Change One Diet and Fitness: Updated and Expanded

by John Hastings

Filled with personal stories, vital lessons, visual guides, easy exercises, and a wealth of ideas, a revolutionary twelve-week program shows readers how to look at food in a new light, which will help them to change their eating habits, promoting successful and permanent weight loss. 30,000 first printing.

Genres: Health, Cooking, Nonfiction

352 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Dani]

This is my second time reading this book. The first time was 10 years ago when it was first published. I picked it up again because I thought it would be a good way to jump-start my fitness program (yes, I've fallen off that wagon AGAIN). However, I remember now why I didn't follow the program the first time. The first few weeks involve revamping your menus one meal a week -- healthy breakfast the first week, add in healthy lunch the next week, etc. That's fine, but then the next few chapters are more theoretical than active. They talk about stress relief, what to look for when you go out, eating during the holidays, etc. This is good information, but I don't think it is something to devote several weeks to. I think that info should have been added to the end and the exercise plan should have been moved up to start at week 5.

Despite my reservations about the structure of the plan, I found a lot of good information in this book. There are several simple recipes that I would like to try, and the seven-week fitness plan is a gentle way for a sedentary person to get herself off the couch. I think this book is perfect for the older demographic of Reader's Digest, especially people who haven't flitted from diet fad to diet fad.

[Maureen]

interesting realistic concept, make one change at a time in regard to your food habits, i.e. eat breakfast - then sets out in photos lots of cereals, toppings, etc, then comes lunches, then snacks (love his ideas for 100 calorie snacks - suggests buy high quality treats and enjoy them), then dinners; (good suggestions for 100 calorie desserts-tried with great success angel food cake, could add lots of fruit, yogurt etc), includes menu suggestions for eating out, dining over the holidays,
also change activity; i.e. walk 3 x per week 15 minutes, then up by 5 minutes etc;
ideas I like most are turn off tv and walk 1/2 hour; or even better while show is on, walk & tape then walk again and watch, eat at the kitchen table, not in front of tv, carry water bottle AND drink the water, instead of late snack read the paper, walk, do hobby, make call etc. Lack of sleep erodes your willpower and determination - need to work on this one

My question to work on is: How often do you know in the morning what you will have for breakfast, lunch and dinner?

One disappointment is the website or blog is not available as this is a Readers Digest Association book and Readers Digest has since gone bankrupt

[Misty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This plan is great if you are looking for a change of lifestyle, not just quick weight loss. You will lose weight, but slowly. It has great meal ideas (esp for single people) and an easy gradual exercise plan. No quick fixes here, but if you stick with it you will definitely be healthier in the long run.

There is also a Change One book geared towards diabetics. I haven't read that one, but I would think it would be worth a try as well.

[Kristine · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Another book I’d like to own, I kept it out of the library for a while so I could refer back to it’s good details on portion size and helpful menu plans.”

[Amy Sjoquist · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative, great recipe ideas and substitutions.