How to Write a Diet Book

As Homer Simpson would say, "It's funny because it's true!"

Maybe someone should publish a diet book which states the truth:
1. Losing weight is hard work and the thinner you get, the harder you'll have to work.
2. If your favourite foods are fries, burgers, cheesecake and pastries - yes, you will have to give them up.
3. You'd better pick a diet you like because, unless you plan on regaining all the weight, you'll be on it for the rest of your life.
4. Um, yes, you do have to exercise. A lot.
But then, it wouldn't sell very well, would it?

RedPanda: Actually, the book exists. It's called "Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle". It sells pretty well, despite the message that "fat loss is simple, but not easy" and "nothing good is ever accomplished without hard work". However, there is a technique in there that you actually have to tweak to slow down your fat loss as you get leaner (if you lose weight too quickly, you sacrifice muscle). It could honestly make some of the claims above though.

There are millions of diet book that tell you you don't have to count calories.
I count!!

Ryan - Yes, I have bought "Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle" and my current regime is based on it. As I was typing my entry above, it occurred to me that BFFM is an exception - but I was thinking more of the bestselling, glossy, popular diet books I see every time I go to the bookshop. While BFFM sells well, I doubt it sells as well as popular diet books like the South Beach Diet, Hamptons Diet, Sonoma Diet...

When I started following BFFM, I journalled my experiences on a weight loss support forum. The comments I got when I posted an example of my day's food ranged from "I could never eat that much food" to "Wow, you are really eating to live, rather than living to eat." Nevertheless, about a dozen of the women on the forum were inspired to buy their own copy of BFFM. Most of them never finished reading the book, none of them could stick to the program for more than a few days, and the last time I checked, they were still bemoaning the fact that "they can't lose weight"!

So yes, while BFFM sells reasonably well and many people (including myself) have had success with it, I believe that the vast majority are still looking for that old quick fix. Hence the popularity of the best-selling diet books.

I agree with you, RedPanda...no one wants to hear that weight loss isn't a piece of cake. People want something "magic" that will help them lose weight yesterday. It just doesn't work that way! When you gain weight, you don't gain it overnight and you shouldn't expect to lose it overnight either.

I did the WW program to lose weight because it was definitely based around foods that I liked, were easy to find, were healthy and natural, and it encouraged physical exercise. Once I got leaner, I had to modify parts of the program...I had to choose my "points" more carefully by eating a bit more protein/fat and less carbs. But yeah, I now realize that if I want to maintain my weight loss, I can't go back to eating crap and not working out anymore. But come on, that's no fun...people don't want to hear that they have to be responsible for something in their lives. Too much "work", is what most people tell me when I tell them my workout routine and eating plan. How is it "work" when it's your health at stake? You go to your job to protect your financial health, why don't people see the same urgency about protecting their physical health?

Thank you for posting that it was fun and ture.

I to ignore the "Advice" and count the calories even though I do WW I know it comes down to calories in the end

Spectra like you I modify the WW plan to make it work better for me. With me I decided to only have veggies as zero point food. I abuse veggies now and eat tons of them :-)

I've never read Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle but it seems from what I heard about it like WW to be a calorie aware diet.

I really don't care which weight loss book one reads or whether the books are similar. People who want to lose weight will only do so WHEN they make the DECISION to lose weight.

Probably the best weight loss book I ever read is not a diet book at all. It's called "Think and Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill.

Once the decision is made 'personal faith' kicks in. Then all manner of possibilities flow like a giant river overflowing its banks.

It don't know if diet books are the way to go as there are so many that have errors in there methods. I am and mostly likely will always encourage good eating habits and frequent exercise.

I have to admit I do wonder when people will start to realise that the issues that we have around weight are really more of a cultural one rather than just a quick fix diet. I grew up on fast food in the US when I was a kid and only gradually have I been able to train myself away from some of the stuff I previously use to eat (which was basically all processed). I think the only sure fire way is to really make radical changes to our entire lifestyles (all those bad habits we've had to pick up through necessity) rather than just diet.

Ask for showers at work, run at lunch time or after work and eat better (which can off course is always hard to force yourself to do). I wish all of you the best of luck in making it happen! I'm trying in my own little way.

Best,
Ryan - the Jumblee.com guy

I was browsing through the book store today and was amazed at just how many diet books there were on the shelf. I think most authors write them for the money not the sincerity, although there are a few good ones. I agree with the comments, though, that everyone has to find what works best for them. After losing weight, it's just as important to always be vigilant about what foods are chosen and the amount of daily exercise. After awhile it becomes easier and easier until it's just a way of life. The payoff is a leaner and healthier body.

Other Ryan: Would you mind using "Ryan B" as a name to avoid confusion? :)

In my opinion the best example or format of a diet book is by Bill Phillips: "Body for Life". I lost 45lbs (22kg) using his book over a period of 4 months. It's a great book because he spends the first 3rd giving you the motivation you need. The next 3rd explains the simplicity of mixing equally carbs and protein with every meal. The final 3rd shows pictures of the training exercises to do at the gym. The format of the book is clear. He also helps you set and measure objectives.

I lost the weight two years ago and have not put on a pound since. I haven't been back to the gym either. So following his process actually changed the way my body deals with food - not to mention that I can't stand eating junk anymore anyway.

I've noticed that most of the diet books boil down to a few simple rules:
1) eat every 3 hours
2) limit the white stuff (white bread, potatoes, sugar, rice)
3) drink lots of water
4) exercise

damn. I wrote a diet book. Send me money.

Bill Phillips' Body-for-LIFE was in many respects an 'original'. However in the last few years there has been a mass proliferation of books that have had very little to add to the conversation... I'm about to review a book that already makes some of the above 10 points - on the cover alone.

There's a book called "French Women Don't Get Fat" (I'm sure this has been mentioned before), it offers a simple piece of advice: concentrate on what you're eating, rather than eating with your mind on something else.

It makes a lot of sense: a combination of discipline (set realistic limits and keep to them) and self-awareness (realise when and what you're eating).

But the discipline is the hardest part of all :(