4th out of 42 books
—
28 voters
It Starts with Food: Discover the Whole30 and Change Your Life in Unexpected Ways
Imagine yourself healthier than you ever thought possible.
It starts with food.
It Starts With Food outlines a clear, balanced, sustainable plan to change the way you eat forever—and transform your life in unexpected ways. Your success story begins with "The Whole30," Dallas and Melissa Hartwig's powerful 30-day nutritional reset.
Over the last three years, their underground...more
It starts with food.
It Starts With Food outlines a clear, balanced, sustainable plan to change the way you eat forever—and transform your life in unexpected ways. Your success story begins with "The Whole30," Dallas and Melissa Hartwig's powerful 30-day nutritional reset.
Over the last three years, their underground...more
Hardcover, 328 pages
Published
June 12th 2012
by Victory Belt Publishing
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I devoured "It Starts with Food" in about a day!
For the Hartwigs it comes down to one thing -- is what you are putting in your mouth healthy or unhealthy? They are logical -- not preachy, which I liked. You can do A and this will happen or B and this will happen. They very simply explain what happens with the hormones in your body when you eat a standard American diet -- dairy, grains, sugar, etc. -- and that alone should be required reading for every human on the planet.
I also appreciated the...more
For the Hartwigs it comes down to one thing -- is what you are putting in your mouth healthy or unhealthy? They are logical -- not preachy, which I liked. You can do A and this will happen or B and this will happen. They very simply explain what happens with the hormones in your body when you eat a standard American diet -- dairy, grains, sugar, etc. -- and that alone should be required reading for every human on the planet.
I also appreciated the...more
So I was feeling crummy and decided to try the Whole30, a "paleo" cleansing diet that lasts 30 days. You eat only high-quality meats, eggs, and produce; no grains, beans, soy, dairy, alcohol (even for cooking), or sugar. I made it to day 21. I forgot my lunch one day and the office ordered in from Costa Vida. I caved an ate the innards of a barbacoa pork burrito, including rice and beans, and loved every bite.
What I like about the program:
- Emphasis on whole, natural foods
- They're not selling a...more
What I like about the program:
- Emphasis on whole, natural foods
- They're not selling a...more
I wish everyone would read this book. Western society has unfortunately been lead to believe many things about our current diet that are just wrong. And much of that has led directly to the obesity epidemic. The fact that all that has been strengthened by the food industries drive to find ever cheaper methods of production has also provided incentives for them to lobby our politicians not to publicly change any of that advice despite its obvious harm. It is a self fulfilling, ever strengthening...more
I am working with a great nutrition coach and had downloaded the summary programme from the W9 website, but wanted to read a little more from the Hartwigs perspective. I've also read Loren Cordain's books in the past so I had a decent grounding in the ideas behind paleo eating. I found the tone of the book just right, very motivating, almost like coaching, not preachy. I am skeptical that legumes and non-gluten grains are as damaging as things like dairy, gluten-grains and added sugars (and the...more
In all of the commotion about what to eat, what not to eat and why, this book stood out to me. It was recommended to me by a friend and I know of several others who have gone through it.
I greatly appreciated the straightforward nature (and language) of this book. The book is written so that you can read as much or as little information as it takes to convince you about why they advocate the food choices that they do. Four principles are given and you can choose to read the "scienc-y" reasons be...more
I greatly appreciated the straightforward nature (and language) of this book. The book is written so that you can read as much or as little information as it takes to convince you about why they advocate the food choices that they do. Four principles are given and you can choose to read the "scienc-y" reasons be...more
The book was well written, easy to read, the concepts and science behind their ideas were explained in plain English and used a variety of examples. The one thing I'm not certain of is that a person were to pick up the book who wasn't familiar with the Paleo Diet or hadn't read about the dangers and risks of industrial farming (Omnivores Dilemma, Food Inc, etc) if it would have resonated quite the same way. That said;
The Good
1) They put the responsibility for what goes into your mouth squarely i...more
The Good
1) They put the responsibility for what goes into your mouth squarely i...more
I was fascinated in the beginning with the scientific-like discussion of things like hormones' role in digestion.
However, when it got past the discussion of how sugar isn't good for you, the logic became a little fuzzy. They discredited the studies that have touted the health of whole grains and dairy by saying they were funded by those who have a financial stake in the profitability of grains and dairy. Ok, that makes sense, but then all of the studies the authors cited to back up their case m...more
However, when it got past the discussion of how sugar isn't good for you, the logic became a little fuzzy. They discredited the studies that have touted the health of whole grains and dairy by saying they were funded by those who have a financial stake in the profitability of grains and dairy. Ok, that makes sense, but then all of the studies the authors cited to back up their case m...more
I mostly bought this book to express support for the Hartwigs - the core of their plan, the Whole 30, is available totally for free on the website and has been very useful to me in the past. But I was pleasantly surprised - this is a good book. Readable, clear, persuasive, and it has the best cooking-for-dummies section in the back that I've seen yet. It Starts With Food avoids some of the problems other, similarly-themed books have - Cordain's dry, poorly-simplified science in The Paleo Diet, R...more
I loved that this book had more details on how to eat Paleo (albeit a stricter Paleo) than Robb Wolf's Paleo Solution does. I also liked that it didn't waste pages by putting in a "here's how you exercise" section.
What I wished they had done though was...
-provide a nice summary of what you CAN eat at the end of the chapter, like they have in every other chapter and on their site.
-put the little details that they slipped in here an there like "drink a cup of bone broth with your meal" in the su...more
What I wished they had done though was...
-provide a nice summary of what you CAN eat at the end of the chapter, like they have in every other chapter and on their site.
-put the little details that they slipped in here an there like "drink a cup of bone broth with your meal" in the su...more
This book is well written, accessible, and not heavy-handed with the advice. I like advice with a "but try it for yourself and see what works best" approach; it feels like the authors are more vested in your success than in being right about minute details, and that is refreshing.
This book was the logical next step to my nutritional education after Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma and Nestle's What to Eat. Early chapters explain the psychology behind our food choices and habits, and those sections re...more
This book was the logical next step to my nutritional education after Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma and Nestle's What to Eat. Early chapters explain the psychology behind our food choices and habits, and those sections re...more
I must have found this book at the perfect point in my life because, had I seen it even a day earlier, I might have thought cutting all dairy, grains, soy, sugar, legumes, and alcohol from my diet - even for only 30 days - was absolutely nuts. And, trust me, I love food so I can perfectly understand how anyone would think this is crazy.
Instead I am living proof of the power of radical diet change as medicine! Gone are so many "complaints" I had just accepted as part of aging: joint aches, poor s...more
Instead I am living proof of the power of radical diet change as medicine! Gone are so many "complaints" I had just accepted as part of aging: joint aches, poor s...more
okay, fine. it's a hormone-sciencey less carb-phobic Atkins plan. i get it. i am not fooled by the tantalizing inclusion of fruit and sweet potatoes.
that doesn't mean i didn't totally buy into the authors' hookum, though. i did. and i'm currently whittling away all the sugar/grain/legume/dairy products in my pantry so i can start my own Whole30 plan (hopefully in time to be finished it before xmas).
i appreciate their "hormone reset" and "foods with no brakes" mantras. i've lived them, so i know...more
that doesn't mean i didn't totally buy into the authors' hookum, though. i did. and i'm currently whittling away all the sugar/grain/legume/dairy products in my pantry so i can start my own Whole30 plan (hopefully in time to be finished it before xmas).
i appreciate their "hormone reset" and "foods with no brakes" mantras. i've lived them, so i know...more
I started doing a Whole30 (30 day elimination diet with no grains, dairy, legumes, sugar, alcohol, sulfites, or prepared foods with other chemical additives) before I ever saw this book. I give the program itself a five. I can breathe through my nose again, reliably, for the first time in years. My energy has increased and my sense of fatigue has lifted. My digestive system feels right for the first time since I was a teenager. Every day (I'm on day 23 of the 30) has brought some feeling of impr...more
2/19 - Re-reading to prep for another Whole30 starting Mon Feb25. Let me know if you want to do it with me.
Forget everything you've ever learned about nutrition - especially the low carb/ low fat myths. I'll be keeping this book within arms reach and referring to it often. This is pretty complicated stuff, but it's well-written and humorous. Now I just need to make it through my Whole30.
Forget everything you've ever learned about nutrition - especially the low carb/ low fat myths. I'll be keeping this book within arms reach and referring to it often. This is pretty complicated stuff, but it's well-written and humorous. Now I just need to make it through my Whole30.
I love,love,love this book. I have been a fan of Paleo eating for a while now, but this book really cleared up a few things for me. It is easy to read, makes complete sense and gives very clear guidelines.I like the way Melissa Hartwig rights, it is like we are just having a chat, but everything she says is backed up with sound research and facts.
I completed a "whole 30" after reading the book,and found it gave me the results that were written about in the book. I lost weight, felt healthy and f...more
I completed a "whole 30" after reading the book,and found it gave me the results that were written about in the book. I lost weight, felt healthy and f...more
So many books on Paleo type eating are filled with science presented in a very boring way. The authors of "It Starts With Food" use fun analogies to help make the same information easier to take. But this does boil down to a book on giving up a lot of carbs, dairy, and processed food because the authors believe (with some scientific and anecdotal evidence for support) that these things mess with your blood sugar and cause chronic systemic inflammation. They recommend (like many other diets do th...more
This book was recommended by my friend TH. A well written book with lots of sciency kind of things written in a way that anyone can understand. Just while reading the book I found myself making really conscious choices at each meal, both for myself and my family. It is interesting that the Hartwigs took the approach of breaking down food groups and then explaining what your body does with each of those groups and then the results achieved, desired or otherwise. I gave the book 4/5 stars because...more
Got this book to read before I embarked on the Whole30 program. Too many of us are on overcarbsumption (I love that word). The Standard American Diet is clearly not making us feel better. Obesity and chronic health ailments are on the rise exponentially. Too many of us are resorting to medicine without getting to the root of the problems. This book really gave me a better understanding of how certain foods affect our hormonal system and increase systemic inflammation without us realizing it. Mel...more
I liked this book. I wanted access to more of the science to which they refer in a vague way. i wouldn't necessarily look up all the studies myself, but I like more specifics. I really liked their requirements of Good Food, as distinguished from real food or junk food or food or food-like products, which are all buzz words in the food community. The case against legumes was kind of weak, but enough to make me want to eliminate and see what happens. im definitely going to try the whole30 sometime...more
I thought this was just going to be full of things I already know I should be doing with my diet, but there was one thing that blew my mind --> eliminate whole grains and legumes! Need to get your carbs from your vegies and fruits instead. This basically converts your body from a carb burning/fat storing machine to a fat burning machine. It all makes sense for a healthy way of living, but honestly not sure I can do it. The one thing it didn't cover was what is allowable to eat/drink during hi...more
I enjoyed reading this book and learning their ideas of what and why a good diet is. I am not going to do Whole30, nor do I think this is a sustainable diet for me. If I had some ongoing health or pain issues I might be more motivated to make the change. My eating philosophy is most things in moderation.
This book did make me conscious of eating sugar. I knowing eat a lot or refined sugar, and there's a lot "hidden" in foods. Yes, I know, according to this book sugar is sugar whether it's white o...more
This book did make me conscious of eating sugar. I knowing eat a lot or refined sugar, and there's a lot "hidden" in foods. Yes, I know, according to this book sugar is sugar whether it's white o...more
I tried, I really did. I got through the chapters about why you should eat this way and even got about 1/2 way into the how, but I just couldn't do it. This book is definitely not the worst one I've ever read, and I'm sure they had some good points, but I have a serious issue with any diet (and I'm using the term diet in the "all the food you eat is a diet" not "calorie-count to lose weight" sort of way) that recommends cutting out food groups. That is MY issue - I find that when I cut things ou...more
I read this book at the encouragement of a friend, and I'm very glad I did. I learned lots and I highly recommend it to everyone. The processed food we are eating is killing us, and the best way to correct that is to get back to eating *real* unprocessed foods, primarily meat, seafood, eggs, vegetables, and fruit. It's a simple hypothesis, yet so obvious when you think about it. What I liked is how they pointed out that this is NOT a diet, it's a lifestyle. If you find that you have "fallen off...more
The basic premise is what I've wondered for years: if we evolved from hunter/gatherers, then how can it be natural to eat margarine, breads/pastas, and sugar and artificial sweeteners? The quick answer is that it's not, and the author claims that these substances are actually damaging, causing systemic inflammation and allergies or allergy-like responses. As someone with fibromyalgia, I found this intriguing and am considering giving this a try. The "absolutely no cheating" rules sound daunting,...more
The premise for this book is that food can either make you healthier or less healthy-- there is no neutral food. Foods that make you less healthy do so in at least one of the four following ways: 1) they have a psychological addiction to them, 2) they mess with your hormones, 3) they mess with your gut, and/or 4) they mess with your immune system.
This book explains the concepts in a simple yet logical way that has the science to back it up. The authors do a lot of "talk to the reader" kind of wr...more
This book explains the concepts in a simple yet logical way that has the science to back it up. The authors do a lot of "talk to the reader" kind of wr...more
This book was amazing. It was so well-written; I had no trouble with all the scientific portions because they everything in terms that were easy to understand and infused humor. I believe in this "diet" because it just makes sense. All of the processed foods are not good for us. They are not what we are supposed to eat. And I agree 100% that sugar is addictive. It's difficult in today's society to eat a clean diet though, especially around this time of year (holiday treats!). But I think this is...more
Jun 21, 2012
Shelly Hamm
is currently reading it
I'm really looking forward to reading this when it comes out! I have been a follower of Melissa and Dallas for a few years now and I truly believe in their work.
I had already dabbled with a Whole30 (and failed failed failed) before pre-ordering this book. In a lot of ways, I found the information and ideas presented to be a lot more approachable than in Robb Wolf's Paleo Solution. Tone and delivery are key when presenting ideas that go against, dare I say, the grain? :)
I did a Whole30 after I received this book and the results were noticeable - how I looked (lost weight, clearer skin), how I felt (less lethargic, zero IBS symptoms) and my desire to sust...more
I did a Whole30 after I received this book and the results were noticeable - how I looked (lost weight, clearer skin), how I felt (less lethargic, zero IBS symptoms) and my desire to sust...more
Game Changer! haha Being a Crossfitter nutrition is a constant topic of conversation and one that I have mostly avoided. I'm a soccer player, I like carbs. Plus pizza and mac and chesse are delicious! This book was a fantastic read on the subject of Paleo eating. It was just what I needed in terms to enter into the conversation. It has some technical information but also is not a hard read. I am 3 days from finishing my Whole 30 and I lost 6 lbs and really do feel amazing. I won't eat this stric...more
Educational, eye-opening, and FUN TO READ. I am currently working on my first Whole30 challenge (being inspired by this book) and I'm enjoying the results I've seen so far and the anticipation of what the future holds for me. My cravings for sweets have disappeared (for the most part), I am slimmer, more energetic, sleeping better, and I have an overall feeling of wellness. The premise is to eat CLEAN. Eat REAL food. Unprocessed meats, vegetables, fruits, nuts, spices, herbs, healthy fats, etc....more
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May 15, 2013 07:58pm