The Juan-Carlos Cruz Calorie Countdown Cookbook: A 5-Week Eating Strategy for Sustainable Weight Loss

I have been a fan of Juan-Carlos since his days on Discovery Channel and Food Network. I have used his recipes before and loved them. This book has taken some of these recipes and improved them and added new ones. My family does not even know these are "healthy" versions of some of their favorites. Every recipe is tasty, full of flavor and low on fat. My favorite is Tiramisu. It is incredible and tastes just like the higher fat version. I am now down 50 pounds and my whole family is lighter, but healthier. At first I was disappointed to find out half the book was the recipes (I was hoping for more) and the rest is a weight loss plan, but I now refer to it several times a week for inspiration. If you are already a Juan-Carlos fan, this book will not disappoint, and if you are new to him, you will be a fan quickly. Using these recipes along with a sensible eating plan is all you need for a great makeover. I cannot wait for the next book!

This book is a weight loss book for everyone! I could never use a weight loss book before because all of the recipes and meal plans were always one-size-fits-all. Most of the menus in those books were too low in calories to allow me to reach a happy medium weight with my fairly high metabolism. However, this book is different. Each of the weekly menu sections in the book has weekly menus from 2,400 to 1,200 calories a day, allowing you to adjust your menu if you are not getting the calories that you need to live healthily. This is a real-world weight-loss book and not a starvation diet that you find in so many of the other books. Mr. Cruz knows what he is talking about. He mentions that he lives in the real-world and that you can still eat a Wendy's hamburger or a chocolate dove bar once in a while and still realize weight-loss. You don't have to go cold-turkey on the foods that you love, you just have to do the Calorie Countdown! Plus, the recipes in this book are delicious! He really cut down the calories in these menu items without sacrificing the taste or texture. This makes it even easier to lose the weight and I have not even been using this book for very long! Buy this book, your new trim self will thank you!

Ever find yourself frustrated by the sheer quantity of ingredients in a weight watchers recipe for a meal you wouldn't even eat under normal circumstances, never mind the prep time? Tired of eating faux lasagna and cutting out the bread and cheese at every meal? This is the book for you. Juan-Carlos Cruz provides recipes for foods regular people eat that are tasty, low-fat and don't use outlandish ingredients or preparation methods. Meatloaf tastes and feels like eating meatloaf, low fat mashed potatoes still have a satisying creamy texture and lots of taste. Nutritional information is provided with every recipe, so it's worth the money even if you don't follow his 5 week plan.

I have read many cookbooks, but this one is the best by far. The recipies are top of the line even while keeping the calories low. Mr. Cruz has taken great care in preparing this cookbook and adds his special touch to each recipie. I am sending copies of his book to everyone I know, I am a true fan of this cookbook, and I hope he will put another one out real soon, I will be waiting. If you have not bought his book, I encourage you to buy it now and start cooking the right way, Mr. Cruz's book is the best one out there.

It's about time that someone put together an easy to follow book with ways to lose and keep off the pounds. I'm getting copy for a bunch of relatives who have tried everything else under the sun without much luck -either cause the "system" was no good or they got bored several pages in to their reading. This book avoids those pitfalls, with a fun, sensible approach to eating. I couldn't put it down. If I can lose weight with these recipes, then I'm in heaven!!!!