8 Minutes in the Morning: A Simple Way to Shed up to 2 Pounds a Week Guaranteed

Rating:
Summary: Back to the Basics
Review: I liked this book. I don't follow the diet plan (which seemed tedious to me) and I'm not looking to lose weight, but I found the overall workout plan an easy one to follow and the essence of simplicity. I think that this would be an excellent book for the beginner and a good addition to the library for anyone like me who is looking for a little weight training without adding alot of time.

Rating:
Summary: Good points outweighed by the bad
Review: Some good points, such as disciplined workouts and performing morning workouts, etc.,... but mostly outweighed by the bad points. Too simplistic exercises, simplistic exercise routines and strength training that is pretty much a joke.

Diet recommendations are the same old "touchy-feely" story (i.e., Dr. Weill-oriented) of "certain carbs are really good for you while some aren't." (Hint: grains aren't! Not at all.)

While author makes saturated fats once again the "boogey-man" (without quoting any actual concrete clinical studies), he likewise praises Omega fats - and especially flaxseed oil - to high heaven. Strange that author leaves out this study: "Flaxseed oil is a rich source of alpha-linolenic acid, which has been shown to be beneficial in both heart disease and breast cancer. According to Dr. Charles E. Myers Jr., however, a scientist at the University of Virginia Medical School in Charlottesville, available research suggests that alpha-linolenic acid may be dangerous for prostate cancer patients... We no longer recommend flaxseed oil to our male patients in the Diabetes Exercise Center and Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, however, because current medical opinion has related these supplements to prostate cancer."

(...)

Even author's hero, Dr. Weill, has "seen the light"...

(...)
The flaxseeds themselves are now "supposedly" okay, but not the oil (for men)???

(...)
QUOTE: One interesting way to study the role of fats and their affect on weight loss or gain is to look at the animal feed industry. If ever there was a group of people with economic interest in weight gain, it is the livestock industry. Back in the days when fat was "in," the fatter the pig you could raise the better. Lard was a basic staple for cooking in the days of our forefathers. It was found that feeding pigs polyunsaturated fats (primarily soybean and corn oil) would put more fat on them. This is the reaction of the longer chain fatty acids found in vegetable oils, and is well documented in the scientific literature. Today, however, we've come full circle with our new low-fat mantra, and the consumer demand is now for low-fat meats. So how does one produce a leaner pork?

Well according the Department of Animal Science of North Carolina State University, during the "finishing time" before slaughter, you stop feeding them polyunsaturated oils and start feeding them saturated fats.[3] They used beef tallow in their experiment, which they found was a bit hard for the pigs to digest. So some farmers are now actually starting to use coconut oil, a plant-based saturated fat, instead. So what are the fats found on the shelves of grocery stores today, that make up the majority of the U.S. diet? Polyunsaturated fats: mostly soybean oil, which commonly is referred to as vegetable oil. These are the same fats that have been known to fatten livestock in the animal feed business. The saturated fats, which made up most of the fats in the diet of our forefathers, have been almost banned by modern nutrition advice. The result: Lean pigs and obese people. END QUOTE

Rating:
Summary: It really works
Review: I have a hard time sticking to an exercise program. I have been using this program going on five weeks now. I have lost 12 pounds so far. It's easy to use. No calories to count. You can basically eat what you want you just need to watch your portion sizes. I am amazed at how easy it is to use and stick with. Would recommend to anyone who wants to lose a little or a lot of weight.

Rating:
Summary: this really works!
Review: I started jorge's eating plan and exercises last year in january hoping to lose 10 stubborn post partum pounds. by april I had lost a total of 20 lbs! the plan and exercises are easy. the only thing I added was a supplement called CLA. Of course it was hard at first and it took some discipline but that's the only way one can lose weight. the only undesirable side effect I had from looking good after following jorge's plan was another pregnancy, but hey, at least now I know how to get back in shape!

Rating:
Summary: 8 Minutes....uh-huh....sure....
Review: Well, here's the long and the short of it. This book presents a great, comprehensive meal plan. However, by doing 8 minutes worth of strength training exercises each day of your life, you will not improve your muscle strength substantially. If you do a complete, 20-minute strength training program 3 times a week, combined with 3 days of 30-minute cardiovascular exercise AND follow a well-balanced diet, then AND ONLY THEN will you experience weight loss, improved health, and increased muscle tone and strength. 'Nuff said.

Rating:
Summary: Very well-rounded, easy & it works!
Review: After reading the other reviews, I was a little skeptical, but the book looked good, and I've seen him on several TV shows and it looked like he knew what he was talking about. My hubby & I have been following the plan for 3 weeks now. We have found the eating plan easy to follow, and much less expensive than other diets, such as Atkins, South Beach, etc. We don't like the taste of the flax oil, so I buy the capsules (whatever brand is on sale that week at our local store). The first maybe 2 days were a little hard, but since then we've had no hunger at all. In fact, we cannot eat all the food we are supposed to! I guess that's the difference between eating healthy food and fatty foods - you get a lot more! For breakfast this morning I had 3 egg whites, a piece of toast, half a grapefruit and a glass of soy milk! You'll find the breakfasts and lunches more than adequate. Dinners are a little small, but come on folks - we wouldn't be buying these books if we didn't eat too darn much! My hubby and I each have about 26 pounds total to lose. So far, he's lost 12 and I've lost 8, and we are very happy. We both have more energy. It follows a common sense, eat less, move more theory. I understand he has changed his eating plan, and the new one will be reflected in an update to the book later this year. We'll stick with this one - it works! It's very well-rounded and the foods are easy to find at our local discount grocery store. Basically, though, you can eat what you want as long as it's a reasonable portion! Whole grains are favored over processed, and sugar is limited, but you get 2 treats a day! This book has absolutely changed our lives for the better.