Read Review of Gwen Shamblin - The Weigh Down Diet
Review Summary
About the Author
THUMBS DOWN on the WEIGH DOWN DIET!
Jul 06 '01
Pros Eat what you want.
Cons Nutritionally unsound.
Exercise not included.
The Bottom Line The Weigh Down diet is downright unhealthy!
Full Review
It's very hard to blast a diet book that purports to be the way God intended us to lose weight. The faithful may find this epinion to be an insult to God. Nevertheless I must share my honest thoughts on this so called "holy" way to lose weight.
The book "The Weigh Down Diet" suggests some basic concepts. Eat when you are hungry. Stop when you are full. You don't need to worry about what you eat, nor do you need to exercise. Just follow the basic principle of eating when there is stomach hunger. Pray to God when you are tempted to eat and are not hungry.
The main problem with the book is that Gwen has set herself up to be THE AUTHORITY on nutrition, exercise and God. She tells you it doesn't matter what you eat and that you don't need to bother with exercise. She will even tell you exactly what God wants you to do!
She disagrees with scientific research that recommends certain nutritional requirements. Heck, she says, eat what you crave. She does not believe in supplementation in the form of vitamins and minerals either. And exercise is just not something she cares to do, and you don't have to bother with it either if you don't want to. She even admits she has very little muscle tone.
Our grandparents didn't bother to exercise so why should I, she says. She doesn't mention how many of our elders were just naturally more physically active due to the nature of the conveniences they didn't have that we have today. She also doesn't mention that not only is exercise good to help your heart grow stronger, your muscles and bones stay healthier but also to help you feel good! To kick in the endorphins, ward off stress, pump you up! No, she doesn't mention any of that. She says, if you want to exercise go ahead but it will make you hungrier and you will eat more.
Other "Gwenism's" Our grandparents didn't take supplements like calcium so why should we. Gwen brags about the strength of her nails and her thick hair. Unfortunately we can't evaluate Gwen's health in the future when bone disease and other problems may kick in due to her careless eating habits. And what types of problems will others develop by following her plan. Folks who disregard nutritional needs in favor of sugary treats and an eat whatever attitude.
Her sample daily diet, included soda, meatloaf, candy etc. Little in the way of fresh fruit and vegetables. No calcium. Fatty protein. No extra water. So the key to her diet is eat what you want but eat very, very little. Because that is the only way you can lose weight if you don't eat properly or exercise!
To justify her eating method. Gwen peppers her book with quotes from the bible taken in and out of context. God she says wants us to eat this way. She also describes the way we should all feel about God. Personally, I feel this is different for everyone and her authoritative take on how we should feel about God is hard to swallow.
Then there is the uneasy feeling I got as I read about her personal relationship with God. She talks about how he GOD is so good looking that he does not reveal himself as we would be in awe. Give me a break! Why does it always boil down to how we look? And how God looks? She discusses God as a teenager would discuss her boyfriend. Plenty of giggles, chatter about how she is married to him and he is the best of everything....
Gwen is a wonderful writer. Her book is very powerfully written. But it's not nutritionally sound, physically healthy or spiritually stimulating. And of course since she invokes the name of God its hard to criticize. I have heard that she does not pay the employees that share her Weigh Down diet with others but keeps the money herself..all in the name of God I suppose.
Eating is a pleasure. We are bound to eat when we are hungry and when we are not. If we eat healthy most of the time, with a tad of junk thrown in and exercise moderately, we will be much better off than losing muscle and health to an unsound diet program.
Many individuals who had no control over their late-night binges have learned through the Weigh Down method that a Higher Power can remove the irresis...More at Barnes & Noble.com
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