The Core Balance Diet: Hormones Metabbolism and Weight Loss [Hardcover]

The Core Balance Diet is a must-read for women who have, well...gotten off balance (which would include probably 85-95% of American women). And Marcelle (with Genevieve) include six common ways that we have lost our balance: digestive, hormonal, adrenal, neurotransmitter, inflammatory, and detoxification. Which of us has not experienced imbalance in one of those areas, let alone two or three?

Marcelle challenges the woman who thinks she would be too overwhelmed to make some dietary and lifestyle changes: "If you could help your partner to lose weight, or help protect your child's health, by changing what he or she ate for a month, wouldn't you try and do it? Now, aren't you worth that same amount of attention?" And she is only asking you to try her program for a month! After that, she assures you, you'll be free from your food addictions and hooked on your feeling great!

Balance, as you might suppose, also entails eating approximately a 30/30/40 ratio of healthy fats, protein and complex carbs (though not as strict as the Zone Diet). But it includes much, much more than that.

The book begins with an explanation of how imbalances lead to weight gain and aging and provides a layman's easy-to-read explanation of the systems.

Marcelle provides a Core Balance quiz for you to determine which of your systems are weakest. This is followed by a chapter on each system. Each chapter (which is delight to read even if they don't apply to you as much as the others) contains the following: information on the imbalance and how to correct it; sidebars and boxes with interesting tidbits of info; a list of "Marcelle's prescriptions " for that imbalance; diagnostic tests to note the progress of that imbalance; foods to include and foods to avoid; supplements to take; "a day in the life" schedule for the lifestyle changes needed (exercise, when to eat, self- nurturing, etc.); a one-week menu; and frequently asked questions.

There are also 60 pages of recipes. Except for the medical diagnostic tests, this is a complete do-it-yourself book.

True to the Hay House spirit, there is also a chapter on the mind-body connection with the cute title, "Your Issues Are in Your Tissues" which alerts you to negative thinking and self-destructive behavior patterns that can sabotage your health.

I have read hundreds of books on health and nutrition (even wrote one myself!) and I give this book a hearty two thumbs up! I learned lots of interesting tidbits, such as how the liver is taxed on a low-fat diet, how Vitamin D deficiency is linked to obesity, and how not flossing can lead to body-wide inflammation. The only thing Marcelle could do to make it more complete would be to have a chapter on the importance of eating more raw foods since a raw diet taxes the digestive system far less.

This is a diet that can be, with a bit of imagination, used by anyone who has any dietary slant (vegan, vegetarian, raw fooder, etc). For example, if one is raw vegan, substitute raw hemp protein powder in place of meat and don't cook the vegetables.

I opened the Core Balance Diet expecting to fail, to not follow the plan, to not see results. I was willing to give it 30 days, which in the whole scheme of things was small in comparison to the years I neglected my health.

I was very impressed with the recipes in the book. Not only were they easy to prepare, but they were downright delicious! I had my favorites, which I made on more than one occasion. After a few weeks on the plan, I had a feel for what was 'allowed' and was able to make some minor adjustments without affecting the plan.

I have a hard time planning meals and eating early, so I decided I would double up on the recipes and freeze individual portions to take to work - this one choice is why I was able to stick to the meal plans so closely for the 30 days!

I only had a few issues overall. I was very fatigued the first few weeks, but it got better as the month wore on. Marcelle explained in the book that this was from the body releasing the toxins I had stored in my fat cells, so I wasn't concerned. My energy did start to come back. The only other issue I had was that I was so 'satisfied' all the time that I had a hard time fitting in the snacks between meals!

Not only did my digestive system balance out and act 'normal' for the first time in decades, but I lost 15 pounds over the course of the month. I am 5' 9" tall, and started the program approximately 60 pounds over weight, for those who might wonder.

The biggest news, is that I tried going back to my old eating habits, and my body very clearly told me it didn't like my 'old ways'! I have decided to stick with the healty lifestyle ongoing.

Thank you Marcelle!!!

I thought this book had a lot of good information about how the bodies metabolism works, how it can get screwed up and what one can do to heal it naturally. However, I found some of the claims about certain herbs and how to use them not very well supported. I also found the book too much of a marketing tool for expensive programs or products offered by the author's clinic. While I have no problem with that information being shared, it was the constant loop back to them I found somewhat offensive.

› Go to Amazon.com to see all 64 reviews  4.3 out of 5 stars