Giveaway Post: Younger (Thinner) You Diet

I don't read many diet and/or fitness books. It's not that I don't think they have value; it's more that there are so many, each with its own set of experts and studies to prove their theories. Lacking a degree in bio-anything, I'm often left scratching my head wondering just who's right and how right they might be.

Two of the diet/fitness books I do have are from Rodale (8 Minutes in the Morning by Jorge Cruise and Eat This Not That by David Zinczenko, with Matt Goulding), and I enjoyed both of those, so when the kind folks Rodale contacted me offering a copy of of Younger (Thinner) You Diet by Eric R. Braverman, MD for a giveaway, I gratefully accepted.

I didn't read this book (merely skimmed it), but it seems well-organized and easy to read. The basic premise is that obesity is fundamentally a brain chemical imbalance that can be treated successfully with a combined approach of diet, nutrients, and hormones. Four critical brain chemicals--dopamine, acetylcholine, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and serotonin--and how they affect aging, weight loss, and health are discussed in detail, and recommendations and guidelines for ensuring optimum balance of these chemicals are provided.

In my not-reading-but-skimming session, it seemed to me that the nutritional recommendations are similar to those many of us follow (make that "mostly follow" for some of us): avoid sugar, choose lean protein and fiber-rich foods, drink water, eat fruits and vegetables, etc. In that regard, there wasn't much new for me here. What was a nice twist was the rather significant emphasis on using spices as a nutritional supplement. There are even tasty-looking recipes and shopping lists included!

One aspect of this book that makes me uncomfortable is that it includes suggestions for using bioidentical hormones. My discomfort is not in using these hormones, but in my lack of knowledge in this area. Given the recent controversy on the subject, I don't think it's something to be approached hastily. I do like that the author suggests talking to your doctor first, before following that path.

There is, of course, a chapter devoted to exercise, with recommendations for strength training (emphasizing weight-bearing exercise--yaaay!) along with aerobic activity. Again, though, not much new if you've been immersed in this for a couple of years. :)

If I had more time, I'd definitely read this book in greater depth and research some of the new-to-me concepts. It is well-written and easy to follow, even for someone who doesn't have a degree in bio-anything.

Should you be intrigued and want to explore Younger (Thinner) You Diet further, just leave me a 'count me in' comment below! (Oh, and I'm sorry to report that you should also live in the U.S.) I'll accept entries through midnight (US Central) Wednesday, July 1st and then use the random number generator to choose our winner!