Author: Dr. Mike Moreno
Publisher: Free Press, an Imprint of Simon and Schuster -242 pages
Book Review by: Laxmi Chaandi
To get a range of comments – positive, negative, in-between – on this book, one would have to go on the Internet, and readers can do that after reading this review.
As part of this book, we find a lot of positive remarks on its back cover by people who are or were on the author’s 17-day diet. A sampling below of some questions I had in mind as I started to read it, and comments relevant to those questions is given below.
The comments really help as part of this review because the effectiveness of this weight-loss plan in this type of book is the real review, not the way the book is written.
Has this diet plan helped people lose weight? Do they feel hungry or lack energy by being on it? Here is a comment on that:
“I am so excited. After 17 days on this plan, I’ve lost 12 pounds! I am so enthusiastic today as I was on the day I started! I don’t feel hungry and my energy is at an all-time high! I have made the commitment to do this myself, and I feel that I will be very successful.”
Another comment on weight loss: “I am loving this weight loss plan. I have lost 10 pounds during the first cycle and feel amazing.” (first cycle is four 17-day periods).
How do they feel by being on it and do they have difficulty following it?
“In addition to losing weight, this diet makes me feel better physically, not weighed down and bloated by unhealthy food. The 17-Day Diet is easy to follow, with plenty of filling food choices. The recipes were good, and I never felt hungry.”
How is the food recommended in this weight loss plan?
“This is the best and tastiest diet I have ever been on. The food is very satisfying. I recommend this diet to anyone who really wants to lose weight and feel good about themselves.
How does this plan compare to others?
I was amazed at the results the first week. I was shocked by the amount of energy I had by the second week. I couldn’t believe it; junk food wasn’t even a thought by the third week. I had no cravings by the fifth day.”
Did people have difficulty letting go of the food that caused them to put n weight?
“The first week was tough – especially letting go of coffee and substituting green tea. Now I don’t miss it at all, and I was addicted! I had been a heavy carnivore for years and had no idea how much it was ‘weighing me down.’ I used to try to hide the belly under layers of clothes, but now I go out of the house in just a T-shirt.”
The author of this book, Dr. Michael Rafael Moreno, better known as “Dr. Mike” practices family medicine in San Diego, California. He got his medical degree from the Hahnemann Medical School, later renamed Drexel University College of Medicine.
He is known for launching “Walk with Your Doc” in 2008, and walks with patients on Tuesdays and Thursdays. This program has grown into a thriving community. Dr. Mike takes pride in being viewed not just as a doctor but as a friend and confidant.
His weight loss plan consists of the AAAA four 17-day periods:
ACCELERATE – the rapid weight loss portion, which helps flush sugar and fat storage from your system.
ACTIVATE – the metabolic restart portion, with alternating low and high calorie days to help shed body fat.
ACHIEVE – a phase that involves learning to control portions and introducing new fitness routines.
ARRIVE – a combination of the first three cycles to keep good habits for good. On weekends, enjoy your favorite foods!
Dr. Mike sums up his 17-Day Diet in the very first sentence of the first chapter in two words: fast results. He writes: “Depending on your weight when you start out and your metabolism, you might expect to lose up to 10 to 12 pounds, the first 17 days. Of course, the further you are from your ideal weight, the more you’ll lose initially.”
The material in this book is organized concisely in three parts. Part 1 has the four A’s described above that are preceded by two chapters that prepare you for the weight loss program, entitled: “Just Give me 17 Days” and “Burn, Baby, Burn.”
Part 2 contains the 17-Day Cultural Diet for those from different ethnicities and the PMS Exception Diet for women undergoing their period.
Part 3 is entitled “Making It Stick” and discusses situations that can make it challenging to stick to a diet, such as dining out, and addresses issues relating to family members’ attitudes to the dieter’s new eating habits. This section also has chapters on how to keep to your weight loss program during the holidays, on the road, and shifts in work. It also contains recipes and answers to frequently asked questions.
From all the positive comments on this book by people who have achieved results from following Dr. Mike Moreno’s 17-Day Diet Plan, I urge people who want to lose weight to get the book and follow the program closely to reach their desired weight.
