Get a Real Food Life: Janine Whiteson's Revolutionary 8-Week Food Makeover

I initially purchased this book to give to a family member that has deplorable dietary habits. Since I am an avid reader I decided to look through it before giving it away, and it is still on my bookshelf today 4 years later. This author has a nice common sense approach to improving your health. The first third of this book gives you the nutrition basics. The second third details the 8-week approach to the plan. The last third is all recipes. I like the gradual introduction of lifestyle changes. It is always easier to make a few changes at a time than to make a lot of changes all at once. The author is very good at encouraging those with a standard American diet and lifestyle to make little changes that will result in big health improvement payoffs. The recipes in this book are very nice. Being a numbers geek I appreciate nutritional information that is provided for each recipe. I use many of these recipes in my everyday cooking not only because they are healthy, but because they taste good too. If you need to make some healthy changes to your diet and lifestyle, this book is an excellent starting point. If you are experiencing elevated cholesterol and/or other inflammatory problems that require more drastic changes I suggest you check out books by Dr. Joel Fuhrman and Dr. Richard Fleming.

In the nutrition guide Get a Real Food Life, Whiteson and Rosenfeld tackle the obstacles that dieters and non-dieters alike face on a daily basis, from late night binging to restaurant orders. I was particularly impressed with the balance of advice and nutritional information; one section lists the types and combinations of meals that give us the nutrients we need, how much of a given nutrient/vitamin we need in a day, etc.In addition, the authors delineate several different types of eating plans, and give an overview of carbohydrate-based eating, protein-based eating, three-square, and grazing style...they know that each of us is unique, and we need to do what feels right for us--not what the latest trends dictate.They teach us how to keep a food journal, how to set realistic goals, and how to assess our progress. Most importantly, though, there is no end-all, be-all; on the contrary, Whiteson and Rosenfeld take a sensible approach to providing each of us with a unique key to more healthful living.

Finally, a book that will make a true difference, by people who KNOW what they're talking about. It's one thing to look better and another thing entirely to feel better-that's what this book is all about. So far this book has brought me BOTH. I am indebted to these two women and so too will you be.

Whiteson writes this book in a detailed way, very easy to follow. It is clear by her writing that she has consulted on weight loss for sometime. She understands all of the pitfalls that we run into. For me, snacking after dinner. In the book she was able to nail the causes and solutions right on the head. Since purchasing the book my weight loss although not tremendous has been steady. By following her guidlines there is no reason why you can not lose the weight you want to.

After years of going through the maze and jungle of nutrition and diet and health books, and after years of total dissatisfation, I finally have struck paydirt. "Get a Real Food Life" is the perfect title for the perfect book. It has changed my life...after only a few weeks I feel and look a million times better. So, if you're looking to change your life and change yourself, STOP HERE. THIS IS IT. Marion and Janine, you are ANGELS!