It's now been sixteen days since I read this exciting and informative book,and I am experiencing relief with a capital R! We women owe it to ourselves to get educated about our bodies and From Belly Fat To Belly Flat is an excellent starting point.Most women just accept the old adage that it's common to gain weight in middle age,but this book gives you the reasons WHY, and from this place of understanding we can make better decisions about what to do about it. The authors were clever in their NEON SIGN title - what women is not desiring a flat belly? But what you will get goes far beyond! This leading egde information will put you in the drivers seat and well on your way to well-being!

From Belly Fat to Belly Flat is very informative...however, if you are not looking to buy a whole bunch of supplemental 'goodies' I suggest simply starting with finding out where your harmone levels are RIGHT NOW. I am trying to understand why I keep gradually adding a pound when I eat what I think is all the right things. Others I lent the book to said that progesterone cream is very helpful once you find out if you are estrogen dominant that's fine, but first things first. This is a great book for learning how to ask your doctor the right questions. The only thing reshaped so far is my point of view.

Buy this book and do the EXACT OPPOSITE of what it says! I bought the book, and although I was skeptical, ordered the progesterone cream that the author sells (that should be your first clue!). Luckily, it took several days to arrive, and I did some further research into his claims.

Dr. Randolph paints himself as a rebel who has gone against the establishment to tell the truth. He has gone against the establishment--because there is not a reputable doctor who agrees with him. He says that women gain wait around their middles if they've been on the pill or are starting menopause or are on HRT because of an estrogen imbalance. He does not advise any blood work to verify this. He just says that you need more progesterone and (surprise!) he can sell it to you.

The truth is that progesterone is the pregnancy hormone. Pro-gestation. It causes all the changes that occur during pregnancy, including weight gain in the belly, a slowed metabolism and craving of sugar to acquire calories for the baby, and all sorts of other things. I had all these symptoms. When I reviewed my history with birth control pills, I found that the higher the level of progesterone in the pill, the more weight I gained--despite eating healthy and exercising like a crazy person.

I returned his cream unopened (despite a hefty restocking fee) and switched to a lower progesterone pill. I have slightly worse PMS--because my body no longer believes I'm pregnant--but the extra weight is finally coming off after four years.

As for the women who have reviewed this book and claimed to have lost weight, they are probably right. He lays out a very standard low fat diet that on its own could probably cause weight loss. It's the progesterone claims that are the problem.

My advice is that if you are a young-ish woman on the pill (I can't verify the experience of menopausal women), you should RUN AWAY from this book as fast as you can. You may be absolutely correct that your hormones are causing your weight gain, but I guarantee that the advice in this book will only make it worse.

This book has great information on foods and how to feed your body what it needs to help yourself burn fat. Very interesting resource and knowledgable on the hidden weight-gain epidemic of Americans. Lots of great recipes, sample food menus, and suggested products for every day use.

Info makes sense and have tried a similar nutrition/eating regime, works well, great that someone has study the affects of hormones and how to harness that in a healthy no chemical way.

This book is a quick read and easy to understand. The Doctor gives you a way to help yourself via blood tests and non-pharmaceutical remedies. I recommend this book.

This is just another diet book that encourages you to spend more money on additonal products. If you are a South Beacher don't bother wasting your money. Any sensible diet will help you lose weight AND diminish your belly (along with many other areas). All the creams and lotions and "potions" suggested to go along with this diet will certainly help you lose. Lose your money!

I've been taking all of the vitamins that the book suggests for about 5 weeks. I've actually lost over 1" from my belly. I'm in my mid 40's and have the typical belly too many of us middle aged women get. Nothing I do seems to touch it, but so far this looks promising. I am hoping to actually have a waist again. I'm going to stick with it. Their reasoning for why we get that belly fat makes sense to me.

I gained 30lbs in 8 months, and I have been on some sort of diet for two years with only weight gain to show for it. I assumed I might be having hormone issues so I tried this book. What I read, really seemed to apply to me and I was excited to get started. Now after 2 months on the program, I am not as excited. I didn't have to change my current diet plan much and in the first 30 days I lost 5 lbs - which is not great, but it's the first downward movement I've seen on the scale since early 2006 so I was very excited and hopeful. The second month I gained 3 lbs back and I didn't change anything. So - as far as weight loss, I am not sure this is the one for me either. But I can say that since I started taking the supplements, I do feel better overall, I am not as tired so I will continue those. (I didn't use the progesterone cream as I had a reaction to it). There are a lot of 5 star ratings, so I have to assume that this plan works for some people.

I am in my late 30's and have had hormonal issues since having my son 5 years ago. While I wouldn't consider myself overweight, I do have the tummy to prove that I'm a mom! I have been taking the supplements now for over 2 months and haven't lost any weight, (I exercise and eat right most of the time) but have had some success with the way I feel. My monthly cycle can be intolerable at times and I've noticed a big difference in the way I feel emotionally and physically - all for the better. This is not the "magic cure" but I think it's worth trying - it may help with PMS. Good Luck!

Don't let the title fool you; this isn't some fad aimed to sell a lot of books. It works!
The philosophy is very simple: We get out of balance as our hormones change, so we need to help our bodies get back in balance.
I have never had a problem with weight, and have always exercised. So when I found myself with 5 extra mid-section pounds I couldn't get off (early perimenopause) I started researching. I can't say that is was the DHEA or the progesterone cream that did it, but those pounds were gone in 6 weeks, and monthly bloating is way, way down. I was traveling a lot during that time so didn't take the supplements regularly. But I did totally eliminate simple carbs: sugar and refined flours and fried food. Eat whole grains, protein, veggies, and go easy on fruits. It's as simple as that.

this book is a scam, sure there is alot of info that seems to make sense, but first of all, you must order alot of Dr. Randoulphs cream and supplements, and then they don't work at all. I spent $[...] on this rip-off, with zero results. then I e-mailed them to express my disappointment and the will not respond. If it wasn't a scam I feel they would at least respond as most reputable companies will if a customer is not satisfied. I feel that the five star ratings are part of the scam written by the company. DON"T WASTE YOUR MONEY, i feel like a fool for wasting mine.

"From Belly Fat to Belly Flat: How Hormones Are Adding Inches to Your Waistline and Subtracting Years from Your Life" explains why in middle age hormones make your middle fat. The book provides a self-diagnostic test of the hormone imbalance that comes with age and is causing estrogen dominance in your body. It turns out that as women age there is a decrease in their production of progesterone, which allows estrogen to become the dominant hormone. According to the book, when your body is estrogen-dominant, you will be fatter, especially around the abdomen. The good news is that there are things we can do to combat this imbalance including emphasizing certain foods, taking vitamins and supplements including progesterone, adjusting sleep patterns, developing the right exercise habits, and managing stress. The book provides a 30-day menu with easy recipes. The foods include fish, citrus fruit, beans, chickpeas, lentils, and lots of vegetables.

The book has three main sections as follows:
I. Where Your Belly Fat Came From and Why It Won't Budge: 1. Estrogen Dominance; 2. Are You Estrogen Dominant?
II. The Three-Step Plan to Balance Your Hormones and Whittle Your Middle: 3. Step 1: Eat Foods That Balance Your Hormones; 4. Step 2: Use Progesterone--the Simple Way to a Flat Belly; 5. Take the Right Supplements to Support, Not Sabotage Your Hormone Balance.
III. Keeping That Flat Belly for Life: 6. Keeping Weight Off in the Real World; 7. The 80-20 Rule; 8. The "Flat Belly for Life" Recipe Collection.

If you are approaching the middle years of life, and you think your hormones may be out of whack, this book contains ideas that you may find very helpful! I also like THE 3:00 PM SECRET: Live Slim and Strong, Live Your Dreams

This diet has a lot of specific rules and regulations that will help women (specifically) get rid of fat that's stored in those hard to defeat areas on the body. This is geared to women because we have different hormones and emotional needs than men. Unfortunately, this diet plan doesn't stress being healhty, it stresses losing weight and looking good- not necessarily the best way to live!

What you should know: this isn't an easy fix- it will take time and effort (and some extra costs for vitamins) to get you to the balance of nutrients in your diet with will boost your metabolism and get your body working for you.

I recommend this but in addition to the more general You: On A Diet or my favorite nutritional plan: The Evolution Diet

This book is easy to read & understand. The 30 day memu lists 4 meals a day (including snacks). I like the fact the recipes are simple everyday items you would have in your house. This is good book for those of us with the belly that will not go away.

I just love this book. I have read Dr. Lee's books on hormones and found this very interesting as well....real solution to a real problem! Feeling better already!

I really like this book, even though I have to spend more time in the kitchen preparing meals with a baby to take care of as well. I had a reaction to the progesterone creme, rashes and bad yeast infection which I read can be a side effect. Otherwise the book has been very beneficial in helping me learn what and what not to eat. I strongly recommend this book.

This book is very informative. It is written in a manner that you don't need a phd to understand. I would highly recommend it

I bought this book, read it and have tried my best to follow the plan with no results. I'm eating fiber, and the citrus. I spent a fortune on the vitamins and progesterone cream he recommends. You end up taking a dozen pills each day. I haven't lost a pound.

I'm a little suspicious of all the five star reviews. For a lot of them this seems like the only book they've ever reviewed.

If you have already tried the South Beach Diet or Operah's Boot Camp Diet, save your money. This is another restricted calorie diet with no refined carbs, high protein, and stressing cruciferous vegetables and one serving of non citrus fruit a day. I read in another "feel younger" book that cruciferous vegetables are goiterans which in excess slow down your thyroid. Also little or no healthy oils like fish oil. Of course no bananas, carrot juice, potatoes, ect. Of course no caffine, sugar or alcohol. One serving of insoluable fiber a day and flaxeeds. The only diference is he also suggests buying his progesterone cream and supplements via his website. I am sure this diet will produce results. I lived on a similar one for several years, but beware of acid reflux from all the protein and carefully monitor acid/alkalinity ph and potential of low potassium. This can reek havoc on your muscles long term if you love to exercise at high intensity.

This book is extremely informative and gave me some very serious concerns to consder regarding souce of belly fat and why sometimes no diet or exercise routine will "fix" belly fat. Would recommend this to anyone who has tried unsucessfully to lose belly fat.

Most of the supplements listed in this book have helped balance my hormones - I've felt more balanced and less likely to freak out! However, when I went to purchase my supplements at a health food store, and the proprietor warned me not to take chitosan. She claims that it blocks all fat absorption. I decided to form my own opinion, and ordered the supplement online. After taking it for two months, I've noticed that my nails (which are normally strong, thanks to another vit/min supp.) are extremely weak. My skin doesn't have it's normal elasticity, and I wonder if the health food store owner was right.

Middle age is dreaded by many as all too often people can't seem to lose that little extra weight that comes with achieving the age 40+. "From Belly Fat to Belly Flat: How Hormones Are Adding Inches to Your Waistline and Subtracting Years from Your Life" will explain exactly why this happens to so many people, and more importantly, how to remedy it. It has less to do with carbs and calories says C.W. Randolph, a physician who has treated more than 100,000 women for their hormonal imbalance issues over the year, and more to do with hormones. "From Belly Fat to Belly Flat: How Hormones Are Adding Inches to Your Waistline and Subtracting Years from Your Life" will teach readers how to self-diagnose their estrogen dominance problems, everyday culprits that will mess with your hormones, and vitamins that support and hinder your hormonal balance. "From Belly Fat to Belly Flat: How Hormones Are Adding Inches to Your Waistline and Subtracting Years From Your Life" is highly recommended to women approaching middle age everywhere and for community library health shelves.

It's so good to get a book that explains why people get belly fat as they get older and I wish I had read this book when I was in my 30's! There is a solution to this problem! I would recommend this book for anyone who has started getting the stubbord belly fat or who wants to know how to avoid it. The information given in this book is right on! I had already been doing many of the necessary things listed but have incorporated a few other key things that I did not know and I've already seen a difference in only 2 weeks. A very informative and educational must-read book!

Have you wondered why, no matter what you do, you cannot lose the weight around your middle? Dr. Randolph answers this question by targeting hormones - "estrogen dominance" - as the culprit, not calories, carbs, or lack of crunches. He provides a 3-step plan consisting of exercise, natural progesterone supplementation, and an anti-estrogenic diet. The hormone-balancing diet includes ten critical foods such as fiber, citrus, and cruciferous vegetables, and a number of vitamins and key supplements such as calcium-magnesium and DHEA. The book focuses on women over thirty.

The book includes a one-month menu with meals such as: Grilled Salmon with Dill and Lemon; Crab Cakes; Grapefruit and Avocado Salad; Flaxseed and Fruit Smoothie; Garlic Chickpeas and Pasta; Lemon-Curry Cauliflower and Kale; Lentil, Carrot, and Turnip Stew; and Not Your Ordinary Tuna Salad.

The contents of the book include:
Part 1. Where Your Belly Fat Came From and Why It Won't Budge
1. Estrogen Dominance
2. Are You Estrogen Dominant?
Part 2. The Three-Step Plan to Balance Your Hormones and Whittle Your Middle
3. Step 1: Eat Foods That Balance Your Hormones
4. Step 2: Use Progesterone--the Simple Way to a Flat Belly
5. Take the Right Supplements to Support, Not Sabotage Your Hormone Balance
Part 3. Keeping That Flat Belly for Life
6. Keeping Weight Off in the Real World
7. The 80-20 Rule
8. The "Flat Belly for Life" Recipe Collection

This book draws a connection between belly bulge and hormone imbalance and seems to work for many women. The author explains that age-related decrease in progesterone production causes the body to become estrogen dominant, which leads to increased body fat, and fat tissue produces and stores more estrogen. Simultaneously, body fat contains an enzyme that converts adrenal steroids into estrogen. Making things worse, when you are in an estrogen dominant state your body supposedly does not effectively use fat for energy compromising your body's ability to metabolize or burn body fat. The author further states that having high estrogen levels affects the distribution of body fat and predisposes the body to store fat around the abdomen. Why having a high level of estrogen would affect where fat is stored is unclear to me. It seems that if you lose enough body fat, your stomach will eventually go flat, providing you maintain good muscle control, good posture, avoid overeating, or eating bloat-causing foods.

Readers should enjoy the tasty hormone-balancing recipes, and I applaud the idea of balancing hormones in a more natural way - especially using foods and vitamins! My only caveat is to check with a breast doctor before taking DHEA as I was specifically told by a breast cancer specialist not to take it. For a life-changing method of weight control, I also recommend THE 3:00 PM SECRET: Live Slim and Strong, Live Your Dreams

Dr. Randolph was one of the first medical doctors to incorporate bioidentical hormones in his practice, and by now he has treated thousands of women, so when he gives hormone and diet advice he speaks from a lot of experience! This book is about much more than a flat belly (although that's a bonus) -- it's about creating optimal health with elegantly simple solutions. If you follow Dr. Randolph and Genie James' guidelines, you're nearly guaranteed to be healthier and have more energy.

The Belly Flat plan finally got me back into my "skinny" jeans and has kept me there for eighteen months straight! I have been a diet yo-yo'er who rotated pant sizes from 8 to 12 for years. As a patient of Dr. Randolph's he started me on his plan two years ago when I was at my highest weight i've ever been. After three months I was back in my "skinny" jeans again! I finally stayed at a size 8 since and have not spent one day hungry. In addition to looking great I now have my hormones in check and am happier, sweeter and according to my boyfriend ...a much sexier person!! I'm telling you girls THIS IS THE ONE!!

I stumbled across 'Belly Fat Belly Flat' on the internet a few weeks ago, in my ongoing (fruitless) search for a way to get rid of that darn muffin. The book is wonderful! The muffin has vanished (in just 2 weeks) and now I am working on that remaining general pudge. And I feel great !! I just ordered two more copies of the book for my sisters. Thank you Genie and Dr Randolph!! (I am 58 and feel like 30 right about now ...)

I am almost 30 and have always been uneducated and somewhat afraid of learning about the details of menopause and it's effect on the body. I've learned that your hormones can change or be off balance LONG before menopause and this book educated me extensively about what to do to take charge of my own health and understand my body. It is very easy to read and it all makes sense! I would recommend for all women as general education and especially if you are struggling with weight. The recipes and meal plan are wonderful. I can't wait to implement this plan!
Also, in response to the Publisher's Weekly review- there are many different sources for products listed in the book; not just Dr. Randolph's products.
Amazing book!

I am a slim middle thirty's female who has had a life long struggle with hormonal issues. I absolutely cannot tolerate the bulge and bloated feeling. I picked up this book and could not put it down. It simply makes sense from cover to cover. Within two weeks of committing to the book, I lost six pounds and my "pooch" was gone! My belly was flat and everything fits beautifully, no more roll over the waist band, no excess bloating, I feel great and full of energy. The recipes are easy and as a vegetarian I find them scrumptious. I have recommended the book to many of my friends who constantly complain about their weight...this concept works, so now we eat this way at lunch while we are working. It is great!