Turn Off The Hunger Switch: Reset Your Brain to Change Your Weight

Rating:
Summary: Solid science, good advice
Review: As a person who was thin for about the first 30 years of my life, I haven't been able to figure out my "problem" with not being able to lose the weight I've gained. I know WHAT to do (reduce calories and exercise), but I lack the motivation to do it, and also feel hungry almost all of the time. Dr. Rivas' book explained the brain science behind my situation and even helped me peg the events/timeframe that this became an issue for me. I will be talking with my Dr. about his recommendations, although I'm glad he gives natural supplements as well as prescription medications as alternatives. This is not another "6 weeks to a great body" type book. Turn Off the Hunger Switch provides practical recommendations - as long as you're willing to ingest natural or pharmaceutical supplements to achieve your goals! P.S. Calories and exercise do matter as well, but they're not the end-all and be-all according to Dr. Rivas. His ideas are worth reading and considering if you're not having success with the regular approaches.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Non-Diet Ever
Review: Being 100 pounds overwieght for the past 20 years has been exhausting work. Finally, a program that works. This book is written so anyone can understand. Having read Dr. Rivas's book, I asked my own Doctor to help me to lose weight, utilizing the easy to understand program laid out in detail in this book. My Doctor refused to help me and advised me to go to weight watchers and stop eating so much. As luck would have it, I live where Dr. Rivas practices, so needless to say, my next stop was his office. I called for an appointment and was asked my height and weight by his staff. Upon revealing that I was 5' 8" and 310 pounds, I was advised to come in that same day, as I am dangerously obese. I transferred my recent blood tests to Dr. Rivas, which revealed cholesterol in the range of 300 and sugar levels very close to being diabetic. Meeting Dr. Rivas, he assured me he could help. First, he advised that I was not a fat, lazy, undisciplined, slob who ate too much. The problem is in the genes I inherited and a brain chemistry out of control. This is the first time anyone had made me feel like I could do something about my weight without starving myself. Well, it is now one year and 85 pounds later. My colesterol is down to 170 and sugar is well within normal. I am still losing weight, I excerise regularly, am eating well balanced meals (note: not starving), and feel better than I have for over 20 years. Thanks to Dr. Rivas helping me to reset my brain to turn off the hunger switch. Dr. Rivas saved my life!!!

Rating:
Summary: Turn Off the Hunger Switch
Review: First off, I purchased the book and was really excited after finishing it. I began to research where to buy "Country Mallow", a specific type of ephedra, that the doctor recommends. After countless unsuccessful hours of searching for the product by itself and not part of a mixture,I decided to e-mail the doctor and ask where I could purchase it. After all, he did say that he perscribes it to his patients. I found it very disturbing that he not only does'nt have a e-mail address, but further research led me to his medical profile...He is just a internal medicine doctor, not a specialist. Yes, he does have a phone number and address to contact him, however, after working directly with doctors and their staff for eleven years, you most likely would need to make an appointment to speak with the man. I'd bet my last dollar that he would'nt "consult" with you over the phone.I work as a phlebotomist and most doctors will NOT give any info over the phone without seeing you as a NEW patient first. So, in my opinion, and thats all it is, I wouldnt jump to follow an Internal Medicine doctor but one that does have a degree in Holistic Medicine, or one that has a Bariatric degree. I cant stress the importance of blood work first to find out if its something else and not just a slow metabolisim. I have an appointment with my doctor this Wednesday to have a thyroid screen as well as a hypo-adrenalism screen.

Rating:
Summary: Turn Off the Hunger Switch
Review: I heard the tale end of an interview with Dr. Rivas on the radio this past Spring, enough to spark my interest anyway. The few reviews that were currently on this site indicated that the book was probably worth the read.

Even though I run regularly and try to eat a healthy diet, I have continued to gain weight for the past 8 years. I tried counting calories, increasing my weekly running mileage, group weight loss programs, etc. The scale just kept creeping up.

After reading this book I was able to determine what "type" I was and purchase the supplements recommended. Since starting on the supplements 8 weeks ago, I've lost 8 pounds. I'm eating well, but the sugar cravings and compulsive evening eating have dissappeared. I'm not "dieting," simply eating when I'm hungry and making good food choices most of the time. When I do decide to eat something decadent I don't feel complelled to eat great quantities, a little is quite satisfying these days. All of the behaviors that have sabotaged past attempts at weight loss are gone!

Rating:
Summary: Finally, a solution that works.
Review: I heard the tale end of an interview with Dr. Rivas on the radio this past Spring, enough to spark my interest anyway. The few reviews that were currently on this site indicated that the book was probably worth the read.

Even though I run regularly and try to eat a healthy diet, I have continued to gain weight for the past 8 years. I tried counting calories, increasing my weekly running mileage, group weight loss programs, etc. The scale just kept creeping up.

After reading this book I was able to determine what "type" I was and purchase the supplements recommended. Since starting on the supplements 8 weeks ago, I've lost 8 pounds. I'm eating well, but the sugar cravings and compulsive evening eating have dissappeared. I'm not "dieting," simply eating when I'm hungry and making good food choices most of the time. When I do decide to eat something decadent I don't feel complelled to eat great quantities, a little is quite satisfying these days. All of the behaviors that have sabotaged past attempts at weight loss are gone!

Rating:
Summary: It Works For Me
Review: I would rate this in the top five of the most important works I've ever read. I took the short survey at the front of the book and discovered that I fit into the most common class of over-eaters, the norepinephrine profile. Dr. Rivas explained in clear terms why I was always hungry and why diet and exercise never worked for me. The remedy was a few inexpensive over-the-counter supplements that turned off the hunger switch and turned my life around completely. At 200 pounds I was tired and hungry anyway, so it was no great sacrifice to give the diet an extra push by cutting my normal calories by 60 or 75 percent. Consequently, I've lost 49 pounds in just under five months. Yesterday, someone even commented that my eyes were noticeably sparkling. Well, yours would too, if you felt this good about yourself! One very unexpected benefit is the fact that I am no longer tired all day long. The modest amount of caffeine in the diet (less than you would get in a cup of coffee) still lets me sleep well at night, and I look forward to every meal.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: I've had a weight problem for 45 years. When I told doctors that "eating makes me hungry", "I can never get full" they ALL looked at me like I was crazy.

So I tried diet and exercise. For 6 years, I exercised up to THREE HOURS a day, ate a low-fat, high carb diet. Result - I gained 10 lbs. a year. (I stopped doing that!!!!!!!!)

I've been using non-prescription supplements to follow Dr. Rivas recommended approach for a short time. But I can already tell it's working, even though I'm using the minimum dosage of ephedra (with green tea extract and caffeine), 5-HTP, SAMe and b-complex). My constant hunger and cravings are GONE!.

This could be the solution to my problem, finally.

Rating:
Summary: The Best Non-Diet Ever
Review: I, like a previous reviewer, am fortunate enough to live in Dr. Rivas's practicing area. A friend of mine had gone and lost 40 pounds, but I was skeptical of the diet pill approach. Even so, I still read the book. It was very informative and made me aware of why I was overweight, along with many realistic options to help me lose the excess weight. I was still leary of diet supplements. Then I saw Dr. Rivas on Dateline. He was responding to a barrage of criticism from doctors who are against diet pills and his techniques. Dr. Rivas replied that obesity is a disease, just like high blood pressure, high cholesterol etc and if we treat these diseases with medication, why not obesity. I had to agree, so I began in March and have since lost 35 pounds without dieting or heavy duty exercise (he doesn't recommend anything but cardio. Don't be discouraged if you don't live in his practicing area. Your doctor can help you, or this book has alternatives. For those in doubt, like I was, try it. You have nothing to lose but weight.