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Summary: This book helped me regain control of my life
Review: This is a great book on how to eat healthy, but Mr. Phillips also recognizes that we are human and not perfect. By following his recommendations on planning the day ahead of time I have completely changed my eating and work habits. I really do have more free time. I also can look forward to a 'free day' which keeps me on track. My wife and I have been following the plan for two weeks and have really enjoyed the recipes from the book. As a companion to his Body-For-Life book I am already noticing changes in my 43-year old physique.
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Summary: Great guide to fitness style eating
Review: This is a really good book, but like anything, it can't be everything to everybody. Some relevant points:
1. This is geared towards someone whose idea of fitness is to improve body composition (ratio of muscle to fat) via a combo of resistance training and cardio, and to improve strength and endurance. As most know, it's a companion to the Body-For-Life program.
2. Someone else's idea of fitness might be yoga and vegetarianism, with body composition being relatively unimportant. If so, this probably isn't your style.
3. What I like most about the recipes is they provide a way to still enjoy old favorite tastes and flavors in a way that's lower in calories, and more balanced between protein and carbs. For example, the Spicy Buffalo Chicken sandwich includes the tastes of both bufalo wing sauce and blue cheese, but with some quality protein thrown in and a lot less fat. The fortified french toast recipe is another that comes to mind.
4. Some earlier reviews criticized the fact that he shows pictures of the groceries used in each recipe and propose that he's out to promote those products. The first dozen or so products I find in the book are Kraft dressing, Earthbound Farm spinach, Butterball chicken brest, Healthy Choice spaghetti sauce, Kraft parmesan cheese, McCormack spice, Kikkoman soy sauce, American Beauty spaghetti, Bertolli olive oil, Progresso bread crumbs, Spice Island basil, Jennie-O turkey, Newman's spaghetti sauce. I suppose it's possible that Bill has endorsement contracts with those and 50 or so other companies shown, but I'm going to lay my money on that he was simply trying to show how the recipes use common products.
4. If you buy the book, be willing to try recipes more than once with various ingredients. The fortified french toast recipe sucked when I used a brownish colored, heavy wheat bread, but it was outstanding when I switched to Trader Joe's multi-grain sour dough.
If this is the style of eating you are looking for, the recipes are quite good. Enjoy.
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Summary: ABOUT TIME HE DID IT!
Review: TWO YRS. AGO I DID THE BLF AND LOST 36 POUNDS WITHOUT DOING THE PROGRAM 6 DAYS A WEEK. I ACTUALLY HIRED A PERSONAL TRAINER BEFORE DOING THE BLF PROGRAM AND MY PERSONAL TRAINER SUGGESTED THE BLF BOOK TO HELP WITH MY EATING HABITS. I COOKED ON SUNDAY FOR 3 DAYS THEN ON WEDNSDAYS FOR ANOTHER 3 DAYS AND SUNDAYS WERE MY FREE DAYS. HOWEVER AS TIME WENT ON AND I BECAME VRY BORED WITH THE BLF FOOD LIST I BEGAN TO SLACK OFF. I BECAME VERY TIRED OF THE SAE OLD FOOD OVER AND OVER AGAIN. I BROGHT THE EATING FOR LIFE BOOK THE OTHER DAY AND COULD NOT BELIEVE HOW WONDEFUL THE MEALS LOOKED AND THE PICUTRES OF EAC INGRIENT YOU MADE NEED TO FIX EACH MEAL. I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE BEST PART! THE PICTURES OF THE ITMES. I AM GETTING MARRIED IN JULY 2004 AND I KNOW IF I GO BACK TO THE PLAN AND GET BACK TO THE GYM I CAN DROP THOSE POUNDS I GAINED BY MY WEDDING DAY IN JULY. IT TAKES DEDICATION TO DO THIS PROGRAM, AND FOR THOSE OF US WHO MAY WORK AND ALSO ATTEND SCHOOL OR WHO HAVE VERY HECTIC LIVES IT CAN BE A LITTLE CHALLENGING TO FIT THOSE MEALS IN OR MAKE THOSE PROTEIN SHAKES. BUT WHERE THERE IS A WIL THERE IS AWAY SO MAKE YOUR HEALTH AND THIS WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM PRIORITY IN YOUR LIFE, AND BE CREATIVE WITH PLANNING YOUR MEALS, IF U ARE AT WORK AN YOU CAN'T USE A LOUD BLENDER FIND A DIFFERENT SNACK TO TAKE TO WORK THAT CONSIST OF A PROTEIN AND A CARB AND THE BOOK GIVES YOU GREA SUGGESTIONS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ORANGES AND EGGS ON PAG 301.
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Summary: A Must Have!
Review: We've been waiting for this book to come out and it has surpassed all expectations! If you follow the BFL program this book is a must have! The book is beautiful and full of great looking photos and healthy recipes! He even shows you exactly what to buy and how to cook in detail for those who are inexperienced in the kitchen. Thanks Bill!!!
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Summary: Eating for Life and Body for life
Review: What a great supplement for the BFL plan. My fiancee and I are currently doing BFL and this was a timely purchase. Another reviewer complained about the 6 meals a day. I ride a desk as well and I speak from experience when I say that it just takes planning, which is one of the major aspects of the program, setting goals and laying your plans to achieve them. You might not be able to bring your blender into work, but you can bring a $10 mixer (small, motorized with a whipping blade, purchasable at most GNCs or the like) to make a midday shake or by a box of EAS bars at <ENTER YOUR FAVORITE WAREHOUSE GROCERY HERE - ala SAMS>. Bill lays it out as a trainer and advisor. He's not an author, he's a fitness and nutrition guru whose results speak for themselves. Hokey? Maybe, but it seems that some people are looking for reasons to not succeed. I'm down from 247 to 198lbs, hokey or not. Set goals, plan, succeed.
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Summary: Couldn't have done it without this
Review: When it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle, I am the type that needed to find a structured program. Bill Phillips Body for Life program was EXACTLY the instruction that I needed. This cookbook was absolutely essential to me meeting my goals (from 195 to 175 in twelve weeks).
I won't tell you the twelve weeks was easy, but Eating for Life cookbook helped immensly. Each Sunday, I planned out the weeks meals and went shopping. Twelve straight Sunday's to the grocery store. This book has some lousy recipes, but my wife and I found at least 15 of the dinner recipes to be in our rotation, as well as a few breakfasts and lunches. Just good, simple recipes that anyone is capable of making.
I want to be a witness that you do not have to buy the shakes and bars to do this. The cookbook provides many snack ideas if you are not wanting to drink the shakes. Personally, I hated the milkshakes, but did eat one of the Myoplex bars for my afternoon snack each day. Also, the free day is no joke. I ate freely whatever I pleased one day a week. Honestly, as the weeks went on, I didn't want to "pig out" on my free days. But I wouldn't hesitate to eat fast food, pizza, ice cream, whatever. I earned it.
The key to all of this is to PLAN both your workouts and meals each week. This book will bring you some variety for some very good meals each week, and I would recommend it to anyone who is realistic about wanting to lead a healthy lifestyle.
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