I have been following this lifestyle for over two years since discovering it online, and I consider it utterly revolutionary; I plan to do it for the rest of my life and I believe that everyone (who is medically capable) should do so as well. Few things have changed my life as dramatically as this diet. I moderate an online community with over 300 members and the overwhelming majority agree with me.
In addition to the obvious benefit of achieving and maintaining a slender figure, this diet can improve inflammatory disorders (arthritis, asthma, tendonitis, allergies), expand cognition, increase your energy levels, reduce your risk of developing cancer, and extend your life (while maintaining a youthful state). It's also an incredibly easy diet to follow and stick to, which is rare when it comes to weight-loss inducing diets. My personal benefits include weight loss, body fat reduction and redistribution (especially targeted loss of abdominal fat), reduced environmental allergy symptoms, complete remission of my crippling tendonitis, more energy & less need for sleep,improved exercise strength & endurance, and most notably, enhanced cognition. I'm now able tofully comprehend material, such as advanced topics in physics, that I formerly failed to grasp despite numerous attempts, and I can juggle more ideas and trains of thought in my mind at at time.
The book is reasonably well-written and generally enjoyable and easy to read. I feel that Dr. Johnson makes good use of evidence (and does not dumb down the data), and only rarely makes unfounded or exaggerated statements. I would certainly recommend this book for people who are not swayed by the general concept and online information alone, as they will almost definitely consider an actual BOOK by an actual MEDICAL DOCTOR more seriously. In that vein, it would make a great gift, and you can make sure the giftee has read the book by asking their opinion on the diet. However, the book is not necessary to do the diet (which is so inherently simple) - though it may be quite helpful for some - as essential information can be found online.
Predictably, the book does focus on weight loss, despite discussing the numerous other health benefits of the diet. Dr. Johnson dubs the major gene that the diet activates (SIRT1) the 'skinny gene' and I find this a bit gimmicky. I realize that many people (myself included) are almost obsessively interested in being slim, but I truly think the other health benefits are much more interesting and worthwhile. Also, people who are happy with their weight may be turned off by what they perceive to be a weight-loss oriented 'diet', as opposed to an eating pattern that will revolutionize their lives both physically and mentally.
A significant portion of the book goes into general nutrition and exercise information, and while it's mostly solid enough, I think there are better books for such principles. For example, I disagree with Dr. J's assessment of red meat, cholesterol, and saturated fats - all things I consider perfectly healthy and woefully demonized in the public eye. I appreciate that the diet alone will not gain one optimal health - and it does not exist in a vacuum - even though one can lose weight and improve one's health by doing nothing else, exercise and actual food consumption still matter. But again - there are better sources for both, and Dr. J does acknowledge this to an extent.
The down day meal plans (30 days of such days!) suck, frankly. Total calories average about 600, which is above 20% of the recommended caloric intake for much of the population. I feel that 20% is too high anywayas I personally stick to near-complete fasting, so nearing 35% is even worse! The recipes, on the other hand, are actually pretty decent. Some of them sound quite tasty and creative, and many of them are under 200 cals/serving. Standalone or for up days, they could indeed be useful. Ones which caught my eye: Creamy Oats and Berries, Lemony Hummus, Mixed Greens Tossed with Noodles, Chicken with Pineapple, Bell Peppers, and Onions, Sesame-Crusted Baked Chicken Breasts on Napa Cabbage, Turkey-Stuffed Bell Peppers with an Italian Accent, and Zucchini Ribbons with Tomato Sauce. The recipe section also piqued my interest in Kojac (an Asian yam high in soluble fiber which slows sugar absorption and promotes fullness) and Shirataki noodles (made of tofu and kojac, they average 40 calories/8 oz), both of which I plan to explore.
As I said initially, while the book may not be necessary in order to do the diet, it can be a useful tool and as analternate-day eating fanatic andhealth-obsessed scientist, I learned many interesting tidbits reading the book. I imagine that anyone seriously contemplating the diet as a permanent lifestyle choice will want to have read this.
Product DescriptionDiet only half the time with this simple, safe, and science-based weight-loss program. The Alternate-Day Diet is a revolutionary eating plan based on the animal studies documenting alternateday calorie restriction, which indicate that
limiting caloric intake every other day can turn on the 'skinny' gene (SIRT1). Applying this same model in humans, Dr. Johnson discovered that a similar cascade of positive effects occurs -reduced inflammation, lower free-radical stress, improved insulin resistance, and better cellular energy production, among others. Most important, it also promotes fat loss by releasing fat cells from around the body's organs.
But, perhaps, the most significant benefit for those who want to lose weight is that every-other-day calorie restriction eliminates feelings of chronic deprivation-the reason that most diets fail.
Easy-to-follow and scientifically sound, the diet is already a worldwide Internet phenomenon. And this book will provide Dr. Johnson's legion of followers-plus those new to the diet- with all the guidance and recipes they will need to make the diet work best.
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The Alternate-Day Diet (Hardcover)
Dr. Nierenberg's book is short, sweet and very effective. Losing weight has been a real struggle.I found myself eating "by the clock" whether I was hungry or not. 
