Rating: 
Summary: Worked for me!
Review: I first spotted The Fat Fallacy in a bookstore at a time when I was feeling frustrated at not being able to shed those last 10 pounds after months of exercising more regularly than I ever had before and trying to eat low-fat. I was intrigued by the idea that I could eat foods I love - cheese, full-fat premium ice cream, and chocolate - all while losing weight.
It sounded almost too good to be true, but I'd seen firsthand from a trip to Paris that the French ate very differently from us yet stayed thin. Also, many of Will Clower's comments made a lot of sense intuitively. I decided to give it a try, hoping for the best, but promising to stop if it caused me to gain weight instead.
I tossed out the skim milk, "low-fat" cheese, and processed foods containing high-fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils and other artificial ingredients (you'd be amazed how many things include them!). To refill my pantry and refrigerator, I bought cream-top yogurt, whole milk, cheese, freshly baked french bread, good olive oil, high-quality dark chocolate, fresh vegetables, etc. I loved eating the new foods, found I didn't need to eat as much as before to feel satisfied, and was amazed at how quickly I saw the pounds start coming off.
Within just over a month of making the changes, I had lost the 10 pounds I'd been struggling with. Another 5 pounds that I wasn't even trying to lose came off in the following month, leaving me happily surprised to have dropped 3 clothing sizes. Wow! It's so wonderful to be able to enjoy food without guilt, and to be happy with my body at the same time!
I've since bought several copies of The Fat Fallacy to share with friends and family who've expressed interest. I'm always happy to be able to tell people about this book, as it encourages a healthy lifestyle rather than a "diet". It's definitely worth reading, and the recommendations seem so much healthier than some of today's trendier diets. Hope you'll read it and get as much out of it as I did!
Rating:
Summary: It just makes good sense!
Review: I found this book in a discount section and was floored that it was there. Then it occurred to me that it went against everything the AHA has ever said about dairy and water fowl fat, YET it just wasn't radical enough to cause a craze like Atkins. It is a book written about good common food sense that we have somehow lost between all of the fast food "restaurants" and faux food factories.
In this book, William Clower gives a wonderful overview of how to get the faux foods out of your house and start BEING healthier by eating real foods. Another point that he addresses is the relation between fat and feeling full, plus the notion that food should not be eaten faster than your body can kick on the "full" response.
The rat race in America has left us doing everything fast, as though everything we do delays getting to something more important, and many actually believe that only epicureans and gastronomers have time to really enjoy food for what it is. Fooey!
If food is not enjoyable, why eat it? If something tastes good, why eat it so fast that it cannot even be tasted -- why not instead eat it so slowly that the flavors and textures linger on and on? Why do Americans serve dessert while a couple of people are still working on their green beans or their turkey? Why do we flop in front of the TV after a meal rather than going out for a nice stroll and some fresh air?
I am glad to see that this book has finally gotten enough press to be on its second cover. It is a wonderful book about common food sense that simply isn't taught in America. Our parents were so crazed by a lifetime of hearing about their own parents living through the depression, that they impressed it upon us. Between our parents' po-folks clean plate brainwashing and the rat ract telling us that meals delay getting to more important things -- we put our own children through the hells of a very high speed "clean plate club" as if eating more than what is wanted is a good thing and the faster the better, while the nation faces an increase to quite possibly the highest obesity rate in the world.
Funny, in America, we think it is an insult to the cook if we DON'T clean our plates, but in other countries around the world -- it is an insult to the cook to finish everything, as though a person were saying that the cook did not serve enough. Better to serve small portions with plans for "seconds" and maybe realize that there is just enough room for dessert, than to fill up on dinner and get indigestion (and obese) from the extra food [read:dessert]. It is not dessert that will make us obese, rather it is eating far more than our bodies can use that will make us obese. As I read this book, I couldn't help but constantly think of Marion Nestle's book "Food Politics". It just all rang so true.
I am not overweight, but I do have fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism, plus my family has a heart history to beat the band. Within just a few months of eating according to this diet, not only did my fibromyalgia symptoms back off enough that I could lower my medications, but I had a lot more energy, and my cholesterol also dropped -- by eating dairy, carbs, dairy, carbs, and then some more dairy. My housemate is constantly wanting to lose weight, but eats a lot of transfats, deep fried food, fast food, and faux foods, then lays in bed watching TV or spends a few hours as an unmoving mouse-potato. He complains because while I do eat at least 2-3 ounces of cheese and extremely rich foods every single day and am as skinny as a rail -- I hardly eat. I eat organic Pan Bigio; he eats WonderBread. If we go out to eat -- I have at least three meals worth of leftovers. I tell him it is because I am simply not hungry. Believing that deep fried grease runs in his "Southern" veins, without which he could not live, he has yet to be a convert to the filling wonders of dairy fat, water fowl fat and olive oil.
Both sides of my family are immigrants within the last three generations. Neither side ever had heart/vascular history overseas, yet within 30 years on American shores, everyone was having heart attacks, bypasses, strokes, etc. Changing out American faux foods for the real foods that my ancestors lived on only makes good sense. It will make good sense for you too.
Even if your doctor tells you that the fat in this diet is too high, the rest of the principals can still be employed easily -- get rid of the killer chemicals in your diet and start eating the real food your body wants. You'll find out very quickly that you simply aren't hungry for as much as you used to eat when your food was nothing but chemicals.
Thank you, Dr. Clower, for reminding us of the good nutritive sense that has been erased from the American dietary education!
Rating:
Summary: the book that helps you enjoy eating again and lose weight!
Review: I have never written a review before, but I want people to know how wonderful this book is. After having 3 children within 4 years, my weight has increased with each pregnancy. I also grew up eating junk for meals and grazing throughout the day. I want to teach my children good eating habits and I was beginning to offer them chips with lunch so that they wouldn't have a hang up with junk food later in life. After reading this book, mind you I haven't followed it perfect (a little hard re:making time to cook complete meals,) in four weeks I have lost 5 lbs. painlessly while drinking whole milk, having butter on my morning baguette, you get the idea. All the processed food was donated. And now my children eat real pleasurable food- yes, even chocolate- the good stuff- not candy bars. The book is very inspirational, makes sense, is extreme in NO way. I don't drink the coffee or alcohol, but hot chocolate is a great substitute! Enjoy losing the weight and eating delicious food!And pretty soon you don't even want to snack!
Rating: 
Summary: Killing Me Softly
Review: I have to regret that Amazon doesn't give a way to rate a book with no stars. That hardly seems fair--especially when the book in question is giving bad advice to people who already don't know how to eat.
I will agree with my sister (who, mind you, is currently weighing in at about 400+ pounds) on one point--that you do need some fat in your diet. You need it to run healthy brain functions and keep your skin and nails healthy, sure. But this book almost gives diet-defunct Americans permission to eat more and more fat than is necessary to keep your body functioning.
Just like the Atkins diet that enrages me further still, I can't see how this in nutritional sense in any case. This man has no sort of scientific background to be giving out this information. The book is full of fluff and stories about why it's okay to be pouring cream over your shredded wheat--because he saw a french lady do it. So my sister goes out and buys a case of cream. And whole milk. And Ice Cream. And cheese. She now eats 4-5 slices of bacon EVERY morning. She gets upset when people tell her that she probably shouldn't be eating so much fat. "Fat is not bad for you! Will Clower told me so!" She retorts. She blames her body aches and pains on anything but her weight and her eating. I'll tell you something right now. French people live a drastically different lifestyle than we do. They walk 9 times out of ten to their destination...that's right, they leave the house on their feet! They don't indulge at every meal in the high fat pastries they make. They usually have fresh fruit for dessert. They spend 2 to 3 hours at every meal--not eating as much as they can, but enjoying what they're eating. They have a lot of sex. They eat SOME cheese. Not all the cheese. There is a big difference here. How do I know? Because I lived there for two years! People just don't live like Americans in France. (DUH.) We are a society of car drivers, all-you-can-eat buffeters and high-fat low-carb dessert eaters and you know it. People in Scotland are not statistically overweight either, but they have one of the highest rates of heart attacks in the world. Think about that for a minute. (I'm amazed he didn't go over there and write a book about "Fish and Chips Freedom!") All I want to get across here is some common sense and a plea: Please don't buy this book if you're having problems with eating. Especially if you want an excuse to eat whatever you like. Unfortunately for the rest of us, good eating and excercise are not a magic pill, but they sure make the journey worth taking.
Rating:
Summary: A common sense approach to eating
Review: I love the principle of this book - to eat real foods. This book came at a good time in my life - my doctor suggested that I try to cut down on chemical based foodstuffs. This book makes so much sense - eat moderate amounts of real foods, and take the time to make eating an event, and enjoy every mouthful. I have lost 6 pounds in the last three weeks eating the "French" way. I highly recommend it. An added bonus - back to family meals! A great way to keep up with my teenagers' lives!
Rating:
Summary: A MUST Read For A Better Way To Eat !
Review: I loved this book. I liked the way it was written, and the common sense approach to diet. Dr. Clower has done a great job of presenting facts, along with real life application. I especially like the fact that low fat/no fat/imitation food has been exposed for what it is: deception. It is time that we not deceive our bodies, nor our minds with dietary fads that do not produce the results that they claim. Dr. Clowers' recommendations in his book,The Fat Fallacy, REALLY work! I am so pleased with what I now know, because of his information. Thank you, Dr. Clower!
Rating:
Summary: Life changing!!!!!
Review: I rarely feel strongly enough about a book to take the time to write an online review, but in this case I HAVE to share my thoughts. If I could encourage everyone in the country to read this book, I would! I have always loved food and loved cooking. However, I have always felt guilty about enjoying my food because I seem to want to gorge on it. Then I'm off into the want to eat/feel guilty about eating cycle! I am also an emotional eater, and nighttime snacking is my downfall. Over the past 2 1/2 years I have lost about 75lbs, mainly by just eating healthier and exercising. I cut out most processed and fast foods, sodas, sweets etc. and sought to eat more healthy foods. As my weight loss slowed over the past year or so I have gone through the counting calories phase (far too time consuming and tiring to do for long)and the counting protein/fat/carb grams phase (again, too time consuming). The one good thing that came out of these phases was learning to control portion sizes. A week or so ago I read the article in Woman's World magazine that mentioned this book "Fat Fallacy". The themes of eating whole, real foods struck a chord in me, and so I went out and bought it. In the week that I have been following the principles it suggests, my life has been transformed. I don't know that I can even express with words how much! For the first time in my life (and I'm 41), I feel free from the bondage to food. Instead, I feel freedom to really enjoy food and not feel guilty about it! I have not felt the urge to mindlessly stuff myself at night since I began. The concept that has most revolutionized my life from this book is slowing down while you eat. You'd think this would be a basic concept, but not here in the U.S. I was one who would eat in front of the TV constantly, stuffing my face long after I was full. Or at work I ate lunch at my desk, not even realizing what was going into my mouth! I now either eat at my kitchen table (no TV!)at home,or at work I go outside to eat at lunchtime. No more eating at my desk. I eat small bites, put my fork down between bites, and am really learning to taste my food. I'll have a book at the table to read, but I don't read while I'm eating. I'll have a few bites, put down my fork, read a page or two, put down the book, eat a few more bites, etc. This way when my stomach signals my brain that I'm full, I haven't eaten way past the full point to the stuffed point. I've gotten rid of all those supposedly "healthy" foods from my refrigerator and cupboards. No more protein powders, energy bars, low-fat anything's! I now eat whole foods, or at least make sure I recognize everything on the ingredient list if I eat something packaged (and those things are pretty hard to find!). Dr. Clower puts the "How to Eat" chapter before the "What to Eat" chapter for a reason. If you are eating slowly, you will need smaller amounts to fill you up. Then the fact that you can eat butter, olive oil, cheese, bread and chocolate is a wonderful fact, but not an excuse to eat in excess. Just an end note ... I noticed in a couple of the negative reviews that the writers seem to think Dr. Clower is encouraging eating huge amounts of high fat foods (one mentions her sister eats 5-6 slices of bacon each morning). If you read this book and take away that idea, you've only picked out what you wanted to see instead of what is actually there. When it comes to protein Dr. Clower recommends this hierachy ... mostly fish, then chicken, then lean pork, and maybe once a week red meat. I'm not sure how you could get the idea that it's OK to eat bacon every morning from this. I guess it just goes to show you that it's easy for us to pick and choose only what we want to take away from books ... people having been doing that from the Bible for centuries! For the person who didn't like the recipes ... this isn't really a cookbook. There are plenty of wonderful cookbooks out there. I know because I love to read cookbooks :-) Dr. Clower is showing you some basic ideas of how to put whole food meals together. My recommendation ... invest the $12.95 and read this book!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent!
Review: I read this book last week and after immediately adopting this style of eating, I lost 2 lbs. in 7 days. I have not felt hungry between meals and have therefore eliminated snacking. I am so happy to have bread and cheese again in my life. This book and what it recommends makes so much sense. I can live like this. I want to live like this. Life is too short to suffer and starve on diet after diet. If I can eat sensible portions and still have things like bread, cheese, wine and chocolate, then that's the life for me! Viva la France!
Rating: 
Summary: So nice to enjoy a little cheese
Review: I recall as a child in the 1970s my mother making fried chicken and serving steak and mashed potatoes at least once a week, and no one in my family had a weight problem. Then came the 1980s and she started to take the skin of our chicken, no more frying, ground turkey meatloaf, etc, and we all gained weight??! Why - because we were still hungry and went looking for more calories, and usually consumed them in junk. Since I've read this book, I've slowed down significantly how fast I eat, which ultimately causes you to eat less. I take time to enjoy the food I'm eating and most importantly, I only eat fresh foods - no more frozen lean cuisines - I have cheese, chicken and fish, and fresh bread almost everyday and, as the author says, the pounds are starting to slowly melt off. How simple! There's more lowfat products on the market than ever and we're fatter than ever - and the author was right, it's almost impossible to find whole milk yogurt in stores! My only disagreement with her is about the importance of exercise.
Rating:
Summary: Finally, a diet I can stick to that works!!!!!
Review: I received this book mid October and since starting it then, I have gone down from a size 14 to a size 10, my skin is clearer, and I feel so much better!!
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