Suzanne Somers' Eat Great, Lose Weight

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Summary: This is the way that many Europeans have eaten for years!
Review: Having spent my childhood in Europe, I found amazing similarities between the way Europeans eat and Suzanne's diet. This way of eating is why they stay so slim and eat such "rich" foods.

I started combining this diet with the suggestions for my blood type in the Eat Right for Your Type diet. I noticed that I was lost even more weight with this combination.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in adopting a food lifestyle where you do not need to suffer through bland meals and very small portions. I gave it 4 stars for the simple reason that I felt some of the photos were "cheesy" (Suzanne in the bathtub surrounded with rose petals) and there was too much focus on her extended family, for my taste and how "wonderful" everyone and everything is. Call it petty, but the above is the only flaw to the book.

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Summary: Easy to live with and it works!
Review: I bought the book 11/98 for my 39th birthday. I decided to set a goal of losing weight by my next birthday and after following her plan I know I will reach my goal. Since November '98, I have lost 62 pounds and have so much energy! I follow level one and occasionally go to level two. The holidays were super easy. I am a busy career woman and I have no trouble cooking her recipes. Before Somersizing I was buying "convenience" foods loaded with hidden sugars and white flour. Thanks to Somersizing, I know what to look for on the food labels and as a result I am no longer addicted to sugar and caffeine and am eating whole, nutritious foods. I don't have "gastric distress" and no bloating after eating. The inches are melting away and I have lost four clothing sizes in almost 5 months. I have tried other diets like Fit for Life and Protein Power and they made me lethargic and uncomfortable. This is the easiest way of eating that I have ever found to lose weight and I know I can follow it the rest of my life and never feel hungry or deprived!

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Summary: Suzanne Somers is the best advertisement of this plan!
Review: I bought the book in early 1997, after gaining weight after trying to follow a low-fat eating plan. I was not aware of all the hidden sugars, as I am now, plus recently, when I miscombined foods, I started getting acid reflux - something I never had before. I really liked Suzanne's book, because I feel that it is easy to follow, and I feel so much better when I eat this way. Like Suzanne, I have tried "Fit for Life" and "The Dr. Atkins Diet", along with countless other diets, and find that the book is very informative, and indicated to me why certain diets that I had been on in the past had failed. A lifestyle change is the only permanent solution to health and weight loss. I don't have a scale, so I don't know how many pounds I have lost, but my clothes are looser, so I know I have lost inches. I prefer healthy foods, so this really works for me. Fit for Life was, I thought, a good lifestyle change, but it was too restrictive in protein for me. I find that I can incorporate Suzanne Somers' eating plan in anything I do, whether eating out or at home. Also, her recipes are wonderful! After seeing Suzanne on the Home Shopping Network, it's always an inspiration to me to adhere more closely to the program, if I have strayed. Suzanne, thanks for such a wonderful and informative book. You are an inspiration to us all.

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Summary: Great way to eat!
Review: I love this way of eating! I used to be in good control of my weight, until I had my son, and gained about 20 pounds. I tried tons of diets..and I realized why I was always hungry and kept on gaining. All I was eating was white flour products and sugar! When I went on this way of eating, I immediately felt better. I have lots of energy, and I never feel hungry. My friends are jealous! They say "youre always eating!" I eat about every 3 hours. I have been on this for about a month, and I already lost 7 pounds. This is definitely a lifestyle that I am going to live with, because I have never felt better!
And how can this NOT be healthy?? Look at what I eat? Fresh fruits and whole grain cereals, plenty of fresh vegetables, protein, and healthy fats. I can even have a little cheat and have a donut or cookie every once in awhile, and still be okay..and I'm still on Level One!
And for those of you who are bashing Suzanne Somers for writing this book because she is not a nutritionist.
she states herself in her books that she isn't a nutritionist, but she worked with a lot of them. Her books are NOT like the Atkins and Fit for Life, it is much less strict. Whoever said that obviously did NOT read the book. She wrote this book because she wanted to share this wonderful way of eating that she researched that worked. And how could anybody of else have written it, when she shares her own stories of her family and provides pictures? Anyway, if you are sick of yo-yo diets, as I definitely was, then you should definitely give this a shot! However, I think you should get her book "Fast and Easy", because its the newest one out. Also, visit her website. Suzannesomers.com. The message boards have been a HUGE help, providing lots of yummy recipes, as well.

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Summary: Tasty foods and fun recipes!!
Review: I read quite a few of the reviews listed here before deciding to purchase this book. I was happy to see that there were many favorable statements made. I just started "Somersizing" yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed what I choose from the plan. I made the homemade roquefort dressing and my husband and I loved it. I wanted to comment on some of the negative items such as complaints about Ms. Somers requesting that you cut out sugar but then having you eat high amounts of sugars elsewhere. These are "natural" sugars and come from the piece of fruit you are eating not overprocessed, chemical infested foods! These are actually good for you, in moderation. I have skipped from diet to diet and have done quite a bit of research and have found that eliminating white flour items and sugar from your diet can be very helpful. The first couple of days are difficult. You're changing your eating habits but believe me it's for the better! I got on the scale this morning and lost 3 1/2 pounds since yesterday. I know that most of this is water weight but it is still a step in the right direction (down!). Other plans have eliminated too many of the things I enjoy (bread for one). This plan allows you more freedom and some delicious recipes to choose from. I'm enjoying a delicious "Smoothie" as I write this review. Wish me luck!

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Summary: Changes your way of thinking of food
Review: I really recommend this book,easy to understand, easy to follow and great recipes. I would have liked Suzanne Somers to focus more on the healthy fats and not so much eggs and meat, thats why I am only giving 4 stars. I started the programm 2 weeks ago and have really lost weight without starving myself. I cannot tell you how much, because I dont own a scale, but from how my clothes fit, I would assume somewhere around 2-4 pounds. I never in my life had problems with weight and I didn't really know what it feels like to be on diet, but during my pregnancy I gained 40 pounds and couldn't loose it all after my baby was born. Than we moved from Europe to the US and I thought: This is my chance, with all those fat free foods in the US. I'll Loose those 10 pounds excess weight in no time." But I not only did NOT LOOSE the weight, I gained 10 pounds more, was hungry all the time and had incredible sugar ups and downs. Now after two weeks the craving for sugar is gone, although I must admit it took one incredible long week to get over it, I don't have these energy drops in the middle of the afternoon anymore and don't feel bloated after every meal. I eat more vegetables than ever before! Over the weekend we had friends over and I started to cheat a little. So, at a mexican place I not only ate tortilla with the chicken, but I had the fried beans and the white rice, too. Boy, did I feel bad- it was not worth it. THIS IS GREAT WAY TO EAT! But I honestly think, that it works more because of the elimination of sugar and bad carbohydrates and not so much because of the food combination. For those of you, who would like to have more insight in the food digestions chemistry read "Michel Montignacs 'Eat yourself slim'" He explains it in more details than Suzanne Somers does. Good luck to all you Somersizers!

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Summary: No one has ever died from not having french fries...
Review: This woman and her book are amazing. I can not tell you in just a few sentences how it has changed my entire attitude toward food. I've been on the 'program' now for about 4 weeks, and will be for the rest of my life. It just makes sense. I've lost a total of 11 pounds with about 10 left to go. Several of my friends and I are speaking daily about the program and how we are each being affected. The book is very straight forward, with just enough medical information to make it educational and informative. It reads like you're talking to a good friend or neighbor. Little did i know what carbohydrates were doing to my fluctuating blood sugar. It's actually entertaining to read the negative reviews and see the self-made barriers that people create. My suggestion would be to use Suzanne's basic combination suggestions throught the day and forget the recipes. They're great, but with a few minor adjustments to your own recipes, you will be Somersizing and your family won't even notice. And yes, I am living proof that one can live without baked potatoes or french fries with every meal!