The Pritikin Edge: 10 Essential Ingredients for a Long and Delicious Life

I found a lot of helpful information in this book. Heart disease is explained in a clear manner, and this book is an easy read because the author is so darn funny. I have so many favorite lines from this book. I was seriously cracking up while I read the book (and read it in a day off work, btw--very fast read). I do not follow everything to a T--I still salt my food, but I use less salt and I use almost no prepackaged food at all. I do look at sodium content now. I also buy reduced fat cheese, too. Pritikin suggests nonfat cheese, though. I would feel deprived if I followed all of the diet ideas perfectly. Instead, I look at my healthy vegetarian diet through new eyes and see where I can make it healthier, but still satisfying and delicious. My husband appreciated that Pritikin is scientifically based and has so many studies done on it. One caveat--I am not a fan of the recipes. I'd rather not eat than eat awful food! I am very picky, though. And I'm not a fan of fat and sugar substitutes--I say just use less of the real thing!

Well, life "tastes" the best--you can just enjoy it, be here for yourself, for others and if you're reading this, you probably are wanting to "save" yourself or other loved ones. Don't get into fear--the diet, let alone going to Pritikin, is not torture and deprivation, you'll not starve at all, you'll fill yourself up on people nourishment and fun! You'll laugh, you'll smile, you'll entertain and tell stories and you'll discover that miracles can happen, your health can be improved or restored. You'll regain your confidence in yourself, you'll walk tall. You'll be back in control and in charge but you won't have to be some dictator to all your rebellious voices so much any more, those voices that say to you that you deserve all the fatty meals, ice cream and cookies or just the normal toxic diet that most Americans eat every day of their lives, the wonderful meals your mother cooked for you (sorry to the well intended moms out there, don't think they had Pritikin in those days). Those voices, to the contrary, will become your buddies for they care about you in that strange manner and ways they've interacted with you over the years. I've been to "Pritikin" ten times over the years. I owe my life to these folks, the principles. Am not "fixed" or "perfect," in fact, I keep going back for a tune up and reinforcement. Yet, I have no doubt that my life has been greatly extended and same with countless others. I have witnessed this, seen so many times with my eyes, heard with my ears the transformations that Pritikin has made in the lives of so many. It is not torture, being there is fun. Learning is fun. Well, the "diet" is not a diet, it is an education, learning to start a new lifestyle within what you already have. Trust me, you'll like it. The staff is great and, I'd have to say, the guests keep me coming back. They are usually somewhat older and sort-of-like-me are either there because they've hit somewhere close to their bottom (and want to live!) or just because they are now so healthy thanks to Pritikin that they keep coming back--it's a great vacation (believe it or not--consider believing it tho) there. Buy this book. And, better yet, buy the experience (and the book). Hopefully, I'll see you there at Pritikin and by the way, I'm single, and available,lol, so hope to see you there and we'll dance!

Prior to reading this book I only had a vague idea of Pritikin as being a diet my dad was on in the 80s. He was able to lower his cholesterol fine, but I remember it as being a diet made up of "I can't eat (insert anything that tastes good). Now, flash forward 25 years and I have high cholesterol. So I reluctantly turned to the name I knew helped him. Boy, have things changed! This program isn't about denial...Spinach-stuff salmon with mango sauce? Enchilada Bake? Crispy Potato skins? This isn't my dad's Pritikin. This is something I can do! Of course, the real test will come next week when I go back to my physician for a follow up blood test, but I'm confident. My jeans fit looser, and I've got a lot more energy than I did before. If for those reasons alone, this book changed my life.

Pritikin simply works. It is amazing how easy it is to follow. Loved the book - it changed my life. For once a eating plan -not a fad diet - that makes sense and is easy to follow. I wish this was required reading in our schools - it is the answer to our obesity epidemic. Only goes to show: Beyond all the hype is common sense. Well written and very clear, easy to understand.