The G.I. Diet: The Easy, Healthy Way to Permanent Weight Loss by Rick Gallop Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The G.I. Diet: The Easy, Healthy Way to Permanent Weight Loss
Book Review: If I followed this I would feel deprived
Summary: 2 Stars
While I think the basics of the book are good, I don't like how fat-free items are treated as always being the best option. I did much better on the South Beach Diet, where good fats in moderation is emphasized as well as natural foods. Fat is what makes us feel satisfied. After years of trying to diet by limiting fat, it was a revelation to me I could lose weight without feeling hungry and deprived. An omelette made of egg whites and fat-free cheese is not at all satisfying and not necessary. Secondly, many foods are altered in a negative way to make them low-fat. I just noticed this week that Cool Whip lite has high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated vegetable oil as two of it's top ingredients. This can't be better for you than actual cream. I also prefer the book "French Woman Don't Get Fat", which emphasizes enjoying food by eating smaller portions of good, natural food when it's in season. The pleasure of good food makes you stop thinking diet and start thinking about lifestyle. I feel that the G.I Diet is oversimplified and written to appeal to an audience that has never thought about eating right before. I think this book is about the mechanics of healthy eating when the cause of overeating is a lot more complicated. It certainly can help get people on the right track, but I think there are better books available. Book Review: Common Sense Eating
Summary: 5 Stars
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is well written, organized and concise. After finishing it, I had a much better grasp on what I should do to eat my way to good health. Book Review: Skinny me!
Summary: 5 Stars
Dandy book. If I were any thinner, I'd only be one dimension!Book Review: Essential Reading
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a book where the word 'diet' corresponds to the dictionary definition of 'a person's normal way of eating' - rather than simply a way of losing weight (although that is a natural side-effect). This is a book that is so practical that it would sit well as a standard text in every school in the country. Gallop emphatically DOESN'T want you to go out and buy branded products, supplements or strange ingredients. He DOESN'T insist on ridiculous food combinations, exclusions, point-counting, carb-counting, calorie-counting or complicated rules. This is a book for everyone, any age, any condition, who wants to eat more healthily.
Whereas many diet book authors fall into a rather unfortunate Messianic tone when putting their point across Rick Gallop's approach is more 'enthusiastic tutor'. He clearly explains the established biology behind the diet and how using GI principles will reduce cravings for sugary foods, tackle the problem of over-eating and improve your general health and well-being. His style is friendly and approachable and the content really doesn't claim to be ground-breaking or controversial in the slightest. Some looking for a dietary 'magic wand' might find this absence of smoke and mirrors disappointing - I found it immensely reassuring. Importantly, his recommendations are endorsed by the medical profession and the GI Diet is increasingly being advocated as a useful tool in the treatment of obesity, diabetes, PCOS, Syndrome X and insulin resistance.
Every home should have a copy.
Book Review: It just makes sense
Summary: 4 Stars
I've been somewhat frustrated as of these past couple years as I've been having trouble trying to trim down in the hip/waist area. Reason being that I exercise 5x/week (at least 30 minutes of cardio + weights) and have been pretty good about my what I eat. I'm not an overweight person, but do have problems in the areas as written above.
So I gave this diet a shot and got results much sooner that I had thought (i.e. w/in the week). My waist is much flatter and pants are starting to fit like they used to. Almost too good in that I'm starting to lose weight in areas that I don't want (i.e. legs).
In addition to cutting the fat, this diet emphasizes the problem w/ simple sugars and processed, refined foods/grains. These are easy to digest and are dumped into the bloodstream quickly. As a consequence, the body is saturated w/ more sugar than it needs and will place it into storage for later use (i.e. fat cells). Insulin is pretty good about transporting this sugar spike and you will be left hungry shortly --> leading to snacking, overeating.
This diet is a timed-release diet, if you will. D/t the fiber content of the green light foods, glucose is released at a gradual rate into the bloodstream. This eliminates any cravings for snacks as there's a constant supply of energy/food content in the body for a longer period of time as opposed to simple sugars.
This diet is almost perfect. The pro's: it's works! It's overall a better way to take care of yourself. It cuts down on cholesterol and likely prevents type II diabetes. Most important, it's a complete diet: I really like how this diet doesn't cut out on nutrients that the body has to have (i.e. Atkins diet).
The cons: GI diet food can be hard to find when it comes to eating/going out. Following this diet can be hard at times d/t decreased availability. Ex: being of Asian descent, brown rice or whole wheat just doesn't happen when we have family gatherings or eat out. Only options are piling on the extra vegetables if those are even available.
-Not necessarily a con, but a caution. People on this diet will have to keep their water up. This is important in that less water and lots of fiber can cause constipation or at worst obstuction. Water is important to keep fiber rich foods moving along the GI tract.
- Also, it doesn't take too much to make the weight come back. A weekend binge can redeposit the fat almost instantaneously.
But overall, I'm very happy about my results and oh yes, the book itself. Thorough enough, very easy to follow. I highly recommend Mr. Gallop's ideas/way of life!