Rating:  Summary: A new way of life Review: I have never been so passionate about a book regarding health, common sense, and more important hope in changing a lifestyle in an effort to regain and preserve your health. Marilu Henner, whom I have adored forever, makes alot of important points and most of all sense in this book. More importantly, I am 43 and my mother died when she was 52 of liver cancer, and my father has a rare blood disorder that caused three strokes. I am determined to break the genetic cycle of disease and ill health and look to Marilu for that eternal hopefulness in living well.
Rating:  Summary: Be prepared to make some changes! Review: This book is not for the dietary weak of heart -- Marilu asks you to forgo red meat, dairy, caffeine .. all the goodies. However, if you're sick and tired of being sick and tired, you just may be ready to hear her message.And while she's not a health professional, she is a living testament to her way of life. Have you seen her lately? She looks AMAZING -- check out her "Taxi" reruns. She is obviously far more vital and beautiful than she was more than 20 years ago. How many of the rest of us can say that?
Rating:  Summary: Skip this one but buy the 30-day Total Health Makeover Review: The first of Marilu's books, this one is padded with mumbo-jumbo and pseudo-science. The following book - 30-Day Total Health Makeover - repeats the truly essential information and provides a useful plan for a healthy diet. The recipes are tasty and healthful, and put you on track for both weight loss and a better diet without added sugar, red meat and dairy. Plus, because it contains both protein and carbs, the plan does not leave you famished. Head straight for the second book and when you're through the 30 days, get the Healthy Life Kitchen for more recipes.
Rating:  Summary: Not just a diet book, a nutritional bible. Review: The first time I read this book and was introduced to the concept of food combining, it sounded unrealistic and impossible to follow. I tried it for about 2 days and gave up. About a year later, when diagnosed with an internal Candida imbalance that was causing lots of chronic health problems, my doctor suggested I follow a special diet that included food combining. So I got out Marilu's book and read through it again. This time I stuck with it and found that much of her nutritional suggestions mirrored that of anti-Candida plans; i.e., no dairy, food combining, no sugar or artificial sweeteners, etc. I was a fairly healthy eater to begin with but of course a major change in diet takes determination and time to adjust. Let me assure anyone out there that this book is full of good information to start you on a path to total wellness, inside and out. While some of the presentation is a tiny bit corny, it's also approachable and it's interesting to see the road she, herself, was on in terms of bad health and where she is now. Since making the decision to stick permanently with food combining (which can be complicated but she presents in a very easy to follow, organzied way) and eliminating sugar (about as hard for some people to do as quitting smoking or drinking) I have never felt better. My Candida is under control, my chronic ailments (asthma, allergies, rashes, joint pain) have all but disappeared, I have tons of energy all the time, I sleep better, I look better (better skin, hair, body) I feel consistently in a good mood and a nice side benefit was dropping from a size 12 to a 6. After nearly a decade of struggling with my weight and being "sickly" I am now strong and truly healthy and found that only when I focused on my health rather than my size did I lose weight. I am now going back to college to obtain a degree in Kinesiology specializing in Athletic Training, a lifelong dream I never would have thought I could pursue in my prior condition. You need to be inspirational to train others and certainly you have to walk the talk. With all the other fads being tauted out there, like the Atkins diet which is completely nutritionally unsound and puts people at a risk for renal failure and serious dehydration, I can tell you that the reason plans like Marilu's aren't as popular is ause they are more difficult initially to get accustomed to and don't allow for taboo foods as much as the hi-pro/hi-fat phenomenon. This may be a tougher challenge at first, but the long term health benefits are limitless. I have read and reread everything from the Zone, Atkins, macrobiotics, sugar-busters and the blood type recommendations (which are actually very similar and is also a great book to keep as a nutritional bible) and it's Marilu's book I find myself whipping out for reference or review. If you buy this book and stick with it for a month (it takes at least that long to remove prior waste product from your blood stream, tissues and organs) you WILL feel a sense of total health and well being that will amaze and surpise you. It's a great investment in yourself and the better your body functions, the better the quality of your life.
Rating:  Summary: Loved it! Review: I bought this book approximately a year and a half ago, out of curiosity after seeing an inter- view with Marilu on a talk-show. After having gained 60 lbs with the pregnancy of my first child, and not really being a big fan of excersize, I thought her approach to food combining was rather neat! In about 6-9 months, with no excessive exercise, I was still able to lose 30 lbs with the help of this book. I really didn't expect it to work so well! Now my mother-in-law and sister-in-law are also trying this approach. East to read and follow, a great book overall. I plan on continuing her diet after the birth of my second child in a few months.
Rating:  Summary: Josie - where are you? Review: I've read and love the book. I've learned a great deal from it. It makes sense - mainly common sense! The trouble with common sense is it ain't so common! I wish Josie (ML's chef) was conveniently located where I live. I guess if you make the $$ that ML makes you can be waited on everyday. I'd like to have a simple meal plan. The book talks about what to buy, but who has the time to prepare this? To Josie - please move to Worcester MA - or better yet, start a chef school of your own specializing in this cuisine. Pam - Worcester MA
Rating:  Summary: Good advice, should be applied to suit your needs Review: My husband snickered when he caught me reading this book. He's the type who doesn't believe "celebrities" should be offering health advice. I showed him the back cover and said I wanted to know how Marilu got to look so good, so I could at least have a fighting chance. I haven't followed everything to the letter in this book, but I did give up dairy and caffeine and started a steady exercise program, and used some principles from Weight Watchers. I dropped 35 pounds! I suppose the key is reading this book and manipulating the suggestions so it suits your needs. Not everyone has the same body, so not everyone should use an identical program. What worked for Marilu might not have worked for me. Improvise.
Rating:  Summary: Greatest Book Ever! Review: I loved this book! I could relate to everything she said. I Think the program is a hard one to follow, but if your committed it will help you tremendously. I have only 2 of her 10 steps left to go and lost 40lbs in the meantime. Eliminating processed sugar is a hard one but eventually I will do it. If your serious about changing you lifesyle and relationship with food this is a book for you! I read it in one weekend. I just couldn't put it down and found it very entertaining. When I feel my will slowing I refer back to this book to pick my motivation back up and keep me on the right track. A+
Rating:  Summary: Skip This One Review: Though I found this book interesting from a biographical point of view, I found it of little use. Her techniques for loosing weight are, from a practical standpoint, very difficult for an average, busy, working woman. For example, she stresses food combining, which means not mixing carbs and proteins. That's fine if you never eat out and have time to prepare all of your own meals, but for many people, this is not an option. It's important to keep in mind that Ms Henner is an actress. Unfortunately for her, staying fit is a major part of her job. Imagine spending as much time working out and researching diets as you spend at your job. That is her only qualification for writing this book. Containing about 75% fluffy anecdotes and 25% mediocre advice, it seemed to be more of an attempt to boost a stagnant acting career than a serious book about health. If you're interested in this book because you like Ms. Henner, you may not be disappointed. If you're looking for a book that will really help you get healthy, skip this one.
Rating:  Summary: oh please! Review: i love marilu henner to death ,but please! no caffeine, no dairy, no meat, no sugar, no white flour, what the heck does this woman eat? i am shocked to see this book received so many stars! i dont see how anyone could live on this diet, or even find the ingredients she suggests you use. this was insane, i have read them all and this was the worse!
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