The Carbohydrate Addict's Healthy Heart Program: Break Your Carbo-Insulin Connection to Heart Disease

I got this book because I wanted to loose about 15 lbs that refused to budge with other diets & exercise. But I knew I could never completely give up white flour/sugar foods (hey, I'm Italian, I need my pasta -- and baking is my passion!) The Carb Addict's Healthy Heart Program helped me greatly reduce the amount & frequency of refined "unhealthy" carbs in my diet without having to give them up completely. I read the original Carb Addict's Diet first, but didn't trust its use of artificial sweeteners & unlimited saturated fats -- and sure enough the Hellers' more recent research found these to be no-no's.Honestly, I usually eat more Reward Meal carbs than the recommended 1/3-1/3-1/3 protein-veggies-carbs balance (sometimes twice as much carbs) & not always with salad...yet I still lost weight & rarely get hungry or have carb cravings. However, I do make sure my RM always has all 3 components (protein, low-carb veggies & carbs) and NEVER eat carbs outside the RM. Overall, I find CAHHP to be a totally live-able eating plan. In 4 months I'm even lower than my original goal weight (lost a total of 17 pounds). I can stay on the plan but still have a normal dinner with my husband & even enjoy occasional home-baked treats (a gooey cinnamon roll tonight)! I didn't have to throw away my beloved rice, bread, or chocolate. I feel CAHHP is so much healthier and easier to stick with than extreme low-carb or low-fat diets.CAHHP will be easier if you're willing to try a variety of low-carb veggies, and if you make time to cook at home (I make extra for handy leftovers, and always keep pre-washed/chopped salad greens in the fridge). You COULD follow it if you eat out a lot or are very picky, but it's more difficult. This diet changed my tastes & you may find you enjoy foods you didn't like before. I find it easier most days to just have a low-carb "brunch" around 11 a.m.; that way I only have to figure out one low-carb meal per day. I try not to get too obsessed with following every little recommendation in this book (eliminating ALL glutamates & caffeine, adding every single supplement, zero saturated fats, etc)! I take steps in those directions but, as the Hellers say, don't demand perfection from myself. I still follow the original CAD's list of low-carb veggies (summer squash, turnips, eggplant, etc) & I eat SMALL amounts of ketchup, soy sauce, etc. I feel CAHHP is too restrictive in this area, for all but the most carb-sensitive people.Bottom line: the CAHHP basic plan is pure genius...stick with it, then experiment with the various options they give, listening to your body, to see what works best for you. The Hellers themselves often say there's no "one-size-fits-all" plan.***UPDATE 3/18/08***: WELL IT'S 1 YEAR SINCE I STARTED CAHHP & THE WEIGHT HAS STAYED OFF! HOWEVER, UNFORTUNATELY MY CHOLESTEROL WENT UP ALMOST 25 POINTS TO 222! THIS ISN'T SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN ON CAHHP, BUT MAY BE DUE TO HEREDITY, OR NOT BALANCING MY REWARD MEALS PERFECTLY. I REALIZED MY CONSUMPTION OF ANIMAL PRODUCTS ALMOST DOUBLED SINCE STARTING CAHHP, SO I FOUND ANOTHER BOOK I HIGHLY RECOMMEND: 'CARB-CONSCIOUS VEGETARIAN' BY ROBIN ROBERTSON. THIS IS A COOKBOOK THAT EXPLAINS A LITTLE ABOUT 'GOOD CARBS VS BAD CARBS' AND THE GLYCEMIC INDEX/LOAD, PLUS HAS DELICIOUS *LOWER*-CARB VEGAN RECIPES (REALLY, I PROMISE!).SO NOW I EAT 1-2 VEGAN LOWER-CARB MEALS AND 1 REGULAR MEAT/CARBS/VEGGIES REWARD MEAL EACH DAY. I WAS WORRIED I'D GAIN BACK THE WEIGHT SINCE THE VEGAN MEALS CONTAIN CAHHP 'FORBIDDEN FOODS' & AREN'T AS LOW-CARB AS CAHHP RECOMMENDS, BUT MY CHOLESTEROL DROPPED BACK DOWN TO 197 IN JUST A MONTH & MY WEIGHT HAS REMAINED STABLE. THERE'S MORE TO LOW-CARB THAN JUST CARB GRAMS & FOOD RESTRICTIONS - YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT HOW FOODS AFFECT BLOOD SUGAR. ALSO HELPFUL ARE ANY OF DANA CARPENDER'S LOW-CARB COOKBOOKS (MINUS THE RECIPES WITH ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS). DON'T GIVE UP! DO YOUR RESEARCH AND YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE A HEALTHY LOW-CARB DIET TO WORK FOR YOU!

I have a BMI of 19.5 (skinny), but have type II diabetes. My Endocrinologist says I'm the only skinny type 2 she has out of hundreds. When I eat per the dieticians direction, which is less than 40g carbs/meal, but no restrictions on how often I can eat, I have fasting blood sugar in the upper 130's. But when I eat according to this book, I'm 30+ points below that. If you have the problem in this book (hyperinsulinemia), you should try their diet - it works. Mostly overweight people have the problem (because excess insulin release causes you to store fat), so just because I'm skinny don't think it won't work for you - you are the target population!

I wasn’t a fan of the recipes but there were a lot.

My wife wanted this book based on a friends recommendation for her weight loss program. She really likes this book and it seems like it's helped her achieve her goals. The price was fair and the book was in excellent condition. Thank you so much.

I originally read this book from the public library. I was impressed with it enough to purchase it for myself. Who knew there was such a thing as a carbohydrate addict? Not me, but I fit the profile really well. The information is truly helpful and can make a major difference in your life.

If you need to lose weight, this is the best way to do it

personal coach in a book.easy to understand the concepts in the book.lifestyle program is encouraging & very affirmative.

I never received this product. I e-mailed the shipper and have gotten no response. I will choose NOTto deal with this vendor again!!!!!!!The Carbohydrate Addict's Healthy Heart Program: Break Your Carbo-Insulin Connection to Heart Disease

Good Book

It wasn't what I thought. I thought it would have more on Carbohydrate than people and their problems.