Clean & Lean Diet: 14 Days to Your Best-Ever Body [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

I picked up this book because it looked like a light, easy read, and I thought it would offer a good introduction to cleaning up my diet and getting free of wheat, gluten, and sugar. The light and easy part met my expectations, and I finished the book in a couple of sittings. The author was a little too fond of catch phrases and buzzwords for my liking, and it felt like I was reading one long magazine article, but I shouldn't complain, as I bought the book in part for the easy reading after all.

A positive of the book is that it offers up some tasty recipes and new ideas for meals strategies. There are also some useful tables with columns for "bad, better, and best" eating options, which are a convenient reference tool. The author also gives us a `14 day-kick start diet,' which I haven't followed and don't intend to. It's too restrictive in calories for me, and could cause me to rebel and relapse into a binge at some point. But for those with an iron will, the meals look tasty. And sure enough, he does cover and whys and hows of giving up wheat, gluten, and sugar in a broad if not deep manner. He also offers additional information on why stress makes us fat, and includes an easy exercise plan at the end of the book.

The reason I only gave the book 3 stars was because of the veracity of some the content, beginning with the author's opinions on microwaving. He makes the statement that "microwaves kill the goodness in food." This comment brought my reading to a halt. The author offers no evidence to substantiate this claim, nor did he point me in the direction of any scientific studies that have proven this. Indeed, there are no citations for this or any other of the emphatic statements he makes throughout the book. The truth is that numerous studies have found that for most foods, microwaving actually helps retain nutrients, at least when compared to boiling foods and other forms of over cooking. (Please - if anyone can point me towards any legit studies stating otherwise - let me know!). On top of that he naysays frozen foods, which again, if they've been frozen correctly, can contain more nutrients than some `fresh' foods that have been sitting on the store shelf for too long.

However, the major stick in my craw was when, after extolling the virtues of giving up gluten, the author goes ahead and lists rye and spelt as fine foods to indulge in. However, both foods are packed with gluten. Hopefully no one who's allergic to gluten goes by his recommendations.

In conclusion I found this the Clean and Lean Diet book a pleasant enough and easy read. It contained some useful information and some nice, simple recipes, which I've already begun to use. And I got what I wanted from it, which was to begin along the path of eating a more clean diet, without the arduous slog of a more intensive book. Unfortunately however, the inaccuracies left me wandering about which of the information I could really trust - so an arduous slog with a more factual book is now on my horizon after all.

Bottom line: If you want an easy, fluffy afternoon read to get you on track in cleaning up your diet, this is the book for you. If you'd prefer a book packed with verifiable facts and depth you'd better try elsewhere.

I bought the Clean & Lean Diet book as a recommendation by a friend, but let's face it, who doesn't want to look like Elle McPherson (well maybe not if you're a boy or maybe you want to attract someone that looks like Elle). So off I go, book in hand, reading like a woman possessed because I am so excited to start my diet and lo & behold, 14 days in I can tell you that so many people have noticed a huge difference in my appearance its just amazing. I feel so much better for it as well. The first 14 days is the kick start program and you really do need to follow it to the letter. Once you have completed the detox part, you can then have one day a week where you have something a little naughty, as by then your body can deal with the toxins in more efficient ways. James likes to use everything organic, so just try to do the best you can as it helps with the detox process. Don't forget, this is a way of life, so unless you can commit to no gluten and no sugar, you should probably pass. I find the diet relatively easy, I just opt for clean foods as much as I can when eating out, salads, fish etc. The best thing about the diet is that you can still have oils (good ones) and things like avocado. There are many recipes included for inspiration. You have heaps more energy and because you feel so good, it makes you want to do more exercise. A win win as far as I am concerned, so it just adds to the benefits of a lifestyle change. Now that I am aware of what goes into many store concocted bakery goods and other products, it really makes me feel a little sick when I look at them. Not quite Elle but maybe something a little closer, that's all you can hope for!

I don't normally write reviews, but I think this book is excellent. I have a personal trainer myself that I see twice a week and a lot of what he says is what James says, and it's a lot of lesser known information that you will not find in a regular magazine or trying to shed those kilos. For example, why sugar is so bad for you, why coffee will make you fat, why protein is so vital, why stress and cortisol will make you fat, why wheat will make you fat, why processed foods will make you fat, why being tired will make you fat. All with explanations. The book has a 14 day meal plan that is strict. Highly recommend.