The Big Breakfast Diet: Eat Big Before 9 A.M. and Lose Big for Life

I have been a believer in the old wives' tale "Eat like king for breakfast, a prince for lunch and a pauper for dinner" for some time now. So when I saw this book, I was very interested to read the science behind the tale so I bought it.A bit of my food history/needs background for perspective: I am on the extreme end of insulin-resitance (and had gestational diabetes with my first pregnancy) so I have chosen to eat as if I am diabetic so as not to develop diabetes. My issue was not a need to lose a lot of weight, although I did have about 15 pounds of post-pregnancy weight I had been battling for a few years.This started a path of research three years ago that led me eventually to a low carb/high fat lifestyle. When I started, it was all about getting rid of the carbs, regardless of the actual food I was consuming: If it was low carb, I chose that, even if it was something with Splenda, fillers, and highly processed. Didn't matter...it didn't have carbs.However, as I moved along in the research journey, I began to read enough material about the quality of the food and the inflammatory effects of processed, altered food that I headed down that path with vigor. It was that journey that has led me to my current -- and lifelong -- lifestyle of whole, unprocessed, full-fat, organic, anti-inflammatory eating. And while it is still low carb, I do incorporate healthy low carb foods (sweet potatoes, lots of cruciferous veggies, berries, unsweetened greek yogurt, etc). However, because it is a health lifestyle, not a trendy diet to just lose weight, I am also aware that existing long-term without fun carbs (pizza, pretzel rolls, real sugar desserts, rice, white potatoes/french fries/tater tots, etc...) is not sustainable (nor advisable).So I have been trying to figure out how to maintain this lifestyle. -- and yes, I want to keep my weight in check as well -- while still being able to have the fun carbs occasionally.Now enters my stumbling across this book.Everything was going along great as I read the research about weighting your food choices, especially the fun carbs, early and then tapering off as the day (and energy expenditure) winds down. I could totally get behind adding potatoes to my eggs, eating a croissant, even having leftover chicken and broccoli crepes for breakfast. And was getting rather excited that this would be my AHA! that I was looking for.This research is the reason for the 2 stars...I do think it's compelling and probably valid.HOWEVER, and herein lies the warning of my title: As I moved into the practical implementation of the program, I consistently read her recommendations for low-and no-fat dairy, low-calorie foods, the (rather liberal) use of Splenda products, soy and soy milk, and even margarine! What in the world?I know there is a lot of debate about food choices, but I cannot endorse this type of food choice at any level after all I have researched about the negatives of these items in particular. If she had even just suggested maybe only one of them or had other options included (dairy intolerance doesn't mean soy anymore; there are all types of nut milks, coconut milk, hemp and seed milks for this issue), I might have sighed and kept reading. But at some point, the recommendations of these health-destroying options, made me begin to question everything in the book.My recommendation, after all that, would be if you want to try it, do so while replacing the highly questionable foods with whole, minimally processed alternatives. It may work beautifully. But like I said, I now question everything in the book and reform, cannot give it a full endorsement.Dr. Jakubowicz, if you by some strange event are reading this, I would love to see you do the same research but without the soy/low-fat/calorie/Splenda/margarine information.I

I'm not a sugar addict - I love vegetables and cook all of my meals at home, and don't have any snack foods in the house. But I'm over 100 lbs overweight, and so frustrated with the fact that I eat well and still look like someone who subsists on donuts and Mountain Dew. When I read the author's July 2013 clinical study in the Journal Obesity (where participants lost 4 times the weight as the control group, plus reduced their triglycerides, cholesterol, insulin resistance and levels of the hunger hormone, ghrelin), I suddenly realized what I've been doing wrong all my life - I skip breakfast, have the kind of low-fat lunch I can eat in front of my coworkers without embarrassment, and end up so hungry at dinner time I get three-quarters of my calories at night through massive portions. I always thought it was stupid to eat so many calories at night, after all my activity was done for the day, but I never suspected that was the WHOLE REASON I was overweight!I've been following Daniela Jakubowicz's diet since August 7, 2013, and 6 weeks later, I've already lost 33 lbs. I am rarely hungry, and when I am, it's the kind of hunger that can be satisfied with a piece of fruit, not a whole new meal. I've gotten the hang of eating a big breakfast now, but I'm disappointed that the book doesn't offer any tips for how to work that into your day. My tips: Do all the chopping and defrosting for your meals the night before. If you want to eat something that requires the oven, consider making it the night before and just reheating it in the morning. Also, when I was first getting started, I had to take frequent sips of water between bites because I wasn't even used to chewing food when I wasn't hungry - that went away after a few days. As the author says in the book, phasing down or completely eliminating dinner (you can do either on her plan) will mean you'll soon be more receptive to eating in the morning. Also, check to make sure your stove is off before you leave the house in the morning - I had to get used to that at first!!The most amazing side effect of her diet plan - now that I don't have to cook, eat and digest a full dinner every night, I found a free hour in my day to spend at the gym! To suddenly have that extra time at night, every night, is a revelation - almost like finding a $20 bill in your pocket every time you put on your coat. :)I just wish this diet was already famous - when people ask me how I've lost so much weight so quickly, I have to explain the whole plan to them and they're still skeptical. But they can't argue with the results. :)

This book seems to have been written for immensely junk food addicts. While some sensible suggestions are made, the book also makes the insanely stupid suggestion of adding junk food to your breakfast menu, e.g. a Snickers a day. Interesting read, but don't take it literally.

This is a great diet plan e the book has excelent quality! I'm very happy with this purchase, all went very well.

This book makes the connection we were all told as children to eat a light supper as you will sleep better and feel better. A good read and a very usable book .Will definitly recommend to family.

There is little to argue with an endocrinologist: the diet works, and the balance of hormone variation and eating just makes so much sense.