Healthy Weight Loss Diet Plan: Dr. Shapiro's Picture Perfect Weight Loss 30 Day Plan [Hardcover] Review

Carmelized scallops on a bed of asparagus with plum tomatoes. Rice with artichoke sauce. A sliver of bread. Followed by a small scoop of lite chocolate ice cream with 2 plump strawberries dipped in chocolate.
All washed down with a fine burgandy wine.
Just a typical meal on "Dr. Shapiro's Weight Loss 30 Day Plan." The 30 day plan walks you day by day into a slimmer, healthier you. Part 1 focuses on how everyone from children to the elderly can benefit from "Picture Perfect" eating. Part II includes 4 weeks of developing a healthier lifestyle. Chapters include; Lets Go Shopping, Focus on Breakfast, A New View of Lunch and Snacks, Whats for Dinner, Lets Eat Out and Celebrate. Part III of the book includes information to make the eating plan a lifelong habit.
I discovered Dr. Shapiro's first book, "Picture Perfect Weight Loss" some years ago. In his first book and this one, he gives side by side visual pictures of food choices.
I thought the book was interesting, but couldn't see how it would really help you lose weight. After all there are many more food choices then the ones shown in his book.
BUT after trying a number of weight loss plans and ending up well with more extra pounds than ever I decided to actually try the program.
To my amazement it works. The pounds are sliding off with ease and I LOVE eating this way. It is definately a program I can follow for my life. The core of the program is FAT (food awareness training). You don't have to worry about counting fats, sugar, carbs, proteins, or calories. But you have to be aware of the calories in the foods you eat.
In the book, Dr. Shapiro shows picture comparisons of foods. For example he says you can have 1 soft pretzel at 480 calories OR you could have 4 boxes of Cracker Jacks for the same amount. You could eat 1 pint of premium ice cream OR 4 pints of sorbet, or 42 low cal. mousse bars. Dr. Shapiro does not expect you to eat 42 low cal bars of course. What he is saying is if you make the lower calorie choice you will not need as much to fill up and hence you will lose weight.
Well most of us know that eating fewer calories equals weight loss. BUT the caloric values of foods sink in better when you see pictures that give you a choice of food items such as one slice of zucchini bread at 580 calories versus eating 1 box strawberries, 1 honeydew melon, 1 nectarine, 3 apricots, 3/4lb grapes, 1 box blackberries, 1 roll (also 580 calories for all).
What you do is apply this knowledge. You don't have to count calories as I mentioned earlier. But by becoming aware of the calories in food items (by reading labels, etc) and frequently making the lower caloric choices in your every day life, you will lose weight. The visual pictures in the book will help hammer calorie differences home.
When I saw that I could eat 1 pint of rice for 440 calories or eat 8 boiled new potatoes, 1 baked sweet potato and 1 ear of corn. It was a no brainer. Now as I go throughout my day I think of my choices and choose the lower calorie food.
If I want junk food I eat a tootsie pop at 60 calories which lasts a lot longer than gummy candy at 100 calories per oz.
If I want a sweet desert I don't think I will be good by grabbing the tiny piece of lemon tart (450 calories) but know that I can either have the large piece of chocolate cake I really want for the same 450 calories or elect to have a lower calorie choice like a frozen mousse pop (40 calories) or chocolate dipped strawberries (about 10 calories each).
I find I can eat more of less caloric food, enjoy my choices and lose weight.
The plan works well for me. By making small changes the weight is coming off. The one drawback I see though for many folks is that Dr. Shapiro suggests eating veggie protein items instead of real steak, pork, burger etc.
Since I don't eat red meat anyway, for me its not a problem. Many of his clients also have no trouble making the switch.
But I imagine that others who have strong hankerings for meat would have difficultly. But the beauty of the program is you don't have to give up any food. You just should be aware of the choices you are making and make wise ones that will allow you to meet your goals. If you want a high calorie chunk of meat, by all means eat it, just make lower calorie choices throughout the day.
I love this method of weight loss. No more deprivation,or counting. Just becoming aware and making wise choices!

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Product Description:
"I feel the weight loss when I'm climbing stairs. My knees are saying, 'Thank you, thank you.'"
--Lt. Larry Quinn, Jr., New York Fire Department

Dr. Shapiro was appointed Honorary Medical Officer of the New York Fire Department and member of The Honor Legion of the Police Department for helping New York's Bravest and Finest lose a total of 2,544 pounds. Imagine what his 30-Day Plan can do for you!

You saw him on Good Morning America, The View, and 48 Hours. Now you can try Dr. Shapiro's nationally acclaimed weight-control plan for yourself.

Dr. Shapiro's best-selling Picture Perfect Weight Loss opened the eyes of thousands of readers to his unique "look and lose" visual system that revolutionized the idea of dieting. Here, Dr. Shapiro makes his remarkable approach even more effective-- by providing a step-by-step 30-day eating plan that can jumpstart your own weight-control program.

In this groundbreaking plan, field-tested by hundreds of Dr. Shapiro's clients, there are no forbidden foods and there is no rigid menu. Each week, Dr. Shapiro targets another meal-- including special occasions, celebrations, and eating out-- and provides visual cues leading you straight to the healthier choice.

At the heart of Dr. Shapiro's eating plan are 115 new, dramatic food comparisons. Once seen, these demos are never forgotten, so you don't need to memorize numbers or weigh portions. To make things even easier, Dr. Shapiro presents his new Picture-Perfect Weight Loss Food Pyramid for an instant visual guide to better choices. You'll find expert advice and weight-control strategies for kids, teens, and seniors, and you'll even learn what to eat at birthday parties, picnics, and baseball games. Finally, you'll enjoy the "Bite or Burn" comparisons, showing you how many hours of exercise you will need to "burn" off the calories from foods you have chosen to "bite."

Each week, you substitute some new foods for your high-calorie favorites, increase your exercise, and focus on an emotional issue that might be holding you back. You also keep track of feelings and food choices in your food diary, and before you know it, the pounds are falling off-- and staying off.

To help you on your journey, there are dozens of real-life tips from the New York City Fire and Police Departments and the people in the locked house featured on Good Morning America. You'll find "before" and "after" diaries, a week of menu plans, and even a few recipes.

This book marks the end of deprivation dieting and a lifetime of healthy weight control.