Why We Get Fat And What To Do About It - Book Review

As many of my readers know, I came about the low carb lifestyle through my doctor.  I had gained too much over too short a period of time for her comfort that she suggested it.  Over a 14 month period, I lost 50 lbs.  I had needed to lose 22 lbs., but the lifestyle was so easy, I just continued and achieved a healthy, normal weight for my frame.

For many years, my days and my goals were mainly mandated by someone else's schedule.  It's called working, or for many people, overworking.  During the last several months, I've been enjoying my schedule since I stepped back from the corporate life.  I have after 18 years, two kids, too many mortgage refinances to count, finally have the chance to actually read something not related to a corporations goals, but related to mine.

One of my low carb coaching participants who has a great thirst for knowledge on all things low carb shared a great book with me written by Gary Taubes, called Why We Get Fat And What To Do About It.  Gary writes about the science of diet, shares the history of how we have gotten to our recommended food pyramid and why it's difficult for the medical community to whole heartily recommend the low carb lifestyle when they certainly should be.

If you are a history buff, you will enjoy the background he provides on the very first low carb diets. The shorthand version is that the low carb lifestyle is not a fad, it's been around for a very long time. Bursting the myths of not eating fat and calories in: calories out balance will make you thinner is something that should be taught in elementary school.  Anyone who believes in these two core areas of thinking, should read the book.

What is evidently stressed is that SUGAR is bad and starch should be avoided.  He has direct ties back to the core epidemics plaguing world health today - obesity and diabetes.   Hmmm, the two things I was on the brink of being before I started my low carb lifestyle change.  

The author shares results of testings conducted by universities, namely Stanford and Duke.   Stanford who compared the low carb diet to several low calorie and vegetarian diets and found that low carb had the best results and the most sustained results.  Duke came to such a resoundingly successful findings on the benefit of low carb that they have their own list of foods and guidelines for getting started on a no sugar, no starch diet.

My key benefit was reaffirmation that I am indeed, heading in the right direction.

Happy Carb Counting!