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Summary: Totally changed my life for the better
Review: This book is the best thing that happened to me. This is not a quick fix. This program took me 15 months to get through, but once I got to the last step, I started losing weight. I have lost 86 lbs and a whole new me. I am so grateful to Dr. Des Maison. She has a great website for support, tips and questions. If you have tried everything else, give this a try. You have nothing to lose. It will change your life....
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Summary: Life Changing
Review: This book very clearly explained the biochemistry of Sugar Addiction and how to recover from it. I loved the gentle, reassuring voice of the author, Kathleen DesMaisons. I felt like she was holding my hand and walking me through the steps needed to change life-long self defeating patterns.I have implemented these changes in my life and my life is turning around. People are telling me how radiant I look! My mind is clear and I am energetic and creative. I am going through the holidays without being tempted by the myriad of "treats" surrounding me. For the first time, I really know how to take care of myself with food and, more importantly, I am able to follow through on what I know. Kathleen's research and experience are a lifesaver! I highly recommend this book. And make sure to check out her website, which is an abundant resource: www.radiantrecovery.com
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Summary: Zero Stars
Review: This is just [like one] of the Atkin's high protein diet with a twist - adding potatoes. She states in the book that this is not high protein but then she turns around and tells you to consume about 1/2gram of protein per pound of body weight! Neither of these diets concern themselves with the dieter getting proper nutrition. Without consideration for the body's nutritive needs, neither diet works in the long run. Ms DesMaisons claims to a PhD in her self described "first degree ever awarded in addictive nutrition." Both of these titles are from the almost non-existent never-heard of internet Union Institute. The catch phrase alone, "addictive nutrition," is itself an oxymoron. Any serious health practioner (in fact anyone with common sense) will tell you that what's addictive is not nutritious. The terms are incompatible... You'd be wiser to spend your time studing nutrition and learning what your body needs and then following it...
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Summary: Oh, please....
Review: This is my favorite book on carbohydrate metabolism. It's not just a book on sugar sensitivity when you think about it; Dr. Desmaison's approach could probably be adapted to educational literature on several chronic health epidemics. Most other books involve listening to the so called experts sit on their high perch while they try to back-seat drive readers to "success" without understanding physiological differences. People need to be empowered by knowledge of the causes and effects of their health problems in uncomplicated language that does not shy away from technically important details critical to their idiosyncracies. Several other books also fall prey to allowing self-help gobbledygook to seep into the science. I've yet to see another book that actually discourages giving up an addictive activity whenever one feels able because of a possible brain chemistry imbalance. DesMaisons instead recommends a slow and steady recovery with a sound albeit unorthodox practical biological approach.
The 7 step program is not arbitrary; it's been adjusted several times and public feedback has been good. The best part is that you aren't held to a schedule - more individualization. It's sort of like nutritional karate: a person advances to the next level whe ready for it and no sooner, when he/she can make most use out of it. There are no induced starvations and no tortuous "it only takes a few days for the cravings to go away" requirements.
Most of the naysayers who posted bad reviews here clearly reflect a poor understanding of the program and one wonders if they actually read the book, let alone applied it. For instance, an Atkins diet+potatoes is a contradiction in terms, and is not this plan at all. There is no use of Ketosis. SATRP relies on a gentler approach that encourages listening to bodily feedback and helps the reader to interpret what it means.
Making cracks about the term "addictive nutrition" as one reviewer did does not change the fact that sugar sensitivity has been laid out in crystal clear biochemical terminology with peer-reviewed literature.
Admittedly, vegans do seem to be short-changed, not only because there is not too much information specified to it, but also because this program might simply not work for many people using only vegan sources of protein and the author has openly discouraged using them because most of are not complete and not as easily assimilated by some people. If anything, this book may even be used as a case against veganism, since that dietary habit may trigger the condition for people already at risk for "sugar sensitivity". Human beings evolved as omnivores. This is an accepted fact among paleobiologists. Most modern humans cannot adapt to veganism while retaining the health they previously had on an omnivorous diet. This is a sign to stop being a vegan, not chase down more artificial foods like rice protein-powder and textured vegetable protein.
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Summary: Simple, effective, clear, and all-encompassing
Review: This is my favorite book on sugar sensitivity, and it's not just a book on sugar sensitivity when you think about it, but Dr. Desmaison's approach could probably be adapted to handling most any chronic health epidemic that exists. Instead of just reading these so-called experts sit on their high perch and try to back-seat drive us up to their level of "success" without really understanding that people are physiologically different, we need to understand the cause and effect of our health problems in uncomplicated language, learn the road to recovery, and then be taught how to personally tread that road. Several complications may arise for people which many experts themselves did not have, even if they were previous victims of a given illness/disorder. I've yet to see another book that actually discourages giving up an addictive activity whenever one feels able because of a possible brain chemistry imbalance. This book does not lapse into a wishy-washy self-help mess. It instead recommends a slow, steady, and painless recovery that is then based on healing the biochemistry without drugs. The 7 step program is not arbitrary; it's tested and true, and the best part is that you aren't held to a schedule of when to follow it. It's sort of like nutritional karate - you advance to the next level when your ready for it and no sooner, because only then are you strong and well enough to take it on and get use out of it. There are no induced starvation mechanisms and no tortuous "it only takes a few days for the cravings to go away" prequisites. The naysayers who posted bad reviews here clearly reflect a poor understanding of the program. This is NOT an Atkins diet+potatoes. Dr. Desmaisons does not even CONSIDER removing the sugar from the diet until the 6th step and even then, you've never stopped complex carbohydrates. The protein in the diet is important just for what protein does for a healthy body. There is no use of Ketosis here. And just for the sake of argument, _even if_ this were an Atkins diet + potatoes, potatoes are probably one of the worst foods you could have on the Atkins diet and would sabotage the whole process. SATRP is a book with a system that is gentle on the body by listening to its responses. Making cracks about the term "addictive nutrition" does not change the fact that sugar sensitivity has been laid out in crystal clear biochemical terminology with a plan for recovery. This book is not meant to be a replacement for SSRI's; at best it's a way of being able to heal your body so you don't need to rely on them. I must admit, vegans do seem to be a bit short-changed, not only in that there is not too much information specified to it, but also because this program might simply not work for many people with vegan sources of protein, most of which are not complete and not as easily assimilated by some bodies. As an ex-vegan having found this plan, I have come to realize that veganism is not all some people make it out to be. If anything, this book may even possibly be used as a case against veganism, since that dietary habit may put people at risk for sugar sensitivity into danger.
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Summary: FINALLY a balanced plan for people who go SCHWING for carbs
Review: This is the first "how to eat right" author who explains why I feel awful, binge or gain weight on every other mainstream eating plan. The premise is that some people are born with "sugar sensitivity." The author explains how this affects blood sugar and insulin and the brain chemicals serotonin and beta-endorphin. The eating plan is designed to heal the whacked-out biochemistry and sidestep this sick-making response to sugars and whites. I've been on this way of eating feel better than ever in my whole life. Which makes sense because I'm a baby boomer raised on sugars & whites so have been having the bad reactions all my life, until now. The book has chapters on what it means to be sugar sensitive, a step-by-step method for good eating, what to do about social times and includes recipes. The book has been compiled from years of real-world peoples' experience and simply exudes useful practicality. If you are a person who feels like sugar and white bread make you "light up," and who has gained on USDA Food Pyramid, starved, gained or bloated on WW-McDougall-Jenny Craig-Susan Powter, gotten depressed, bonked, or binged on Atkins-CAD-Protein Power, this may be the plan for you. Don't be put off by the word "addict" in the title. "Sugar sensitivity" is the problem - addiction is just an end result. If you have this exaggerated response to sugars and whites you can avoid it and not get worse and worse over 40 years into full addiction like I did. And oh yes, we do have carbs! We learn how to eat the right kinds in the right amounts and at the right times for our individual bods. Imagine - having carbs and good health both! - the best of all possible worlds.
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Summary: THE SUGAR ADDICT'S TOTAL RECOVERY
Review: Understanding our imbalances is the first and only way to begin a remedy. Kathleen DesMaisons offers an unmistakable awareness like no one else in her books. Most of us that have battled depression have had limited awareness provided to us. In Kathleen's books we learn that low serotonin is only a third accountable for, low energy, mood swings, impaired concentration, addiction etc. As a result,an antidepressant alone is like treating only one third of the ailment. Much like setting a broken arm but forgetting to secure it with a cast/splint after. This concept is finally the missing pieces for complete recovery, not just temporary relief. It also provides us with the comprehension of our inherited biochemical characteristics that most likely we pass on to our children. This awareness is so significant in understanding the impact that good nutrition has on our children in this epidemic of chemical disorders that result in learning disabilities,behavior problems and obesity. Most importantly this lifetime remedy is all natural. Thanks Kathleen! P. Lindorff
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