Page 64 - Spring2010

All Thumbs Book Reviews

S.P.E.E.D. Next is a discussion of low carb diets which
The Only Weight Loss Book Worth Reading! are put in a positive light. There is some discus-
by Jeff Thiboutot MS, CN sion about what is the right amount of protein but
and Matt Schoeneberger MS, CES no mention of fat. Do they mention that a low
Reason Productions, LLC carb diet must be a high fat diet or it is doomed
S.P.E.E.D. stands for sleep, psychology, to failure? I don’t think so.
exercise, environment and diet. It is always The advice starts to get really dizzy after
dangerous to make acronyms like this because I this point. The authors mention the importance
will be tempted to provide my own words for the of sleep prominently on the front cover and
letters. I’ll try to resist this time. In chapter one elsewhere in the book. They also say caffeine is
we are told that studies show weight is strongly a good way to lose weight. Do they also mention
affected by genetics but that the recent, rapid it is a good way to lose adrenal function? And
gain many Americans have been experiencing sleep? I don’t think so.
is probably not genetic. I would agree that such They go on to say stevia is the best sweetener
Calorie a large increase in less than 50 years can’t be and their second choice is a good, old-fashioned,
genetic.
traditiona. . . artificial sweetener? We are going
restriction has Toward the end of the book is a discussion from dizzy to scary now. We are also led to
been tried on critical thinking which brings up some good believe canola oil is a good oil. Oh, and try the
from every points. One example is ad hominem. Telling Zero Impact bars too. I never heard of them so
someone they are ugly and their mama dresses I looked them up. The listed ingredients include
angle for them funny may be emotionally satisfying but yummies like maltitol, glycerin, low DE corn
many not a relevant argument. I would also say that syrup, brown rice syrup and xanthan gum. Else-
decades now. age of a study (an argument we hear a lot) is where on the same page they say the bar has no
irrelevant and betrays a certain naïveté about maltitol. And the dizziness returns. Are these
It can give how much modern science has been corrupted things components of traditional diets? I don’t
you short by corporate agendas. think so.

The appendix provides a list of other protein
The authors eventually get around to talk-
term results ing about calorie restriction and tell us 20-40 bars, which I looked over. Jay bars have agave
but unless percent restriction is necessary for weight loss. syrup, hydrolyzed whey protein, xylitol and
you have the This is followed by a long list of benefits to natural flavors. Elev8me bars have whey protein

willpower to calorie restriction. Lower insulin tops the list. isolate, low fat and high fiber. Fuco bars have soy
There is no explanation of the fact that calories and so on. I won’t make up any new words for the
starve from carbohydrates tend to spike insulin levels SPEED acronym but were they Sleeping when
yourself for while calories from fat tend not to. So, is calorie they did their research? What kind of Psychology
the rest of restriction a radically new idea? I don’t think so. was in play during this writing Exercise? In what

Calorie restriction has been tried from every Environment would a Diet full of these bars be a
your life, angle for many decades now. It can give you short good idea? Most importantly, should I give this
those lost term results but unless you have the willpower to book a thumbs up? I don’t think so.
pounds will starve yourself for the rest of your life, those lost Review by Tim Boyd
pounds will be back with their friends. Calorie
be back with restriction has been literally tried to death. Is the

their friends. population thinner as a result? I don’t think so.
64 Wise Traditions SPRING 2010