 Science-Based Weight Loss Strategies That Just Plain Work! |
| Review Date: September 25, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Livin' La Vida Low-Carb Man, Spartanburg, SC |
Get your motor running, head out on the highway, looking for adventure, and whatever comes my way! I feel the need, the need for S.P.E.E.D.! It's not everyday you have the opportunity to get wild and enthusiastic about something like weight loss, but this book from nutrition and fitness experts Jeff Thiboutot and Matt Schoeneberger does just that. Unlike so many other diet books that are out there, this one takes into account a myriad of reasons why weight can go up and down including the biological, psychological and social issues involved. It's a short book by design and these guys have really done their homework.
With key references from science backing up each chapter of the book, Thiboutot and Schoeneberger methodically go through what they believe are the most essential elements of attaining the weight loss goals you desire. Obvious areas like exercise and diet come into play along with adequate sleep, an environment conducive for producing weight loss, and all the mental aspects of this process that are too often ignored. And for those people who like to have things broken down for them, there's a convenient "Do this..." section at the beginning of each chapter that outlines exactly what you need to do to implement this strategy into your life in just a few short bullet points.
My primary area of interest is on diet since I was able to shed 180 pounds in 2004 on a nutritional approach that is outside the mainstream of conventional thought, but yet it was incredibly effective for producing weight loss and outstanding health for me. Not surprisingly, I flipped over to Chapter 6 to see what the authors had to say about this and was thrilled by what I saw. They recommend eating real food that is low-carb, moderate-protein, and high-fat about 2-4 times daily or even every other day with an intermittent fasting strategy to get the weight down. The authors are fully convinced of the science behind low-carb diets and of their long-term safety based on the evidence they have seen in research studies as well as their own clients. I especially enjoyed them taking on the "high-protein" and ketosis concerns that are bantered about by the so-called health "experts" and in media reports about low-carb.
For all you lovers of conventional wisdom, be sure to check out the "Common Weight Loss Myths" chapter where Thiboutot and Schoeneberger take on some of the most embraced concepts about shedding that pounds...that are DEAD WRONG! Topics like a slow metabolism, eating lots of small meals throughout the day, eating late makes you gain weight, doing lots of cardio to lose weight, and so much more. There's a lot of junk information floating around out there in the minds of people because they've been fed this garbage for many years. This book hopes to debunk much of that misinformation.
Although this book is called S.P.E.E.D., don't think that the authors are promoting a super-duper fast weight loss plan that will shed something crazy like 30 pounds in 30 days off of your body. However, unlike the common notion that weight loss must be slow, they realize that's not true either. Shedding 3-6 pounds a week is entirely possible on a plan like this and I saw that in my own experience when I weighed over 400 pounds. The weight will come off quickly and then slow down appropriately as your body weight drops. And that's a beautiful thing! Don't believe the hype of shows like "The Biggest Loser" which make you think you need to lose double-digits every single week. It's not realistic to expect that to happen.
A full checklist of things to do is provided for you in this book, including a week's worth of sample menus, tips, reminders, and workouts. I truly believe if you read this short and concise book (it'll only take you a couple of hours) and implement the strategies Thiboutot and Schoeneberger share, then you will be well on your way to becoming the healthy and fit person you have always dreamed of being. Their intense focus on evidence-based solutions and not just scientific propaganda is one of the most refreshing things I've seen in a long time. |
Excellent summary of the real science behind weight loss
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| Review Date: October 30, 2009 |
| Reviewer: T. Naughton, California |
If you're a fan of Good Calories, Bad Calories but have a hard time convincing your loved ones to wade through the heavy-duty science to get the message, this is a good book to give them instead -- or give it to yourself, if you don't like wrapping your head around words like "lipoprotein lipase" and "esterification." You can read SPEED in an afternoon and get a quick, scientifically-sound education about what works and what doesn't when it comes to health and weight loss.
As someone who's read a ton of books and scientific literature about health nutrition, I tend to worry when I see Bachelor Science in Nurtition after an author's name: here comes the brain-dead parroting about the evils of saturated fat and all that. But I'm pleased to say Jeff Thiboutot and Matt Schoeneberger, who between them hold several degrees in fields like nutrition, psychology and exercise science, have actually done their research. Pretty much everything they state in the book is followed by a string of citations from scientific journals -- so if you do enjoy jumping head-first into the science, you can look it up.
The scientific evidence presented in each chapter is neatly summarized, straightforward, and easy to digest. You're not going to learn intricate details about biochemistry or metabolic pathways from this book -- but again, that's the point. You can think of it as a case of "We did the heavy lifting, so you don't have to."
And it's clear that Thiboutot and Schoeneberger know how to separate the good science from the bad. One of my favorite sections of the book is actually an appendix that gives an overview of the Scientific Method and explains the differences among various levels of scientific evidence -- or what the authors call The Great, The Good, The Bad and The Absolutely Worthless.
Much of the nutrition reporting that appears the media is based on studies (and I use the term loosely) that fall into the last two categories. More than a few health and nutrition reporters need to read this book ... or at least be smacked over the head with it. |
I can't tell you how much I love this book....
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| Review Date: January 28, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Laura Owen, Norcross, GA United States |
| I agree with a previous reviewer - if you liked Good Calories, Bad Calories or always wanted to read it but didn't have the time then this is the book to read. It is still backed up with solid research, but it is concise, to the point, and includes only what you need to know. I can tell you from my own experience that these guys are giving you solid information and, more importantly, it works. Pick your carbs well, eat healthy fats and protein, train hard and short, and SLEEP! That is weight loss in a nutshell. Highly recommend this book. |
SUPPORTED BY THE SCIENCE!
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| Review Date: February 5, 2010 |
| Reviewer: L. Cagnassola, NYC |
Why do you want to read S.P.E.E.D?
The authors, Jeff Thiboutot and Matt Schoenberger offer valuable information in a clean, precise and easy to read format - Just the facts. Want more? They provide that too! This is precisely what makes S.P.E.E.D. different from most other weight loss books on the market today. If you want to learn where the information comes from, the authors offer a reference section after each chapter so that you, the reader can verify the actual research science that supports the information.
The authors understand that the obstacles to weight loss are not simply calories. After reading this book you'll have a clearer understanding of what may be getting in the way of your weight loss along with a variety of solutions for your lifestyle. You'll learn about many common weight loss myths that many people have come to believe as truths. For those who may already have the facts there is still much to be gleaned from S.P.E.E.D. Thiboutot & Schoenberger recognize that simply having the correct knowledge will not shed the pounds and provide a psychology chapter to help motivate the reader to turn the logic into action. The chapter begins with a wonderful quote from the Dhammapada that illustrates their point; : "However many words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do if you do not act upon them?" Act now - get this book.
Laurie Cagnassola
Director, Nutrition & Metabolism Society
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On target nutrition book
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| Review Date: February 16, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Dr. Richard D. Feinman, Brooklyn, NY United States |
A small gem of a book. It is doubtful that it is, "The only weight-loss book worth reading," but it might be a must-have. In fact, it has good references to follow up on. It is surprisingly authoritative, accurate and high on practical application. Surprising because the book is (intentionally, according to the authors) relatively short and not particularly glitzy compared to a lot of weight-loss books. Admitting that calorie restriction is required for weight loss, the book emphasizes the need to reduce carbohydrate as the most effective means to calorie restriction as well as the inherent metabolic benefits. The authors barely mention low fat strategies which , in my view, have to be considered pretty much dead. (They do however, answer the objections of the lipophobes, as Michael Pollan calls them). Beyond food, however, SPEED covers many areas of overall eating behavior. The book gets right to the heart of the matter, explaining right off that overweight per se is not a health risk (that's what the data show) but giving, at the same time, the many reasons for losing weight -- essentially the things that make you fat are, in parallel, unhealthy. The authors dismiss (with references) the highly negative and unsupported claim that yo-yo dieting is bad or that dieting leads to ultimate overeating -- do you ever get the feeling that diet "experts" are actually trying to discourage you from losing weight ? -- and by the end of the first chapter you have good perspective. There are chapters on sleep and psychology which are quite good (high praise for anything on psychology). On exercise, a truth is told: exercise is a really good idea but don't expect great weight loss unless associated with diet. There is the obligate chapter Common Weight Loss Myths and the list is as good as any. It is, however, the overall reliance on real evidence n that makes this book a real winner.
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