The Calorie, Carb & Fat Bible 2007
REVIEW: by Lyndel Costain BSc RD
The Calorie, Carb and Fat Bible
By Juliette Kellow and Rebecca Walton
What’s the theory?
No gimmicks here. The calorie, carb and fat bible shoots
straight from the hip with the plain facts about weight loss.
Liposuction aside, you can only lose weight if you consume fewer
calories than you burn. And this clear and comprehensive book
gives you the tools to count calories and eat the right amount
to lose weight healthily – and for life.
What does the diet involve?
The diet involves ‘taking control of calories’. The bulk of
the book is a calorie (and carbohydrate, fat and fibre) counter
for 21,000 foods, including popular foods eaten out. Calorie
information is provided per 100g and per average portion. It
also contains reference charts for personal calorie needs for
different rates of weight loss, and weight maintenance.
Using the provided food diary you simply write down
everything you eat, work out the calorie content and aim to keep
to your chosen calorie target. You can also earn extra calories
to spend on food by doing more exercise; tools are provided to
help you.
This means you decide what you eat and can include favourite
foods (and not feel deprived) rather than try to follow
complicated diet rules – that never last for long! And to make
sure your diet is healthy and balanced, simple pointers about
portion sizes, food groups and healthy proportions are provided.
How much weight will I lose?
Up to 1 to 2 pounds a week, which is the healthy rate to lose
weight.
What else does the book include?
It also comes with guidance on how to assess your weight,
facts about weight loss and top tips for getting started,
keeping on going and then keeping the weight off.
Lyndel’s verdict
This is a refreshing, no-nonsense guide for healthy weight
control. Any diet, no matter what it might promise, is simply a
set of rules that helps you to consume fewer calories than you
burn.
The Bible puts you in control and will also help people who
are eating healthily but still can’t shift the pounds – they
will you see how important portion sizes are, and how each
little nibble here and there, really adds up.
The book itself could have more practical detail about
overcoming problem areas and being more active. I would also
like to see mention of the benefits of aiming to lose 10% of
your weight, at least as a first step. Evidence suggests that
for most people this is both very beneficial and realistic. But
overall this is great book to have as part of your long-term
weight control tool kit. I am glad it is now part of mine!
Get your copy of
The Calorie, Carb and Fat Bible from Diet and Fitness
Resources and save £2. Alternatively, try calorie
counting online with Weight Loss Resources, you can
Try it Free for 24 hours. |
