The fact is, most diets work. . . if you stick to them. With Lean for Life, I was never hungry. And I saw results quickly. That is key. There is nothing worse than trying hard at losing weight only to get on the scale the next morning and see that you’ve gained a pound or two. Ugh.

It is also important to exercise. Last year I stopped exercising all together (I had been following the same routine for over ten years and was bored silly). I also went on a 40 day fast. When I came off my fast, my metabolism went crazy and I gained weight like no one’s business.

So this year I started P90 and went back to LFL at the beginning of July. So far I’ve lost 11 lbs after the 2nd week and I am building muscle, stamina and flexibility. I love it, especially all the variation.

For those of you who struggle with weight, you must understand that getting and staying “lean for life” is a lifetime commitment. In the daily choices you make, you must understand the ramifications, especially in regards to food (although this applies to all areas of life).

So if you’re looking for a weight loss program, this one works. Stick to it like glue and find an exercise program you enjoy, something that includes a combination of cardio, stretching and strength training. And most importantly, write everything down that you eat. EVERYTHING!
Rating: 5 / 5

I first purchased this book because I wanted to lose ten to fifteen pounds and my cousin had been using the program. I lost 8 pounds in the first two weeks, but then went to visit my boyfriend for a few days and pretty much ate whatever I wanted and more. During this time I gained back all of the weight.

I was skeptical of the entire procedure from the beginning, as it employs the controversial low-carb/high-protein diet and causes its participants to go into ketosis. Though I felt good about losing weight, the fact that I was told I needed to take a number of supplements and drink an outrageous amount of water in order to avoid negative effects of the diet was a red flag. Halfway into it I invested in a potassium supplement because I was experiencing the dizziness and slight muscle cramping they warn against in the book as being the result of possible potassium deficiences.

I had previously made a deal with myself that after the three day binge while visiting my boyfriend I would reinstate self-control and get back on the diet; however, I couldn’t in good conscience get back on a diet that was so much in opposition to everything I had learned about nutrition up until that point. I had wanted the instant gratification of quick weight loss and was thus dismissive of the facts. But I had had it with feeling guilty for eating healthy whole grains or delicious spinach salads with pecans or one whole banana, and I’d be damned if I went one more day throwing my intestines into an upheaval from lack of fiber that wasn’t powdered and from a plastic container. Finally, I allowed Common Sense to reign again and decided that any diet which allows no more than one grain and one fruit serving per day is madness. Plain foolish.

P. S. I LOVE carbohydrates. So take that, Cynthia!
Rating: 1 / 5