I have not finished reading this book however it is like a bright light of information. I am understanding a lot of problems I have that doctors just ignored! I can't wait to finish the book, it is filled with information and it's great to feel someone understands.

Between this book and What Your Doctor May not tell you about Hypothyroidism, I've learned a lot. I also visit Mary's website now and have learned how to manage my hypothyroidsm with my doctor much better.

Finally a book that covers the topic of 'what is it I can eat and lose weight' if you're dealing with hypothyroidism. Excellent choice. Have recommended it to others.

So far this product has been very helpful to me and has a lot of information that i never knew about my condition. I recommend anyone that has questions or needs help losing weight that has a thyroid problem to read this book.

Unfortunately I have to say that I was totally disappointed by this book. It says everything and nothing. Basically you can say it is useful because it contains all the things that are usually said on the thyroid issue and way to manage it with diet. But this is the point: it tells you about several types of diets and it is up to you to try them all and good luck! The author does not substantiate her recommendations she just tells you what it is said out there but she does not take positions (apart from the usual no coffee, no milk, blah blah blah). Save your money (i will give you mine for free!) and read some very interesting (and free!) websites (I recommend Dr Rind and dr Lam).

this is an easy to use diet that come in handy and helped me understand my problems.

All that this book does is suggest various popular diets, South Beach, Weight Watchers, etc. There is no diet in this book specific to the thyroid, so choose the diet you want to follow and get a good book on that diet instead.

Mary J. Shomon's book is more a resource for information on thyroid disease than a diet/cookbook. Less than 100 pages of a nearly 400-page book are devoted to recipes and diet plans. I was expecting this book to be heavier on that information and lighter on the background as I obtained that from reading "Living Well with Hypothyroidism."

What a disappointment. Expecting something new here, but didn't get it. Basically this is the GI diet - and if that doesn't work for you then there are a whole host of other well known diets suggested. Though the book begins by giving numerous examples of people who seem to eat little but get/stay fat, it goes on to trot out the usual 'eat less and exercise more' advice.

This book, is wonderful, whether you are a long time thyroid patient or just starting to underestand your thyroid...this book and her many other titles that Mary J. Shomon. She gets you to understand things that a/your doctor talks you into circles. or you have tried everything in the world to get your body moving, this is the book for you. this makes a great gift too. i highly recommend this book, or her many titles that she offers.
try it, and you'll be the best buy you have ever done...
thanks to Mary J. Shomon the guru of Thyroid.

Although I am reading this book in stages, it has already given me so much information. I have started a new regime of supplements that has been approved by my doctor and I think I'm begining to see results. It is nice to know that I am not the only person having problems losing weight with a thyroid problem. I started to feel that it was only happening to me.
Thank you Mary J. Shomon

This is not a diet, it is an overview of all the other stuff Shomon has out. It is a recommendation of how to manage your thyroid, if you haven't read anything or are just finding out about a thyroid problem, it has lots of information, but if you have had thyroid problems and know about them, it is the same stuff you've always heard. I didn't learn anything new, and it really isn't a diet............is was disappointed. No new answers for those of us who are being treated with medication. If weight is a problem, as I have with thyroid problems, this is not the answer..........

I literally cried as I read this book on hypothyroidism. I had radioactive iodine treatment in 1994 to treat Graves Disease. I guess the disease has been in 'remission' all these years. A few years ago I started feeling lousy. I was gaining weight no matter how active I was plus I was eating way healthy. I was losing energy almost daily, no matter what I did to try to energize myself. I had leg cramps; my cholesterol (the bad stuff) went up; blood sugar levels went up; I became iron deficient. All in a matter of a few months. My medical doctor harped on my weight and lack of physical activity. Mary Shomon's book liberated me, made me feel sane again, helped me realize that I am OK, I will survive, and that what I am experiencing is not all in my head. Thank you, thank you, thank you SO very much.

I had recently been diagnosed with a hypothyroid and was not getting alot of information from doctors nor were they taking the diagnosis seriously--this book informed me about the condition and the myriad of approaches that are available to treat it including a small section on holistic approaches--the author is a patient advocate and has been relentless in her pursuit of the latest information on medication and diet--I had gained 24 pounds in less than a year and with the help of this book and it's diet and excercise approach I have now lost 14 pds in 2 1/2 months and feel like I will get the rest of the way doing exactly what Mary advocates.

THIS BOOK COVERS A LOT OF AREAS REGARDING THE THYROID. I'VE BEEN HYPO FOR A FEW YEARS & STILL FOUND STUFF IN THIS BOOK THAT WAS HELPFUL.

I followed the thyroid diet presented in the book and knocked my tsh back into the middle of normal (I was the high side of normal, and have a thyroid tumor). I have been diagnosed with low level Hoshimoto's. I changed the results of the labs enough that my doctor said, "how did you do that?". I found the book informative on understanding thryoid disease and how to improve it. I still have horrible metabolism, so don't assume the diet will change that. It will, however help keep some of the other symptoms at bay. It helped my dry skin and energy level a lot (along with exercise). Low metabolism is not the only thyroid issue, there are issues such as tumors... and this helps keep them stabalized. In general, I just feel better.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and put on medication a year ago and was still struggling to lose weight when I stumbled upon this book. I read it cover to cover in one day and everything started to make sense. It has a lot of helpful tips, including which supplements you should try. The book offers three types of diets to fit your lifestyle. (And the author clearly states several times that this is not a miracle diet book.)

Since reading the book, I've started a new diet and I started doing pilates and yoga, based on the authors recommendations. I haven't felt this good in a long time! I wish they would have handed me this book when I was first diagnosed.

I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism and put on medication a year ago and was still struggling to lose weight when I stumbled upon this book. I read it cover to cover in one day and everything started to make sense. It has a lot of helpful tips, including which supplements you should try. The book offers three types of diets to fit your lifestyle. (And the author clearly states several times that this is not a miracle diet book.)

Since reading the book, I've started a new diet and I started doing pilates and yoga, based on the authors recommendations. I haven't felt this good in a long time! I wish they would have handed me this book when I was first diagnosed.

I refer back to this book constantly. I have hypothyroidism and learned a lot from this book. You will be shocked to see how many things you must change from your lifestyle to be able to live a normal life. The thyroid is the body's engine so you really need to read up on it if you have a thyroid problem.

Ms. Shomon approaches the topic from personal experience and as a patient advocate. She has researched the topic and provides good information in a form that is easy to read and even easier to understand. And that is what the thyroid disorder patient needs to know to begin taking charge of their health. I liked the book and would recommend it to anyone that wants to know about thyroid conditions and weight loss.

I found this book to be "just okay". Not one I would re-read or even refer back to (unlike some of my books of this nature). There is some useful information for the beginner thyroid patient. There is no miracle diet in this book.

I HAVE HAD HYPOTHYROID FOR 20YEARS AND I WAS ATTEMPTING TO FIND A DIET EXCERCISE PLAN TO HELP ME WITH MY WEIGHT LOSS ATTEMPTS. I FOUND IT HAD ALOT OF INFO ON THYROID AND MEDS BUT THE DIET PLAN WAS NOT REALISTIC FOR EVERYDAY LIFE.

I was diagnosed as hypothyroid about 15 years ago, and I've been taking medication since. In ALL that time, I was always lead to believe thyroid only had to do with weight - manage your thyroid lose weight. I never bothered to research hypothyroidism farther because I was never given reason to by my doctor or anyone - I'm on medication, it's being treated...period. I found this author on-line by mistake while looking for something else, and I'm glad I did. She has opened my eyes to everything our thyroid glands REALLY do and cause - and weight, by far, is not the only thing affected - also, even regulated, we can see symptoms. I'm currently reading another book as well, and I am trying to educate myself more on the subject. There is a lot to it, and it all makes my life and the way I feel and act make so much more sense.

I have to say, though, that she is a GENIUS for having "Diet" in the title because this is much less of a "diet" book and more of a map to help you feel better and possibly lose weight. I may not have purchased the book without that word in the title.

It's all about trial and error. Everyone is different, but this book is an incredible resource for finding something that might very well work for you - she sets out many viable options. This is definitely worth a read!

I have read on Hypothyroid and this is not the book I was looking for, as to help me to speed up my metabolism. I would like to find a book that just is plain and gives examples of diets and foods to eat. Disappointed....

I was so excited to get this book and I read it like a bible. I tried many of the things that Shoman suggests. Some work, some don't. I think that's her point--it's all about trial and error for us hypothyroid people and what works for me may not work for you. She merely provides as much info as she's gathered about what's worked for some people. I'm glad I read it--not many of the things worked for me, but it helped me understand my condition better. Recipes weren't great--rather plain. I've been doing Sonoma for a couple of months and have lost 20 pounds--much happier with that diet and it's working! Sonoma fits the guidelines Shoman sets out very well. Worth trying

The book is good if you do not know anything about thyroid disease, the book was not worth the money that you pay for it

This is a good book, but reviewer M. Roth "bookfiend" needs to get her facts straight! Hypothyroidism and HYPERTHYROIDISM are two DIFFERENT things. How could you have missed that AND read the book?? It's sad how many people view the problem as "all in someone's head." We need more books like this.

I got this book after I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism, it has alot of great information for people new to this disease, but with all the research out there, don't go by this person's diet....that is something you will have to find out on your own. One thing for instance is the soy products, that is something you will have to experiment with, she praises it, but other medical professionals will tell you to stay away from it if you have hypothyroidism. Also alot of the vitamins aren't really good for you either. Some don't agree with you and some can really do some damage to your system and shake you up a bit so be careful there. This book is good for new comers to hypothyroidism but as for the food and vitamins please be careful.

this is a good little book, but if you have read shomon's LIVING WELL WITH HYPOTHYROIDISM, much of what she says in the beginning of THE THYROID DIET is word for word redundant.

that being said, one would expect from the title, THE THYROID DIET, that the majority of the book would consist of recipes. that is not at all the case. shomon continues giving tidbits of extremely helpful information for those of us who suffer with hypothyroidism. she includes a variety of descriptions of diets one could choose from as well as vitamins and minerals that might be helpful to include.

the bottom line is that there is no one formula that works for all of us, but there IS a formula. don't give up until you find what's right for you and what makes you feel good again!!

this is a good little book, but if you have read shomon's LIVING WELL WITH HYPOTHYROIDISM, much of what she says in THE THYROID DIET is word for word redundant. if i had to choose one book over the other, i would recommend skipping the diet book. just choose foods low on the glycemic index.

This book is well based in solid experience and research. It contains good pragmatic advice on dealing with low thyroid and metabolism. I have actually been able to lose some weight since consulting this book.

The book has good information. But the reason people like it is not because it is good. It is because it tells people what they want to hear- "It's not your fault you are overweight." People, admit it! LOVE to blame anything on their weight but them. This book gives people "proof" that they eat healthy and exercise and are still overweight! They get sympathy. That is why this book is so popular, because most of the info in it is pure sensational- scare tactics followed by words everyone wants to hear.
I was diagnosed with thyroid disorder at 14. I weigh less than 100 pounds and I eat alot for my weight. My thyroid has affected my moods and my hair, and possibly my weight, but I think people are eating a lot more than they want to admit, and then being sluggish and not feeling well makes them eat more, so I guess you could say "its the thyroid" but really it is the food.

This is one of the Best Book for all.
My best friend bought me this book and another book called The Truth About Caffeine : How Companies That Promote it Deceive Us and What We Can Do About It. Since he knows I quit black tea recently, he's been really wonderful helping me in cope with my mood swings. This book is a labor of love I loved the book and don't miss coffee one bit. Buy it here or visit CaffeineAwareness.org for more info.

This book was very helpful in covering all the basis of thyroid disease as it applies to daily life. I definetly was encouraging to read that I am not a horrible eater but that i am eating the wrong types of things that do not help in my thyroid struggles.

This book was filled with much needed information, it gives the reader hope with a little humor and fact. When I needed answers I looked in this book and there they were, the information will be used much more than just the one time read its also a great reference as well

I found this book to be an encyclopedia for the Hypothydroid Patient from A-Z. Very well written with all the latest information and available tests one needs for an optimal functioning Thyroid. I found the receipes quite interesting and different from anything I've ever cooked. Thank God, for Mary Shomon and the information she provides. An extremely helpful person who is very knowledgeable on the subject.

Mary Shomon once again explains life as a sufferer of thyroid disease, what it is all about and what it means to live this way. The special body chemistry of the hypo and hyper thyroid patient is used to create food plans that are usable. I have already seen progress in 3 weeks and I do feel better. My carbohydrate cravings are decreasing, my energy level is increasing, but most of all I don't feel my low metabolism is because of something I did....

I did not expect the book to be so marked up. Lots of notes and writing in the book. It was delivered quickly.

This book has taught me alot about the thyroid and it's function. Last year I joined a gym. I used the treadmill and got up to 4 miles an hour, 3-4 days a week and also used the Nautilus equipment. I watched what and when I ate and in four months could not lose more than 3 pounds. Very frustrating. I knew it had something to do with my hypothyroidism but wanted to learn more so I purchased this book. I'm still in the process of reading it but what I've read so far has enlightened me and reaffirmed my frustration. Basically, if you are afflicted with hypothyroidism and want to lose weight you will have to make a lifetime commitment to work twice as hard to lose it. Also, get a blood test early. Doctor's don't usually check this until you're in your fifties. I was diagnosed in my mid-forties AFTER being diagnosed with depression.

A well edited popular presentation on the metabolic aspect of thyroid illness. The author is well informed on the newest research on thyroid illness, and manages to present the message in a convincing and interesting way.

This book scared the life out of me! It started off good with a funny, easy to read first chapter that hit home...but then it went south. I was recently diagnosed as severely hypothyroid (even with treatments my numbers are still not good) but I do NOT have a significant weight problem. I have had the same 5-10 lbs on me for years that I would like to loose. And, I was hoping not to gain any more in light of this thyroid problem since thyroid and weight are so closely related. So, I bought this book thinking that I'd get some useful tips. Well, the book basically scared me to death - with how hopeless and depressing it is to be hypothyroid and overweight. She basically says only a tiny minority of thyroid patients can be thin, and even replacement therapy doesn't help. What?? I'm thin! I haven't even been on the hormone replacement until recently. I am incredibly paranoid now that "the pounds will just start coming on - up to 30 pounds in a month!" AHHHGH!! Are you kidding? She goes into painful details - one after the next - of people who just gained like 20 lbs overnight. There are frightening calculations that "if your metabolism slows by just X calories per day - that's 30 lbs per year! This is what hypothyroidism does to you." Ok - stop freaking me out - Ms. Shomon. That is not why I wanted this book and not really what this book purports to be. I wanted to "manage my metabolism for lasting weight loss" - not be depressed and freaked out. Maybe some people like this kind of thing because it explains why they are obeise and makes them feel that they are not alone, but I feel like it also is creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. I think I gained weight just reading this thing. She needs to be more specific about people who are hypothyroid and NOT obeise - what are they like? Are they men instead of women? Are they athletes? What do they do for excercise? What made them fall into this "lucky" group?

There is nothing new or thyroid specific in here. There is a 100 page overview of thyroid disease which only useful if you don't know you are hypothyroid (but one would think you do if you are buying "the THYROID diet") and then a few recipes that any diet cookbook can give you. She lists all the fad diets and says essentially: "Any of these might work - everyone is different. A combination will probably work best for you. You just have to experiment... At the end of the day, it is just diet and excercise." Yeah...that's helpful. If you have absolutely NO clue about thyroid disease, metabolism, or what "bad carbs" and "bad fats" are - then go ahead and buy this...

This book scared the life out of me! I was recently diagnosed as severely hypothyroid (even with treatments my numbers are still not good) but I do NOT have a significant weight problem. I have had the same 5-10 lbs on me for years that I would like to loose. And, I was hoping not to gain any more in light of this thyroid problem since thyroid and weight are so closely related. So, I bought this book thinking that I'd get some useful tips. Well, the book basically scared me to death - with how hopeless and depressing it is to be hypothyroid and overweight. She basically says only a tiny minority of thyroid patients can be thin, and even replacement therapy doesn't help. What?? I'm thin! I haven't even been on the hormone replacement until recently. I am incredibly paranoid now that "the pounds will just start coming on - up to 30 pounds in a month!" AHHHGH!! Are you kidding? She goes into painful details - one after the next - of people who just gained like 20 lbs overnight. There are frightening calculations that "if your metabolism slows by just X calories per day - that's 30 lbs per year! This is what hypothyroidism does to you." Ok - stop freaking me out - Ms. Shomon. That is NOT why I wanted this book and not really what this book purports to be. I wanted to "manage my metabolism for lasting weight loss" - not be depressed and freaked out. Maybe some people like this kind of thing because it explains why they are obeise and makes them feel that they are not alone, but I feel like it also is creating a self-fulfilling prophecy. I think I gained weight just reading this thing. She needs to be more specific about people who are hypothyroid and NOT obeise - what are they like? Are they men instead of women? Are they athletes? What do they do for excercise? What made them fall into this "lucky" group?

There is nothing new or thyroid specific in here. There is a 100 page overview of thyroid disease which is not useful and then a few recipes that any diet cookbook can give you. She lists all the fad diets and says essentially: "Any of these might work - everyone is different. A combination will probably work best for you. You just have to experiment... At the end of the day, it is just diet and excercise." Yeah...that's helpful. If you have absolutely NO clue about thyroid disease, metabolism, or what "bad carbs" and "bad fats" are - then go ahead and buy this... but skip the fear mongering chapters.

With the information in this book I have been able to understand in simple terms and learn ways to help myself to overcome some of the challenges that I have been experiencing for several years now. I really wish I had read this a long time ago. I highly recommend it.

After reading all 18 reviews posted here I find it disturbing that only one mentioned losing any weight. But to be fair,I don't know if it's right to negatively label this diet as a mish-mash of all other diets. Don't all diets share in common three basics. Proteins, fats and carbs? Unless sources for nutrition have radically changed from the norm then all diets are essentially working with these same three nutritional elements and some repetitiveness is to be expected. Could attention to the fine details of a diets contents help those of us with Thyroid problems to lose weight? I was hoping to discover that as an unbiased answer here before I bought the book. Back to reading in the isles of Barnes and Noble I guess.

if your diet consists of big macs, milkshakes and junk food, this book might be of some help to you. but if you already take care of yourself and eat a healthy diet, it doesn't provide any new information. it's all common sense -- cut the carbs, cut the fats, cut the calories. i have to agree with others who've reviewed it -- this is just a re-hash and mish mash of current diet philosophies. take the money you'd spend on this book and go take an exercise class! i didn't learn anything from this book that i hadn't already learned from my doctor.

I found the book very informative. Especially the vitamins that might help lose the belly fat and weight loss. I have invested in the CLA and have had to invest in calcium as I am on active duty right now and have already suffered a stress fracture due the time that I have had to be on my feet. I'm hypothyroid, have had a hysterectomy with everything taken but an ovary and would like to lose the belly fat and tone up in other places.

I also explains the adrenaline rushes I have at night after eating too much carbohydrates. Due to the long days at the office during this deployment to a warzone, there isn't much time to exercise and eat like a should.

The author reviews classic tests for the thyroid; such as,
nodule evaluation by blood test, the radioactive thyroid scan
and the thyroid ultrasound. Classic manifestations of thyroid
cancer are discussed. i.e. neck lumps, voice changes, breathing
and swallowing difficulties and lymphatic node swelling.

The TSH test is an important thyroid test tool with a problematic
reference range in excess of 2.5mIU/L. Classic thyroid problems
are with T4 cell production, T4 to T3 cellular conversion
and cellular absorption for T3 cells with regard to weight loss.
Important thyroid treatment modalities are probiotic pearl, zinc,
selenium, L-tyrosine, guggul and Omega 3 fish oil.

Food caloric intake is an important formula parameter:

Food calories= basal metabolism + calories expended with activity
+ calories expended in digestion

Classically, too many carbs cause an adverse insulin reaction.
Therefore, the endocrine system experiences imbalances due to
diabetes and leptin resistance. Certain foods promote goiter
formation. These are broccoli, kale, millet, soy, brussel sprouts and mustard. A single muscle can take up to 50 calories per day
to maintain. Fluoride levels should be kept to below 4,5 mg/ day
for optimal thyroid functioning.

This volume provides good advice for persons having thyroid
issues either hyper or hypothyroidism, as well as metabolic
issues. The book is a good value for the price charged.

I really am glad I found Mary Shoman's "Thyroid Diet" book. I have been hypothyroid for a few years, and I never had a weight problem in the past. But the weight creeped up and by the time they diagnosed me, I had gained something like 40 pounds. (I never found out the final #, cause I wouldn't even look at the scale at my highest. UGH!) I felt awful, and I tried every single diet program out there, I did no-carb, I did low-fat, I did low-cal, and I just kept gaining weight, or I didn't lose anything.

It was ridiculous. My doctor said that my thyroid had nothing to do with anything, but I knew, I just KNEW that my thyroid had something to do with it, because, for goodness sake, I never had an extra pound on me until the thyroid problems started up and I started with hypothyroidism.

A friend of mine who is also hypothyroid told me that she had some success following some things she'd read from Mary Shoman at her website, and so I decided to get this book. It's been a real godsend, because for the first time in about 5 years, I've actually been consistently losing weight. First it was just a few pounds, really slow, but I LOST!!! I've started taking a couple of vitamins that she recommends, and I think that's helping too, but the overall diet is what's making the difference. I'm eating, but I finally feel like I'm eating the RIGHT things, and believe me, you can go spend 7 a week, or 20 a month, or 2000 a year at a local weight loss program, but if you don't lose weight and you tell them you have a thyroid problem, they're going to tell you you're not "doing the program right." And Shoman doesn't tell you that...she knows how the thyroid affects weight, and she explains it, she interviewed doctors who also talk about leptin, and metabolism, and the impact of thyroid on blood sugar, timing of food, and the best thyroid medicines and such...all things I think are what helped me sort of break the "losing streak" I had at weight loss! I even had a blood sugar test I read about in the book, and the doctor says I could be headed for pre-diabetes, so I definitely am doing the right thing by losing weight!

There is definitely no magic diet cure -- wish there WAS!! -- with a thyroid problem or otherwise, but I feel like with Thyroid Diet, I at least have a fighting chance to figure out what foods, calorie levels, supplements, and other sorts of approaches might actually make a difference for me.

I really recommend this book. I got it January of 2005, and as of April, I'm already down 20 pounds!!!

Can't argue with success, right? ;-)

I just wanted to say how much I appreciate everything that Mary Shomon does for those of us with thyroid disease. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism about a year and a half ago. I bought her hypothyroidism book to help me learn more about this disease and what it's all about. I found out that there are even people in my family who had it, and didn't know it! It probably explains why most of us are overweight, too. There is tons of valuable information that most doctors don't even know about in her books, but the hardest part for me is finding a decent doctor to help me with my thyroid problem. But hopefully, with the information I have, it's going to be different from now on.

So now, I'm tackling that part, and doing the Thyroid Diet. I'm so glad to know that I am not the only one having trouble losing weight since my thyroid problem. I finally feel validated. No matter what I did I haven't been able to lose the weight, but I've started the diet, and began a weight program and walking exercise schedule, and FINALLY began losing weight.I started in March, and just in a month, I lost 6 lbs, which is unheard of for me. I also started the CLA, Lean for Less, hoodea and cinammon that she talks about, and am taking them faithfully...I do believe the combination of products have given me an added boost.

I am glad to finally find someone who understands my frustrations! I will continue reading and I like getting all of the info I can on thyroid issues.

--KK

This is not a book for people who have gained weight due to a thyroid condition. I had my entire Thyroid removed a year ago and have gained twenty five pounds prior to the operation and that was in less than six months.
This book only offers popular diet plans that are already available to the general public that have gained weight the old fashion way, through eating too much and not exercising enough or at all. Needless to say I am very dissapointed.
In my entire life I have never gained so much weight and it's not due to my diet or lack of exercise. For me this is not a normal condition that can be cured with a low carb salad.
I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone with a REAL THYROID CONDITION and plan on donating it to the Library.
I saw a news story about a Veterinarian who totally cured a monkey of any thyroid symptoms and I'm hoping that one day a human Doctor will be smart enough to figure out something for humans because there's nothing in this book that will.