FAT Balance Diet: 10 Steps to Weight Loss Freedom (Paperback) Review

NOTE:I received a free review copy of this book directly from the author.

Don't let the title of this book fool you--this is not a "diet" book.Rather, author Kevin Jones presents a comprehensive, step-by-step approach to weight loss which incorporates changes to both diet AND exercise.The "F.A.T." in the title of the book is actually an acronym which refers to Frequency, Amount, and Type.Again, this is applied to both diet (e.g., frequency of food intake, amount of portions, and types of foods consumed) and exercise (frequency of working out, amount or length of each exercise session, and types of activities included in the fitness program).Throughout the book, Jones emphasizes the concept of achieving FAT Balance in order to attain the desired results.

The first five chapters, or Steps 1-5 of the program, focus mainly on motivational issues.Jones talks about identifying your key motivations for weight loss, avoiding the promises of instant weight loss gratification (or what he calls "weight loss fantasies"), recognizing the basic rules of weight loss, and finally, taking charge of and making a commitment to your weight loss.To be honest, I found much of this information to be a bit redundant, but that may be because 1) I am not actively trying to lose weight myself, and 2) I was already very familiar with the basic nutritional and fitness concepts presented (e.g., Body Mass Index, Resting Heart Rate, etc.).

Step 6 is where Jones finally begins to get into the heart of his theory.This is where he first talks about the FAT Balance technique in greater depth, applying this strategy to making dietary changes.Although some of the information which Jones provides appears in other diet books, such as his healthy substitutions chart, it is his emphasis on striking a balance between frequency of eating, amount of food, and type of food that is unique.In the following chapter, Step 7, Jones applies the FAT Balance theory to exercise as well.He makes a distinction between Primary Exercise--natural physical activity that everyone does each day--and Supplemental Exercise, which usually means specific cardio and strength training work.Altering either of these in your routine accounts for the "T" in the FAT Balance; Jones provides five total combinations of FAT that are considered effective physical activity.In Step 8, Jones explains how to use the Fat Balance program in three Phases:Launch, Connect, and Cruise.Although there is some very helpful information in this chapter, such as the Hunger Scale, I think that readers might find the various formulas for determining their Connect Weight, RMR, and more to be unnecessarily complicated.The final two steps/chapters center around enjoying and maintaining your weight loss by personalizing the program to meet your own needs.

To better explain the ideas presented in each chapter, Jones introduces 10 fictional characters.Each of these characters represents one of the steps on the path to weight management.For example, Gina is Step 1, Get Motivated; twins Isobel and Iris come later, to illustrate Improve Diet and Increase Activity, respectively; and finally, Mary is presented in the last chapter as an example of how to Maintain Your Weight Loss.In general, the use of these characters is fairly effective, as it allows Jones to provide personalized examples and makes for more engaging reading.I did think that Jones took the idea a bit too far, however, in that he included a 12-page Epilogue with "where are they now?" stories for each character--this seemed somewhat ridiculous to me given that their stories were entirely made up.Similarly, I thought it made little sense to have the included recipes (about 50 total) organized by character; I would have much preferred to have ALL the recipes organized by type.On the other hand, I did have the opportunity to try one of the recipes, for "Mouth Watering Oven Fried Fish," and it was quite good, even meeting with my husband's approval.

Overall, this book is definitely a worthwhile read for someone wanting a comprehensive approach to weight loss.The FAT Balance concept is a solid, easy-to-apply strategy which will assist the reader with making the necessary life-long changes in the areas of both diet and exercise in order to achieve permanent weight loss.Although I did find the author's use of fictional characters to be a bit over-the-top at times, they do help to make the book easier to read and to add interest.If you want to lose weight and need a motivational boost, then I would recommend this book.

Click Here to see more reviews about: FAT Balance Diet: 10 Steps to Weight Loss Freedom (Paperback)

Product Description:
When was the last time you read a diet book from cover to cover because it made you smile, laugh, and shout with joy? Kevin Jones provides a solution for lasting weight loss that is easy, effective and entertaining. FAT Balance Diet is uniquely communicated using humorous fictional characters to demonstrate a step-by-step action plan for stress-free weight management. Includes over 50 easy, delicious recipes.

Buy cheap FAT Balance Diet: 10 Steps to Weight Loss Freedom (Paperback) now