisfying. They add a richness that helps make up for the lack of carbohydrates we are used to. Adele does not mention fat much in her book. A menu might have a tad of olive oil or a bit of cheese but not much more. I feel many folks will not be satisfied eating both low carbohydrate and low fat. And recent studies have shown that good fats are good for you to eat. So she could have included more of these in the sample plans and at the very least more information on how to treat fat in your diet.
Another area Adele discusses in depth is supplementation. She makes suggestions for different nutrients and explains what they can do to help you. She also sells these nutrients at her website and to her credit does not push her own products at all.
Exercise is also covered. She discusses how it can really help your insulin. One suggestion she gives as an exercise choice is TY BO. It made me wonder how quickly the book was put together as the correct spelling is TAE BO. With the lack of information on fats and the obvious spelling error, I wondered if perhaps the book was put out fast.
I think alot of Adele Puhn's warmth and regard for her clients comes through in the book. But I think with the stringent eating plan and lack of thorough information on how to treat fats in the diet many people will be disappointed with this book.
