What impresses me so much about this book is how much sense it makes. The author's clear reasoning, scientific basis for what she says, and clear writing is what made me change my diet.

The author is an M.D. who formulated this program based on her experience in treating diabetics. She also had her own history in her youth of eating a lot of candy, which caused her many problems - she devotes a chapter to describing that experience.

It is obvious from her writing that she is not against carbohydrates, just that they should be eaten in moderation and that they should come from "real" sources, like vegetables. They should not be consumed from man-made sources such as donuts and ice cream.

She also states very convincingly that stimulants, like coffee, should also be left alone because they cause insulin levels to spike.

The author is in favor of a balanced diet of proteins, fats, and, in moderation, carbohydrates. This is what make sense to me. That is the way man ate before so many foods were overly processed, and before our country had such a problem with obesity, diabetes, and heart problems. Eating too many carbohydrates, as the author shows, causes insulin resistance, which in turn contributes to these problems and more.

I was happy with my purchase an it end up being cheaper by purchasing on this wed

I actually got this for a friend - I wouldn't part with mine. What I like about this is that there's no counting. You look at your plate and understand what your body will do when you eat it. While I don't agree with everything (good luck taking away my coffee and beer), the principle is sound. Like all diet plans, take what works for you and merge it with the rest of your knowledge to create a balanced diet that works for you.

I did get a few of the later books, and got the feeling that the publisher found out there was money to be made. Not much new in the cookbooks.

This book has a very straightforward message. The message essentially is that too much carbohydrates, refined sugar, gluten and alcohol is the real culprits in terms of poor health/disease and weight gain and not so much meat and fat. The second message is that you need oils and that meat and fat are good sources of oil. Main idea is that man-made carbohydrates like artifical sweetners, wheat and gluten cause elevated insulin reactions and low glucagon levels which lead to storage of fat and will over time will result in insulin resistance, inflammatory reactions and autoimune disease. The book basically recommends that you eliminate refined sugar and man-made sweetners and carbohydrates and that you should increase your intake of essential oils. I am a vegetarian and lost 18 kg in 4 months essentaily following the advice in this book namely eliminating all bread, strarch, gluten, alcohol and refined sugar in my diet. I eat meat once a week but do eat lots of seeds, flaxeed oil and, tofu. The book in my opinion overemphasize the idea that you should eat animal fat and meat but do state that meat eating is not the only way to ensure adequate intake of fats, protein and oils.

This is an excellent program and has helped me to feel better and lose weight on a diet I can maintain. It combines the best of low carb diets with lots of vegetables and some healthy carbs like fruits and grains. This book explains her program in a clear and concise way unlike its successors. I highly recommend The Schwarzbein Principle Cookbook as well.

This book is an excellent owner's manual to keep the body functioning at peak levels. It doesn't take long to realize how what you eat effects the way you look, think and feel.

I have purchased all of Dr. Schwarbein's books related to her Schwarzbein Principle Program (SPP), each one of them giving me knowledge and encouragement that I can achieve good health of body, mind and spirit by following the simple, common-sense approach to nutrition and stress management. It is the only book of this kind that I feel makes such PERFECT SENSE. This book is not only for weight-loss, it is for every living human being who wants to be healthy. It is for you and every family member, friend and acquaintance you can recommend it to. I can't stop talking about it and I gave several books as Christmas presents this year!!
Judy
Ormond Beach, FL

So I read this book and The Thin Commandments and have to say that for the first time in my life I feel like I have a chance to repair my shot metabolism from dieting in college and eating too much sugar and refined carbohydrates.

Turns out a calorie isn't just a calorie and different calories throw different switches in your system. It seems pretty obvious that eating diet cupcakes are not good for you, but this book explains exactly why by giving you the knowledge of what you body does with those calories. It is a great companion to The Thin Commandments because it talks about the behavior while this books covers the science.

This book is well put together and VERY informative. I highly recommend!

The book is great and the concept presented in it should be applied by people who want to be healthy and happy. You don't have to do all she says, but at least read to know what to do and what not to do to improve your health and longeivity.

THIS IS A BOOK THAT IS FULL OF LIFE CHANGING AND PROVEN HEALTH BENIFITS.
IF YOUR ARE ON A JOURNEY TOWARD TOTAL HEALTH THIS BOOK WILL HELP YOU ON YOUR WAY. DOCTOR SCHWARZBEIN SEEMS TO CARE MORE ABOUT THE HEALTH OF HER PATIENTS THAN WHAT THE MAIN STREAM ESTABLISHED HEALTHCARE SAYS ABOUT LOW FAT HIGH CARB DIETS. THROUGH HER EXPERIENCE WITH DIEABETICS ESPECIALLY AND OTHERS. SHE HAS CHANGED HER PATIENTS POOR HEALTH HABITS TO HEALTHY ONES, AND A PROMISING WAY OF LIFE, THE PROOF IS IN THE RESULTS DESCRIBED IN THE BOOK. I WOULDN'T BE WITHOUT THIS BOOK IN MY LIBRARY, AS A MATTER OF FACT I THINK IT IS SO FULL OF USEFUL INFORMATION I BOUGHT THREE IN ALL, ONE FOR ME AND TWO TO PASS AROUND.

I got this book for my mom, who had just been diagnosed with Type II Diabetes a couple weeks before. She also has Hypertension, High Cholesterol, GERD, Hashimoto's thyroid,and asthma. She read it (and the second one), DID IT, and proceeded in just a matter of a couple months (started in April this year & by, say, August was able..) to lose about 30 lbs, lose her goiter, stabilize her synthroid dose, basically do away with her GERD, stabilize her HTN, and managed to be able to NOT have to take any meds for the diabetes (which was her big motivator). Her doctors have called her a poster child for what TO DO. She told so many people about this book and/or bought it for them, that Dr. Schwarzbein should have her on payroll!

When I read this book, said, "WOW, this makes sense!" I have been on a good vitamin regime that includes progesterone and following the diet in this book. [...] In two months of the suppliments and progesterone and one month on this diet, I have; no more daily headaches, have slept better, feel refreshed upon waking for the first time in decades, lost 12 pounds, don't feel deprived, lost my cravings for sugar and processed cabs, have better moods, have quite a lot less muscle and joint pain, have more energy, enjoy sex more, have people tell me I am looking good, lost that puffy look in my face and body, have softer skin, my roscaea has lessened, my intestinal and uterine pain has gone away, and my allergies are a lot less, therefore my asthma is not as bad. I am 52, menopausal, with a top weight of 249, (now 237) with chronic pain and headaches. I am unbelievably happy about this diet and plan to continue it to become healthy and strong again. I have a long ways to go, but the start is amazing. I started out with adding butter and cream to my diet and stopped eating sugar and white carbs. I have always had cravings for sugar, but as soon as I got my fill of good fats, I lost my sugar cravings and have not been tempted to eat sugary or processed foods since. I have the cookbook on order and I am reading the other two books Dr. Schwarzbein has written. If you want to be healthy and feel better, read this book and go through her recommendations. You won't regret it. Just be aware that you may feel worse for a short time and then feel much better, it is your body making adjustments and is temporary. It depends on how sick and out of balance your body and system is. You have to stick with it to get good results. I have to say that I certainly do not feel deprived and feel satisfied.

I am now sold. was 80% there but after 5 pregnancies in 6 years, things went awry. then my mom went to the ER with a blood sugar of 887. I am now 42 with a 10 month old and two other young kids. Mom's visit got my attention. I immediately lost 6 pounds then switched to a cleanse by standard process which was very easy since i was eating pretty healthy anyway. When i got this book, i also signed up for womentowomen personal program. between the diet and the supplements and natural progesterone cream, i was a new woman almost immediately. my chocolate and wine cravings disappeared nearly overnite. I have alot of work to do still, have 20 pounds to go and have to find balance but food in this plan is balanced and a no brainer. even my meat and taters hubby drinks my veggie/fruit/avacado/protein (balanced) smoothies every day. he is hooked. our moods are better, more even. Now am working on my PMS and other menopause issues ala "what your doctor does not tell you about premenopause" by dr. Lee/Hanley and Uzzi Reice (sp?) book. just had my saliva hormones tested and am on the path to join my other girlfriends that feel fabulous. This is not a miracle, it takes a while to get back to a normal eating plan so your body is balanced and not starving. but, its a great plan. I recommend it to my friends. I am now 11 pounds down and headed for 20 more, 5 at at time. And, its not Atkins, you eat veggies and fruits and all things good. you don't eat crap though and i chose to give up coffee (and creamer) as well as limiting my alcohol intake. That with the diet, the good supplements and the natural pg cream, let's just say my husband will keep me a bit longer now (he wanted to hide me in the dumpster from mood swings up until now!!!).

I feel no one should be without this very important book, we refer to information in it everyday to patients who want to become healthy again.

I would not be without it.

An easy diet plan that explains the difference between good and bad carbs, and good and bad fats, plus explaining the influence of food on hormone imbalances.

An easy diet plan that explains the difference between good and bad carbs, and good and bad fats, plus explaining the influence of food on hormone imbalances.

This book is fantastic! My mom actually turned me on to it after reading it herself. It taught me so much about the foods we eat and the foods we should eat. It also talks a lot about carbs. (good and bad) I had no idea that what I had been eating was really destroying my health.(physical and mental) This book was so easy to read and understand. In my oppinion, next to the Bible this is another book that everyone needs to read!!!(at least once) And the diet plan is the easiest I have ever seen!

This is just about the best book I have read on health and nutrition. I don't necessarily agree with her choice on hormone treatment products. If more people followed her advice on diet, there would be much less sickness in this world.

This is just about the best book I have read on health and nutrition. I don't necessarily agree with her choice on hormone treatment products. If more people followed her advice on diet, there would be much less sickness in this world.

I read this book on the recommendation of a friend who was not diabetic, but was concerned about the amount of carbs he was eating and how carbs affected his body. After reading the first chapter of this book I was amazed to learn about how some of the foods that doctors tell diabetics to eat are making diabetics get worse not better. It is an amazing book for diabetics as well as people who just want to learn to eat more healthly. I would highly recommed this book!!


Marina Kushner
Author
The Truth About Caffeine: How Companies That Promote It Deceive Us and What We Can Do about It

I am in my late 30s, and I have a hormonal imbalance, coupled with insulin resistance caused by poor dietary habits. Unfortunately, after years of seeing physician after physician, my condition had to be essentially self-diagnosed since all of the blood tests always came back 'normal'.

I had every symptom of an imbalance of some sort, and although I wasn't exactly sure where this imbalance was in my body, I knew that something was terribly wrong with me.

I was so irritable all of the time, that I could barely leave the house; going on trips, or spending any length of time with any one person would throw me into fits of rage. I was seething with frustration and rage all day every day, shoving it down, and then taking it out on my poor husband when I got home from work.

The Paxil that I had been taking for 11 years seemed to have stopped working, if it had ever worked at all. I had tried to stop taking Paxil several times, but each time the withdrawals were so horrible that I had to go back on it.

Ultimately, I thought that I was emotionally exhausted for some reason, as I would be asleep on the couch by 7:00, yet I couldn't STAY asleep. My doctor (yet another!) wrote me a prescription for ANOTHER SSRI! That was it. It was time to take some action, take responsibility for myself, because no one else could, or was willing to do it. Every doctor I'd seen, each for all of three-minute sessions, seemed as if they couldn't break out that prescription pad fast enough, just to get rid of me and see the next patient as quickly as possible.

I couldn't hear that my symptoms were psychosomatic, or that I should 'change my outlook' one more time!

A new diet (and, by the way, diet doesn't mean deprivation; a diet is what you eat, on a daily basis, whether it's good for you or bad for you!) has given me a new life; I am happy (!), energized, and weaning myself off of Paxil for the LAST time! I am no longer hungry all of the time, and I don't crave sugar at all! I never ate actual desserts, but I was ingesting huge quantities of sugar in everything from pasta sauces to low-fat foods; you wouldn't believe where sugar is hiding in our daily diets! I also used to eat huge quantities of 'kid's' cereals, but since there is no fat in these, I talked myself into thinking that it was okay to eat them.

My allergies, night-sweats, insomnia, irritation, migraines, and constipation are gone! I am losing weight SLOWLY, as weight should be lost, and I have more energy than I have ever had in my life!

And, by the way, if you think that you don't have time to eat a healthy diet, you're wrong! It takes less than ten minutes to scramble a couple of eggs, throw in some frozen spinach, and toss it all in the microwave! Put a little pre-shredded mozzarella on the top, and this is your wonderful breakfast! No sugar crashes by 11:00, and you'll be awake and energized w/o caffeine! Pick up a roast chicken on the way home from work instead of picking up fast food! Snack! Twice a day! On healthy foods like cheese and fruit!

You CAN stick to this diet, but you MUST stop eating what Dr. Schwarzbein tells you to: no sugar, no diet foods, no low-fat foods, no processed foods, no alcohol, no 'damaged' fats, and no caffeine. It's easier than you think, and you won't crave these foods after a week! I'm buying this book for everyone I know!

If I could give 10 stars I would, I just love this book the concept of this book and what this principle did to my body and my health!

I am 33 year old woman with two kids, and you would think my metabolism is normal, it actually was good until I hit 30. I start gaining weight not much about 2-3 pounds a year. I was eating low-fat food, cut back on protein and increased on carbohydrate and not to mention that I was exercising (practicing yoga) almost every day with no help. I became very anemic, always tired with frequent headaches, unwanted fat and thinning hear.

I start researching about different kind of diets. I found out about Dr. Diana Schwarzbein through Suzanne Sommer's program, one of the reviewers of Sommersizing suggested Schwarzbein principle.

First I wanted to rent this book from library, two month later by the time I got this book from library I already lost 4 pounds and you know how hard to lose those last pounds (I did not even read the book yet, thanks to the Amazon reviewers who explained how this Schwarzbein principle works).
Now, I feel much better: no cravings, less headaches, a lot of energy and feel great. Thank you, doctor, for sharing wisdom with us!

PS. I actually bought the book and would recommend to anyone who wants to live healthy and happy life.

Love to live and learn from mistakes!

If I could give 10 stars I would, I just love this book, the concept and what this principle did to my body and my health!

I am young, and you would think my metabolism is normal, when I hit 30 I start gaining weight not much about 2-3 pounds a year, I start researching about different kind of diets, I was eating low-fat food, cut back on protein and increased on carbohydrate and not to mention that I was exercising (practicing yoga) almost every day with no help. I became an anemic, always tired with frequent headaches, unwanted fat and thinning hear.

I found out about Dr. Diana Schwarzbein through Suzanne Sommer's program, first I wanted to rent this book from library, two month later by the time I got this book I already lost 4 pounds (I did not even read the book yet, thanks to the Amazon reviewers who explained how this Schwarzbein principle works). I feel much better now no cravings, no headaches, a lot of energy, feel great. Thank you doctor for sharing wisdom with us!

PS. I actually bought the book and would recommend to anyone who wants to live healthy and happy life.

Love to live and learn from mistakes!

This book changed my life. It was given to me free when I bought some vitamins, and I am so glad it fell in my hands! All the things Dr. Schwartzbein says have made sense to me for a long time - I never did jump on the low fat bandwagon and knew that natural was always better than man-made (butter vs. margarine). What I didn't know was WHY I felt so bad when I ate sugar or how harmful damaged fats were. Just cutting out damaged fats alone has caused my chronic stomach aches to cease! I will follow this plan for the rest of my life, and encourage everyone I know to do so, too!

After steadfastly following the Scwarzbein Principle for one year and two months, with ever worsening symptoms and weight gain, the final result for me is a diagnosis of "fatty liver", a condition that leads to cirrhosis and ultimately death. The book, "The Amazing Liver Flush", by Andreas Moritz, explains in depth why a high animal protein/fat diet caused this to happen to me. Please read the Moritz book before embarking on your path to destruction.

Three months ago I was diagnosed with Insulin Resistance, High Blood Pressure and Enlarged/Fatty Liver. Having been under stress continuously over the last decade caring for two elderly family memembers with numerous health problems - I had not taken care of myself ..
Well, after reading and applying the 'Principle' to my own life, I feel as tho' I have been re-born - at age 66! I lost 20 pounds without even trying ... my blood pressure is now consistently within normal range, my blood work is perfect and I have more energy than I've had since I was in my 30s! I am not constantly thinking of food - satisfied after every meal and no longer have cravings for sweets -
It's (as they say) A Miracle!
I highly recommend this book - the testimonies of some of her patients will inspire you -
I'm another sucess sory - I would hope everyone interested in regaining their health and control of their life, give this sensible, no nonsense way a chance - you may very well (like me) be able to correct some of your health problems without becoming a slave to prescription drugs the RX ...prescription drugs. My physician and his wife a registered nurse were amazed at my progress and told me they wish all of their patients would be able to have the incentive and desire to take control of their life - I had to admit, I couldn't have done it on my own. I owe it to Dr. Diana Schwartzbein! I highly recommend this book.

I started the 'eating program' (just can't call it a diet...) while also attending Weight Watcher's. On average, I had been loosing .6 pounds per week with Weight Watcher's. Not shabby, but I still had the afternoon sluggishness, felt bloated at times, didn't have the energy I expected with the weight loss...etc. After a week on this new program I had lost 3.5 pounds! No effort, no starving, no doing without anything AND eating forbidden things I never would have had before. But, better than loosing the weight...I feel like 2 million bucks. I have so much energy I can hardly figure out what to do with it all. I feel almost euphoric now. You can't go wrong just reading this book and try it...give it one week and see if you don't feel better!

Free radicals are bad for you because they are molecules that destroy your cellas and promote ageing and sickness. Wow.

Unfortunately it would seem the evil stuff is everywhere so there is no real escaping our sad certainity of ageing and decay.

Mostly it goes like that. One actually useful bit of info: avoid salami, sausages and the like.

We get more substance once one reaches the inevitable My Recipies part. Let's see. OK, you are supposed to eat a little salad for lunch, a small piece of chicken for lunch with some veggies, and so on.

Yeah right. You probably will lose some weight.

Yawn.

The one thing that I found lacking in following the Schwarzbein Principle was not being able to have the support from an on-line support group, such as a message board. I kept hoping to find one on Dr. Schwarzbein's website, to no avail.

I finally found a good Schwarzbein support group at the following link. Hope to see you there.

http://forum.lowcarber.org/

Under the "Daily Low-Carb Support" area, you will find the Schwarzbein Principle option.

i think diana explains her points well. i think she knows what she's talking about and that she is careful to protect her patients, and help them from destroying their health.

i can see from personal experience that she's right about healthy fats and dietary cholesterol being necessary. before i heard about that, the first time as part of her forward in suzanne somers' book, i had tried all the natural remedies for depression and rage, but none of them worked all the time. turns out, my problem was that i wasn't getting what i needed from my diet; i wasn't eating enough healthy fats and cholesterol! once i beefed up on those, my depression melted away! i realised after a few months that i hadn't had a rage since i had changed the way i ate. my heart is just as healthy, my cholesterol level is just fine, and now i'm emotionally healthy as well!

i think she may be going overboard about never eating sugar again (don't worry, she doesn't say 'get off everything harmful right now!'). i think she's overly prejudiced about it, and you'll understand that after reading her story. but i definitely think she's right about cutting out white sugar, white flour, and damaged fats. i believe her conclusion that we must eat a healthy balance, every time we eat, is the right stuff. it's not how much you eat, it's what you eat. if the "what" is healthy, the "how much" will adjust to the right amount for you. you can eat too little, but if you stay balanced, you can't eat too much!

Easy to read, easy to follow advice. Really did help with some of my perimenopausal symptoms including lack of energy, depression, night anxiety. In fact, once I started following this style of eating, period became regular again. Only problem is that more recipes would be helpful but those are in the cookbook.

I borrowed this book from a friend of mine who said I might find it interesting.

First Sentence:
"We are all going to age and die, because it is impossible to stop normal aging."

What is normal aging? Already this lady is making unfounded claims that any true health seeker would be wise to question. It's been proven many times over that the aging process can be slowed down and even reversed.

Schawarzbein seems to believe that to build adequate hormones a person needs massive amounts of animal fat and protein. This is never proven nor demonstrated.

"Chapter Six : Why you must eat Cholesterol"
Pure propaganda. Completely false. Makes me wonder if she owns some slaughterhouses or something. There are millions thruout the world (vegans) who will never eat any cholesterol for the rest of our lives and I'd be willing to bet that most of us (in the 1st world anyway) will live longer than this lady. Here's one for example : http://www.thegardendiet.com/storm.html

This book is not science, it's not intelligent and it does not hold water. If you must satisfy your curiosity, borrow it and read it and use your own critical thinking. But don't waste your money, I'm glad I didn't!

Schwarzbein Principle-The Program is the first book of the three that I picked up and I later found that it is a summation of both books one and two. I believe that, although this is her third book, it was for the best that I read this one first since I was then able to decide whether the approach as a whole suited me. I decided that I very much want to change my lifestyle including my eating habits, exercise, stress and hormone levels.

This was not a new decision; I have tried several diets over the last 21 years (low fat and calorie, high protein and low carb, and variations of the two, as well as just eating when I feel hungry). On two I lost more than 25 pounds and on two I lost more than 50 pounds but none kept the weight off for more than 2 to 6 years. I gained back the weight plus more when I went off the diet because I could not sustain the diet. During the diets I had cravings, felt tired, felt deprived and depressed and kept it up anyway until it was obvious (contrary to what professionals said) that it was not getting better. I have several health problems that did not change when I lost weight including rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, fibromyalgia and hypothyroidism. The doctors said that they would improve significantly with exercise and weight loss but they did not.

I went through bariatric surgery five years ago and slowly lost 60 pounds over one year. My body was resistant at first, which the doctor said was rare and so I was told that I would need to exercise and try to eat protein more. I was very tired at first but kept up with walking and stretching and eventually the endorphin rush that I had never heard of before felt good and I thought, "Wow, I must be doing it right this time!" But I had to exercise more and more to reach my goal weight because it wasn't coming off anymore. The weight didn't go down and neither did my dress sizes. I was still overweight but an average size 14 and pretty content with that. So a trainer started me on weight lifting (with the reason that more muscle means more energy your body burns) and it was cool, felt achy at first then the burn was good and my weight shifted to muscle and dress size to 12 then stopped. However, I had to exercise more and lift more to keep getting that endorphin rush until I hit a plateau and couldn't figure out how to turn it around. Then I started falling down the hill; no more energetic feeling, just more tired feelings.

After two years of regular exercise I was just as tired, if not more so than before I started exercising. Various health pros advised me to exercise more (I was finally up to 2 hours a day of cardio and weight lifting) but I became more tired and mentally foggy. Other pros said to cut back on exercise, so I did but my body did not recover. Various health professionals advised me to eat more protein, drink more water, take some anti-depressants, take some stimulants, and take anti-anxiety meds and sleeping pills to help with coming down. It did not help. Over a 6 month period I gave up again on what I thought was my most successful attempt (this was two years ago) because I was somewhat toned and an average size after a lifetime of morbid obesity. I was in more pain and self-medicated with alcohol and prescription drugs that did not help. I gained 50 pounds in the next 4 months, an unprecedented experience for me. I was so disappointed and no one could explain it to me.

Seven months ago I went to try another diet, a popular, somewhat balanced "calories in have to equal calories out" plan to lose weight because the weight gain scared me. But for the first time in my life, I did not lose anything at all (during 6 weeks on the plan) even with the gastric bypass surgery. My body had apparently become so imbalanced or immune or something that I could not seem to lose weight and continued to gain it. Last month I weighed 20 pounds more than before my surgery. Now, I just try to eat balanced meals and I am looking to return my health to me. Doctors still cannot seem to help my fatigue, fibromyalgia, flare up of arthritis, flare-up of asthma or my mental fog. Nothing works and they cannot even explain why.

Then the other day I picked up Schwarzbein's Program and it explained how dieting damages your metabolism. It proposed an explanation for why my body reacted the way it did and continues to do. I knew that dieting damages your metabolism but I did not know that it could potentially account for all of my other health problems. (I also had no idea how to fix it and neither did any health professional I've come into contact with, they all seem to be advising me to continue to damage it.) The Schwarzbein Principle offers a plan to repair my metabolism and hormonal imbalances. This is more important to me right now than weight loss. This plan does not promise quick and easy weight loss, it promises to promote overall health. Any weight loss is secondary but very possible if the body needs this to become healthy.

At this point, if being healthy and feeling good or just normal physically means gaining a few pounds first, I would gladly bear it. I would rather be morbidly obese than continue to feel like a zombie that has constant low-level pain and irritability. My concern is wasting hundreds to thousands of dollars yet again and returning to worse health than before, but I feel I have to keep trying because I want to feel good. I am not doing this to look like a model but to feel healthy and really live like a normal person---sleep through the night, feel enough energy to easily get out of bed, eat because I like food, feel excited about the day ahead of me, have enough energy and optimism to meet the challenges of my work and be able to walk around without aches in my joints, pain in my fingers, and so much more.

I do not want to leap into another diet without believing in it and believing that it will work. I have trusted health professionals too many times because I wanted to believe that they were right. However, it turned out that they did not know what they were talking about. They do not seem to know how to have a healthy body and lose weight through food. The U.S. guidelines for eating just changed again, you know.

But I do want to be healthy and so I will take a chance but I want it to be a calculated risk and be a good consumer. That means reading up on a plan and seeing if it makes sense, which is difficult to do even if you are a health professional because, overall, they still don't know how to lose weight or live a healthy lifestyle. I have decided do my best and so I started investigating Schwarzbein's plan by reading her third book first, The Program.

Schwarzbein's plan has five steps for a healthy life and does NOT focus on quick weight loss. You may not lose weight at all on this diet, may even gain it, especially if you are the body composition you should be. If, however, your hormones are imbalanced then some weight gain is likely to occur (i.e. with thinner chronic dieters) but it will be followed by loss if your body needs it. Schwarzbein feels that quick weight loss is dangerous and will not support it (I admire her for not selling out her patients for money when the general public thinks thin means healthy and it does not). She advocates a five step plan for overall health and wellness:

1) Addresses nutrition in the form of balanced meals
2) Manages stress and sleep
3) Avoiding toxic chemicals (e.g. nicotine and sugar and additives)
4) Sensible exercise
5) Hormone replacement therapy (to help repair damaged metabolism)

This book (The Schwarzbein Principle: The Program) condenses what is in books two and three and offers the materials together here. Book one (The Schwarzbein Principle) explains more in detail about the carbohydrate-insulin connection and the rationale underlying a diet balancing protein first, followed by complex carbohydrates, non-starchy vegetables and good fats. I have been overexposed to this, personally, and so this book added little to my knowledge in that regard. I felt I had heard enough about insulin and carbohydrates, especially since my family has diabetics who have shared this information with me. Book two (The Transition) goes into more details about the 5-step plan itself and the connection between hormones and metabolism. This is the reason I decided to buy book two but not book one. This information, this theory for explaining my health problems, is what I have been looking for, hoping to find for years.

I read book two to find out more about the premises underlying the plan regarding repairing the metabolism because I believe this is the cornerstone of her program. (And it is obvious to me that mine is damaged.) Yes, as another reviewer complained, the details can become technical and confusing for anyone without a basic familiarity with the physiology of the human body, particularly the endocrine system. I have that basic knowledge from classes completed during my education, working toward a doctorate in psychology. However, even if you find it difficult, I do believe it is important to slog through it. It also helps that summaries are provided at the end of each chapter. It is of paramount importance that consumers have access to this information so that fitness gurus like Schwarzbein can be held accountable for offering diet plans and lifestyle plans that actually going to promote health to the public. It is also important that people like you and me can make informed decisions about which health plan to follow. It often seems to me like it's about choosing the lesser of certain evils since I haven't met a single plan that worked long-term for health or weight loss. Maybe this one will.

So, with that in mind...book 2 goes into detail about how hormones regulate the metabolic system and how those hormones are made from protein and "good" fats. (Remember, complex carbohydrates ARE necessary in this diet, but in balance as they are needed to energize the body and brain). Therefore, proteins, certain fats and complex carbs are necessary (not a certain number of calories) for the production of hormones, which affect processes including thinking, using up/building fats, building/breaking down muscle, sleeping, moods and much more. They mediate the immune system too. Reading this book is building my confidence in the validity and integrity of the Schwarzbein plan as a whole and the nutrition plan in particular. However, it seems that the hormones and vitamins are expensive and that they may require seeing a health professional who is knowledgeable about such things. An endocrinologist who is open to new ideas would be good.

Schwarzbein's web site is set up and seems pretty good. However, the test offered for checking some hormone levels is apparently not available now or in the foreseeable future. That's lame! However, you can guess based on your symptoms which of four metabolism styles you have and this indicates which vitamins you should take to help repair your metabolism/hormonal imbalance. If you suspect that you have any other deficiencies such as thyroid problems, sex hormone imbalances or similar conditions that require prescriptions then you should see an endocrinologist or gynecologist who is patient-friendly, I plan to do this. Schwarzbein's site offers referrals to health professionals who are familiar with her program but do not endorse any of these persons. I contacted a nutritionist who wanted to charge me $3 per minute for a four hour phone call where he would provide me with advice about nutrition and supplements. (Isn't that what I read in the book?) I would still need to pay for vitamins and see one of the above doctors anyway. I was at once irate and amazed that he actually thought I would pay for such a service. It sounds like a rip-off to me! I think that Schwarzbein's people should be more careful about the providers they promote/refer and they should offer patients the opportunity to give feedback about the providers.

I would love to visit a bulletin, chat room or listserv on the Schwarzbein Principle. I feel I need support, answers to questions and more feedback about the pitfalls and successes. I like hearing about other people's stories toward becoming more healthy (some of these are in book 2), both successes and setbacks. I would like a forum for advice. For instance, I don't like to cook and I miss carbs. Any ideas out there for such a thing?

In conclusion, I would definitely recommend reading the Schwarzbein Principle: The Program first to get the basics. If you want to find out more and believe you have an insulin-carbohydrate problem such as diabetes or sugar addictions then read book one entitled, Schwarzbein Principle, to find out more about this component. If, like me, you want to find out more about the premises underlying the claims that this plan repairs your endocrine system and related metabolism, read book two entitled, The Schwarzbein Principle II: The Transition. The first half shares such information and the second half shares more details about how to change your habits gradually through the five step program. In one section she offers 4 general plans which correspond with four different types of metabolic systems (This is dependent upon the amount of damage you have already done to your body.) and breaks down the five steps (e.g. nutrition, stress, exercise, toxins and hormones) further.

Balance in life sounds logical to me and so does this plan so far. I am crossing my fingers that this plan will truly repair my damaged metabolism and endocrine system overall. Luck to you! I hope this information helps someone with his or her decision. Also, I would love to hear stories about successes or setbacks from people on this program so please, send me an e-mail.

mcfynnan@aol.com

Someone recommended this book to me. The book is an absolute eye-opener. I have pushed everyone around me to read this book. So much so, it should be a recommended reading in High Schools to ensure that the next generations are healthy ones with no misconceptions about diet and nutrition. A must-read. I haven't found any other book written so well and supported so adequately with research and real-life trials. A well done job.

This book has seriously changed my life. A friend recommended this book to me, I actually wasn't interested in reading it, but thought I'd give it a chance. Since reading the book, I can't stop recommending it. I have lost about 12 pounds, but the weight isn't what matters to me anymore! I have stopped obsessing about my weight and now focus on my HEALTH. The book is written in a way that complicated medical terminology is broken down into easy-to-understand english. It focuses on everything being connected in a way I never even thought about before - for example - I am sleeping better than ever in my life (for those of you who have trouble sleeping, I never even concidered sleep to be an issue when reading this book, it just so happens to be an added bonus! - I have always had trouble sleeping - not anymore!!!)
This is a great gift for those in your life who are looking for the answer like the rest of us WERE!

I have been joking with my friends for the last three years that I should write a "diet" book based on my great experiences with a diet I was forced to adopt due to numerous food allergies. Little did I know that that book already exists! I had been diagnosed with 33 allergies and once I removed those foods from my diet, my body changed dramatically! Not only did I lose 20 pounds, I cleared up my acne and gained so much energy that I became somewhat of an athlete. To top it all off I am constantly being asked for my ID when I go out and at the age of 32 am being mistaken for a woman in her early twenties by twenty-somethings themselves! I had attributed all of this to removing the allergenic foods and, though that is most certainly a part of it, after having read this book I can now see WHY I've found such success. I have had to remove all processed foods, stimulants and sugars due to my allergies and what's left is exactly what Dr. Schwarzbein recommends! I have unwittingly been following this whole foods diet (protein and fat included) for the last three years. So, buy this book, give the diet a month with NO CHEATING and you will be amazed! You will no longer have cravings PERIOD (I find it takes about 2-3 days to get rid of the actual physical cravings and then you have to deal with the mental part of it) and your body will thank you. I guarantee that in a year's time you will reap all of the benefits she touts in her book! Thank you Doctor!

Don't get turned off by my title. I think this is one of the best health/nutritional books out there because it does not start with the typical " have you tried so many diets and failed, well this is the diet for you ". Diana's book was very straight forward and easy to understand. She follows each chapter with someone's real life experience which I found to be encouraging. However, my husband (who also read the book)and I felt that Diana talked too much about accelerated metabolic aging to the point where it turned us off. She also wrote about how medications will eventually kill -- so get off medication. I don't agree with her on that point because there are many people out there who are on medication for serious illnesses and unless she can come up with a specific cure for strokes, diabetes, depression, cancer then she should lighten up on the topic. Having said that, most of her book was on target, providing the one useful fact that everyone should know, if you can't grow it or pick it then don't eat it. In other words, there is lots of healthy food out there to choose from instead of stopping at the nearest Burger King for cheeseburger, fries and shakes. She has guidelines that a normal person such as myself can live with, unlike Dr. Atkins who says no carbohydrates for the first two weeks. Both my husband and I read her book and followed her guidelines and we both were losing weight and feeling good. I must admit that I do have a sweet tooth and salty fingers so I have "fallen" off the wagon but I plan on watching what I eat so I will pick up my copy Schwarzbein Principle to give myself a refresher course. I did buy her second book but I would have to agree with one of the reviewers of this book, it is similar to the first book (like a movie sequel). The first book is the best so don't bother to waste your money.

Many of the principles of this book sounded so good and right to me when I first read it. However, i can contribute my weight gain of 15 to 20 lbs the "facts" I learned in this book. I started eating more butter and mayonaisse and eggs and cheese. The insulin info was helpful, but I do not endorse her dietary recommendations.

As a person who reads over 100 books a year, I can comfortably say that this one was one of the best books I have ever read regardless of the topics. It is such a comprehensive elaboration of "what healthy living" is that I only regret for my years passed on very wrong eating and living habits. No diet book ever made so much sense to me before. I have become a convert right after reading the first two chapters of the book. I read it cover to cover, trying not to skip even a word so that I get all there was to be learned. Even though my initial reason for getting the book was weight loss, I ended up learning that weight loss is only one aspect of being healthy. Even though I lost 11 kg.s in a matter of two months following the basic argument of the book, I no longer see weight loss as an end in itself, thanks to Dr. Schwarzbein. This book was indeed my defining moment: my approach to many things in life changed radically and I am happy for that. Many thanks.

By making just a few minor shifts in my eating practices for the first time in my life, I have no constant cravings for food. I've spent most of my life either being highly disciplined, while craving food or worrying about craving food. It has been like finally casting out a life-long demon. I've been a Weight Watcher for many years and what I realized is that the basics that Dr. Schwarzbein suggests are the basics I was taught in my first Weight Watcher class about eating a balanced meal 30 years ago. Dr. Schwarbein's book came at a great time for me and it has updated, refreshed and renewed my knowledge while drastically improving my well-being ... it has raised my consciousness to a new level. I am MOST grateful! An easy read.

After years of low fat/high carb, my husband and I have been eating this way for two months, and we cannot get over the change it's had on our lives. Better sleep, greatly reduced digestive problems, less PMS, no more indigestion, weight loss (9 pounds each), no more non-stop hunger, more energy, etc. The book is clear and easy to read, and while it isn't perfect (the plan can be vague, and there are some errors) we've figured out what to do. We work 50 hour weeks and find no problem making fresh food every day - it's all a matter of organization and experience. Further, this book has given me the freedom to cook from my favorite French cookbooks! Diana, we love you!

Update - One year later: we still love this way of eating. My husband lost (and has kept off) 15 pounds, while I - with less willpower - have kept off my weight loss (9 pounds) but have lost no more. I am now trying to bring more exercise into the mix. But we continue to eat this way 90% of the time and continue to feel the benefits. When I don't eat this way, I usually end up feeling yucky and can't wait to go back.

If you really want to understand how the body processes carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, as well as Endocrinology 101, this book is a very good investment. Even for people who do not need to lose weight, I would highly recommend it, because it explains the basics about how the foods we eat affect all of our hormone levels, thus, all of the processes of our body. The book has further convinced me that processed food and refined carbohydrates are POISON. A very, very good read-- I was able to follow and not bored at all!

I don't think that diet is quite the word to use in discussing this book: It's more than a diet. I follow most of the recommendations in this book most of the time: I have not yet been able to let go of coffee, and I also have a desert once a week. As a result, my weight has varied over three years, at the most, by 5 lbs.
I have spent most of my life yo-yoing back and forth from somewhere between 210 and 301 lbs. At the moment, I am about 192 lbs on a 6ft 3in frame. I am never hungry. My last blood test, about four months ago, was normal.
I liked the book because it explained why the "diet" worked in a clear easy-to-understand way. She also explains why fat got such a bad reputation from the original studies. I look forward to reading her forthcoming book.

Dr. Schwarzbien - if you're reading this, would you slap your monitor? . . . it's the best I can do to give you a long-distance "High 5" for this "out of the box" book of yours!

The Schwarzbein Principle reminds me of a story about a man who runs into Death. Frightened by the encounter, he goes to his master and begs for the fastest horse so he can get away to Tehran that night. The master agreed and soon the only evidence of the man was a cloud of dust. That evening, the master himself met Death. "Why did you frighten my servant so? asked the master. "I wasn't trying to frighten him," said Death, "I only expressed surprise to see him still here when our appointment was in Tehran tonight.

Now, substitute "Death" with "Fat." It seems we've run right to being fat by trying to avoid it, as well as protein, on the horse of "Low-Fat, Complex Carb" diets.

I've not been perfect, but after 2 1/2 months I can now add my voice to the Amazon choir and report an inch lost everywhere except my hips/waist - and they've gone down 1 1/2 inches. I know the tape measure doesn't lie, but sometimes it can have an imagination. But, it can't fake 1 1/2 inches no matter how much I inhale and try to "puff up." The first month was scary and I actually thought I was gaining. Glad I stuck it out.

I'll be ordering your next book as soon as it hits the virtual shelves!

Dr. Schwarzbien - if you're reading this, would you slap your monitor? . . . it's the best I can do to give you a long-distance "High 5" for this "out of the box" book of yours!

The Schwarzbein Principle reminds me of a story about a man who runs into Death. Frightened by the encounter, he goes to his master and begs for the fastest horse so he can get away to Tehran that night. The master agreed and soon the man was gone in a boiling cloud of dust. That evening, the master himself met Death. "Why did you frighten my servant so? asked the master. "I wasn't trying to frighten him," said Death, "I only expressed surprise to see him still here when our appointment was in Tehran tonight.

Now I can, substitute "Death" with "Fat." It seems you're saying that we've run right to being fat by trying to avoid it, as well as protein, on the horse of "Low-Fat, Complex Carb" diets.

I've not been perfect, but after 2 1/2 months I can now add my voice to the Amazon choir and report an inch lost everywhere except my hips/waist - and they've gone down 1 1/2 inches. I know the tape measure doesn't lie, but sometimes it can have an imagination. But, it can't fake 1 1/2 inches no matter how much I inhale and try to "puff up." The first month was scary and I actually thought I was gaining. Glad I stuck it out.

I'll be ordering your next book as soon as it hits the virtual shelves!

This book makes a lot of sense! Even though she disagrees with many of her contemporaries, Dr. Schwarzbein explains how high-carb, low-fat diets really affect our metabolism. Frankly, everything she says makes a lot of sense. This isn't a fad - it's balanced, healthy eating. I have PCOS, and I think this is perfect for a person like me, who is Insulin Resistant. I felt a difference almost immediately after giving up sugar. I'm looking forward to feeling better, and being more healthy, the longer I follow this eating plan!

If you read this book you may never be the same again. I bought this because my friend lost 31lbs in the first year, and another 21 pounds by June the following year. When I saw her this Christmas she was gorgeous, svelte, glowing with health, full of energy. It seemed incongruous to see her tucking into hearty meals while I was starving on a lettuce leaf and losing nothing!

It is early days for me, but after only five weeks I have lost nine pounds. That is nothing! In those weeks I have been feeling well for the first time in many years. I don't fall asleep the whole time. I can run after my small toddler, even though I don't weigh that much less. I seem to have become fitter. I can breathe. I have almost stopped using my asthma inhaler, no longer need my stomach coating tablets, have had no twinge from my gallbladder (which I was expecting to explode), and have been free of headaches (the bane of my life!) What IS going on? To be able to give up so many prescription medicines so quickly? Even if I never lose another pound, this will be worth it.

I have bought five copies of this book for other people - people I love who might be in the same damaging low fat trap I was. I am astonished that doctors do not mention this diet - even when it is patently clear that a patient is faring badly on all the usual regimes.

Did I mention the food is wonderful? It's everything you fantasised about when you were on a low fat diet, and more. I am NEVER hungry. I am NEVER bored with the food. I can ALWAYS find something to eat in restaurants. Only YOU can tell you are eating diet food - it looks like a regular meal to other people, in fact a rich meal!

Whether you adopt this way of life or not, the book is invaluable for its clear description of how the body works, and what happens when it goes wrong. I feel much more confident now in discussing things with my doctor, and challenging her preconceptions.

Thank you Ms Schwarzbein!

My new doctor recommended this book and this lifestyle change. For the last 5-6 years I have been fighting declining health and increasing weight and all the medical community (until this doctor!) offered me was pills, diets, and treatment of symptoms. No one seemed interested in finding out what was causing the weight gain, fibromyalgia, migraines, incredible fatigue, increasing cholesterol, etc, etc. I carbohydrated and low-fat dieted myself into near diabetes (2 points off). When I went to my new doctor, I got two for the price of one - and I am beginning to get my life back!!!! Dr. Schwarzbein's book and plan may not be a "magic bullet" but it seems that way to me. I am rapidly feeling much better and gaining a significant amount of energy EVERY DAY. Quite frankly, I had just begun to accept that this was just the way my life was going to be. The most amazing thing is that I, a devout BREAD LOVER, have not found this difficult to do at all. The plan makes so much sense and works so well. I just cannot believe that the answer was so simple!!
ADDENDUM: I wrote the above on 7/31/2001. It is now 9/8/2001 and to my amazement, the one time I did NOT go "on a diet," the pounds have been dropping off at a healthy rate. Clothes that only minimally allowed breathing are now baggy. If you have NEVER had success with an eating-style, lifestyle change, TRUST this one. It works on so many levels - and the only one I really cared about was being able to be a healthy woman, able to meet the demands, challenges, and wonderment of the life God has given me.

I discovered this gem via the introduction in a Suzanne Somer's book. I had been following the standard high carb, low fat diet for about 15 years and was feeling completely miserable, with frequent illnesses and yearly weight gain. Following Schwarzbein's principles, I lost 35 pounds the first year, and another 7 this past spring. Any weight-loss program works at first, just because it is a change; but because this system is balanced, it continues to be beneficial, not to mention enjoyable and easy, even after nearly two years.

Scared by some reviewers' statements about elevated cholesterol with this regime, I have mine checked each year. Although the combined cholesterol is on the high end of normal, my doc said this is because my HDL (good cholesterol) is extremely high. All other numbers are in excellent shape, blood pressure dropped to 100/60, energy is extraordinary. I can work out six days a week now and not only recover quickly, but I thoroughly enjoy the endorphin surges, the feeling of strength and elasticity. I'm now 49 and one of the most rewarding changes is that I am frequently told with sincerity and surprise, "You look GREAT!"

Dr. Schwarzbein's book is a godsend for the public, and for health professionals like myself who always receive very puzzled looks from clients when they're told that fat is good for them, and that high carb foods are not.

The good Dr. approaches the issue of body chemistry from a physiological standpoint, and not from the "double-blind" study standpoint. She wisely points out that no study is ever perfect and that different studies yield different results, interpretations, and conclusions. Physiology, however, is more cut and dried. Her clear explanations of how hormonal imbalance leads to a cascade of harmful consequences helps the reader see very quickly the shortcomings of following the "Food Pyramid."

One complaint: Dr. Schwarzbein constantly recommends only "real foods," as opposed to "man-made" ones. Curiously, she gives the thumbs up to such "man-made" concoctions as commercial mayonnaise (made from canola oil), canola oil, and soy "sausages." Ersatz soy foods are some of the most heavily processed foods out there. Why she has them in menu suggestions is beyond me.

All in all, however, a very good book.