The 35-Plus Diet for Women: The Breakthrough Metabolism Diet Developed at Kaiser Permanente for Women Over 35

This isn't a fad, and it's not a "diet" in the sense that you stick to it for a few months and then your troubles are solved. It is a common sense modification of eating patterns for the rest of your life - but it is such a flexible program that you won't even notice it after you get the hang of it. Please do yourself a favor and give it a chance and don't cheat. The beginning of the book explains, in the most wonderful plain English, why and how your metabolism starts shifting as you age (and a lot of it has to do with the mechanics of storing fat and water). It an interesting and informative (and relatively quick) read. The middle section outlines the diet program and three phases, and the back half of the book are recipes to get you started. The beauty of this diet is that you can modify what you normally eat, rather than spend a lot of time buying or preparing "program" foods. It is based on balance and portion control and what provides a good calorie burn. I can't figure out why this book ever went out of print. It should be on every woman's shelf.

I found a copy of this book at the library. It's a little dated (late 80's) but as far as I'm concerned good information never goes out of style. This program works! The dietary changes are easy to incorporate. It's far more balanced and real-world than many of the modern fad programs. There's enough "give" to make these changes a permanent part of your lifestyle, which means long-term success. Why struggle with elaborate programs that aren't realistic for busy women? It's so disheartening to lose weight and then regain the minute you can't sustain strict or demanding rules. This author tells a familiar story (she struggled with weight issues herself) and it really rang true to me. Many women have experienced resistant weight loss as they go into their thirties. Our doctors tell us we need more discipline, but we know something has changed. This program was essentially a research project for weight loss in women of this age group and older. I really enjoyed knowing that it worked for women with backgrounds similar to my own. I'll take research over fad any day. There is a small recipe section in the back but you don't need it. While the recipes may be an extra convenience for some, the author sets up a program that lets you modify a program for your lifestyle. There is a lot of flexibility (just pick from a list and combine as you like). I personally chose the healthiest versions of the various food choices listed, but there are less than stellar choices available too. Pristine vegetarians and recovering food junkies (aka white bread etc) alike can make this program work. This is a nice, sensible, realistic program (designed by a nutritionist) and it has enough room to modify for a variety needs.

I am happy to see this book is in print again. This book guided me through losing 18 pregnancy pounds after my last child, and I could not recommend it more. There are a many aspects of the writing and presentation that are like any other diet book, but the actual diet really kept me from getting hungry while lowering the calories I was taking in. I did not use many of her actual recipes, but followed her suggested formula and read her text for inspiration. I ended up recommending this book to two other people, who also had success with this book. If you are the type of person who wants a plan, this is a great one - you will see results and you won't be hungry.