The Fast Track Detox Diet: Boost metabolism, get rid of fattening toxins, jump-start weight loss and keep the pounds off for good

I really do enjoy the information that Ann Louise presents in this book. It is easy enough to understand and follow as a change in eating to help correct an in-balance in health. I recommend anyone and everyone to read.

After attending one of the author's free support groups at a local bookstore, I decided to give the program a try. Maybe it was the testimonials from the group (one woman cut out the gluten in Gittleman's Detox Detractors and no longer suffers from mouth ulcers and depressions) or maybe it was the author herself who is such a wonderful testimony to her own program : slim, trim with flawless skin and very high energy. But, I really have to take issue with some of these reviewers who didn't read the book correctly and are grossly misrepresenting the content. First off, the program is NOT a low-calorie program. You follow your regular diet (minus the detox detractors like white sugar, white flour, artificial sweeteners, gluten, and soy) and add certain powerfoods that support the liver and colon. To this you simply drink 1/2 of your weight in ounces; take two tablespoons of healthy oils, and 4 ounces of protein, twice per day .After all this is a detox book. Secondly, removing hidden food allergens (like the gluten and soy) is a key to lasting weight loss because these foods create water retention and water weight gain. Omitting them from the get-go in the 7-Day Prequel preparation for the One-Day Fast is the reason that people start to lose weight immediately and keep it off IF they continue to follow the hypo-allergenic liver-loving and colon-caring food plan. It's not the calories; its the allergies. Brilliiant! Lastly, the book is not a recipe book, it is a detox manual. And, one of the most responsible ones on the planet at that. As the author painstakingly points out, since the petrochemical revolution over the past 100 years, we can't "fast" like we used to because of the overload of fat soluble toxins impacting the liver. So, the book is true to its title - it is a ONE-DAY Detox that is preceded by a preparation period and a healing period. What's so deceptive about that? That's just a true health professional being responsible to her readership. Duh.\ Finally, not everybody should fast. But that doesn't mean you can't do the program. Just skip the fasting day. The book is terrific and I like the emphasis on organic. Gittleman is the only author out there who is true to her message and has been for her past 24 books. I have seen many other so-called experts on television and this woman not only knows her stuff, she can strut her stuff with the best of em.

I lost 10 pounds on the detox diet and it's still gone after a month. I exercise regularly and eat a lot of organic healthy foods already, but was having trouble losing some extra weight that started showing up after I turned 30. After the detox, I realized I eat way too much cheese and tend to over-eat daily! I viewed this diet as a detox that happens to have a side-effect of losing weight. I have never had luck on diets, in fact, the more restrictive the diet, the more stressful it is, and the more my body seems to hold on to the weight! So, this approach was perfect for me. The book was a little bit self-congratulatory, and the term "miracle juice" completely turned me off (I mean, come on!). But, I decided to filter all of that out and give it a go based on the principle of detox. During the plan, I had some parties and bbqs to attend, but I was always able to find something fulfilling to eat. I cheated and had organic coffee (just a few sips) in the mornings and some other naughty items here and there, but because the point of the diet for me was detox and not weight loss, the psychological stress of "failing" wasn't there. My body finally "let go" of the weight and is now back to a balanced state. Because of timing, I had to do the fast on a regular work day, but I was completely fine. The book really prepares you for your one-day of fast by explaining the importance of the 7 day preparation as well as coping and theraputic mechanisms to handle the day of fasting. Furthermore, after you finish the full detox program, you aren't left wondering what to do. Gittleman offers some lifestyle choices that you can use to continue your clean eating to maintain your new balance. My skin is glowing and I have more energy! I plan on doing the detox at the change of every season.

Gittleman's Fast Track Detox Diet brings together two problems that usually are treated separately--detoxification and weight loss--and does a credible job at answering the needs of both. Moreover, no matter what approach one ultimately takes toward losing weight and establishing weight maintenance, her book is a good starting point. The reason is simple: whether or not an individual gained weight because of environmental toxins, it is certainly the case that toxins are stored preferentially in fatty tissues and are released when a person diets. This release of toxins has been shown to be one of the major factors involved in dieting mood swings and in the slowing of weight loss. Simple fasts cause toxins to be released, but these compounds are quickly reabsorbed under fasting conditions, plus the body reacts badly to being suddenly pushed to the wall with fasts. Gittleman knows this and therefore carefully prepares the dieter in the period up to the fast, tells the dieter what to consume to prevent the metabolism from plummeting during the fast, and then maps out an approach for the days following the fast. Something that I have always liked about Gittleman is that she is very aware of the maxim, "do no harm." Are there more thorough detoxifications available? Of course, but few of us have the luxury of following them, which sometimes I think is a good thing. Are there faster weight loss approaches being marketed? Of course, although speed and lasting weight loss seldom go hand-in-hand. Gittleman describes an initial approach that gets results for the dieter about as quickly as anyone could ever reasonably hope for, yet does not lead to a nasty rebound in weight gain. Thereafter, I would suggest that dieters follow, instead, the approach given in The Fat Flush Plan for consistent and lasting weight loss. In short, this is a good and useful book. I agree with Gittleman that the data is overwhelming linking environmental toxins to metabolic disorders. Yet even aside from the issue of stored toxins, the preponderance of individuals with weight problems suffer from sub par liver performance and can use Gittleman's tune-up to improve their results from dieting. Highly recommended.

It's blatantly obvious to many of us in the medical profession that weight gain in the 21st century is no longer a matter of cutting down on calories, carbs, or doing more exercise. As a metabolically-oriented psychiatrist, I am keenly aware of how many common medications such as antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and major tranquilizers can pack on anywhere from 10-30 pounds in a month! And this weight gain has nothing to do with what you are eating. Fast Track makes common (biochemical) sense and is on the cutting-edge of health. I predict that within the next five years it will be general knowledge that "fattening chemicals" like those uncovered in Fast Track are a primary underlying factor sabotaging our best weight loss efforts.