I bought the book Curves: Permanent Weight Loss Without Permanent Dieting because I saw about 5 different Curves' Weight Loss Centers pop up in Kansas City, seemingly over night. I wanted to see what the fuss was about. I have been doing Atkins for months now and I've really done well on the entire Atkins lifestyle. Curves derives from Atkins in my opinion, but there is more to the Curves attitude and lifestyle.

The Book

The book is written by Gary Heavin who is the Founder and CEO of Curves International. Carol Colman also helped write the book. Gary Heavin previously owned a multi-million dollar company and went bankrupt. He then became a Born Again Christian and started Curves. The weight loss center Curves is the fastest growing franchise in the world, and it's even in the Guiness Book of World Records, so he must be doing something right!

PART ONE
Chapter One, The Curves Promise, Permanent Weight Loss Without Permanent Dieting

The first chapter of course introduces the entire concept of Curves. Heavin promises a unique approach to weight loss, including nutritional counseling and a wonderfully effective work-out. He talks about a fitness program that includes resistance training, aerobics and stretching, and it only takes a half hour, three times per week. He mentions that you can either go to a Curves franchise to do the workout or, do the workout that comes later in the book at home.

Heavin goes on to talk about permanent success after you are finished with the diet. He promises no 'yo-yo syndrome' and no 'maintenance.' The goal of the Curves Diet is to be about to eat 2500 to 3000 calories a day, all the while eating what weight watchers and atkins leave out- pizza, soda, dessert, bread, fats, etc.

The introduction to the weight loss program begins with 1) The Curves Meal Plan, 2) The Curves Workout 3) The Curves Supplement Regimen.

The Curves Meal Plan consists of the following:
Phase 1- Get off to a Great Start- This is the strictest phase of the program, shifting you into fat burning mode. You are in this mode for one or two weeks.

Phase 2- Reach Your Goal You eat considerable more food but still lose weight, you stay here until your desired weight, or hit a plateau.

**Does this sound familiar yet you Atkins people???

Phase 3- Restrain your metabolism You are no longer on a diet and you eat between 2500, 3000 calories a day, AND you will keep the weight off.

Chapter Two- Escaping the Diet Trap of Slow Metabolism

This Chapter is very interesting and helps the reader get in tune with her own metabolism. Factors such as hormones, medicines, menstrual cycles effect diet and weight loss for women, and Heavin tells us what to do when the dreaded 'Plateau' occurs.

Chapter Three- Test Your Metabolism

Chapter Three in my opinion contains very valuable information. The Chapter has two tests to determine which meal plan is best for you. One meal plan is Calorie Sensitive while the other is Carbohydrate Sensitive. The reader does the test and decides which diet is best for her depending upon the answers. When I did the test, the Carbohydrate Sensitive Diet was all about me! I already knew that cutting carbs works well because I've lost over 30 pounds on Atkins in a few months, but for people who don't know- this is a great tool to have!

PART TWO
Chapter 4- Keeping Track of Calories and Carbohydrates

This chapter lists foods and then beside the foods, it lists the carbohydrates AND the calories that are contained in the foods. Did you know that one half cup of chocolate chips has 52 carbs and 440 calories??? The Chapter also gives you a list of free foods for either Carb-Sensitive or Calorie-Sensitive diets. Some of these free foods are definitely not free on the Atkins diet, but the foods that are listed along with the carbs and calories are very handy.

Chapter 5- The Carbohydrate Sensitive Plan

For the first two weeks, you may eat up to 20 grams of carbs a day, just like Atkins Induction plan. Then, after the first two weeks, you go on to increase your intake of carbs to 40-60 per day. (Again, just like Atkins.) What I DO like about this chapter is Heavin and Coleman give you an alternative if you plateau- to switch to the Calorie-Sensitive plan. Also- if you want time off your diet, they tell you to give yourself a Metabolic Tune Up, which is to eat a 3000 calories a day. I've done this with Atkins on my own, and it works! You speed up your metabolism. The Chapter goes on with pages and pages of Carb-Sensitive meal plans.

Chapter 6- The Calorie-Sensitive Plan

The Calorie-Sensitive plan follows the same regime as the Carb-Sensitive plan, but instead of eating less than 20 grams of carbs a day, you eat less than 1200 calories a day AND less than 60 grams of carbs a day. In phase two you increase your calories to 1600 and less than 60 grams of carbs per day. Interestingly, the calories sensitive plan ALSO recommends eating mostly protein, meat, chicken, etc. If you reach a plateau-- you guessed it! Go to the Carb-Sensitive plan! Again, many eating ideas are included in this chapter.

Chapter 7- Nutrition for a Great Body

This Chapter goes on to explain certain nutrients like protein, fat, fatty acids, fake fats, and cholesterol. It also talks about choosing slow burning carbohydrates that have significant sources of fiber. Water of course, as in any diet, should be consumed plentifully, and the standard eight 8-ounce glasses applies. The chapter also discusses artificial sweeteners and alcohol.

Chapter 8- The Curves Meal Plan

This Chapter gives tips on the different foods that are recommended by the Curves Diet. For example, it tells you what kinds of meats, poultry and fish to look for. It also mentions the best sorts of dairy and eggs and fruits and vegetables. It even gets into storage, washing, and frozen produce. There is also a section on how to read the label on foods, giving a sample food label. Tips for eating out and eating at work are also discussed.

Chapter 9- The Curves At-Home Workout

The Curves Workout again, incorporates three major components of fitness, strength training, cardiovascular training, and stretching in a simple thirty minute workout you are supposed to do three times a week. The promise- after each half hour you will
1) strengthen every major muscle group
2) give your heart and lungs a good aerobic workout
3) increase the flexibility of your joints, and
4) feel energized and ready to get back to your busy day (Heavin, page 165)

This chapter has a handy heart rate chart that matches heart rate with age. The chapter goes on to explain the at-home workout and all its components. You MUST HAVE a resistance tube to do these workouts. This chapter gives you step by step instructions, with pictures of every move you'll make and why you are making them. It's a great work-out and easy to do.

Chapter 10-Enhancing Your Workout at Curves

This Chapter gives you pictures of what the work-out looks like at the Curves Weight Loss Centers. The difference of course, are the machines you use at the Centers, compared to what you do at home. It would be much easier to have a trainer at one of the centers guide you through everything, and obviously they keep track of your progress.

Chapter 11- Total Health Supplements Enhancing the Curves Program

Supplements are recommended and there are recommendations on 'how much is enough.' Also, there are key supplements mentioned that enhance one's life, like Vitamin C, which decreases heart disease, cataracts, premature death and increases sperm count and fertility. This chapter also goes on to recommend good multivitamins, and gives tips on taking supplements.

PART THREE
Chapter 12- Special Health Concerns, The Curves Solutions for Arthritis, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Osteoporosis, Pregnancy and Menopause

The title of this Chapter explains itself. Heavin and Colman explain that the Curves Diet is not just about looking good, but being healthy. Of course, more and more research proves that health concerns are directly related to diet, and this chapter explains the idea that basically 'you are what you eat.' There are also great tips on avoiding diseases like diabetes by eating properly and exercising.

PART FOUR
YOUR FITNESS PLANNER, SUCCESS ONE DAY AT A TIME

The back of the book gives you several recipes and charts for keeping track of what you eat, your exercise regime, and your weight loss. It's typical of any weight-management book.

My Thoughts

I am an Atkins advocate so I automatically pre-judge other diets and diet-books. This book, however, is very specific and a great source of information.

What I don't like is the fact that it basically steals ideology from Dr. Atkins. The Phase 1 period of the diet, if it is Carb-Sensitive- is the direct approach of the Atkins Diet. 20 carbs per day for two weeks, and the Phase 2 is just like Ongoing Weight Loss in that you eat between 40-60 carbs per day and lose 1-2 pounds a week.

Also- another thing that kind of bothered me in this book is the alcohol discussion. Heavin is not entirely honest, and gives only the amount of carbs in beer, sugary wine, and sugary mixed drinks. He says that drinks are high carbs, however he doesn't mention that vodka, whiskey, gin, and straight liquor has no carbs whatsoever. It's not like I am addicted to alcohol but some people like to have a drink once in a while and the thought of not being able to do so, will turn them off of a diet. At least Dr. Atkins admits that there are some alcohols that hold no carbohydrates. Of course, both diets recommend occasional drinking for other health reasons.

Another thing I find dishonest is that Heavin actually compares his diet to Atkins and says that his diet is better because in Phase 3, you eat 2500-3000 calories and you can eat like a normal person, you're not on a diet anymore. Well, Atkins Lifetime Maintenance is virtually the same thing. I think he took some ideas from Atkins and just presented them in a different light without really changing anything.

What I did like was the concept of the fact that not everyone loses weight the same, so there are calorie-sensitive people and carb-sensitive people. The test in the book to find out which you are is excellent. The different meal plans are very handy too.

I really like the concept of a Metabolic Tune Up as well. Basically, if you've reached a plateau in weight loss you can give yourself a 'tune up' and eat a larger amount of calories or carbs to give your metabolism a jump. I'd already done this on Atkins, and it works! The reason I did it was I knew people who were losing weight and they'd cheat, and I was losing no weight and sticking straight to the diet. I figured out that the cheating (once in a while) jump started their metabolism. There are HEALTHY ways to do this. Heavin nor I recommend eating a ton of sugar or massive amounts of carbs. You just eat more healthy calories and carbs than you normally would in one day.

I also really enjoy the work-out in the book. I have a Curves Weight Loss Center across the road from me but I haven't joined. I did go check it out and I personally felt that I would get just as much of a work-out following the book's at-home-workout. The centers are great though, they provide a lot of support because they are packed with women with the same common goal.

I would recommend the book Curves:Permanent Results Without Permanent Dieting to those wishing to become healthier, more fit, and for those wanting to find out what kind of weight loss is best for them.





Recommended: Yes